A peek at emerging products from the sometimes cutting-edge, sometimes quirky world of gear design. Explore the grid below or click through for a slideshow.
Nixon '80s Block Collection Pipes 35L Duffle
This new ’80s block-style duffel from Nixon is a superfun travel bag. The Pipes 35L ($60) is made from 210-denier nylon and comes with carrying straps as well as a shoulder strap and backpack straps. The bag itself has a separate shoe storage compartment and interior mesh storage. It’s a stylish bag that’s a great size for any kind of adventure travel.
Outdoor Voices x Merrell Moab Hiking Shoe
Merrell collaborated with Outdoor Voices on its latest hiking shoe, and it’s awesome. The Moab II shoe ($130) is made with 100-percent-recycled EVA in the footbed and midsole and has a suede and mesh upper, although it’s also waterproof. It’s Merrell’s classic Moab boot with Outdoor Voices custom colors. The shoe is available for both men and women.
Blackburn Design Big Switch Ratchet Set
Blackburn’s newest toolset takes the popular Big Switch Toolset to the next level by incorporating a bi-directional ratchet. Included in the Big Switch Ratchet Set ($45) are 8mm Allen bits in a variety of sizes, T25 and T30 torx bits, a flathead screwdriver, wayside chain breaker, and spoke wrenches. The kit fits into a small nylon carrying case, which is great for commuters, bikepackers, or those looking for a compact EDC toolkit.
Goal Zero Yeti 200X Power Station
Goal Zero works to make power accessible to all of us, whether camping outside town or off-roading far into the mountains. The Yeti 200X ($300), is a fast-charging, compact power station. The Yeti offers 187 Wh of power: the strength to power a tablet six times or a laptop for more than 4 hours. I don’t ever bring my laptop camping, but with the Yeti there’s the option. With the three USB ports, AV port, and 120W wall port, you can go off the grid for as long as you want but still stay plugged in.
Otso Voytek Fat Bike
Otso’s Voytek Fat Bike now has four new colors as well as designs centered on 12-speed drivetrains. The bikes have carbon frames, an XC race build, and narrow Q factors for the highest levels of performance and fun. Want to ride the same bike frame in the summer, spring, and winter? Just swap out the tires. The Voytek can accommodate 27.5-inch mountain bike tires all the way up to 26 x 4.6-inch-wide fat tires.
Orca Hydra Water Bottle
If you’re looking for a double-walled water bottle rivaling Hydro Flask, look no further. ORCA’s Hydra ($30-45) is double-walled and vacuum-sealed with a seamless inner liner, providing long-term insulation for drinks hot or cold. The Hydra also has a durable whale tail carry handle. We like the larger bottle options (22, 34, and 66 ounces) and an array of bold colors.
Zodiac x Andy Mann Super Sea Wolf 68 Saturation Limited-Edition Watch
Zodiac’s latest diver’s watch is a collaboration with Andy Mann, a diver and ocean photographer. Inspired by light movement underwater, the high-tech dial of the watch transforms from light to dark colors. This limited-edition watch has automatic movement at 1,000m, sapphire blue crystal, and blue brushed dial. The watch also has a shark fin as the 12-hour index and a shark etching on the case back of the watch, drawn by Andy Mann. The watch comes with two additional straps and a recycled plastic carrying case. It costs $2,295.
45NRTH Wolvhammer Winter Cycling Boot
45NRTH just launched a redesigned Wolvhammer shoe, the lightest one it’s made (over 200 g lighter). The new Wolvhammer winter cycling boot ($325) is designed for on- and off-bike use so you can bike wherever the day takes you. The three-piece sole design uses a nylon shank in the cleat bed to improve pedaling efficiency and now works with flat or clipless pedals. The anti-slip micro-glass outsole was an add-on to provide better traction. The new model uses Boa Fit closures and is rated to 0 degrees Fahrenheit, perfect for winter commuters or fat-bike riders looking to take on ice and snow.
Julbo Hal Ski Helmet
Julbo makes some great sunglasses and ski goggles that ship globally, but this is its first ski helmet for the U.S. market. The Hal ($100) is a unisex, lightweight helmet that weighs just 450 g. The helmet has a molded EPS and polycarbonate construction and removable ear pads. And if you’re skiing all day, the helmet’s active venting system will keep you cool.
Osprey Metron Bike Pack
Osprey’s new fall and winter products this year include two new bike bags, the Radial and the Metron. The 26L Metron ($160) was designed for bike commuters, but the bag is probably great for any kind of travel. It has organization compartments, a high-visibility rain cover, compression straps, and a hidden helmet-carry feature for when you aren’t riding.
Yakima LockNLoad Rooftop Rack
Going on an off-road adventure is great, but trying to fit all your camping or fishing gear into a trunk is frustrating. Yakima’s newest LockNLoad roof rack is a customizable, “backroad-tested” rack that can carry loads up to 440 pounds depending on your vehicle. The rack has aluminum powder-coated slat with T-slots that act as attachment points for any kind of accessory mounts, whether you’re hauling bikes, skis, or rooftop tents. It retails for $729-979 depending on size.
Moon Fabrications Moon Shade
Moon Fabrications is setting out to solve the problem of cumbersome and heavy shade tents. The Moon Shade is perfect for people who live or work on the road. It’s durable with 420-denier recycled ripstop polyester and has a UV reflective coating on both sides. The shade is versatile — it can be set up with fixed mounting points, straps, suction cups, or guylines to provide shade anywhere. At 8 pounds, it’s not the lightest but is still a great option for those who spend their lives outside.
Holy Mountain Canvas Lunch Sack
Move over, battery-powered coolers — this old-school lunch sack is just as cool. The lunch sack ($50) is made with waxed canvas, a leather carrying strap, and brass hardware. It has an inner pocket and finished inner seams to keep your food protected from the outside elements and spills. It’s handcrafted in Minneapolis.
GoSun Flatware
Reusable utensils are great for lots of reasons — whether it’s contributing less plastic to the environment or simple convenience. But a spork is easy to forget and doesn’t always fit in your pocket or make its way into your bag. GoSun’s Flatware ($20) packs down into a credit card slot just 4.5 mm thick. The easy-to-clean, stainless steel fork and spoon will soon be all you need.
