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.
Vuarnet Technical Outerwear
Fashionable eyewear brand Vuarnet releases its first technical outerwear this week with packable down and waterproof jackets. The collection maintains Vuarnet’s “sophisticated” look with all-black colorways and minimal logo placement. Included are a softshell with insulation, a waterproof-breathable shell for horrible conditions, and two down jackets — one stretchy and one not. The Grand Froid collection is available now for $320 to $790.
Danner Feather Light Boot
The 1980s return in Danner’s latest release, the Feather Light Revival boot. This USA-made throwback hiking boot nods to the built-out, rugged mountain boot trend of today. The Feather Light Revival boot has a Gore-Tex lining to provide waterproofing and breathability, and the upper is a combination of full-grain leather and 1,000-denier fabric. Danner released the Feather Light last week for $390.
Health Tag
Place the Health Tag from Spire on your underwear and track heart rate, sleep, steps, and calories. But unlike other trackers, this one is meant to be concealed under clothing and has a battery life of 1.5 years. You’ll need to get a new device when the battery runs out, but the brand offers free replacement. Additionally, the Health Tag is waterproof, washer-dryer safe, and syncs with an app to view health insights. Check out Spire’s site to grab one tag for $49, or a three-pack for $99.
LoftTek Jacket
The performance and water resistance of synthetic with the packability of down, we’ve heard it a thousand times. But Outdoor Vitals claims its jacket is different. The LoftTek Adventure Jacket uses a proprietary insulation Outdoor Vitals designed to be packable, light, and warm — even when wet. It’s a hefty claim, but rarely do we see brands create a novel insulation. Additionally, the LoftTek Adventure Jacket packs into its own pocket and has zippered pockets, an insulated and adjustable hood, and underarm vents. Check out the direct-to-consumer brand Outdoor Vitals here, where LoftTek Jackets are going for $99.
Kaenon Summit Division
Block reflections off snow and rock with Kaenon’s new polarized lens, SR-91 Ultra G12 Black Mirror. Kaenon designed the lens specifically for alpine environments, so it mutes reflections and yields more clarity and detail in your field of view. Black Glacier tints are available in the Clarke, Burnet Mid, and Anacapa. Check out the lens here, with shades starting at $209.
HVMN Ketone Ester
Dubbed the world’s first ketone ester, HVMN claims its performance drink fueled a world record, helping athletes push harder and longer than before. HVMN developed this sports “drink” to give users ketones through an elixir. In theory, it provides the body ketones, when typically ketones are achieved through a ketogenic diet. HVMN helps the body burn ketones, in addition to carbs, as fuel. This supposedly results in increased endurance, improved muscle recovery, and enhanced cognitive ability. HVMN launched this year, and three bottles sell for $99.
DJI Flight Simulator
DJI released updates to its popular drones at the third annual AirWorks conference this week. One of the coolest releases was the DJI Flight Simulator. With the Flight Simulator, you can hook up your DJI drone remote controller and pilot your drone through a computer environment. This allows pilots to practice with different wind and weather conditions as well as visibilities. Flight Simulator is compatible with the Mavic 2 Enterprise, Phantom 4 Pro, Inspire 2, and Matrice 210 RTK. Download the free trial of the simulator here.
BlackStrap Snow Artist Series
Facemask brand BlackStrap collaborated with artist Rachel Pohl for it’s Snow Artist Series neck tubes. We’ve tested the BlackStrap balaclavas on chilly morning bike rides this month and love the snug feel and warmth they provide. Check out BlackStrap here. Snow Artist Series neck tubes are available now, starting at $20.
Snowfeet
Skates and skis combine (again) with the release of Snowfeet. A two-buckle binding attaches skates to your feet and enables you to hit the slopes quickly or mess around at your local park. Snowfeet are made with fiberglass and have metal ski edges and a heel brake for slowing down. The snow skates are available on Indiegogo now for $119.
Truck Bed Bike Rack
Carry your bikes to the trail and still have room in your flatbed with the Nelson truck rack. From Let’s Go Aero comes an innovative truck bed mounting system that raises bikes above the bed itself. The Nelson truck rack attaches to the sides and back of the bed. Two bikes fit on the Half-Nelson, while six fit on the Full Nelson. Let’s Go Aero announced the Nelson truck mounts at this week’s SEMA show, with availability for the mount at the beginning of 2019.
Norra Pants
Kickstarter brand Norra wants the Ljung Outdoor Pants to last a long time. So the brand added flexible zones at the waist and around the legs for freedom of movement. Plus, the Ljung Outdoor Pants sport a hook on each cuff to attach to boots and a tightening strap to adjust hem width. Norra also integrated spots to insert EVA knee pads in case you’re working on your knees or performing high-impact activities. Check out the Ljung, made from recycled polyester and organic cotton, on Kickstarter for $130.
Ondu Pinhole Camera
Capture the world with the Ondu III, a third-generation pinhole film camera crafted from wood. The Ondu III has a magnetic sliding shutter, accepts magnetic, snap-on filters, and can shoot a range of film sizes depending on the model, from common 135 to 4×5 medium format. Additionally, the Ondu III is available with one to three pinholes for added versatility. Check out the Ondu III on Kickstarter, with cameras starting at $89.
Vuori Stockton Shorts
Vuori doesn’t want you to hit the gym without underwear, so it made a short with a built-in liner. The Stockton Short is a 2-in-1 with a supportive lining and four-way stretch fabric for mobility during workouts. And Vuori claims the Stockton’s liner won’t bunch up in use like other liners. Check out the Stockton Short for $76.
Venture Cooler
Venture wants to buck the rotomolded cooler trend with its 45-quart cooler, crafted with a unique spray coating for durability. By not rotomolding the cooler, Rugged Road Outdoors’ Venture is 1/3 the weight and 1/3 the price of rotomolded coolers with comparable ice retention. The brand claims it can keep ice for eight days thanks to its durable foam insulation and protective spray finish. While the claims are lofty, Venture presents something new in a market saturated with copycats. The Venture 45 is on Kickstarter now for $99.
Good to Go Chowdah and Kale
Good To-Go releases two new flavors this week — New England Corn Chowdah and Kale and White Bean Stew. The made-in-Maine brand adds a smoky fish flavor for the Chowdah with bonito flakes. And the Kale and White Bean Stew offers a calorie-dense option made with olive oil, garlic, rosemary, and fennel. These two creative dehydrated camping meals are available for $13 for two servings.
