Take a peek at emerging products from the sometimes cutting-edge, sometimes quirky world of gear design. Explore the grid or click through for a slideshow.
BOA H4 Dial Platform for Snowboard Boots
BOA’s H4 dial platform is designed to provide a performance fit with a new level of impact resistance for more advanced riders. The new H4 platform has an updated cartridge and a new “breakaway design” — the cartridge will eject on severe impact, without damage to the closure. The H4 platform also has BOA’s new textile lace, the TX3. The new system is available on select Burton, K2, and DC boots for this season.
LOCTOTE Mobility Collection
Building on its “Shark Tank” success and crowdfunding campaigns, LOCTOTE is launching the Mobility Collection on Kickstarter. The Mobility Collection includes seven new compact designs (from $82), ranging from a Sling Bag to an RFID Leather Cardholder. These designs are crafted with premium-grain leather, water-resistant wet wax canvas, and custom hardware. And they have LOCTOTE’s anti-theft technologies like cut-resistant fabric, steel-reinforced straps, RFID protection, and a new “Lock ‘n Leave” system.
This selection is sponsored by LOCTOTE.
QALO Foxfire Dog ID Tags
QALO makes comfortable silicone rings for those of us who work or play outside, and now the brand even has products for your pets. The Foxfire Dog ID Tags ($25) are silicone (no noisy jingling) and use a soft, fluorescent powder that makes them glow in the dark. QALO’s Foxfire powder is activated via sunlight to produce a pop of reflective color (which then gradually fades when the sun sets).
Sabre 2-in-1 Flashlight Pepper Spray
Giving new meaning to the term “safety light,” Sabre’s latest product is a flashlight with a sting. The 750-lumen flashlight ($40) has a built-in self-defense pepper spray. Made for joggers or anyone else who wants to carry, the 2-in-1 PepperLight can illuminate “any dark and potentially unsafe situation,” the brand touts. (It cites a flashlight beam that shines a range of more than 500 feet.) In case of an emergency, the pepper spray shoots 10 feet and lasts for up to 25 bursts.
Lazer Jackal MIPS MTB Helmet
Lazer’s new MTB helmet was built with extra-special attention to venting and airflow. The Lazer Jackal MIPS ($200) is packed with user-friendly features like a magnetic buckle, accessory camera mount, recesses for eyewear, an adjustable visor, and Lazer’s goggle grip (a textured surface on the back of the helmet to hold goggle straps in place). The helmet is equipped with MIPS technology. It’s available now for shipping in 2021.
Dr. Suess x tentree Lorax T-Shirt
Tentree partnered with Dr. Seuss for its latest collab. In the spirit of the Lorax character (aka guardian of the forest), all materials are sustainably sourced and made, finished with classic Dr. Seuss artwork. The collection has 22 different products to choose from, including this classic Lorax tee ($35) for men and women. For each item sold, tentree will plant 10 trees.
KONG 20 Cooler
The KONG 20 ($169) is now the lightest, most portable option available from KONG (at 15 pounds). The 20-quart cooler has a thick, padded carrying strap, silicone rubber feet, and an easy-to-grip large front latch. “The KONG 20 is for people who want to use a high-quality, American-made product but don’t necessarily need a 30-pound cooler,” said the brand. Each cooler comes with a multiuse storage divider/shelf/cutting board.
'Between Each Step' Thru-Hiking Book
A married couple’s trail memoir, “Between Each Step” ($18) follows author Patrice La Vigne and her husband on a thru-hiking journey on New Zealand’s Araroa Hiking Trail, which runs 2,000 miles across the length of the country. This travel memoir captures the essence of “trail life.” The book released last month and is available internationally.
Peter Gilroy Metalwork Money Clip
There are a lot of independent artists out there, and Peter Gilroy is one great example. Gilroy is a metalwork artist in Taos, N.M., who draws inspiration from landscapes and mountains. His Skyline Money Clip ($48) is made of a durable titanium alloy called CP2, which will hold its shape over time. The clips are etched with your choice of landscape: Half Dome, the Grand Canyon, and more. You can even find his metalwork on hats.
WESN x Craighill Microblade Knife
This limited-release Microblade ($95) was made in collaboration with Craighill, a New York design company that makes modern EDC tools. This Microblade has an upgraded S35VN stainless steel blade, stainless steel frame lock, brass scale handle, and drop-point blade with a black PVD finish. It measures 3.75 inches when open — perfect for everyday carry.
Spyder Eyewear Collection
Spyder has a new winter capsule eyewear collection they launched in partnership with the U.S. Ski Team. The collection features multiple styles, including a classic sun style with mirrored lenses and a more performance-oriented wraparound pair. The shades all have polarized, 100% UV-protected mirror ion lenses (to increase contrast and decrease glare), an interchangeable lens feature, and adjustable nose pads. They’re available at select retailers.
Terrain 365 DTK-AT Framelock EDC
Terrain 365’s DTK-AT ($179) mini-framelock folder is a compact blade the size of a standard-issue military dog tag. The DTK-AT has a rustproof Terravantium blade, made of 100% nonferrous dendritic cobalt-alloy components, with a crisp 6AL-4V titanium handle and hardware. It weighs 1.6 ounces. The blade fits in even the smallest survival kits or pockets and has a lanyard hole.
