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.
Kupper Mounts
With vacuum power, Kupper mounts install onto any car in under 2 minutes and hold up to 45 pounds. It might seem sketchy to attach expensive bikes to your car with vacuum power, but the brand claims it works well. The suction-cup bike rack attaches to the front fork of most bikes. Paired with a rear suction cup, it allows for minimal bike transport without the use of traditional bike racks or crossbars. According to the brand, the mount holds up in inclement weather thanks to the vacuum seal. On each Kupper mount is a pump to get rid of all the air and increase the strength of the vacuum. Kupper mounts launch on Kickstarter this March.
Avocado Toast Saucony
Saucony launches the definitive shoe for brunch with its Avocado Toast Shadow 6000. The brand known for wacky limited releases — like Pumpkin Spice, Ramen, and Dunkin’ Donuts — launches a green, cream, and brown shoe to answer America’s obsession with avocado toast. The shoe paints over Saucony’s Shadow 6000 and is available now for $130.
Rocky Mountain Powerplay
Rocky Mountain bikes updates its e-mountain bikes for 2019, which feature the brand’s proprietary Dyname 3.0 drive system. Originally introduced in 2017, the Powerplay drivetrain was made to fit the bike as opposed to vice versa. It operates at 1,200 rpm, one-fourth the competition’s speed, and seamless power modulation between the drive and the human. So the bike feels your rhythm and responds accordingly. The Powerplay is available on the Altitude (pictured), Instict, and Growler mountain bikes.
Granite Gear Vapor Trail
Granite Gear relaunches one of its classic designs in the Vapor Trail 60 Backpack. This $150 backpack touts an ultralight design and tailored fit for a load rating up to 30 pounds. It offers durable 210-denier nylon in high-abrasion areas and lighter nylon for the main body. And for updates, Granite Gear adds the adjustable Re-Fit hip belt that ensures a comfy fit to exactly your waist size. Last, a padded nylon back panel offers comfort for the whole hike.
VSSL Camp Supplies
In VSSL’s simple Camp Supplies tube lie more than 70 essentials for camping or survival scenarios. VSSL launched Camp Supplies on Kickstarter, and while we won’t list all facets, you can expect rope, a can opener, razor, first-aid kit, fishing gear, tape, candle, wire saw, and much, much more. And built in with the VSSL’s construction is a four-mode LED light and compass. The VSSL Camp Supplies is also waterproof and supposedly indestructible.
Custom Chacos
Place personal photos on the footbed of your Chacos as part of the brand’s PrintShop, a just-launched custom program. You upload graphics and apply them onscreen at the PrintShop page to the sole and webbing straps of the brand’s Z/Sandal model. They are then made in Chaco’s Michigan factory and shipped to a customer within days. (See our full coverage of launch day at the “Full-Custom Chacos” article.) Best yet, access to PrintShop options costs only $10 more than the standard MyChacos price.
GoPro HERO7 Dusk White
GoPro, known for its HERO Black line of action cameras, switches things up with a new color for its HERO7 Black: Dusk White. The HERO7 Black Dusk White model launches on March 3 for $400 and boasts the same features of the HERO7 Black, which launched last year. That means you get the groundbreaking HyperSmooth technology the HERO7 is beloved for in a new color.
WESN Allman
This minimal knife, the WESN Allman, offers a cutting edge, handle, and not much else. But it’s this minimal look that’s so beautiful in a world crowded with loud and excessive parts. The WESN Allman has a 2.75-inch blade, flipper tab, and SV35 steel. The frame comes in titanium and G10 glass fiber. WESN launched the Allman on Kickstarter for $125 in Titanium and $99 in G10.
Warbler Cork Roller
42 Birds presents a roller different than the standard black foam found in gyms with the Warbler. Made of cork, this muscle roller is sustainable and offers a distinct look. Because of its construction, the Warbler is antimicrobial and repels sweat, dirt, and animal hair. Another unique element of the Warbler is its ridged design, meant to hit trigger points and loosen up those knots. Check out the Warbler on Kickstarter now for $60 MSRP.
Shades Club 2.0
Polarized sunglasses delivered monthly: That’s the premise of Shades Club 2.0, a subscription service for sunglasses. Every pair of sunglasses to go through the subscription is polarized and has UV400 antireflective lenses. To sign up, you take a style quiz and decide what styles you want, not to mention the brand will throw in some secret pairs. We imagine this service to be great for people who lose sunglasses like crazy, as you can select between quarterly, bi-monthly, or monthly subscriptions. The Shades Club 2.0 is on Kickstarter now for $487 for 12 months.
Teva x Grand Canyon
Grand Canyon National Park turns 100 this year, and to celebrate, Teva launched the GC100 Collection. The Hurricane XLT2, XLT2 Alp, Sock, and Original Universal have straps to match the Grand Canyon’s distinct style. To honor the centennial, Teva not only launched a new collection of kicks, but also donated $100,000 to the Grand Canyon Conservancy. Check out the GC100 line of sandals here.
Rapha Logo Apparel
Rep Rapha when you’re not on the bike with its new Logo collection. Emblazoned with Rapha’s signature — well — signature, Rapha’s Logo wear is available in a sweatshirt, T-shirt, Pocket T, polos, and quarter-zips. The shirts sport a chain-stitched logo for a slight rise off the fabric, echoing the stitched graphic on vintage cycling jerseys. Check out the full Rapha Logo collection here.
