A peek at emerging products from the sometimes cutting-edge, sometimes quirky world of gear design.
UV-Sensitive Sealant
Popped tire? Find the culprit with Muc-Off’s UV-sensitive sealant. Tubeless bike sealant isn’t normally this exciting, but No Puncture Hassle Tubeless Sealant isn’t normal. After you pop a tire, Muc-Off’s sealant will seep into the puncture hole. Then, when exposed to the included UV keychain light, the sealant will shine green to show where the puncture is. Pretty nifty! Check out a bottle for around $12.
Tongs, Spatula, Spork
The Splitter combines a spork, tongs, and spatula in one convenient package. From Full Windsor, The Splitter is two cooking and eating utensils that can attach at one end to form tongs. One end of the spatula is serrated to cut, and it’s all titanium. The Splitter is on Kickstarter for $39 Early Bird.
Cargo E-Bike
Haul your groceries from the store to home in the Load 75, an e-bike from Riese & Muller. The Load 75 is the brand’s cargo option, offering a deep well for stuff or with the optional children’s seat to accommodate up to two kiddos. And this model integrates front and rear suspension for a comfortable ride. The Load 75 is part of Riese & Muller’s new collection and starts at $7,629.
Collapsible Bike Helmet
Unroll the Park & Diamond helmet from your backpack and ride safely with one of the wackiest cycling helmets we’ve seen. Lacking conventional foam, the Park & Diamond still meets U.S. CPSC and EU EN-1078 cycling safety standards. For protection, the helmet uses 3D mesh fabric, EVA Foam, polycarbonate shell, and a proprietary composite layer — which is where we guess the secret is. And with design credentials of former SpaceX engineers, this bizarre helmet might live up to the brand’s bold claims. Park & Diamond is on Indiegogo now for $79 Super Early Bird.
Titanium Coffee Filter
Campside pour-over is a sight to behold. With the Vargo Titanium Travel Coffee Filter, campers can expect delicious coffee from a lightweight package (only 1.27 ounces). The Titanium Travel Coffee Filter attaches to mugs and uses a double mesh construction for filtering. Vargo sells the filter for $50.
Waterproof Drone
Consider this drone amphibious. The Spry is a waterproof drone that can submerge to record both above and below the surface. With a 4K video camera protected in a transparent dome, the insides stay protected and able to record. While the brand claims the Spry can only submerge briefly, the action of the propellers going underwater is pretty mesmerizing to look at. Check out the Spry drone on Kickstarter now for $769.
Nomad Cooking Kit
Food may taste better when camping, but you still need a way to chop and cook those veggies! The Nomad Cooking Kit from Opinel is available this week and combines several opinel knives, a cutting board, and microfiber cleaning cloth in one convenient package. Included is the No. 12 Serrated Folding Knife, No. 10 Folding Corkscrew Knife, and No. 6 Pocket Peeler. The set costs $85.
Versatile Down Quilt
The Kammok Bobcat may look like any other “adventure blanket,” but hidden elastic cords are the secret to this quilt’s versatility. The Bobcat can be used as a blanket. But when the elastic cords are cinched together, they can loop under or over hammocks, or stay tight around sleeping pads. And with water-resistant fabric and responsibly sourced, lightweight down, you’re looking at a pretty advanced travel quilt. The Bobcat is on Kickstarter now for $139.
Polartec Alpha Socks
Hit the slopes in one of the most high-tech socks we’ve seen: the T3+ Ski Polartec Warm Active Sock. This sock, from Lorpen, is the first to use Polartec Alpha, a fabric that breathes well yet also provides warmth. We’ve used it in jackets and attest to its function, so its emergence in socks has us curious. And with that much tech, expect some sticker shock: One pair of these socks goes for $70!
Rapha Commuter Jacket
Rapha strove for visibility with the release of its Commuter Jacket, a $115 waterproof cycling jacket. The Commuter Jacket is designed to be seen, available in bright-orange, chartreuse, high-vis pink, and black, with reflective straps and accents. And for protection against the elements, Rapha built the jacket with a waterproof-breathable membrane and waterproof zipper. Check out the Commuter Jacket on Rapha’s site now.
SUP Portage System
Haul the Quetico14 SUP overhead with ease thanks to the Greyduck Portage System. From The Greyduck Group is an SUP that uses a simple, smart portage and seat attachment. The Greyduck Portage System attaches to the Quetico14 SUP with a track system. Two straps attached to bars fit over your head and rest on your shoulders. Learn more about the 14-foot Quetico14, which retails for $1,900, here.
Tangle-Free Headphones
Jaybird designed the Tarah as an introductory wireless headphone for those “looking to cut the cord.” The Tarah provides sweatproof, waterproof Bluetooth headphones that can play for six hours. It has an IPX7 waterproof rating, which means it can go down to 1 meter for up to 30 minutes. And a double hydrophobic, sweatproof nano coating keeps sweat out of the buds. Check out the tangle-free headphones, $100, here.
Cooling Underwear
Feel a cooling effect when you heat up in the Mack Weldon Proknit undies. While it sounds futuristic, the brand claims this feature works thanks to NILIT Breeze Yarn technology. Additionally, the Proknit underwear are high-stretch, quick to dry, and have mesh zones for breathability. And in conjunction with the growing trend of a “pouch” for your junk, Mack Weldon integrates what it calls the MotionCTRL Pouch to keep everything in check. The undies are available now for $34.
