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.
TINCUP Avalanche Rescue Dog Calendar
From truffle hunting to disease detection, everyone loves a dog with a job. Avalanche dogs are the four-legged heroes of the snowsports world. In support of the Colorado Rescue Avalanche Deployment (C-RAD), TINCUP Mountain Whiskey put together this adorable 2023 Rescue Dog Calendar ($25). Featuring an assortment of good boys and girls including Cowgirl, Piper, and Zaugg, this calendar is the ideal stocking stuffer for folks who enjoy skiing and dogs (all of our readers, we assume). All proceeds will go to C-RAD. Paws-itively adorable.
Stio Upslope Touring Pant
On the subject of pants, most skiers agree: in-bounds terrain calls for hardshell pants and backcountry touring calls for softshell. While there are exceptions to this rule, Stio’s new Upslope Touring Pant ($299) checks all the boxes of a purpose-built touring pant. Made from a woven PeakVert breathable fabric, the Upslope aims to regulate body temperature in high-output moments. Zippered vents on the thighs dump excess heat in a pinch, and the large thigh pockets can store skins or bulky mittens. Three colors are available, including the pictured “Elk Shadow.”
Danner Westslope Brown Wedge Boots
When Danner Boots was founded in 1932, Lou Gehrig was banging in homers for the Yankees and Amelia Earhart was zooming over the Atlantic. In the intervening 90 years, the brand’s product aesthetic has remained remarkably consistent. Most models in the product line — including the new Westslope ($450) — are characterized by full-grain leather uppers and metal speed lacing rivets. Named for a native species of Western trout, this boot is inspired by fly fishing footwear and built for city streets. A GORE-TEX membrane adds reliable waterproofing, and the soft polyurethane outsole compound is designed for all-day comfort.
Lightleaf seaLeaf slim Solar Panels
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, is surrounded by dozens of lakes, and folks up there know a thing or two about boating. Saskatchewanian brand Lightleaf releases the seaLeaf, ($635) a purpose-built lightweight solar panel that aims to become “the new standard for solar on sailboats.” Each panel offers 110W of output at just five pounds — an impressively feathery stat relative to the wattage. The simple attachment system is designed to mount to standard one-inch boat railings.
inov-8 Roclite G 315 GTX V2
The wet season is upon us, and folks who plan to maintain their trail running habit may want to consider waterproof footwear. Inov-8’s ROCLITE G 315 GTX V2 ($175) is an evolution of one of the brand’s popular models and it’s equipped with GORE-TEX waterproofing. According to inov-8’s founder, the new ROCLITE G 315 “does it all, from trail running to multi-day adventures on land and water.” A flexible rock plate and toe-bumper provide protection on jagged terrain.
BUFF x Protect Our Winters Balaclava
Protect your face while protecting our winters with this spiffy balaclava from BUFF. This collaboration between the neckwear brand and Protect Our Winters (POW) aims to “bring the message of environmental advocacy to the forefront.” Now in its third year, this partnership allows both entities to “come together and help preserve the outdoor landscapes we all know and love.” In addition to spreading awareness via the product drop, BUFF makes a yearly contribution to POW’s efforts.
Shwood Eyewear CAMP HD+ Green Flash Lenses
Shwood Eyewear’s CAMP collection is defined by affordable pricing and castor bean-based bio-plastic construction. This week, the CAMP series adds four fresh frame styles, and all are available with the new HD+ polarized Green Flash lenses. According to the brand, Green Flash offers 100% UVA/B protection, impact resistance, and supreme optical clarity. We particularly like how the Green Flash looks on the Topo frames with Walnut inlays ($99, pictured).
Wrangler Women's Blue Bell Jacket
Wrangler celebrates its 75-year history with just-out designs made from — you guessed it — denim. The collection of restyled archival pieces adds modern touches to the time-worn clothing that put Wrangler on the map. Among these, the Women’s Blue Bell Jacket ($89) is an unlined long-sleeve style that looks like it should come with a cigarette and a pair of Chuck Taylors. Two chest flap pockets and a full button closure with branded hardware complete the look.
Roark Secondwind 2.0 Running Jacket
Unless you run near the equator, jogging over the coming months calls for long sleeves and wind protection. Roark’s Second Wind 2.0 Jacket ($129) is just what urban runners need: a streamlined, packable barrier between the body and the elements. The reflective right shoulder is designed to help drivers spot you while running against traffic, and the left back reflector does the same when you’re going with the flow. Underarm vents improve this jacket’s wearable temperature range, and the droptail hem keeps mud splashes at bay.
Pendleton x Cole Haan American Classics Chukka Boot
Iconic American entities Cole Haan and Pendleton team up to drop a collection that intertwines the design vocabulary of both brands. The American Classic Chukka ankle boots ($220) are based on a longstanding Cole Haan design, but the wool fabric incorporated into the upper is pure Pendleton. The resulting plaid pattern intends to honor the natural scenic palette of Acadia National Park. Every pair comes with a protective dust bag.
