A peek at emerging products from the sometimes cutting-edge, sometimes quirky world of gear design.
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Backcountry ATV Kit
Throttle through pow with the deep-snow Apache Backcountry Track System. Two-inch lugs, and a 13.5″ front and 14″ rear contact patch are designed to provide “maximum float.” The $650 mounting kit and $5,350 track system are a significant investment, so Can-Am‘s kit is really only for those who budget for superior off-road toys.
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Modular Heating System
Dial up heat where you need it, no matter what you’re wearing. Heat-O created a modular, Bluetooth-controlled set of wearable heating pads. Control the chest, lumbar, hand, and foot-pads with an app, a wrist dial, or a belt-mounted remote. The $160 Heat-O runs off of a flexible, rechargeable battery that lasts up to 15 hours.
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Ceramic Baselayer
Abuse your baselayer without worrying about damaging it. Vollebak introduces its Condition Black Ceramic Impregnated line, including T-shirt, mid-layer, and base layer (pictured, $149). Ceramic particles are embedded in the fabric to provide abrasion resistance without sacrificing flexibility or warmth. The result is a layering system designed to be “almost impervious to damage.”
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Roll-Up Kayak
Stuff this kayak in your backpack, closet, or trunk. We covered the 9.7-foot Justin Case Kayak last month and are rooting for it to reach its goal. It’s under 6 lbs. and packs down to the size of a rolled-up 2-person tent. It uses a collapsible carbon-fiber frame and ripstop skin to stay light, strong, and portable. At $790, it’s less expensive than other foldable and carbon fiber kayaks we’ve seen.
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Bomber Camera Strap
Make your strap as professional as the rest of your camera gear. Cruick straps are made from vegetable-tanned Masure leather, while stainless steel split rings and redundant screws are designed to prevent even the heaviest rig from falling.
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Fishing Parka
Fish for lunkers in the nastiest conditions with Cabela’s Gore-Tex Parka. The brand touts its Guidewear Men’s Advance Parka as “the pinnacle of fishing outerwear.” Seam-sealed Gore-Tex and neoprene cinch cuffs are designed to keep water from creeping through. This technical coat starts at $400.
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One Pant For All Conditions
Do yoga while snowboarding (without snow pants). That’s the claim by MINIM, maker of these $85 all-weather pants. Four-way stretch fabric is fleece-lined for “sweatpants-like comfort,” and flexible enough for running or climbing. Plus, a thin membrane makes the pants waterproof.
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Campfire Anywhere
Blaze up flames for cooking or staying warm, even where it’s usually not permitted. The Kamoto by Swedish manufacturer Primus has an ashtray to protect the ground and leave no trace. The portable fire pit is made of powder-coated and stainless steel. Wind flaps on the side protect the flame. Available in small and large sizes, $130 and $150 respectively.
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Bamboo Bike Button-Up
Stay ventilated and cool on your commute without a full spandex kit. Club Ride’s $90 Go Long riding shirt is designed to wear around town — and on the saddle — comfortably. It’s made with bamboo stretch sleeves and side panels, ripstop front and back, UPF-50 protection, and a vented back yoke. Plus, Club Ride will donate 50 percent from sales of selected garments to trail-advocacy nonprofits as part of its Tees For Trails program.
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Oversized And Downsizable
Twist, turn, and spread out in Klymit’s jumbo duck down sleeping bag. The KSB 20 Oversized has 650 fill, stash pockets, stretchable baffles, and “Length Lock” system to accommodate shorter sleepers down to 5’3″.The $220 KSB 20 is rated down to 20 degrees Fahrenheit and weighs 3.9 lbs.
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Classic Canvas Coat
Take this waxed cotton coat off the beaten path. Triple Aught Designs releases the $425 Talisman waterproof jacket with stowable hood. It’s designed to protect you from elements and abrasion with the same material “developed by sailors in the 19th century.”
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Trail Food Subscription
Grab a stuff sack filled with hand-picked goodies designed to take out to the trail. Trailfoody launches a monthly food box, this time catered to hikers and travelers. Three packages ranging from $22-$54 include energy bars, dried fruit, jerky, and more.
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World’s Lightest Ski Sock
Hit the slopes wearing a sock that’s “as thin as film.” Superfine merino makes up the FITS Film, which offers zero cushion. It’s designed to be worn with a custom ski boot, providing better control from foot to boot to ski. Each pair is $24.
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Arc’teryx Alpha FL Jacket
Streamlined, fast, and light: The Alpha FL ($400) is the lightest Gore-Tex Pro shell from Arc’teryx. The no-frills coat uses super light, fine YKK RS zippers, a single pocket, and trim fit to keep the weight down to 11.5 ounces while maintaining a rugged waterproof-breathable shell.
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Women’s Custom Pack
Hike in the worst conditions, keeping your gear dry and your body comfortable. The Mountain Hardwear Ozonic 60 OutDry Women’s Backpack has shoulder straps and back panel shaped to fit a woman’s body. The $270 pack has customizable suspension dials to ease the burden and a fully waterproof main compartment.
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