A peek at emerging products from the sometimes cutting-edge, sometimes quirky world of gear design.
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High-Powered E-Bike
Pedal up the mountain at 50 mph! Neematic blurs the lines between bicycle and motorcycle a bit more with the FR/1. The 115-lb., 15-kilowatt, full-suspension beast is technically pedal-powered. With its weight, power, and price, this $9,100 rig is for serious dirt riding, not daily commutes around town.
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Backpack Camping Chair
Never sit on the dirt again. The Chameleon backpack does double duty as a camping chair. Best of all, you don’t have to dump your stuff when converting from pack to lounger. Dual gear chambers keep your things stored and accessible whether you’re hiking or sitting. Live on Kickstarter.
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Lightweight A/T Runner
Run down the block and into the wilds with Innov-8’s PARKCLAW 275, a lightweight trail runner that isn’t too luggy on pavement. Each shoe is just over 9.5 oz. and sports an 8mm drop, with a 24.5mm stack at the heel, $125.
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Roomy Mummy
Keep your body warm longer, and your feet vented in the Sierra Designs 2017 Nitro (available fall). In 0-, 20-, and 35-degree (pictured) options, the Nitro mummy sleeping bag is built to provide more room with 5-inch horizontal and sidewall baffles. The tech supposedly prevents shifting insulation and cold spots. The 800-fill bag will retail between $300-$380, depending on rating.
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Smoother Ride
Give yourself one less thing to endure on the next endurance ride. Cannondale’s Synapse line is built to take more bumps out of long road rides, thanks to the brand’s SAVE micro-suspension. The carbon frame and fork have engineered flex zones, as does the seat post. The crown jewel is Synapse’s single-piece, adjustable SAVE handlebar (with integrated stem). The models begin at $2,000 and run up to $10,000 (pictured) with varying groupsets.
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Flyknit Bra
For the first time, Nike incorporates its famous lightweight Flyknit shoe design into apparel: Sports bras. The FE/NOM Flyknit Bra is 30-percent lighter than the brand’s other sports bras. That’s because it has two panels and a single binding, where other bras have up to 41 pieces and 22 seams. The FE/NOM will be available next week on Nike.com.
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Smart Grilling
Don’t get up and check the burgers, just tell your grill what temp you want. The CyberQ Cloud from BBQ Guru works with dozens of grills and smokers, and provides backyard chefs voice control, temperature monitoring, and social recipe sharing. CyberQ Cloud starts at $255.
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Packable Safe
Keep all your valuables and travel necessities safe when you travel. The FlexSafe+ is the latest innovation from AquaVault. This portable storage bag attaches to chairs and bike frames, has a combination lock, motion alarm and solar bank to charge electronics. Also, the material is slash-resistant and RFID-blocking. It’s live on Indiegogo starting at $59.
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Stalking Boot
Outlast your prey with all-weather footwear. The Chameau Condor LCX, now available in the U.S., has a Michelin-designed outsole, five-layer waterproof lining, and leather upper. The $400, 3.2 lb. boots are rated to keep feet warm down to 14-degrees F.
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Chaco x Howler Designs
Protect your feet in the summertime with a little style. Chaco teams up with apparel manufacturer Howler Brothers to release a limited run of sandals, flip-flops, shirts, hats, and swim trunks. The specially designed camo Flips and Z Sandals run $90 and $110, respectively. The entire line is available at Chacos.com.
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Organized Duffel
Combine the ease of a duffel with the organization of a backpack. WANDRD launches the HEXAD Access and Carryall Duffels to make stuffing your gear a little more sophisticated. Both feature several interior pockets for organizing gear, a laptop sleeve, and waterproof materials. The Carryall comes in 60L and 40L sizes, and the Access (pictured) is compatible with WANDRD’s modular camera cubes. Available on Kickstarter.
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Hemp Dog Bed
Give Fido a comfier place to sleep that’s easier on the environment, too. The AstroPad is 77% hemp and 23% recycled poly, and is stuffed with 50% scrap production foam. The $170 dog bed is available in three sizes.
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Minnesota-Made Backpack
Granite Gear hand sews a new line of three backpacks and two duffels in Two Harbor, Minn. We like the look of the Crux, an 18L pack made of 500D Nylon Cordura pictured here. It sells for $130.
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Infrared Shirts
Regenerate cells, increase blood circulation, and boost your energy–with a shirt. That’s the claim behind SPIRITUS, an activewear line that uses “exclusive fabric that combines infrared and silver technology.” Silver fabric reduces odors, which isn’t new, but SPIRITUS advertises “thermal reactive minerals” that convert body heat from exercise into infrared waves. According to the brand, the material will provide health and performance benefits to the body. Live on Kickstarter now.
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Smart Tire-Safety Monitor
Upgrade your car’s intelligence, even if it’s older than you are. ZUS tire caps screw onto any vehicle’s tires and pair with an app to show you tire pressure readings. Spot leaks and save fuel by keeping your rubber at optimal inflation. Live on Indiegogo.
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10-Foot Selfie Stick
Get even more people involved in your next selfie–or hop into someone else’s–with the Mighty Selfie Stick. This 10-foot extendable selfie-taker lets you capture even more of the background, so you can prove to everyone you were really there. Pre-order now on Krowdster.
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Therapeutic Gun
Finally, a gun that actually makes people feel better. The TheraGun is a massage aid that provides “percussive force on the muscle” to increase blood flow. The G2PRO has improved ergonomics and extended battery life. Available for pre-order now, this relaxing firearm will set you back $600.
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