A peek at emerging products from the sometimes cutting-edge, sometimes quirky world of gear design.
Baffle-Less Down
Sheets of revolutionary down fabric layer the Eddie Bauer BC Evertherm for consistent warmth without baffles. Announced last year, Eddie Bauer now releases the tech into other jackets, like the BC Evertherm Down Jacket, a waterproof down jacket for cold pursuits like backcountry skiing or mountaineering. An all-in-one insulating and weather-repelling jacket, the BC Evertherm is on sale now for $349.
Crowd-Designed Tiny Knife
Bomber & Company makes exceptionally tiny knives. And its latest knife, the B-2 Blitz, is definitely that. But what sets the Blitz apart is its creation. The brand asked backers to design the knife for them via surveys and data. More than 1,000 surveys were conducted by 22,000 backers to make the knife. The result is the Blitz, a 440 Carbon stainless steel pocket knife with serrated edge and Tanto blade point measuring 3.7 inches long. It’s on Kickstarter now for $50.
Topo Multitool
Leatherman continues to expand its topography-inspired multitools with the release of the Topo Freestyle and Topo Skeletool this week. The brand placed topography designs on the blades of its Freestyle and Skeletool tools for some outdoorsy flair. The Topo Freestyle and Topo Skeletool are available now for $40 and $70, respectively.
Land Rover Shoes
Clarks teamed up with Land Rover for a waterproof knit sneaker. Makers of fashionable boots, Clarks, integrated Gore-Tex’s new waterproofing for knit shoes in the CLR 51.N Gore-Tex. The shoes don’t have any laces and sport an entirely knit upper. The brands claim the shoe was born out of a spirit of adventure, with colors nodding toward Land Rover. Clarks released the CLR 51.N Gore-Tex this week for $200.
Hammock Bivy
Rain or shine, the Sky Bivy from Klymit has you covered. With multiple configurations, the top part of the Sky Bivy can shield you from the sun with a diagonal orientation or clip beneath the hammock to protect you from rain. We got in one at this past summer’s Outdoor Retailer show and imagine the Sky Bivy would completely block the rain, as it feels really secure. And thanks to its central spreader pole, the hammock doesn’t feel suffocating. Klymit released the Sky Bivy this week for $250.
Wool Fleece
Patagonia recreated the modern fleece with recycled wool that retains classic fleece fuzziness. The Woolyester fleece is made with 46 percent recycled wool, 46 percent polyester, 4 percent nylon, and 4 percent other fibers. Patagonia claims these fleeces feel soft, dry quickly, and manage moisture well. Shop the Woolyseter Fleece here for $139-159.
MIPS Climbing Helmet
Winner of our Best in Show at this year’s Outdoor Retailer Summer Market, the Mammut Wallrider MIPS is the first climbing helmet to integrate MIPS technology. Common among cycling helmets, MIPS claims to reduce rotational forces impacting the head. A low-friction layer inside the helmet allows the helmet to slide instead of your head. This comes in handy during really bad, probably upside-down falls. Explore this cutting-edge helmet on Backcountry.com for $180.
Modern Duck Boot
The online retailer Huckberry launches a boot this week inspired by the classic Duck Boot. Huckberry calls the All-weather Duckboot “AWD” because of its versatility on all terrains. It’s waterproof, made with a mix of leather and suede, and has a sneaker-like sole for comfort. Hit the trails rain or shine in the Duckboot for $180.
Lockable Helmet Bag
Lock your helmet and bike gear in the LOXI, a slash-proof and lockable bag for cyclists. LOXI is made with waterproof and slash-proof fabric and uses a cable lock for securing to racks. To use, the LOXI functions much like a roll-top dry bag mixed with a cable lock. The 4-liter LOXI is available on Kickstarter for $75.
Backcountry Lifestyle
Backcountry.com expands its in-house product offerings with an expansive fall lifestyle collection. With fleece jackets, pants, button-up flannels, and merino baselayers, Backcountry can now cover you head to toe. The products feel nice, offer athletic fits, and certainly garner extra style points. The release is a precursor to the brand’s larger backcountry ski touring collection later this month. Check out Backcountry clothes here.
Summit Series
The North Face released its 2018 summit series this week. The premium, technical line includes jackets and pants tested in Antarctica during last year’s Queen Maud Land expedition. So you can bet it’s warm and durable. This picture showcases the L3 Proprius Down Hoodie, a $350 800-fill down jacket, and the L4 Softshell Pants, a $235 stretchy bib pant with extra durability in the seat and knees. Explore the rest of this year’s Summit Series here.
