A peek at emerging products from the sometimes cutting-edge, sometimes quirky world of gear design.
Clipless Sneakers
Don’t like the boring, performance-oriented look of your cycling shoes? Don’t fret! In one of the more bizarre mashups we’ve witnessed, State Bicycle Co. combined a Yeezy Boost 350 v2 and a DZR Minna to make a street-cycling shoe. This video shows the process, but they fully gutted the Yeezys, and the build quality appears impressive. Currently, all the brand offrers is a DIY tutorial.
Duluth Pack Pannier
Duluth Pack this week introduces a bike pannier, constructed with the same long-lasting craftsmanship the brand is known for. The main fabric is durable 15-ounce canvas. Inside is a zippered pocket for small item storage, and it has a roll-top enclosure that folds away unused space. The pannier has a practical mounting system as well as D-rings on the back for shoulder carry. The Midtown is available now for $125.
Hybrid Smartwatch
Count the seconds, set alarms, and track UV intensity with the Muse Hybrid Smartwatch. Boasting an impressive battery life for a smartwatch, the Muse combines the look of traditional watches and the functionality of a smartwatch. With the Muse, you can track activities, find your phone, make payments, control music, and more, all from your wrist. The Muse is on Kickstarter, with prices starting at $98.
Modern Penny-Farthing
Enjoy modern features and a bygone design atop the bicymple nuvo. The nuvo marks an update to one of cycling’s oldest designs, the penny-farthing. It has modern components and an updated geometry to ride more like a traditional bicycle. An option on the bike is a two-speed hub that shifts with the flick of your heel. The two-speed bicymple nuvo is on Kickstarter now for $1,799.
Stretchiest Jeans Yet?
Climb, hike, and do yoga… in jeans? OK, that last one might be a stretch, but Boulder Denim claims to create the most comfortable jeans possible that don’t compromise function. While stretchy jeans are nothing new, Boulder Denim touts it developed one of the stretchiest thanks to its proprietary 360-degree “Extreme Diagonal Stretch.” Boulder Denim is about to go on Kickstarter July 23. One pair will cost $109.
Compact Tenkara
Explore the most distant honey holes without getting weighed down thanks to the Tenkara USA Hane Rod. The brand’s ultracompact and lightweight rod, the Hane, measures 15 inches collapsed, weighs 5 ounces, and extends to 10 feet 10 inches. The $150 rod has the backpacker, bike-fisher, and hiker in mind.
Jungle Trekking Boots
Cross rivers, plod through thick mud, and tack on the miles in the MACV-1. GoRuck designed the boot to handle one of Earth’s most imposing environments. The brand tested it in the Vietnam jungle, and its high-traction rubber sole and full-grain-leather/1,000-denier-Cordura uppers held up. The MACV-1 Jungle Boot is available for preorder now for $195, with shipment in October.
Flag Print Rumpl
Rumpl expands its print offerings this week with the Flag Print Collection. Wrap yourself in Rumpl’s puffy 3D hollow-fiber insulation in American, Pride, Colorado, California, and Cascadia flag prints. And like previous Rumpl Puffy Blankets, it’s packable, machine washable, and has a DWR-treated nylon shell.
Well-Rounded 29er
Tackle the toughest descents without weight penalty or excess bobbing on climbs in the Pivot Firebird 29. Pivot’s latest mountain bike, the Firebird 29 offers long reach, short chainstays, and a low center of gravity. Because of this, the Firebird is nimble and snappy in tight riding conditions. According to Chris Cocalis, Pivot Cycles CEO, “It has this poppy, lively feel that this category of bike hasn’t offered up until this point.” And it performs with a lightweight (7-pound) carbon frame. The Firebird 29 is available now from $5,099 to $9,199.
Humanitarian Watch
Illegal firearms are the secret behind Triwa x Humanium Metal Watches. The metal used in this watch is crafted from Humanium Metal, or metal gathered from destructed illegal firearms. The nonprofit IM Swedish Development Partner retrieves and melts down the guns from conflict-torn societies, turning them into functional metal. Then, the nonprofit refines it into molds for watches. Triwa x Humanium is on Kickstarter now for $225.
Design-Oriented Multitool
Design and plan your next build with the SmartRuler, a titanium everyday carry for designers, architects, and builders. Included in the credit card-sized multitool are multiple circle templates, a protractor, phone holder, bottle opener, and more. It functions as a box opener, and metric and imperial markings line the sides. The titanium SmartRuler is on Kickstarter now for the Early Bird price of $27.
Glare-Free Sunglasses
Slide on a pair of Vuarnet sunglasses and look through the extremely clear glass lens, this time without glare. Vuarnet’s unisex Edge Cap sunglasses have a stainless steel “visor” the brand claims offers 180 degrees of protection against glare. They come in stainless steel and acetate frames and, like all Vuarnet glasses, are pricy. The Edge Cap sunglasses come in four colors and cost $350 to $420.
Out-Of-This-World Socks
Ride in socks emblazoned with fun, alien-themed patterns from Alien Socks. A new brand, Alien Socks are woven in the U.S. with a blend of nylon, spandex, and polypropylene. All of its offerings have one-of-a-kind designs with aliens. They offer a compression fit and ventilate well when pushing during workouts. While the brand’s theme sure turns heads, after wearing the socks for a few months, we found alien socks performed impressively for such a low price point. One pair costs $10.
Compact Workout Machine
Feel the burn with the Rove Gym, a tiny and portable home gym. The Rove operates with a system of pulleys for time-under-tension exercises. Rove intends to continuously activate the muscle throughout all movement. And when not in use, the Rove Gym only takes up 4 inches of floor space and 6 inches of height. It comes with an optional rower and is on Kickstarter now for $699.
Single-Speed Cyclocross Bike
Break through the cyclocross pack riding the Wabi Thunder Elite. With a new Reynolds 725 frame design, the Thunder Elite also has an SRAM Force 1 carbon fiber crankset, an Avid Shorty Ultimate Canti Brakes, and a White Industries ENO freewheel. The Thunder Elite is intended for a low-maintenance ride thanks to its premium component group and sealed bearings. The Wabi Thunder Elite is available now for $1,695.
