A peek at emerging products from the sometimes cutting-edge, sometimes quirky world of gear design.
Fuel-Free Cooking
Cook day and night with the portable GoSun Fusion. The Fusion continues with the brand’s namesake solar-powered design and adds nighttime cooking compatibility. By integrating the Fusion with a lithium-ion battery, this oven can cook meals with the sun during the day, then transition to electricity after sunset. And just like the brand’s other ovens, the Fusion harnesses solar energy into a vacuum-insulated oven to cook food, all while staying cool to the touch. The Fusion is on Kickstarter now for an early bird price of $299.
Maker Knife
Transform a razor blade into an easy-to-hold EDC tool. The Maker Knife is a simple, thin invention that holds a double-sided razor blade. It extends and locks with the push of a finger, is waterproof, and measures 0.3 inches thick. Use it to open boxes, mark wood, sand down boards, or twist screws. The Maker Knife is on Kickstarter now for $45 early bird.
$200 Board Shorts
Surf in some of the most advanced board shorts yet with the Highline New Wave Pro. Quiksilver designed the Highline New Wave Pro for surfers that demand a light, dry, and stretchy short. The shorts use DryFlight hydrophobic coating to repel water as well as four-way stretch, a neoprene waistband, laser cuts and bonded seams, a heat-welded zipper pocket, and a “locking” drawcord that Quiksilver touts as stable during the heaviest surf. The downside? The Highline New Wave Pro retails for $200. Ouch.
Snorkel Meets Scuba
Explore close to the coral reef and leave the bulky air tanks behind with the Supa Huka. Dubbed a tankless hookah-diving system, the Supa Huka bridges the gap between snorkeling and scuba diving. Supa Huka works with two removable SLA batteries that fit into a pack that floats behind you while you dive. The pack draws air from the surface to a regulator and can last up to two hours on a single charge. Supa Huka is on Kickstarter now for $684 early bird.
Hammock Sleeping Warmth System
The Firebelly from Kammok merges an underquilt and top quilt for simple and warm hammock sleeping. Packed with DownTek fill, the Firebelly will keep your underside warm and your top nice and cozy. The Firebelly sets up to your hammock with snaps and is rated down to 30 degrees F. Kammok is running a preorder sale of the Firebelly for $249, with shipment on July 18.
Peter Sagan Sunglasses
For the Tour de France, 100% launches limited-edition colors of the Speedcraft, Speedtrap, and S2 sunglasses. While Peter Sagan will wear the iridescent frames at this year’s Tour, each of the models is designed to transition seamlessly between frame and lens. The result is a fast-paced-looking pair of sunglasses. Pictured here is the Speedcraft, which uses lightweight and high-impact-resistant polycarbonate lenses with 360-degree visibility. The Speedcraft costs $220 and is available now.
Smart Navigating Bike Computer
The Edge Explore does more than give directions and count miles. From Garmin comes an advancement in GPS cycling computers that alerts riders to how sharp turns are, guides riders back to the route if they depart, and uses a Trendline function to provide riders with the most frequently traveled road, mountain, and gravel routes. The Edge Explore is compatable with Garmin’s RTL5190 rearview radar that alerts riders of approaching cars. Available this fall, the Edge Explore runs for 12 hours and costs $250.
Rumpl Towels
Lay out at the beach on the Shammy Travel Towel from Rumpl. Dubbed “impossibly soft” and “insanely absorbent,” the Rumpl uses a fabric that repels stains. It has button closures for securing around your waist, and its quick-drying nature makes the towel functional for groups. The Original Shammy Travel Towel is available now for $59.
Smart Water Bottle
Hit hydration goals and track water intake and hydration levels with the EQUA Smart Water Bottle. With a paired EQUA app, the water bottle sends reminders in the form of a glowing ring of light at the bottom of the bottle for when you need to drink. And you don’t need to open the app to track your hydration. Simply tap on the bottle, and it will illuminate slowly if you’re on track, or quickly if you need to hydrate more. The EQUA Smart Water Bottle launches in a few weeks on Kickstarter.
Boa and MIPS Bike Helmet
Boa improves the fit of MIPS helmets with the MIPS B-Series Boa. Traditionally, Boa Systems on helmets improved the fit of the helmet but did not tighten the MIPS layer. By attaching a Boa Fit System directly to the MIPS Low Friction layer, the integration improves the fit of the MIPS liner, thus furthering its protection. The MIPS B-Series Boa launches next year in consumer helmets.
Raleigh E-MTB
Blast uphill in the Raleigh Kodiak Pro iE e-MTB — all without breaking a sweat. Raleigh’s latest additions include two e-bikes: one for cruising and the Kodiak Pro for technical trails. The Kodiak Pro uses an e-bike-specific drivetrain from SRAM, a RockShox Pike fork, and a Bosch CX motor. It has 27.5-inch wheels and a Rock Shox Deluxe rear shock. The Kodiak Pro iE e-MTB is available now for $5,000.
Bamboo Cookware
UCO Ware extends into the camp kitchen category with a line of utensils and cookware. The brand’s Bamboo Elements Mess Kit offers campers a nonplastic eating utensil option made from 90 percent plant materials: 75 percent bamboo and 15 percent cornstarch. The set includes a spork with utility cord and a leakproof bowl and plate, which has a split-grip tab for holding away from the table. The Bamboo Elements Mess Kit costs $20 and will be available in 2019.
Outdoor Adventure Watch
Browse color maps offline with the WSD-F20A smartwatch. A variant of Casio’s Pro Trek line, the outdoors watch is water resistant to 50 meters and has military-standard 810G durability as well as an altimeter, a barometer, a digital compass, an activity tracker, and a microphone. The band is soft black urethane, and on the face is a protective bezel and button guards.To save battery, you can switch display modes from color TFT LCD to monochrome LCD. Launched this spring, the WSD-F20A is now available in indigo and costs $399.
