Smells like something’s cooking in the outdoor gear industry lately. You might have seen the burly Brio Camp Kitchen from last week’s Emerging Gear. As that Kickstarter continues, we have two other approaches to a mobile camp kitchen in this week’s column, from Daylodge’s Kickstarter for mobile kitchen workspaces to Snow Peak’s minimalist camping table.
But if camp cooking isn’t your thing, we’ve got plenty else on offer from tried-and-true outdoor brands. Mystery Ranch has a sweet new EDC pack to show off, The North Face just dropped a new parka, and Merrell once again serves up something fresh and funky. Enjoy window-shopping our latest collection of new gear.
Daylodge Workspace Camp Collection
Anybody who lives out of a car for any length of time will want to take a look at this one.
Cooking remains one of the most difficult tasks to bring outdoors, which is probably why so many of us opt for simply filling up bags of dehydrated meals with boiling water. But for those who enjoy making delicious meals or cocktails in the Great Outdoors, the kitchen-in-a-bag Kickstarter from Daylodge looks like a cool solution.
The bags fold open to reveal a cutting board workspace surrounded by various compartments and pockets. It can stand alone or hang off a car door. Either way, this creative little invention looks like it could become a camp chef’s favorite new mobile kitchen.
Merrell Wrapt Shoe
Merrell’s Wrapt shoe ($100) offers a blend of comfort and function for daily wear or trail commuting, drawing from the brand’s popular barefoot collection. The Wrapt’s rubber sole is crafted to mirror the natural shape of the human foot, encouraging a natural stance and allowing stable movement on varied terrains.
The shoe is available in a range of colors for both men and women, with an added option for a Mid Waterproof model ($130) for those who want extra ankle support and protection against wet conditions. The Wrapt line is available in multiple color options.
‘Together We Rise’ T-Shirts
Hurricane Helene caused massive damage in North Carolina, impacting several outdoor brands in Asheville as well. You can help those businesses rebuild by buying a “Together We Rise” T-shirt.
The initiative comes from Asheville-based companies Fuel Goods and Pressio, which plan to sell 1,000 custom-designed shirts and give 100% of the proceeds to impacted businesses in Western North Carolina. These include Rockgeist BIKEPACK USA, a custom bike-packing bag maker, and Asheville Adventure Company, a local adventure and climbing gym provider.
The “Together We Rise” T-shirts, designed in collaboration with Ashlee Designs, are available in men’s and women’s sizes at $28 to $100 on Fuel Goods’ website. In addition, Fuel Goods will donate 10% of all October sales to the relief campaign.
Snow Peak IGT Camp Kitchen
Snow Peak has introduced the IGT Camp Kitchen Low Set, an addition to its versatile Iron Grill Table (IGT) System. Priced at $450, the three-unit kitchen set is designed for a comfortable low height, allowing campers to access cooking, prepping, and storage areas directly from camp chairs.
In addition to the IGT 3 Unit Low Set as a platform, you’ll get a deep mesh tray for dry goods and kitchen tools, a chopping board set for food prep, a flat burner for cooking, and an IGT 3 Unit Carry Case for easy transportation.
Rumpl x Snow Peak Fire-Resistant Blanket
Rumpl and Snow Peak are reuniting for a third limited-edition launch of the fire-resistant Takibi Blanket ($200). This 50×70” throw-size blanket combines Rumpl’s 100% post-consumer recycled insulation and fire-resistant ripstop material. The latest design includes a cape clip, allowing users to drape the blanket hands-free over their shoulders.
Named after the Japanese word Takibi, meaning bonfire, the blanket is designed for gatherings around the fire to relax and reconnect with nature. This new edition builds on successful releases in 2020 and 2022, with each blanket using 12 recycled plastic bottles in its construction. The Takibi Blanket is available at both Rumpl and Snow Peak’s online stores and select retail partners.
The North Face HMLYN Parka
The North Face just launched a 30th-anniversary edition of its iconic HMLYN Parka, originally introduced in 1994 for extreme alpine conditions. The brand said that the newly redesigned FW24 HMLYN Parka ($450) has a waxed ripstop fabric that develops a patina over time.
It’s insulated with 600-fill goose down for warmth and compressibility, and it offers practical design elements like a three-piece adjustable hood, a storm flap-covered two-way zipper, dual-entry hand pockets, and an internal secure-zip pocket. A relaxed fit and anniversary branding complete the updated look.
Mystery Ranch x Carryology Dragon 2.0
Mystery Ranch and Carryology have unveiled the limited-edition Dragon 2.0, an upgraded everyday carry (EDC) pack inspired by the original “Scape Artist” hunting pack. The Dragon 2.0 dropped this week, but supplies are limited, the brands said.
Priced at $400 for Urban, Desert, and Forest colors, or $460 for the Alpine color scheme, the Dragon 2.0 aims for flexible use. It’s got two expandable water bottle pockets with a hidden compartment, internal mesh pockets, and padded sleeves for both tablets and laptops. There’s also a 38mm attachable waist belt web and stretch lid pockets with a key attachment. Constructed with X50 Tactical Cordura, the brands say it’s a durable pack.
Ornot EcoPak Bags
Ornot’s EcoPak Bag lineup receives a colorful refresh this fall, including a striking pink option across three popular designs: the Handlebar Bag, Handlebar Bag Mini, and Seat Bag. All bags in the EcoPak collection are crafted from recycled fabric and offer PFC-free water resistance.
The Handlebar Bag ($86) offers 3.1L of space, ideal for larger essentials, and now comes in the EcoPak Flamingo color, as well as white and avocado green. It includes three cargo pockets, a phone holster, an internal zipper pocket with a key clip, 6-inch voile straps, and a rear tether for secure mounting. You can also explore those new colors on the Handlebar Bag Mini ($54), which provides a compact 1.15L capacity, and the Seat Bag ($36), which holds repair essentials.
Lomomatic 110 Brass Edition
There’s something undeniably appealing about film cameras. Like vinyl records, the fact that these anachronisms have made a comeback probably speaks to our shared exhaustion with computer and phone screens. I’ve happily used disposable film cameras for outdoor adventures to avoid bringing a smartphone or DSLR.
Since we’ve featured the Polaroid-like cameras of Retrospekt, it only makes sense to show off the equally cool film cameras of Lomography. This brand focuses on the 110-format camera, a 1970s Kodak model popular among casual photographers for its small size and easy-to-load film cartridges.
They’ve got several models of the Lomomatic 110, the brand’s own version of the iconic Kodak camera. But you can explore various designs, like the new Bellagio. Priced at $190, it’s got a brass construction and a matching brass gold chain wrist strap.
The camera has a 23mm Minitar CX multicoated lens, automatic exposure, and zone focusing. It even has adjustable ISO, various shooting modes, and a flash with colored filters.
Bug-Repellant Perfume
Gudrun Snyder, founder of Moon Rabbit Acupuncture in Chicago, made a bug repellent that, well, supposedly smells much better than most bug repellanta. Snyder wanted to create protection against mosquito-borne diseases that doubled as a unisex perfume for everyday use.
Inspired by traditional Chinese medicine, the repellent includes fir needle, grapefruit, lemon-eucalyptus, patchouli, sandalwood, jasmine, citronella, rose geranium, orange, and vetiver. It also contains traditional Chinese medicine, Bi Cheng Qie (Litsea Cubeba). That’s all combined with organic jojoba, distilled water, and witch hazel.
I’m guessing it smells better than OFF!, but as with any DEET-free bug repellant, the effectiveness will likely vary from person to person.
