Part of the beauty of outdoor sports is that we can pursue them in our own way — and there’s usually specialized gear to help us do it.
Do you love camping but want to cook your pasta to perfection? Then, an electric camp stove from Stoke Voltaics might level up your next trip. Want to explore more city parks without carrying your little one the whole way?
Maybe it’s time for an electrified baby wagon. Or how about a folding portaledge made from ultralight, packable materials? Look no further than the High Mountain Gear’s “Taco” system.
This week’s Emerging Gear covers a spectrum of niche activities, oddball applications, and unique designs. So take a look. These products represent the bleeding edge of outdoor innovation (or, at least, the coolest new stuff we could find this week).
Yulex100
Many outdoor gear companies look for ways to make their products more sustainable — even the ones making wetsuits.
Yulex, a U.S.-based company specializing in natural rubber, has long partnered with Patagonia to make alternatives to neoprene wetsuits, a longtime industry standard that’s also a petroleum-based product. Now, Yulex has teamed up with retailer Decathlon to launch Yulex100. It calls it the first wetsuit made entirely from natural rubber, which allegedly lowers the suit’s carbon footprint.
While some alternatives mix 85% natural rubber with 15% synthetic rubber, Yulex has eliminated synthetic components altogether with the Yulex100. The brand said that this results in an 80% reduction in CO2 emissions compared to traditional neoprene foam. The Yulex100 wetsuit supposedly provides the same freedom of movement and thermal comfort as neoprene, offering an eco-friendly option without compromising performance.
The suits cost $27 for men and women and $22 for the junior size.
Tifosi Optics Neon Collection
If we’ve learned anything from the Stanley tumbler craze, it’s that people like bright colors — even for hardy outdoor gear.
So it’s welcome news to see Tifosi Optics launching the Neon Lights Collection. It takes many of Tifosi’s most popular frames, glamorizes them with bright neon colors, and prices them all under $35.
Each pair includes polycarbonate lenses that are 100% UVA/UVB resistant and “shatter-proof,” the brand said. It also has hydrophilic Grilamid TR-90 frames.
Options include the Sanctum, which offer extra coverage for outdoor activities. It comes in Amber Blaze, Hyper Lime, and Purple Punch. Other styles include Sizzle, for long runs with a stable shield-style frame; Smirk, which features a keyhole bridge and soft square edges; and the Swank or Swank XL.
Reebok Nano Court Training Shoes
If you want to look good on the court this summer, Reebok just dropped a pickleball/tennis shoe that will help you score big — at least in terms of style.
The Nano Court is Reebok’s first “high-performance court shoe,” it said in the launch this week. It’s designed for sports like pickleball, paddle, and tennis, emphasizing grip and stability. The launch features Reebok athlete and professional pickleball champion Hurricane Tyra Black, seen above.
The Reebok Nano Court will be available starting June 20 at $120 on Reebok. It will be offered in several colors and unisex/women’s sizing.
High MTN Gear Taco Portaledge
Most of us will never sleep in a bag hanging off the side of a mountain, but you’ve got to admit: The view ain’t too shabby.
Big wall climbers have a new option with High MTN Gear’s Taco Portaledge, which it claims is now the lightest option available. At just over 20 ounces, it’s hard (and perhaps even questionable) to imagine going much lighter.
Tackling longer routes deep in the backcountry means carrying lots of gear, so cutting down on weight is always a good idea. The Taco Portaledge includes a modular design to accommodate different needs. It’s got multiple strap and tie-down locations, options for a spreader bar, daisy chains, and roller cam buckles.
Made in the USA with “untearable,” ultralight fabric, it adjusts to slabs, sloping ledges, or fully hanging bivies, the brand said. It also costs $350. But buy it with the $300 Gordito Storm Fly, and you’ll have a complete portaledge tent system that weighs less than 4 lbs.
Ellavate Electric Family Wagon
Sure, there are plenty of electrified little vehicles these days. But a motorized baby wagon is certainly a hard left from the usual suspects.
Ellavate Wagon, a Newport Beach-based startup founded by a mother-daughter duo, aims mostly at Millennial moms looking for a pragmatic way to level up family outings.
The wagon supports up to 100 pounds and supposedly works on all terrains, from beaches to trails, the brand said. It comes with safety-certified child seats and also adheres to child safety and electric mobility standards, with a top speed of 4 mph. Other features include adjustable power levels, smart braking, and a collapsible design.
An IndieGogo campaign for the wagon will launch on June 16. However, you can reserve a bundle right now through the Ellavate website. For $1,200, you get the wagon, child seat, hanging bag, and meal tray.
Jetboil x Bound For Nowhere Flash Cooking System
JetBoil’s latest collaboration design results from the brand’s partnership with Bound For Nowhere, the brand of traveling adventure photographers MAK and Owen. This partnership includes sponsorship of their latest film, Press On: A High Sierra Trail Story.
Promotion for the film includes this limited-edition Jetboil x Bound For Nowhere Flash Cooking System. The bright orange design was created by artist Tyler Anthony. The Jetboil Flash weighs 13.3 ounces and boils water in record time. I’ve been happily using mine for 8 years without issue. This new version costs $130.
Snow Peak Fubi
There’s no denying the chic, efficient style of many Japanese designs, and Snow Peak has long offered some of the most elegant-looking tents around.
With the Fubi, Snow Peak offers a multiroom, modular shelter designed with an angled front side that gives campers an unobstructed view of the surrounding scenery.
Priced at $2,290, the Fubi includes three entry points, each equipped with a mesh panel for airflow and visibility. The main front door includes adjustable side panels that can be configured to increase awning coverage. Also, a transparent skylight panel on the roof provides extra visibility, and the Shield Roof can be added or removed as needed.
Stoke Voltaics Electric Cook System
If you care about the quality of your cooking, even in The Great Outdoors, you’ll probably want something more sophisticated than a Jetboil flash and some dehydrated meals.
The new Nomad Cooking System from Stoke Voltaics may be the answer. This $250 electric stove system includes a cooking reactor, pan, pot, lid, and detachable handle. The design aims for higher levels of control in cooking — without fuel.
It comes with adjustable power settings, including five levels from 200W to 1,000W. With Smart Cookware Recognition, the system can automatically adjust cooking settings through advanced temperature sensors. By avoiding traditional gas-based stoves, it also avoids fire risks and reduces environmental impact, the brand said.
Gorewear Ultimate Bib Shorts+
These bib shorts won a 2023 ISPO Award for their design, which includes a 3D-printed seat pad and recycled materials.
Gorewear’s Ultimate Bib Shorts+ aim for top performance in road and gravel rides. According to the brand, the multilayer seat pad offers several advantages, including better control, faster drying times, minimal sweat absorption, and improved air permeability.
The design incorporates flat seams, reflective details for visibility, and shoulder straps made from wide, single-piece mesh. The shorts sell for $300 and are available in black and in men’s sizes XS-XL.
Rumpl Moon Lines Blanket
Rumpl keeps partnering with artists to make new blanket designs; each one gets cooler and more beautiful than the last. The Rumpl Moon Lines Blanket comes from a collaboration with artist and surfer Erik Abel.
Abel, an Oregon-based artist known for his bold colors, geometric patterns, and botanical themes, draws inspiration from his love of the ocean and surfing.
Made from 60 recycled plastic bottles, each blanket offers stain and water resistance while remaining machine-washable. It’s priced at $125, and a portion of the sales supports Save The Waves, an international nonprofit dedicated to protecting surf ecosystems.
