This week’s gear roundup covers a lot of bases. Those planning rugged, multiday adventures have some cool options, including a classy backpack and some lightweight waterproof jackets from Helly Hansen. But for those just gearing up for relaxing summer days, there’s even more.
From a chic car camping stove and lightweight angling inflatables to stylish shades and sandals, we make sure there’s a little something for everyone. Find all that and more in this week’s Emerging Gear.
Balance Bike
Balance bikes can serve as a crucial first step in teaching toddlers the fundamentals of cycling. My 4-year-old niece has loved her balance bike and is already bugging my brother about getting her a “real one” now that she sees him pedaling circles around her.
Strider Bikes just launched a new model aimed at kids aged 1-3 — and it clocks in at an impressively low weight: just 4.9 pounds. That’s significantly lighter than most leading competitors, like the 9-pound model from REI or the 6.5-pound Woom that currently holds GearJunkie’s top spot in our Best Balance Bikes guide.
That’s because the Strider 12 Comp is built with a lightweight composite frame. It’s the brand’s first new balance bike model since 2017 and the first new 12-inch model since 2013. The bike is “stable yet agile,” the brand said, and also offers a standing footrest for “advanced riding skills,” a handlebar sized for tiny hands, and an adjustable seat as they grow a little taller.
Hybrid Fishing Board
BOTE just expanded its inflatable fishing category with the new ProRider Aero and a redesigned Rackham Aero. Both boards have a recessed deck for a lower center of gravity, while meeting two different needs for fishermen. They’re likely a solid bet for anglers, given that BOTE holds the slot for Best Pedal-Drive Inflatable Kayak in our guide to the Best Inflatable Kayaks.
The ProRider Aero ($1,900) is a hybrid SUP + kayak that’s “built for the conventional angler,” BOTE said. It’s Apex Pedal Drive compatible and has a customizable rigging system for rod holders and electronics — without the need for hull modifications. As for the redesigned Rackham Aero ($1,500), this stable, 12-foot board offers an impressive 400-pound weight capacity. It also sports a simplified deck layout that’s meant to avoid line snags for fly fishermen and sight casters.
Chaco x Wrangler
When I first saw the pitch for this collaboration, I was a bit skeptical. After all, what does a beloved water sandal brand have in common with the Western-themed apparel of Wrangler? But I was oh-so-wrong. By leaning into colorful, Aztec-inspired designs, the two brands have found an aesthetic sweet spot that brings out the best of both.
The Chaco x Wrangler collaboration offers an eight-piece unisex collection that includes Western-inspired suede clogs and denim-print sandals, as well as long-sleeve shirts in Wrangler prints that match with Chaco’s Mega Z Classic Sandals. But there’s also a pair of Light Brown Suede Clogs with Western-inspired stitching that may appeal to those preferring a classic look. Prices range from $40 to $150.
Electric Outdoor Cooker
I’m a huge fan of the Japanese brand Nestout. Like Snow Peak, the brand makes good-looking camping gear that’s also highly functional and durable. That’s why its power banks hold a top slot in our Best Power Banks guide.
So I wouldn’t be surprised if the brand’s new 500W electric Outdoor Cooker is another hit. Sized for one-pot meals such as soups, noodles, oatmeal, and rice, it’s compact and easy to use, the brand said. It offers a controlled, plug-in alternative to gas stoves, charcoal, or campfire cooking, “allowing campers to prepare meals safely in environments where open flame is restricted,” Nestout said.
The Outdoor Cooker has a scratch-resistant exterior, a dial with three temperature levels, and light/sound alerts when cooking is complete. The 27-ounce inner pot has engraved cooking markings for measurement and is heat-insulated to protect the exterior from getting too hot. The lid doubles as a saucepan or bowl. Perhaps best of all, it only costs about $100.
Helly Hansen Shell
Helly Hansen makes high-quality ski and mountain gear, as evidenced by its recognition in our 2026 guide to the Best Winter Jackets. And its two latest offerings look better than ever.
For starters, the Odin Infinity Mimalist Jacket (available for both men and women) is Helly Hansen’s “lightest-ever, fully waterproof mountaineering shell jacket,” the brand said. Meant for emergency situations and extreme weather, it’s also breathable and should work for fast alpine missions and trail running. This packable layer weighs in at just 7.7 ounces for a men’s large and 7 ounces for a women’s medium.
As for the Odin Breeze Hooded Fleece, this technical midlayer is a new type of knitted fleece that’s “ultra-lightweight and breathable without compromising warmth or comfort, making it ideal for fast-paced mountaineering,” the brand said. It weighs just 7.4 ounces for the men’s style and 6.3 ounces for the women’s style.
Rugged Hiking Pack
It’s hard for me not to give some love to a backpacking brand name inspired by poetry. Emerging brand RADL (an acronym for “Rage Against the Dying of the Light,” from the classic Dylan Thomas poem) has released its first backpack — and it’s definitely a classy-looking pack.
While the model name (Pack 01) is less inspiring, this 65L trekking pack is “built to outlast anything on the market,” the brand said. It’s not overly heavy for a pack of this size (5 pounds, 3 ounces) and is made from 900D 100% polyester, which is very durable.
With aircraft-grade aluminum hardware and YKK Racquet Coil Zippers, it’s “overbuilt by design,” RADL said. Get one for $370.
Warby Parker Sport Shades
If you’re not familiar with Warby Parker — ask a hipster near you. This Philadelphia sunglasses brand, founded in 2010, quickly became a popular fixture among too-cool-for-school youngsters, and now it has a line of performance eyewear, too.
With Warby Parker Sport, the brand brings durability to its stylish shades, thus “bridging the gap between fashion and gear-focused sport frames,” it said in a release. The new collection includes three polarized lenses that reduce horizontal glare, but supposedly without distorting digital screens. There are Gray lenses for water and road sports, Rosewood for trails and snow, and Brown lenses aimed at field and fishing.
Made in Italy, the collection is made from hand-painted nylon, and each frame comes with a protective case and a nylon Warby Parker strap. Prices start at $195.
Lems Sandal
If you’re looking for durability and a colorful aesthetic in a summer sandal, then Boulder, Colo.–based Lems has some sweet offerings in its new catalog.
My pick is the Women’s Switchback Sandal Knit ($125), made with a soft, breathable knit upper that’s designed for “easy days, warm-weather adventures, and everything in between,” Lems said. The above “Prism” color is a standout design, but there are also multiple colors to choose from.
The brand also has lots of other cool footwear coming out. View all its new releases on the Lems website.
LifeStraw Go Series Tumbler 24 Oz.
You get a filter! And you get a filter! That’s what the water bottle marketplace looks like lately, and now there’s another offering from LifeStraw.
LifeStraw just expanded its drinkware lineup with the 24-ounce Go Series Tumbler ($60). So if you like those super-popular Stanley tumblers — but with a filter — this one is clearly for you. The LifeStraw tumbler has two-stage filtration to remove bacteria, parasites, and microplastics, along with double-wall insulated stainless steel to keep your water cold. The membrane filter should last up to 1,000 gallons (~5 years of use), while the carbon filter will last only about 2 months, according to LifeStraw.
As always with LifeStraw, its products also give back: Every purchase provides a child in need with a year of safe drinking water.
Mountain Photo Book
Quality gear and apparel may keep us safe in the outdoors — but it’s books like this one that often inspire us to get outside in the first place.
Thanks to a Kickstarter campaign that’s already fully funded, you can be sure that Cascade High is a safe bet. This is the first large-format photography book about Washington’s 100 highest peaks. Photographer Scott Kranz spent many years climbing and documenting every mountain on the Bulger List, a legacy roster of the state’s highest summits.
The book offers an “intimate look at one of the country’s most rugged and compelling mountain ranges — seen through the perspective of a climber and photographer who has dedicated his life to this local landscape,” according to the Kickstarter description. “If you feel drawn to mountains, wild places, or the creative process behind documenting them — this project is for you.”
Read the full article here