The days of choosing substance over style are far behind us. Once upon a time, you could only get a pair of good hiking boots in brown or dark brown. The outdoor industry has expanded massively since those days, and now there are loads of fun (and beautiful) designs for gear that’s also functional and reliable.
We’re highlighting several new collaborations this week that do exactly that, including gorgeous new binoculars inspired by bird species, backpacks with a Wes Anderson aesthetic, running and swim gear co-designed by Olympic athletes, and tons more.
Find the latest and greatest of the outdoor industry in this week’s Emerging Gear.
NOCS Provisions x Audubon
When I was a kid, I remember poring over the Audubon Society coffee books that my dad kept around. Matching real-life birds to the books’ detailed illustrations of various species was a highlight of our time spent outside together.
Now, binocular brand NOCS Provisions has partnered with the National Audubon Society for a gorgeous new collection of optics. The Shared Ground Collection includes five limited-edition bundles inspired by threatened and regionally significant bird species. Each offering combines NOCS’ impact-absorbing ribbed casing, multicoated glass, and fogproof construction with a matching woven tapestry strap inspired by the bird’s native habitat.
The five species providing aesthetic inspiration for the collection are the Ruddy Duck, Crested Caracara, Great Cormorant, Summer Tanager, and California Scrub-Jay. Peruse all five bundles on the NOCS website.
Nike x Keely Hodgkinson
Keely Hodgkinson has received one of the ultimate honors for any successful runner: a signature capsule from Nike.
The middle-distance runner from England is currently the reigning Olympic champion of the Women’s 800 m. She won the gold medal at the 2024 Summer Olympics after earning a silver medal for the same distance in the 2020 games.
Now she’s introducing the Keely Hodgkinson Collection from Nike Running. The collection includes signature colorways of four running shoe models: Vomero Plus, Pegasus 42, Vaporfly 4, and Victory 2. There’s also signature apparel from AeroSwift and Nike Pro Sculpt. The black-and-gold aesthetic of these shoes is striking, and I’d imagine they’ll be just as likely to become collectors’ items as get tons of use on the track.
Thousand x Keith Haring
The bold, graphic designs of Keith Haring has had an outsized influence on modern art. An openly gay artist inspired by graffiti, Haring was a major player in the 1980s New York art scene.
Haring died in 1990, but his art and influence live on through the Keith Haring Foundation. The organization has made several partnerships with outdoor brands, including bike helmet brand Thousand.
Two limited-edition Heritage 2.0 helmets from Thousand show off some of Haring’s designs. The helmets will even be featured in the “Keith Haring in 3D” exhibition at Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Bentonville, Ark. (The exhibition runs from June 6 of this year to Jan. 25, 2027.) Check out these beautiful helmets: the Pop and Lock and Take Flight.
Topo Designs x Wes Anderson
Do you like monotone dialogue, bright colors, and perfect symmetry? Then you’re probably a fan of Wes Anderson’s auteur filmmaking. Anderson’s now-iconic aesthetic has even inspired the travel site Accidentally Wes Anderson, which showcases “idiosyncratic” destinations across the globe (it’s not directly affiliated with the director).
This idea made its way to Colorado brand Topo Designs, which has released a couple of color-blocked bags with patches inspired by the travel destinations of photographers featured in books from Accidentally Wes Anderson.
The Topo Designs x Wes Anderson Collection currently has two bags: the Topo Designs x AWA Mountain Essential Tote ($79) and the Topo Designs x AWA Light Pack ($99).
Crazy Creek x Woodsy Owl
Though most Americans are familiar with Smokey Bear, there’s a lesser-known icon for environmental advocacy: Woodsy Owl. This other folksy animal character was created in 1970 as a companion to Smokey.
Woodsy now features on a new special-edition design from Crazy Creek: the Woodsy Owl Original Chair. The design pairs Crazy Creek’s ground-level seat with Woodsy Owl’s “Give a Hoot, Don’t Pollute” message. It’s available now at REI. Moreover, Crazy Creek will donate 10% of proceeds from each chair sold to the U.S. Forest Service to help fund Woodsy Owl’s conservation and anti-litter education efforts.
DOXA x Hodinkee
The Swiss dive watches from DOXA are reliable and beautiful, as GJ Editorial Director Sean McCoy noted in reviews of past models. Now the brand has launched its first collaboration with Hodinkee, a New York City–based watch publication.
The result is the DOXA SUB Army 200T for Hodinkee Limited Edition. DOXA first introduced the “Army” dive watch in 1969 in a partnership with the Swiss Army. It has since “become an obsession among vintage collectors,” DOXA said in a release. The timepiece returns as a limited edition that’s scaled down into DOXA’s new SUB 200T case.
“For this collaboration, the stark black accents of the original military spec have been softened for a more nuanced and subtle color palette,” DOXA said. “The dial features a rich, meticulously textured color, framed by a graphic checkerboard track and matching date wheel rendered in a soft, faded ‘Hodinkee Grey’.”
Limited to 250 pieces, the DOXA SUB Army 200T for Hodinkee Limited Edition sells for $2,000.
Jolyn x Katie Grimes
At 20 years old, American swimmer Katie Grimes is an athlete to watch. She placed fourth in the 800m freestyle at the 2020 Summer Olympics. At the time, she was the youngest member of the U.S. Olympic Team at just 15 years of age.
Now she’s already teamed up with a swimwear brand for the Rev’d Up Collection. This lineup of three onesies is geared for swim training and aesthetically inspired by Grimes’ passion for restoring her vintage Corvette. Made from 100% polyester, these “chlorine-proof” suits include The Ginnie One Piece ($74–80), offering maximum support with a built-in shelf bra, the Amelie One Piece ($80), which has a classic racing aesthetic and thick straps, and the Kirsten One Piece ($80), which sports a sharp racing stripe down the side and thin straps.
Rumpl x Shibumi
Rumpl is constantly creating beautiful new designs for its outdoor towels and water gear. Its latest is a partnership with Shibumi, a bestselling beach shade that has made waves in recent years.
Now you can get a Rumpl Tech Towel Tote in a limited-edition Shibumi Fade colorway ($90). To be clear, the Tech Towel Tote is Rumpl’s first and only quick-dry towel that transforms into a carryall bag. In this case, it’s the gradient of a pink-hued sunset, so it’s a solid choice for beach lovers.
Arcade ‘Keep Tahoe Blue’ Belt
Arcade Belts just launched the Keep Tahoe Blue Belt, a limited-edition collaboration with The League to Save Lake Tahoe. According to Arcade, 10% of proceeds will be donated to The League to Save Lake Tahoe to support environmental efforts that preserve the lake’s health and sustainability for generations to come.
Designed for life outdoors, the belt has Arcade’s performance stretch webbing, a patented micro-adjustable A2 buckle system, and webbing made from 85% post-consumer recycled polyester. It’s lightweight, machine-washable, metal-free for easy travel, and built to handle everything from hiking and camping to everyday wear. You can get the Arcade “Keep Tahoe Blue” Belt for $43.
Benchmade Bugout Knife in Green
The Benchmade Bugout is “one of the knife market’s most iconic folders,” GJ contributor Zach Burton wrote in a 2025 review, when he noted that the newer models had improved in both looks and materials.
Now you can get your hands on the Benchmade Bugout in Taiga Green. Inspired by the canopies of northern boreal forests, the 535FE-2602 Bugout in Taiga Green is made from aluminum and brown canvas micarta. It has the brand’s FDE PVD Battlewash blade finish over S90V stainless super steel, and it’s accented with a Taiga Green handle and Burnt Copper hardware accents. It costs $400.
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