It might only be October, but if you ask outdoor gear brands, it’s time to hit the slopes. This week, several new winter sports products were released, including a high-tech shell from Adidas and redesigned helmets and goggles from POC. With ski season approaching fast, it’s time to get that winter kit dialed.
Then, Kizik released a new slip-on snow boot that delivers on both style and warmth. Essential Provisions also dropped some new on-the-go nutrition pouches to keep you fueled for hours of runs.
Check out all of this week’s Emerging Gear below.
Safety on the Slopes
Bike and snow brand POC has been around for 2 decades, and it’s still retooling its flagship products. It recently released the third generation of its most popular ski helmet, the Fornix ($200). The new version has thicker padding for increased comfort and a cradle adjuster to make it easier for users to get an ideal fit.
The brand also updated its POCito collection, gear made for young riders. New items for kids include the POCito Nexal goggle ($190), specially designed to fit smaller skiers and snowboarders and available in high-visibility colors for extra safety.
Stormproof Shell
When it comes to hardshells versus softshells, there’s always a trade-off: Better weather protection usually means less breathability. Adidas TERREX, however, is aiming to give customers the best of both worlds with its Xperior Hybrid PRIMEKNIT CLIMAPROOF+ Jacket ($350).
The brand says that the Primeknit technology is “strategically placed on the jacket based on body-mapping insights, designed to offer protection against the elements while maximizing breathability.”
Other features include underarm vents and heat-seal cuffs. It’s also just a great-looking jacket (as we’ve come to expect from Adidas TERREX), so you’ll look fly, too.
Upgraded Smartwatch
Suunto isn’t as well-known in the wearables world as brands like Garmin, but it should be on your radar. Its new adventure watch, the Vertical 2 ($600), is all about improving the core features users depend on the most.
The brand redesigned the heart rate sensor for improved accuracy and made the AMOLED display larger and brighter for better visibility in dark conditions. Suunto also added a faster processor and a built-in LED flashlight.
On-the-Go Fuel
If you’re an endurance athlete, you know how hard it can be to get adequate nutrition during a busy day. Essential Provisions’ new line of Sustain energy blends ($18 for a three-pack) aims to make it easier. The ready-to-eat pouches contain a mix of beef collagen, chia seeds, coconut water, maple syrup, and flavorings for a quick, nutrient-dense snack.
Sustain is available in three varieties: chocolate orange ginger, raspberry mint, and salted almond vanilla. If you’re a backpacker and looking for something that delivers calories and protein, odds are that Sustain might do better than a Snickers.
Super Training Shoes
So-called super shoes — running shoes with carbon fiber or glass plates for better propulsion and energy return — have been all the rage among marathon runners for years. Now, that same tech is coming to CrossFit. Reebok’s Nano Pro ($225) is the first training shoe to feature a carbon-plated design to help athletes pop during explosive movements.
“As a leader in training innovation, our goal with the Nano Pro was to create one shoe that could truly do it all,” Tal Short, Product Director at Reebok, said in a press release. “It’s so good it should be illegal, offering athletes added stability, cushioning, and responsiveness for every type of workout.”
Texas Team-Up
Two Austin, Texas–based brands are coming together for a new collab. YETI worked with apparel maker Howler Brothers for a line of Ramblers and apparel ($25-145) influenced by reggae researcher Naoki Ienaga’s travels, which are documented in the new film Japan to Jamaica.
Products include hats, button-up shirts, sweatshirts, and bandanas with distinct ocean and music-inspired motifs. A series of three Ramblers comes in striking color schemes of bold yellow, red, and green.
Eco-Friendly Climbing Rope
Edelrid has been an industry leader in sustainability for years and is continuing to innovate in the space. Its new Neo 100 3R ($260) is the first climbing rope to be made entirely from recycled materials. The brand constructs the Neo using leftover and discarded rope and yarn from its manufacturing processes.
With a diameter of 9.6 mm, the Neo is sturdy enough to be a workhorse crag rope, but also light enough for hard redpoint attempts. According to Edelrid, the 3D lap coiling means it won’t tangle or kink.
Hands-Free Snow Boots
Lacing up and tying snow boots with gloved hands is no easy task, so Kizik came up with an ingenious solution. Its new Juno 2 Low Boots ($140) have HandsFree Labs Technology, which allows users to just step in and go. Kizik says the heel compresses down and then snaps back right away for an easy, hands-free experience. The Juno 2 is also built to handle winter, with 200 g of insulation for warmth and a high-abrasion rubber outsole for grip and traction.
Pro-Level Surfboard
One of surfing’s most famous icons, Kelly Slater, collaborated with Mike Woo and Firewire Surfboards to create the Spaceship ($890), a high-performance board. The board is made with I-Bolic 2.0 Technology, which “uses an I-beam core structure and flex-controlled rails made from high-density foam for enhanced precision and strength,” the brand said in a press release.
Slater developed and tested the board with Woo for months in Indonesia. Surfing that region’s wild waves has made Slater confident that the Spaceship will excel at barrels and long carves.
Next-Gen Power Station
Anker is raising the bar on power stations with its new SOLIX C2000 Gen 2 Power Station ($750). The OptiSave feature makes it the first 2kWh device under 10W standby on the market, so it can power more of your set-up for longer.
The SOLIX also recharges in just 58 minutes, and at a weight of 41 pounds, Anker says it’s 25% lighter and 29% more compact than the industry average.
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