We’ve got a respectable mix of cool stuff for you this week, from hardy outdoor gear and techy gadgets to colorful collaborations meant to stand out from the crowd.
There are a few more collaborations than usual this week, but how can we leave out stylish, Keith Haring-inspired running shoes, understated threads from Toyota, or a fashionable pairing of Osprey and Crazy Creek?
Those who spend their time on four wheels will want to check out new Garmin navigators and power systems from REDARC, while cyclists have new gravel bikes to lust over. And climbers will have a hard time resisting a sexy, multi-use approach shoe from Black Diamond. Welcome to the latest and greatest of Emerging Gear.
Keith Haring x Saucony
If you’re going to use the style of an iconic artist on a product — this is how you do it right.
Saucony has partnered with the Keith Haring Foundation (founded by Haring himself in 1989) to make a couple of special-edition running shoes that reflect his curvy, colorful aesthetic. An American artist who emerged from New York’s graffiti subculture in the 1980s, Haring became one of the most influential voices of his generation.
In this collaboration, which Saucony called a “respectful tribute,” the brand is offering two shoes with Haring-esque designs: the ProGrid Triumph 4 ($175) and the Ride 18 ($145).
Haring’s famous graffiti tag “LOVE” is emblazoned on both models. I’m guessing more people will wear these to the club than the running trail — but they will likely turn heads wherever you take them.
Garmin Tread 2
Garmin just released two new off-grid navigators with larger displays, faster performance, and additional mapping options.
The Tread 2 comes in two options: an Overland Edition and an SxS Edition. Both all-terrain navigators feature 8-inch high-resolution, ultrabright, and glove-friendly touchscreens. They’re also purpose-built to withstand extreme temperatures and weather, with an IP67 dust/water rating.
The Overland Edition comes with a heavy-duty suction cup and robust magnetic-assisted locking mount to secure onto a vehicle’s dashboard. For the SxS Edition, you’ll get a tube mount kit for installation on a powersport vehicle.
The devices also come with a new Great Rides feature, which helps users find the best off-road places to explore, rate a trail’s difficulty, and upload photos of their journey through the Tread mobile app. Both navigators have a retail price of $1,000.
XGIMI Portable Projectors
Movie lovers have another option for a portable projector. Chinese brand XGIMI just released two new such projectors: the MoGo 4 and MoGo 4 Laser.
The brand says both models are “engineered to resonate with tech-savvy Millennials, Gen Z, and Gen A.” I guess every other generation is meant to ask their kids and grandkids for help? But in all seriousness, these sound like movie-night-worthy projectors, as both have won IF Design Awards this year.
The MoGo 4 costs $500 and offers 1,080p HD visuals, while the pricier MoGo 4 Laser ($800) “brings cinema-grade triple-laser technology to portable projectors for the first time,” the brand said in a release.
National Ski Patrol x YoColorado
Very often, product collaborations to promote nonprofits fall short on aesthetics, offering items that might make the world a better place — if not more fashionable.
That’s definitely not the case with this apparel partnership between YoColorado, a retro outdoor apparel brand based in Golden, Colo., and the National Ski Patrol (NSP), one of the largest organizations committed to safety and rescue education for the outdoor industry.
The NSP Men’s Hero Insulated Snap Jacket is undeniably cool, and the old-school NSP logo (which includes crossed trekking poles and a medical cross) looks quite fetching on all eight items in the limited-run collection. It’s only the beginning of an ongoing partnership, with more collections coming in future seasons.
Snow Peak Land Nest Shelter
The latest offering from chic Japanese brand Snow Peak, the Land Nest Shelter ($750) is a beginner-level shelter with living and sleeping spaces, providing enough space for a family of four. Based on the design of the Land Nest Dome, the Land Nest Shelter has a symmetrical design and simple frame structure, making it easy to set up for campers of all experience levels, the brand said.
The inner tent can be removed to create a more spacious living area. The shelter material is designed with sun-blocking and temperature-regulating features, so it should work well for camping in any season, according to Snow Peak.
REDARC BCDC Alpha100 R
Do you run a complex van setup? Or maybe you’ve got an RV or power-hungry overlanding rig. The new BCDC Alpha100 R from REDARC should serve well in any of those scenarios, according to the brand. REDARC calls its latest release its most powerful DC-DC charger yet.
As the final addition to REDARC’s Alpha lineup, the new system is designed for high-demand power users running large battery systems. It offers 100A charging in a compact in-cabin unit, start battery chargeback, and built-in Smart Battery Monitor and RedVision integration.
Also, efficient load support preserves battery life and keeps your fridge colder, lights brighter, and equipment powered, REDARC said in a release. It costs $1,600.
Black Diamond Technician Pro
Approach shoes have continued to improve in recent years, increasingly blurring the line between a general hiking shoe and an edgy climbing shoe. With the new Technician Pro, Black Diamond hopes to completely “bridge the gap” between hike and climb.
“It’s built to handle everything you’ll encounter from the parking lot to the ridgeline and back without sacrificing comfort on solid ground or precision as the angle steepens,” the brand said in a release.
Available for both men and women, the shoes have a sculpted toe profile that edges like a climbing shoe, along with a dual-density midsole and TPU plate. That makes the shoes stiff and responsive up front, but cushioned in the back. They also have a Vibram MegaGrip outsole, suede/mesh upper, dialed-in lacing system, and TPU strap.
Howler Brothers x Toyota
Toyota teams up with Costa Rica-based lifestyle brand Howler Brothers for a collection of apparel that “embodies the adventurous spirit of both brands,” according to a press release.
Drawing inspiration from the rugged beauty of Costa Rica and the classic Land Cruisers, the collaboration offers apparel aimed at several outdoor activities from camping and fly fishing to surfing.
No. 22 Bicycle Co. Gravel Bikes
Looking for a U.S.-made gravel bike? Look no further than the updated Drifter collection from New York-based brand No. 22 Bicycle Company.
American-made from titanium, the collection includes three models: the Drifter X, Drifter, and Drifter Adventure, all of which benefit from geometry updates and improved tire clearance, the brand said.
The Drifter and Drifter Adventure both feature an entirely new 3D-printed yoke, and every bike is handmade in either stock or custom geometry at the brand’s Upstate New York facility.
Osprey x Crazy Creek Bundle
This bundle deal from two popular brands doesn’t reinvent the wheel — but it does dress up quite nicely.
Osprey and Crazy Creek have collaborated on the Crazy Creek Hex 2.0 x Talon 33 ($290), which brings together an Osprey pack with one of Crazy Creek’s well-regarded camping chairs. Is this just a package of existing products with matching colors and co-branded design details? Yes, it is. Will you still look cool as hell in it? Also yes.
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