With longer daylight hours and sunny weather, summer is a season for experimentation. It’s a time to step outside your comfort zone and try something new.
This week’s Emerging Gear has plenty of those vibes, with Caterpillar attempting to capture history through boot aesthetics, Chinese brand Mount to Coast putting out its first trail runner, and Skratch Labs giving us a new tropical flavor. We’ve also got new stuff for cyclists, cozy alpaca undies, and some smaller Peak Design bags aimed at there-and-back adventures. Check out the latest and greatest of Emerging Gear.
Peak Design Expands Outdoor Line
ISPO Design Award winner Peak Design has launched two new bags. Its Outdoor Line launched in late 2024 with a $3.4 million Kickstarter campaign. Now, the collection is growing with two new bags: the Outdoor Backpack Zip 18L and the Outdoor Sling 4L. Peak Design’s new bags will be available on the brand’s website starting June 6.
Both bags have unique features but offer Peak Design’s standard build — sturdy weatherproofing and secure zip access. They both come in two colors: eclipse and black.
Made for light and fast missions, the Outdoor Backpack Zip 18L is Peak Design’s smallest and lightest backpack yet. It has a built-in organization and a minimal frame. It’s designed for trail running, traveling, or light day trips and costs $200.
Mount to Coast T1
A clean white upper infused with Kevlar yarn makes this shoe pop. The T1 is Mount to Coast’s first trail-running model, new on the market this month. It comes with aggressive Vibram Megagrip outsole tread and a dual-lacing system for customized fit.
We tested the shoes above Hong Kong on a recent trip, running for miles on a misty and mountainous trail with slick stone and mud underfoot. The midsole foam, called LightCELL, is designed to deliver more energy return.
It felt springy yet stable on steep climbs and wet descents. Despite the rugged build, the shoes weigh just 9 ounces apiece, making them fast and light for any trail. The shoe costs $180.
Cat Centennial Collection
To celebrate Caterpillar Inc.’s centennial anniversary, the brand has launched a limited-edition footwear collection. The line includes three new boots inspired by three historical events involving Caterpillar equipment.
The first is the Golden Gate Bridge, which used Caterpillar equipment to shape its foundation. That inspired the Centennial Golden Gate Bridge Boot, which uses an external cage and lacing for a visual ode to the bridge’s iconic suspension cables.
In 1969, 10 Cat generators powered the antenna that kept the Apollo 11 crew connected to Earth. So that’s more than enough to justify the Apollo 11 Boot, and its impressive lunar aesthetic. (Take ’em to the dance floor and do the moon walk!)
There’s also the Channel Tunnel Boot, referring to the 100 Cat machines that helped construct the Channel Tunnel between the UK and France.
Velocio’s 2025 Unity Jersey
Since 2017, Velocio has released a limited-edition UNITY jersey each year, with proceeds going to a selected charity. This year, sales will benefit the ACLU in support of the LGBTQ+ community. The jersey’s design, with its geometric mosaic of multiple colors, is “inspired by individual expression and collective communities” and “integrates with its goal of recognizing and celebrating LGBTQ+ rights.”
The design comes on Velocio’s signature ONE jersey, a do-it-all workhorse jersey made out of recycled polyester. The UNITY jersey ($170) comes in men’s and women’s versions in an expansive size range (XXS to 3XL for women and XS to 4XL for men).
PAKA Essentials Collection
PAKA just launched an expanded Essentials Collection, adding more items to its line of underwear, socks, and tees. The collection uses PAKA’s signature blend of traceable alpaca fiber, organic pima cotton, and tencel, along with a small amount of spandex for some stretch and shape retention.
Products include the Men’s Essentials Boxer Briefs ($40) and Women’s Bikini Briefs ($30), redesigned in a bikini style. There are also the Women’s Mid-Rise Briefs ($30), now made in a midrise fit, the Women’s Scoop Bralette ($38), and the Women’s Essential Tank ($60), which has a built-in shelf bra.
G-SHOCK Goliath Frogman
I have to confess: I had no idea that G-SHOCK made watches at this price point. I’m not surprised, but I always associated G-SHOCK with the bulky, brightly colored, waterproof watches of my youth, usually bought at Walmart with my mom after I’d broken or lost the previous one.
So it’s pretty cool to learn that the Goliath Frogman, a $4,900 timepiece, is merely the latest addition to the brand’s MR-G Frogman line of pricier, more durable watches. Evidently inspired by the actual frog species (the world’s largest), the limited-edition Goliath Frogman comes in a rugged case with more than 70 pieces of titanium and a green fluoro-rubber strap.
Add to that the Titanium Carbide Coating, black DLC (diamond-like carbon) accents, and a vapor-deposited green sapphire crystal case back — and you’ve got yourself a far sweeter G-SHOCK than most of us ’90s kids.
KUIU Workwear
KUIU is one of GearJunkie’s favorites for hunting packs, and the brand recently dropped three new pieces of men’s apparel. The Brawley Canvas Jacket ($200) and Brawley Pant ($150) are made with a relaxed fit and a cotton-canvas blend.
With reinforced fabric in high-use areas like the knees and elbows and a weather-resistant finish, these workwear products aim to deliver maximum durability. KUIU’s Enroute Pant ($140) is made for travel, with wrinkle-resistant, antimicrobial, and odor-resistant fabric. The TurboDry stretch waist wicks away moisture to keep you cool and dry.
Snow Peak x Merrell Moab Speed 2 GORE-TEX
The Merrell Moab Speed is one of the most popular hiking shoes around, which is why it gets so many collaborations. Even House of the Dragon hopped on the bandwagon last year.
So it’s not too surprising to see Merrell opt for a collaboration with venerable Japanese outdoor brand Snow Peak. The two brands decided on a monochromatic, gray color scheme, likely reflecting the minimalist, chic aesthetic of Snow Peak’s own products. This model retails for $209.
POC Release Team Amani Collection
Swedish cycling brand POC is releasing a helmet and hydration vest inspired by the Amani Project, an initiative aimed at incubating and nurturing cycling athletes from East Africa. This collab with Team Amani includes the Cytal Helmet ($350) and the Ultra Vest ($180). The helmet is made with POC’s signature ventilation design, the Venturi effect, to keep gravel racers cool.
The Ultra Vest not only keeps riders safe with its ultra-visible orange color and reflective details, but also has multiple pockets to keep riders hydrated. POC says that the “new Team Amani edition channels the team’s raw energy and celebrates their deep-rooted fire and purpose.”
Skratch Labs New Flavor
Frequent hydrators and lovers of Boulder, Colorado-based Skratch Labs have a new flavor to try this summer: the limited-edition Passion Fruit + Orange + Guava. It’s the latest flavor of the brand’s Sports Hydration Mixes, which are among my personal favorites.
Passion Fruit + Orange + Guava Sport Hydration Drink Mix is available in a 20-serving 440g bag. It joins existing flavors like Lemon + Lime, Orange, Raspberry Limeade (50 mg of caffeine per serving), Strawberry Lemonade, Fruit Punch, and Pineapple.
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