10 Outdoor Gadgets to Look Forward to in 2018
If you buy something using links in our stories, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
The story that everyone was talking about at this year's Outdoor Retailer show had nothing to do with outdoor gear at all. After acrimonious debates between outdoor recreation industry leaders and Utah state leadership over the recent downsizing of public lands like Bears Ears National Monument, the country's biggest outdoor gear trade show moved from its twenty-year home in Salt Lake City to Denver. But from January 25-28, thousands of gear manufacturers, buyers, athletes, and media did their best to put politics aside and gathered in the Denver Convention Center to poke and gawk at the latest and greatest skis, boots, tents, backpacks, and more. Here are ten of the best things that WIRED saw at this year's winter show.
- Cake01Cake Kalk
Riding dirt bikes is fun. But it's also loud, smelly, disruptive to any wildlife that might be in the vicinity, and annoying to every other hiker or biker who might cross paths with you. The Kalk solves all those problems. Cake founder Stefan Ytterborn notes that only three components of the light, beautiful Kalk bike are off the shelf. Every other part of it has been explicitly designed for the purpose of making the cleanest, quietest dirt bike around. It's powered by a rechargeable 50Ah lithium-ion battery, which gives the bike two to three hours of nearly-silent, clean off-road runtime.
- Tecnica02Tecnica Forge
Slowly breaking in your boots to avoid bloody blisters is a time-honored part of the boot-wearing process. But...why? Tecnica uses its custom adaptive shape (C.A.S.) system to make sure that your new trekking boots fit you perfectly before you’ve logged a single mile. First, their proprietary machine heats the boots and insoles to 180 degrees Fahrenheit. Then inflatable shapers apply 150 millibar of pressure to mold the heated insole and boot to your foot, ankle, and heel. The whole process takes twenty minutes from start to finish and results in a unique boot that might be the best-fitting one you've ever worn.
Spy Optic03SPY Ace EC GogglesSki goggles with photochromic lenses automatically change their tint when the sun appears or vanishes. But there’s usually a time lag. And if you’re on a run and skipping in and out of trees, that lag can be a bummer. Take control back with Spy Optic's Ace EC (electrochromic) goggles, which adapt technology that is normally used for airplane and office windows. Push a button to send an electric pulse through a filament sandwiched between the goggle’s lenses and switch instantly between three different tint settings.
Outdoor Research04Outdoor Research Ouray Ice GlovesAfter picking up pieces of dry ice with these ice gloves at the show, I had the almost irresistible urge to try picking them up with my bare hands (despite all the warning signs telling me explicitly not to do that). How cold could those ice pieces really be? The ice gloves have PrimaLoft Gold Aerogel inserts in the palm and fingers, a material that was originally designed to insulate space suits. Rather than trapping heat from escaping, the gel blocks cold from moving in. It’s also flexible, waterproof, lightweight, and doesn’t compress, which compromises a material's ability to insulate.
DPS05DPS PhantomWaxing your skis or snowboard isn't just an annoying ski season task. Conventional waxes use perfluorocarbons (PFCs) to allow skis to glide swiftly over the snow, but repeated exposure—like, say, from scraping and inhaling tiny shreds of wax multiple times a season—can lead to side effects like organ damage and infertility. Not fun! DPS's Phantom is an easy, one-time treatment that can be applied at home in 20 minutes. The treatment “cures” in UV light (i.e. the sun) for up to six hours, and then, poof! One more task that you’ll never have to think about ever again.
Spider06Goldwin Spider Silk Ski Jacket PrototypeAs an insulating material, spider silk is fantastic. It’s strong, soft, and warm, and is made without using petrochemicals. Outerwear company Goldwin is one of the leading contenders to turn out apparel made with spider silk. At Outdoor Retailer, they debuted a jacket prototype made from Qmonos, a spider silk protein manufactured by Spiber, Inc. The jacket is currently undergoing rigorous quality-certification testing, but so far, it looks promising.
Capita07Capita Spring Break Powder GliderYou might be forgiven for thinking that Capita's Spring Break boards, designed by former pro snowboarder and artist Corey Smith, are in fact conceptual wall art instead of functioning pieces of sports gear. Despite their serene, natural colors and organic shapes inspired by vintage surf boards, they are manufactured in one of the most high-tech, environmentally sustainable ways possible. Capita's boards are made in the Mothership, a 100-percent hydropower, zero-emission facility in Austria. This year, they're also debuting FUS3D sidewall technology, which uses a custom machine to 3D print a unique monocomposite thermoplastic sidewall directly onto the board, drastically improving production speed and reduces waste.
- TreePod08TreePod Cabana
Treepod’s child-friendly Hanging Treehouse was so popular, adults started getting a little jealous. This January, Treepod debuted their latest products for adults. The Cabana is a mesh-sided, portable shelter that comes in a variety of colors and sizes. It’s a light and airy hangout (get it?!) that would be perfect for lounging on your patio, in the backyard, or at your favorite campsite.
Dissent09SRS Labs Compression Hybrid DLX Ski Socks"It's hard to make socks sound exciting," admitted Dissent Labs founder Josh Hall. Nevertheless, a well-fitting sock can make all the difference in determining whether you spend the day whooping and making turns, or sitting in the wet snow trying to tape up your yucky, bleeding feet. Frustrated with constant chafing, Hall discovered that the construction of medical-grade compression socks was ideal. For years, he worked to develop an anti-friction, precision-fit sock that stays "locked on" through the longest day, socks that quickly became beloved by some of the best skiers in the world. For fall 2018, Dissent is debuting the GFX Compression Hybrid DLX-Wool sock, which uses a combination of synthetic and merino fibers to take advantage of the best qualities of both.
Osprey10Osprey Duplex PackInstead of attaching a daypack to the outside of a traveling bag, Osprey founder Mike Pfotenhauer opted to build a pack where the cargo bag straps over the daypack. You might think it seems weird. Well, Pfotenhauer begs to differ. Keeping the daypack closer to your back protects your valuables and keeps heavier elements closer, instead of swaying precariously whilst strapped on the other side of your clothes and shoes. Detach the cargo bag to slide it into the overhead compartment or leave it at the hostel while you carry the slim, black daypack out on adventures.
Wired Coupons
10% Off Wayfair Promo Code with sign-up
20% off Dyson Promo Code
$50 Off In-Person Tax Prep When You Switch From Your Tax Current Provider
Up to $500 off cameras at Canon
Save extra 10% Off TurboTax
Exclusive: Up To 50% Off 6 Boxes With Factor Promo Code