Emerging Gear: E-Surfboard, Tiny ‘Egg’ Home, and More

The SORD Fillet Knife ($60) is a 7-inch, full-tang carbon steel blade designed for serious anglers who put in a lot of time on the water. The Fillet knife blade has a medium middle flex, titanium and Teflon coating for anticorrosion, and G10 handle. It also comes with a locking Kydex sheath. New to the market, the Fillet Knife is one of the brand’s first products.

The second collaboration between Merrell and Outdoor Voices brings a men’s hiking boot to the lineup. The men’s Moab 2 Mid Vent ($110) has a blended suede and mesh upper for durability and breathability as well as a 100% recycled EVA contoured footbed with added arch support, an EVA midsole, and a Vibram TC5 outsole. The boots have a 5mm lug depth and an upper designed by Outdoor Voices.

VSSL’s First Aid Mini is the newest and one of the more budget-friendly products in the brand’s existing safety lineup. The First Aid Mini ($70) contains standard first-aid essentials like bandages and wound-closure strips, medications, gloves, tape, a razor, and an emergency whistle packed into a waterproof military-grade aluminum tube. We’re in the process of testing it out. This kit weighs in at 9.9 ounces.

ERGON’s GD1 was one of the first MTB grips with a tapered design. The newest ERGON GD1 Evo Factory Grips ($40) — GD1 stands for “grip downhill” — have super-soft thumb zones that provide improved grip while reducing the forces needed to hold the bars. The inner stop has been trimmed down for comfortable hand positioning, and the grips only weigh 120 g. The Factory Grips also come in two sizes: regular and slim.

Rotor Bike Components is launching its unique 1×13 groupset for mountain bikes that offers an alternative to the traditional 2×11 configuration and tops the 1×12 offerings now considered a mainstay on mountain bikes. With the ROTOR 1×13, there’s more range, less maintenance, and it’s totally customizable. The brand launched a similar groupset and components for gravel last year. Our staff is looking forward to testing out both gravel and MTB setups. The 1×13 components start at $1,100.

Vasque’s latest update to its Juxt Hiking Shoe ($110) includes new colors for fall. The monochromatic colors include black, dune tan, and green (available in July). The Juxt shoe itself has a durable Vasque outsole, standard hiker dual-density EVA footbed, and a suede upper. Initial reviewers like the support the shoes offer as well as their versatility for hiking.

Vortex Optics’ new binoculars are definitely designed for dedicated hunters, with 15 times magnification and high-def optics. The Diamondback HD 15×56‘s ($475) HD optical system provides better image resolution, improved light transmission over long periods of time, and great performance in low light conditions. Plus, the magnesium-alloy body keeps them under 35 ounces. The binoculars come with a tripod adapter.

Lander’s new Kiva headlamp ($50) weighs only 2.3 ounces, making it easy to pack, travel, and use. The Kiva has a rechargeable 150-lumen light, a one-hand-adjustable bezel, and is IP67 waterproof. The headband piece is also made with fibers from recycled ocean plastics. At $50, it’s also a pretty good deal.

Fox Racing’s new full-body kits include the updated spring Ranger Drirelease Jersey ($46), a breathable, moisture-wicking layer. The Ranger Drirelease is made with 85% polyester and 15% cotton drirelease (a moisture-wicking yarn fabric). The jersey is screen-printed in two-tone blues and is designed for maximum comfort on the trail. It’s available for men and women.

The YuJet Surfer jetboard ($9,999) is a full carbon fiber e-surfboard powered by a 36mAh lithium-ion battery. It comes with a remote control, a set of four fins, and a safety magnet and leash. The battery-operated, eco-friendly, electric surfboard has a 16-mile range, 24mph max speed, and beginner, slow, and sport power modes. It costs a pretty penny at just under $10,000.

Beyond Clothing’s Modus Jacket ($140) is a double-faced nylon-polyester shell designed for warmer weather. The durable four-way-stretch shell has a DWR coating to protect from rain, and the inner face of the fabric is a unique and natural bamboo and charcoal yarn. The brand claims the charcoal-bamboo blend gives the fabric antibacterial, antifungal, and moisture-wicking properties. But we haven’t tested it yet.

This “inhabitable egg” is all about sustainability. The Ecocapsule SPACE is made with fiberglass shells, solar panels, and LED lights. The off-grid home has a floor area of 26 square feet (similar to a tent), yet the brand says it’s designed for one to two people as an extra living, office, or workshop space. It also comes with solar panels, an electrical system, smart home sensors, and furniture. As cool as it looks, the SPACE starts at a lofty $56,000.