It’s that time of year again: When strange ski collaborations get dropped, like the latest The North Face collaboration with chic Kim Kardashian brand SKIMS or a grungy Arc’teryx ski capsule designed alongside Atomic Skis. Did we mention a new brand making ski mitten covers with prints of ski resort maps? Yeah, that’s in here, too.
That’s not all, though. We’ve also got an electric café racer in a vintage design, a new book about one of the “last wild rivers in the West,” and another bright fleece collection from Cotopaxi. Find it all in Emerging Gear.
Ski Map Mittens
Leave your phone tucked safely in your pocket and shred without worry — you’ve got Skittenz!
Just as you’d expect from one quick glance, Skittenze are covers you can pull over your mittens (or gloves) that are printed with full ski run maps. There are nine popular resort map options, including Vail, Breckenridge, Whistler, and more. And to cap it off, Skittenz double as a soft, protective goggle sleeve when the day’s over.
Each pair of Skittenz costs $35, available now.
Atomic x Arc’teryx Grottoflage Collab
Don’t just cobble together your ski kit — treat yourself to a holistic mountain outfit that works seamlessly in both look and function. Did I sell it?
For the second year running, Atomic and Arc’teryx team up on the Grottoflage collection. Headlining the launch are two completely new freeride setups: the Maverick 105 CTI Arc’teryx Edition, “the all-mountain charger ridden by Natural Selection winner Craig Murray,” and the Maven 103 CTI Arc’teryx Edition, ridden by Tonje Kvivik.
This capsule of men’s and women’s gear includes Pro HD Arc’teryx Edition Goggles (large and medium fit), Revent GT AMID Arc’teryx Edition Helmet, Backland FR SQS Arc’teryx Edition Poles, and limited-edition Arc’teryx Grotto Sabre and Sentinel Kits. Snag the skis and hard gear at Atomic. Grab your swanky pants, jacket, and layers at Arc’teryx.
The North Face x SKIMS
Say what you will about The North Face, but the brand is not afraid to align itself with companies decidedly outside its outdoor, boundary-pushing roots.
This week, the alpine-inspired, outdoor gear-maker hitched its horse to the Kardashian caboose — that is, the SKIMS brand that the megastar launched to wide acclaim. The capsule includes mostly form-fitting layers in muted colors displayed on equally muted models. But there’s also some puffy kids’ skiwear — albeit with more generous insulation and a bit more forgiving cuts.
Beachman Café Racer
For the first time in 10 years, Canada has a brand new motorcycle brand — and it’s an instant classic. Beachman hits the two-wheel scene with a bang, debuting the café racer–inspired ’64 Street Spec electric motorcycle. And if the vintage homage to classic bikes of yore isn’t eye-catching enough, buyers can customize their ’64 Street Spec “with hand-stitched leather seats, hand-applied striping for $550 and bespoke paint matching any bike color for $1,000.”
Each e-motorcycle has three modes: E-bike up to 20 mph, Moped up to 30 mph, and Off-road Speed mode up to 45 mph. And as an upgrade, there’s a ‘64 Light Motorcycle Street Spec, with a top speed of 50 mph. The stock moto has a range up to 55 miles, with an upgrade option up to 70 miles, and pricing begins at $5,750.
Suunto Diving Tech
Finnish brand Suunto is known as a pioneer in diving technology, and it’s building on that legacy with two new devices. The Nautic S ($550) is designed to endure the harsh conditions of the ocean, with a pressure-resistant build. It can also operate up to 60 hours on a single charge.
The Suunto Nautic Bungee Cord ($700) can wirelessly track tank pressure and offers full decompression planning. Both devices have a bright, AMOLED display and color-coded visuals for easy readability.
Tradeable Kids’ Bikes
When it comes to kids’ bikes, a good one won’t just shrink down an adult bike to a mini size: Its design should be adapted to kids’ abilities. That’s what Huffy aims to do with its new Grow Ride Move collection of bikes ($150-230).
The line of four bikes includes kid-friendly features like training wheels, color-coded levers for brakes, and a chain guard to prevent snags. The longer wheelbase adds stability, and a coaster brake builds their confidence. And since kids grow fast, if your kiddo outgrows their bike within a year of purchase, Huffy will give you a 25% discount on their next bike.
Plush Fleece
Cotopaxi knows a thing or two about constructing bags and jackets, and it’s using its chops to design a new line of fleece products. The High Pile Fleece Collection is all about embracing cozy vibes.
The Crew ($110) is a 100% recycled fleece with a relaxed fit for maximum freedom of movement, and a blocked two-tone color scheme. The line also includes two bags: the 3L Sling ($35) and the 6L Crescent Bag ($50), which have key clips and internal pockets for organization.
Fuel for the Long Haul
Endurance athletes face a major challenge beyond just the physical demands of their sport: the logistical struggle of fueling during long training sessions and races. That’s where upstart brand Canyon Crack comes in. The on-the-go fuel is made with coconut butter, dark chocolate, nut butter, cookie butter, cocoa nibs, chia seeds, and honey.
The brand says it’s 48% fat for endurance, 10% protein for strength, and 42% carbs for quick fuel. Flavors include dark chocolate Oreo, original Biscoff, and espresso biscotti. One serving ($3.20) delivers 187 calories in just a 1.2-ounce package.
Universal Inflator
Take it from me: Inflating multiple paddleboards with a simple hand pump is much tougher than it sounds. In my experience, it often requires more exertion than any amount of actual paddling that happens after. So, having an electric inflator around that can handle paddleboards from different brands? That’s a winning idea, and just part of the appeal of Strauto’s Rechargeable Universal Inflator. I just got one of these bad boys for testing.
While I haven’t gotten to test it with paddleboards, it arrived in the nick of time: I walked outside to hop in my Honda CR-V for an important appointment when I realized I had a flat tire. By coincidence, this inflator had literally just been delivered. I took it out, set the desired psi, and reinflated the tire in just a few minutes.
That’s easy because this inflator includes 10 different attachments for everything from bikes, SUP boards, car tires, and other sports equipment. It also has multiple charging methods, from USB-C to your vehicle’s cigarette lighter. If you don’t already have a personal inflator, this one looks worth a try.
— Andrew McLemore
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