Swiss Stove, National Park Cookbook, Thermal GoPro Cameras, and More Emerging Gear

It’s time to start cooking! Or at least that’s the feeling I get from this week’s lineup of extra-hot new gear releases. We have a high-tech Swiss-made camping stove, new wood-fired grills from Traeger, a fillet collection from Case Knives, and even a cookbook showcasing recipes inspired by America’s 63 national parks.

But you don’t have to be an outdoor gourmand to find something savory this week. GoPro’s latest release also ratchets up the temperature with what it calls the smallest action cameras with thermal imaging. Add in some Swiss-made tents, redesigned cargo boxes from one of the best brands, and a few other surprises — and you’ve got yourself the recipe for a delicious week of Emerging Gear.

Eat up, friends!

Katadyn Stove

Switzerland’s Katadyn just released the Optimus Gemini II, a compact dual-burner stove. It’s designed for “full cooking capability in demanding outdoor environments,” the brand said.

With a fold-flat design for efficient packing and a weight of 28.9 ounces, it will likely prove useful in a variety of outdoor adventures. It has 4,600W burners with independent flame controls, allowing users to boil, simmer, or cook multiple dishes at the same time. It also sports a built-in pressure control valve, an integrated wind shield, and a low-profile frame.

The Gemini II delivers more than 160 minutes of burn time at full power (single burner) using a 450g gas canister. It sells for $200.

EXPED Tents

Swiss engineering is world-famous for a reason, and Switzerland-based EXPED is no exception. The brand already appears in GearJunkie’s picks for the Best Sleeping Pads, and it’s aiming for similar quality in its tents.

To that end, EXPED just dropped two new tents for the 2026 season: the ultralight Cassira backpacking tent and the more comfortable Vega tent for those who demand both portability and livable space.

The Cassira aims for a balance of headroom, space, and lightness, with two tent doors and large vestibules (though there’s just one door and one vestibule on the one-person version). Vega, on the other hand, wants to be your “ultimate 3-season tent.” It’s aimed at those seeking both portability and more space.

GoPro Cinema Cameras

GoPro has launched a new lineup (The Mission 1 Line) that it’s calling “the world’s smallest, lightest, and most rugged 8K and 4K open gate cinema cameras.” (Open gate means the camera uses the entire sensor area, instead of cropping to 16:9.)

Moreover, the cameras have thermal imaging, allowing you to capture images using heat instead of light. GoPro claims these cameras are the smallest to ever have this feature.

Based on the images included in the press kit, you can snap some pretty cool images using this technique, though it could also appeal to photographers seeking “mission-critical reliability in the most demanding environments,” GoPro said.

The new series is comprised of three camera models: Mission 1 PRO, Mission 1, and Mission 1 PRO ILS, the latter of which has an interchangeable Micro Four Thirds lens system that’s compatible with a broader array of lenses via adapters. It sounds like a cool new camera line for the brand most affiliated with action cameras.

The cameras will be available for preorder beginning May 21, with global on-shelf availability starting May 28.

Three-Sided Cargo Box

If you’ve ever felt frustrated while trying to quickly access gear in your rooftop box, then Küat has designed a new approach that might interest you. The Missouri-based brand just dropped the Varial, a “first-of-its-kind” rooftop cargo box that’s tailor-made for easier gear access.

Designed, formed, and assembled in the USA, the Varial has a forward-opening architecture with three-sided access. This allows drivers and passengers to reach gear from “virtually any angle,” according to Küat.

Users can also lock or unlock the Varial from either side. The Varial is expected to ship in October 2026, but you can preorder one now.

Alpine Shell

Outdoor Research (OR) makes some of the best alpine jackets around, as proven by its Headwall Jacket’s slot in our guide to the Best Hardshell Jackets.

Now the brand aims to help alpinists reach even higher with the SkyChaser Jacket. This 2.5L alpine shell is designed for “fast-and-light pursuits” in the mountains: “the climber halfway up a windy pitch, the hiker pushing for a ridge sunset, and the ski explorer who needs a shell that moves like a second skin,” OR said in a release.

The jacket relies on Pertex Shield Pro, a membrane engineered for professional-grade durability in a 2.5-layer construction. It’s designed to breathe, venting internal moisture vapor before it turns into a chill, and offers natural flex. It supposedly blocks rain and snow while letting the heat escape. It’s available for both men and women.

XL Wood-Fired Grill

No matter how sophisticated grills become, there’s nothing quite like cooking over actual wood. That’s why Traeger just launched the Westwood Series, its latest line of wood-fired grills. Grill, smoke, or bake your favorite backyard recipes on either the $700 Westwood or $800 Westwood XL.

Like other Traeger grills, the Westwood lineup allows you to simply set a desired temperature, press ignite, and “let the grill handle the rest.” They also come with WiFIRE connectivity, allowing grillmasters to monitor food from their phones.

Case Fillet Knife Collection

Spring has definitely arrived, and that means fishing trips with good weather! To that end, Case Knives just launched its new Fillet Knife collection. Designed to handle everything from delicate panfish to larger catches, these knives are great for both seasoned anglers and “anyone looking to upgrade their gear,” the brand said.

The knives are available in 6-inch ($55) and 8-inch ($59) sizes. They have stainless-steel fillet blades with a flat-taper grind, along with a slip-resistant synthetic handle. Moreover, each knife includes a molded blade guard for safe storage between uses.

National Park Cookbook

If you love both national parks and new recipes, then this one is definitely for you. Take a look at National Geographic’s National Parks Cookbook: Dishes Inspired by America’s Great Outdoors. The cookbook includes 100 recipes “inspired by the concession stands, beloved lodges, and mom-and-pop favorites throughout America’s 63 national parks,” according to a book description.

Those recipes include Acadia National Park’s historic popovers (first served in the 1890s), as well as Grand Tetons-inspired chili. The book also includes historical explanations of how each dish reflects the park that inspired it. Take a gander at a book sample on the Penguin Random House website.

Women’s Cycling Shoes

Cycling women with narrow feet have a new selection of biking shoes to pick from — and there are options for road, gravel, and mountain biking.

Liv Cycling’s new shoes are made specifically for women riders using 3D foot-scanning technology, the brand said. The shoes have “refined shaping through the heel and forefoot, wider support platforms, and integrated arch support systems,” according to Liv’s news release. 

An alternate version of the collection is available to men from Giant Cycling, which collaborated with Liv Cycling on the collection.

Water Filtration Bottle

Water bottles with built-in filtration can be very useful, especially for international travel. LifeStraw’s Go Series bottles have proven themselves a strong contender in that category, but they’re also bulky and have a removable lid that’s easy to lose (speaking from experience here).

There’s a new kid on the proverbial block with the NOMAD SafeSip, designed by a couple of young entrepreneurs who wanted to combine a functional water filtration system with a modern aesthetic. The SafeSip has a removable filter straw, which aims to remove PFAS, coliform bacteria, viruses, chlorine, and other contaminants. I tried out the bottle recently, and there’s a lot to like about it. Those looking for a reliable filtration bottle that still looks sexy have found a strong new contender.