A Preview of the Best New Outdoor Gear Launching in 2019

The biannual schedule that once ruled the outdoor industry’s biggest event in gear is no more. Last week, the Colorado Convention Center opened up its doors for the first November edition of Outdoor Retailer. Normally we’d have to wait until January to get a first look at thousands of products that won’t hit stores until the fall of 2019. We scoured as many booths as possible looking for the best of the best. Durable down jackets, 3D knit baselayers and climbing gear with integrated tech were all on display. The year isn’t over, but we’re already looking ahead.

Black Diamond Vision Down Parka

There’s a lot of reasons to get excited for Black Diamond’s Vision Down Parka. For one, it’ll be the brand’s warmest insulated jacket with a full fill of 850-fill, moisture-resistant down. It also includes gusseted arms for an increased range of motion and six pockets. But the coolest thing about the Vision is its proprietary shell fabric, which is manufactured in Japan with a liquid crystal polymer that makes it super tear-resistant. It’s so durable that Black Diamond’s factory could barely cut the stuff.

Mammut Diamond Fingerboard

Mammut is a really old company — it was founded in 1862 — but that doesn’t bar it from some seriously new tricks. Next year it’s introducing a fingerboard, which is a training tool that climbers use to practice brief yet intense straight-arm hangs. Mammut’s includes smartphone integration and weight-sensing tech to create targeted training plans from beginner to pro levels. And, it’s made of walnut, so it’ll look good enough to hang in rooms other than the garage.

Outdoor Research Vigor Hybrid Jacket

Breathability is always a concern with cold-weather insulating pieces. To support active pursuits, jackets have to be able to provide warmth but breath so that you don’t get drenched in sweat. The Vigor tackles the incongruity through a hybrid construction and new proprietary insulation called VerticalX Air that offers a solid warmth-to-weight ratio and maintains its loft over time. Finally, the jacket contains a thermo-regulating treatment on its interior lining that changes its molecular structure to keep the wearer warm at rest and cool when active.

Gu Hoppy Trails Energy Gel

Gu’s no stranger to flavors that are best described as experimental — French toast, birthday cake and s’mores are all on the list — but hops is a step in a different direction. There’s thought behind the move though; Gu wanted to offer athletes a break from sweet flavors that can become hard to stomach when many gels are needed to get through a long event. We got a chance to taste the stuff, and it does taste like hops, in a good way.

Mountain Hardwear Phantom Hoodie

The Ghost Whisperer became Mountain Hardwear’s highly-praised, award-winning ultralight down jacket because it packs so much warmth in such a small package. In 2019 the brand plans to beef it up with a more durable outer shell fabric, which will create a slight weight increase (but it’ll still weigh just 9.9 ounces).

Smartwool Intraknit Baselayers

3D-knit is a term that’s readily applied to Nike’s latest sneakers, but it’s also something that Smartwool has been using to build form-fitting performance socks for years. In 2019, the company plans to use the method to build baselayers. Body mapping helps the new pieces focus on increasing ventilation, insulation and articulation while providing a comfortable fit that’s best characterized as sock-like.

Osprey Farpoint Trek Travel Pack

Osprey’s well-known for its trekking backpacks, which are very popular among long-distance hikers, and it used its expertise there to make a collection of equally-worthy travel bags. The forthcoming Farpoint Trek Travel Pack is something of a category blender; it combines technical features from the hiking line like Osprey’s AirSpeed mesh back panel with an internal pocket layout that world travelers look for. The backpack will be available in 55- or 75-liter volumes for $220 and $230, respectively.

Hults Bruk Sarek Splitting Axe

Hults Bruk is Sweden’s largest axe producer and one of the oldest continually-operating forges in the world. Its newest tool, the Sarek Splitting Axe, is designed for efficient splitting with a unique Scandinavian design that employs a straight blade with narrow cheeks (the side of an axe head) that feature a raised spine for wedging power. It’s something of a crossover between a felling axe and a maul, and it’s forged with Swedish steel and a solid American hickory handle.

Wolverine Heritage 1000 Mile Original Sneaker Low

With over 100 years of heritage behind it, the 1000 Mile Boot has become an icon of American footwear. Earlier this year Wolverine used the pattern to inspire a sneaker, an evolution that will continue in 2019 with a low version of that same shoe. It will come in full-grain and suede leather with a light and sturdy Vibram outsole.

Norrona Lofoten Ace Ski Kit

Norrona is making its top-line Lofoten Ace ski kit in the same fashion as small-batch bourbon. Quality ingredients are the most essential element — Norrona is using recycled Gore-Tex Pro fabric — but style is important too (in contrast to the rest of the Lofoten collection, the Ace kit is all black). And just as with bourbon, this batch will be limited — there will be 200 jackets and 150 pants — and each piece will come with an embroidered edition number.

Danner 40th Anniversary Danner Light Boot

In 1979, the Danner Light became the first boot to feature a Gore-Tex liner. It was readily adopted by hikers and those working in the outdoors for that as well as its rugged, American-made construction. Next year it’s turning 40, and Danner is celebrating with a limited-edition version that might be its most handsome yet.

Gore-Tex 3D Fit Footwear

Your waterproof hiking boots and running shoes probably use a Gore-Tex liner to keep your toes nice and dry. It’s built into footwear as an additional layer of material that, in some cases, can affect how a shoe fits. 3D Fit focus on fit as well but takes a much different approach. It’s a sock-like liner that will function with knitted and mesh footwear — it’s light, stretchy, breathable and of course, waterproof. Look for it next year in footwear from Adidas and Under Armour, with others to follow.

Note: Purchasing products through our links may earn us a portion of the sale, which supports our editorial team’s mission. Learn more here.

This Small Brand Is Making the Most Important Clothing in Running

From Issue Seven of Gear Patrol Magazine.

Nike and Adidas may have long set the trends for stylish running gear, but a small brand based in Paris is trying to change that. It’s called Satisfy, and in many ways, it’s an anti-running running brand. Founded in 2015 by Brice Partouche, Satisfy isn’t so much interested in fitting into the current running world as it is in totally pushing the boundaries with fabric, color and overall design.

Partouche came to running later in life. “I started running after decades of skateboarding,” he says. “My girlfriend at the time was into running, and I’ve always been a vegetarian, a vegan — I’m a very healthy person.” Partouche fell in love with the meditative aspect of the sport and quickly began logging 125 miles per month. “Everyone has a personal reason for running, it could be wellness or getting fit, or in my case, it was stepping out of my comfort zone.”

Stylistically, Partouche’s tastes didn’t really fit what most would consider typical for a runner. In fact, he found himself struggling to find gear he felt was cool. “It’s funny that even with rebellious roots, running has never really embodied a strong rebel subculture the way skateboarding has,” he says. Partouche pulled that thread, prototyping designs for a year before finding factories to produce them. His choice of colors — black, white, blue and some hints of tonal tie-dye — express Partouche’s desire to “alter the perception of runners to the rest of society,” he says.

In keeping with the rebellious qualities of Satisfy, Partouche looks beyond the fitness world for materials, using the same suppliers as many luxury fashion houses. He also works with manufacturers like Schoeller, an innovator in materials manufacturing. It’s details like these that set Satisfy apart and have helped fuel its organic, cultlike following.

One look at Satisfy’s Instagram profile provides a glimpse into the brand’s strategy as a whole, and you’ll notice a completely different approach when you compare it to the likes of Nike and Adidas, who choose to focus on new-gear releases rather than the culture behind their brands. Satisfy’s feed is monochromatic and free of inspirational quotes. “My way of thinking is very much about the lifestyle and not about the product,” Partouche says. “I didn’t do it on purpose, it’s just my way of thinking and building a brand.”

Instagram has allowed Satisfy to engage with the running community in an organic way. Partouche found the star of Satisfy’s latest campaign, Jamil Coury, through the app. This type of grassroots engagement has been crucial to the brand’s early successes. “I saw friends wearing or talking about it, and it piqued my interest,” says Sam Anderson, the former beverage director of Mission Chinese Food, a popular restaurant with locations in San Francisco and New York’s Lower East Side. “From there, Brice and I connected through Instagram and it became evident that we share a similar aesthetic as it crosses over into the world of running and apparel.”

But for both Coury and Anderson, Satisfy is about more than just looking good. “They are willing to put out some meaningful pieces of clothing that convey a message and identity,” Coury says. “Brice comes from a unique fashion background. It is something unique in the running world that isn’t just designed around performance, although that is a big factor in his pieces as well.” For Anderson, the race-day feel of Satisfy running apparel “transmits energy. It has a lightness, a movement with the body. Often, you forget it’s there,” he says.

While its pieces have incredible technical elements — durability, virtual weightlessness and impossible softness over many miles — Satisfy, ultimately, isn’t out to find its place in traditional running circles. It’s looking to appeal to runners like Partouche on the fringe of mainstream running culture. “We are a cult brand,” Partouche says, “so it is important that we have a presence in the places where our community lives, works and runs. The end goal is really to change the perception of running on a global level, through inspiring more creative people to chase the high.”

Buying Guide

Merino Running Hat by Satisfy $57

Merino Tube Socks by Satisfy $35

Justice Running Pants by Satisfy $251

Packable Windbreaker by Satisfy $410

Short Distance 3″ Shorts by Satisfy $194

Note: Purchasing products through our links may earn us a portion of the sale, which supports our editorial team’s mission. Learn more here.

Best Gifts for Mountain Bikers

Mountain bikers can be a difficult group to shop for. While certainly not as picky as lycra-clad road bikers, mountain bikers like their kit to be just so. But all mountain bikers can agree on a handful of things, and these things often fall under the umbrella of best-in-class products. Our picks for the best holiday gifts for mountain bikers fall mostly under that umbrella, but we’ve also included a handful of gifts that even the casual outdoorsman will enjoy.

POC Tectal Race Helmet

POC’s Tectal Race mountain bike helmet was one of the brand’s first helmets to feature its new SPiN technology. SPiN consists of a handful of rubbery pads that line the inside of the helmet. In the event of a crash, the pads help to reduce rotational forces that are often associated with concussions. In addition to the safety features, the Tectal Race looks badass and is ultra-comfortable.

Light & Motion Seca Race 2500

Some of the best and most rewarding rides start long before the sun rises. When taking on these types of endeavors, being able to see each and every bump and undulation in the trail is absolutely crucial. We’d only trust one light for the job: Light & Motion’s Seca Race 2500.

Kitsbow 5in V File Socks

In all types of cycling, socks need to be more than just functional. Style plays a big factor as well. Kitsbow’s V File socks bring both style and function thanks to a construction that utilizes 60% Meryl Skinlife (a material that has silver embedded for anti-odor) and a sleek pattern.

7mesh Oro Jacket

Don’t let inclement weather prevent you from heading out on your favorite loop. 7mesh’s Oro jacket is built with Gore-Tex Active with ShakeDry, which is Gore’s most breathable waterproof material to date. Even if your ride requires an hours long climb, the Oro will make sure you don’t overheat and will protect you from the rain.

Kitsbow Kitchel Lightweight Gloves

Kitsbow’s latest glove release, the Kitchel, was designed in collaboration with Mechanix Wear, whose gloves are renowned for their comfort. Kitsbow noticed that mountain bikers were wearing Mechanix gloves to ride, and figured that they, together with Mechanix, could optimize a glove for mountain biking. It’s about as close to a perfect mountain biking glove as you can get.

A Trip to the Northeast’s Best MTB Trails, Kingdom Trails

There’s something magical about Vermont’s Kingdom Trails. Situated in the state’s Northeast Kingdom region, affectionately referred to as the “nek,” the Kingdom Trails are some of the east coast’s finest. People travel from across the country (and the globe) to ride trails like Kitchel, Switchback, Burnham Down and the three T’s (Tap ‘n Die, Tody’s Tour and Troll Stroll).

Mission Workshop Hauser 10L Hydration Pack

Mission Workshop’s Hauser 10L pack is just the right size for a couple hours-long ride. It has enough space for an extra layer, a three-liter hydration bladder, plenty of snacks and a tool roll. And it’s made from incredibly durable materials so it can handle everything you can throw at it, literally.

High Above The Lookout Hip Pack

Unless you’re headed out on an all-day onslaught of mountain biking, a full-on mountain bike backpack is overkill. All you really need is a phone, wallet, tube, tool, pump/CO2, maybe a snack and water. Those essentials can fit easily in a hip pack and allow for better ventilation on your back as well as a better range of motion while on the bike. High Above mountain bike hip packs are some of the best on the market. And they’re serious pieces of outdoor gear. Each High Above hip pack is designed and sewn in Bellingham, Washington.

Buff Lightweight Merino Wool

Wear it as a helmet liner, a neck gaiter, a headband or a scarf. The options are virtually endless and the highly breathable and moisture-wicking merino wool material makes this piece invaluable.

Evoc Bike Travel Bag Pro

If you’ve ever ridden a rental mountain bike, we’d bet that you don’t plan on doing it again. Save yourself the pain and frustration of forever trying to dial in a rental bike and opt instead to travel with your own bike. Evoc’s bike bags are the best available and will ensure that your bike makes it to the trailhead safe and sound.

Ergon GE1 Evo Factory Grip

Handlebar grips can make all of the difference between an enjoyable ride and one full of pain and frustration. Ergon’s GE1 Evo Factory grips feature Gravity Control rubber that is just soft enough where it provides comfort while avoiding the “I’m holding a damp sponge” feeling.

Boneshaker Mag Mega Bundle

Self-described as a “sideways look at cycling,” UK-based Boneshaker Magazine offers unique features and design that stands in contrast to the old guard of mountain bike magazines. While not mountain bike-specific, even the most diehard of mountain bikers will find something to enjoy in these pages.

100% S2 Sunglasses

100%’s S2 is the perfect cross between lifestyle and on-trail performance. The frames are comfortable, the styling is on point and if you opt for the HiPer lens, you’re getting some of the highest quality optics out there.

Voke Tabs

There are few things worse than bonking when you’re still a handful of miles from the trailhead. Keeping a few Voke Tabs in your pack will save you on just such an occasion. Voke Tabs are all natural energy chews designed to give you that extra boost of energy. If you need more convincing, they’re endorsed by world class mountaineer Conrad Anker.

WTB Ranger Tire

WTB, or Wilderness Trail Bikes, is one of the old guard brands from the mountain bike world. Its Ranger tire is one of the best on the market, providing ample grip in a light and durable casing. It comes in a variety of sizes, so there is sure to be one that fits.

Topeak Mini 20 Pro Tool

Every cyclist needs a tool in their pack. Topeak’s bantamweight Mini 20 Pro provides everything you need and nothing you don’t.

Swrve Topo Map Mug

When you’re stuck at the office, Swrve’s Topo Map mug will help you envision loamy forests and berms made of hero dirt that you’ll be ripping come the weekend.

Firestone Lager

No ride is complete without the perfect beer afterward. Firestone Walker’s Lager is not only the most perfect, most satisfying post-ride beer, but it’s also the best representation of the new wave of craft lagers.

Note: Purchasing products through our links may earn us a portion of the sale, which supports our editorial team’s mission. Learn more here.

The Best New Knives of October 2018

Some product launches are predictable — hiking boots and rain jackets in spring; skis and jackets for winter. Some things don’t fall so neatly into weather-defined timelines though, like pocket knives. Designers and makers never stop, and manufacturers that roll out as many as 50 new knives per year don’t do so all at once. Instead, blades are revealed in a steady flow, and there’s something new to ogle every week. We make it our mission to keep you in-the-know as knives that have the potential to become your next daily sidekick are released. But just in case you missed one, we’ll round up our findings in one concise, easy-to-scroll article.

This month, we saw the release of Kickstarter knives, a new take on a classic blade, an unlikely folder from a brand with knife history going back to World War II and more.

WESN Microblade

It’s undeniable that Kickstarter has changed how products transform from idea to item. It’s democratized the process: no longer does one need a mountain of savings or an audition on Shark Tank to begin to make a product that might be the start of the next “it” brand. To date, the platform has helped produce everything from kayaks that fold up, origami-style, to what may be the most popular camera bag ever. And then there’s this tiny pocket knife, made by WESN Goods.

WESN’s Microblade debuted on Kickstarter last October and met its $12,000 goal in less than 60 minutes. WESN won the hearts of its backers by making its knife as small as possible without sacrificing utility. It’s 2.25 inches when closed — about the same size as a standard house key — and 3.75 inches when open. The Microblade’s titanium body is exceptionally lightweight and durable, and its Vanadium-infused stainless steel blade is harder and more rust-resistant than ordinary steel. A pocket clip and a lanyard hole make it extraordinarily carriable too.

Kickstarter users agreed; over the course of its campaign, the Microblade earned a cool $218,306 — not bad for something so small. Now, nearly a year later, WESN’s first product is available on Amazon for $50. The Microblade hasn’t changed at all either — it still packs all the functionality of a full-sized pocket knife into a package that’ll go unnoticed in your pocket or on your keychain.

Buck Knives 112 Ranger Pro

As with art and technology, pocket knives aren’t created in a vacuum. The knife is one of the oldest tools known to man, and as such, it’s an object that offers makers hundreds of years of inspiration to draw from in creating new designs. Some classics, like Buck Knives’ 110 Hunter, aren’t quite that dated though. The famous knife was created in 1963 as a folding alternative to the heavier fixed blades that were commonly used in outdoor pursuits. The 112 followed it nine years later as something even more pocketable, and this year that model received a remake in the form of the 112 Ranger Pro.

The new 112 Ranger Pro is like its forebear but is modernized with a G10 handle, nickel bolsters and an S30V stainless steel blade. The hallmarks of the original still stand: it’s 7.25 inches open, features a clip-point blade shape and uses a time-honored lockback design. It comes on the heels of last month’s release of two different automatic versions of the 112 but forgoes that new, button-activated opening mechanism for the original nail nick. The Ranger Pro is also accompanied by a more affordable Ranger LT that uses a full nylon handle.

It’s easy to write off re-releases and retro-inspired remakes as shallow plays to leverage nostalgia into sales, but timeless objects maintain their allure for a reason. The 112 Ranger, as well as the 110, are still in circulation because they’ve remained practical, and even though they were originally designed for hunting, both are worthy of any contemporary everyday carry. The Pro keeps that level of function but offers the benefits (and attraction) of upgraded materials — and there’s nothing wrong with that.

Statgear Slinger

Not every company meets success in crowdfunding, but Statgear, a gear company founded by a New York City paramedic named Avi Goldstein, has. Just last year it launched two campaigns on Kickstarter and Indiegogo, one for a premium folding knife called the Asus that earned over $75,000 and another for a key-sized, katana-inspired blade called the Pocket Samurai, which received $54,000. Its new blade, the Slinger, saw similar success in its debut last month — it’s earned more than $56,000.

The Asus and the Pocket Samurai were successful because the positioned practical functionality in unique (and pretty) designs and the Slinger follows that example. It’s a small folding knife designed with premium materials for everyday use. The three-inch skeletonized handle is stainless steel, and the modified, two-inch spey-point blade is D2 stainless steel, a type that excels in both corrosion-resistance and edge retention. It’s also a flipper, the company’s first.

Statgear is building the Slinger as an everyday carry pocket knife with the idea that it’ll be used for the practical tasks that we regularly encounter (like opening packages). It didn’t ignore the fact that everyday knives should also look good, so it’s producing it in three finishes: blue and gold, grey and blue, and black and black.

Ka-Bar Jarosz Wharncliffe Flipper

Ka-Bar is well known in the world of knives, but not for the type that you’d carry around every day. Its most famous blade is the USMC, a seven-inch fixed blade that was designed originally for the United States Marines at the onset of World War II. Its strength and utility in and out of combat have made it a popular choice among servicemen and women in wars past and present, so much so that even combat knives not made by the company have commonly been referred to as “kabars.” Ka-Bar’s newest knife isn’t for fighters though; it’s for people who need a knife to use for everyday tasks like opening packages and cutting cords.

The knife is called the Jarosz Wharncliffe Flipper, which is a straightforward name that signifies precisely what it is: a folding, flipper-style pocket knife with a Wharncliffe blade shape that was designed by Jesse Jarosz (it’s also available with a spear point). The blade is 3.375 inches long and made of corrosion-resistant AUS-8A stainless steel that’s held with a G10 handle and a titanium backside.

The Jarosz Flipper proves to be a foil to the iconic USMC battle knife, most notably with the Wharncliffe shape. Wharncliffe blades, which are characterized by a curved spine that extends gradually from the handle to the tip, are commonly used in utility knives. The shape allows them to cut and slice while minimizing the possibility for an accidental puncture with the less-exposed tip. Historically, they were favored by farmers and sailors, but are just as capable in the hands of contemporary workers of all types. And even though it isn’t the Ka-Bar, it still comes with the same high rank of quality that the company has built its reputation on for over 100 years.

The James Brand Elko

Technically the Elko isn’t a new knife — it came out last year. But it is our favorite keychain pocket knife, and this month the James Brand released it in three new colors: canary yellow, bone white and red.

For those who are unfamiliar with the Elko, it’s no larger than a USB stick. Open, it’s just over 4.3 inches, shorter than a standard pen. Its 1.7-inch blade is Sandvik 12C27 steel, which is hard, corrosion-resistant and features a one-of-a-kind drop-point shape explicitly designed for maxing out effectiveness with the smallest possible profile. Additionally, the keyring loop on the Elko’s butt is designed for prying, scraping, twisting screws and opening bottles.

Note: Purchasing products through our links may earn us a portion of the sale, which supports our editorial team’s mission. Learn more here.

We Want Burton’s New AK457 Bags, Even Though We Can’t Have Them

It’s no secret that outdoor brands often sell Japan-exclusive collections. Burlington, Vermont-based Burton Snowboards is one such brand. For discerning snowboarders and gearheads in the US, Burton’s AK457 collection is the forbidden fruit. People with AK457 gear wear it with pride, as a badge that signifies the user went to great lengths to obtain it — either by flying to Japan or using a proxy service to purchase it online.

Burton just launched new additions to its AK457 collection, and we’re particularly taken by the X-Pac bags that are on offer. Burton has made AK457 X-Pac bags in the past, but the three new bags look significantly more refined. There’s the Guide 32L, which by our estimations, would work great as a travel bag, overnight backpacking bag or snowboard pack when traveling in avalanche terrain. There’s also the Jet 15L backpack, which is a technical daypack designed to cater to those who demand the lightest and most durable materials from their gear. Lastly, there’s a 105L gear-hauling duffel, which is also made from durable 70D X-Pac ripstop nylon.

If you live for the times when someone asks you “Hey, who makes that backpack?,” then Burton’s new AK457 bags are well-worth the hoops that you have to jump through to get them. (If you’re wondering how to buy them, check out our guide to shopping from Japan by using a proxy service.) But even if you don’t live for those times, Burton’s AK457 bags will live up to everything you can throw at them.

AK457 Jest Backpack 15L by Burton ¥28,000

AK457 Guide Backpack 32L by Burton ¥42,000

AK457 Duffel Bag 105L by Burton ¥30,000

Staff Picks: Our Favorite Shoulder Season Layers

Welcome to another installment of Staff Picks from our Outdoors and Fitness team. Every other week, we select our favorite pieces out of the gear we’re testing, mainstays in our kits, as well as items on our wish lists. It’s like a sneak peek at the gear we’re testing and what we’re stoked on. Have something you think we should check out? Or just want to say hi? Drop us a line at outdoor@gearpatrol.com.

BlackYak Yakutian

Since moving to New York, I’ve become a type of person that a younger, cynical, teenage me once ridiculed: a leaf peeper. I took autumn’s palette for granted, but now once the fall equinox rolls around, I begin making frequent trips north in anticipation of the forests’ gradual metamorphosis. These journeys typically involve wandering through the peaks of the Adirondacks or the Green Mountains, and while the temperatures have finally started to drop here in the Northeast, I still haven’t needed to break out my favorite down pullover.

For now, a lighter jacket will do, and BlackYak’s active insulation-filled Yakutian is just the thing. Some of its zones are filled with warm synthetic insulation while others are left as stretchy, breathable fabric. I can put it on and leave it on, even when I’m tramping up the hills amongst the orange and red trees. — Tanner Bowden, Staff Writer

If you’re looking for something similar, but the pick above isn’t quite right, try these alternatives: The North Face Ventrix Hooded Jacket ($220) | Patagonia Nano Air Hooded Jacket ($299)

Bight Gear Swelter Jacket

When our Outdoors and Fitness team headed upstate for a week to test gear, we needed to bring some insulation. As soon as we crossed the Albany line, temperatures dropped and I was suddenly reaching for sweaters and puffy coats over short sleeves and zip-ups. I tested the Bight Gear Swelter Jacket, made of synthetic Polartec Power Fill (80 percent of the insulation is post-consumer recycled content). The athletic fit worked well with my daypack, as well as with my jeans, meaning I can wear it all over town as well. Temperatures surged north towards the end of our week, and yet, I still found myself reaching for this coat. It somehow was the perfect in-between mix.

The jacket had its moment as I climbed Mt. Marcy, easily coming on and off, while also staying relatively breathable when layered. It was also just the right amount of thickness for a quick sunrise hike over Mt. Jo the next morning. The brisk early temperatures paired with the winds at the top and the slow, but beautiful sunrise meant I relished in this jacket. Freezing summits are no match for this powerful layer. — Meg Lappe, Staff Writer

If you’re looking for something similar, but the pick above isn’t quite right, try these alternatives: Eddie Bauer Microtherm 2.0 ($138) | Houdini Wisp Jacket ($320)

Arc’teryx Atom LT

I’ve had this jacket for the past three years and it has yet to let me down. It’s breathable enough to function well as a shoulder season layer while still packing enough insulation to keep warm on brisk mornings and evenings. The stretchy fleece side panels also make it great for active pursuits. Plus, it packs up nice and small so I can tuck it in a backpack if I get a bit too warm. — AJ Powell, Assistant Editor

If you’re looking for something similar, but the pick above isn’t quite right, try these alternatives: Eddie Bauer Evertherm Hooded Jacket ($179) | BlackYak Burlina Hoody ($280)

Note: Purchasing products through our links may earn us a portion of the sale, which supports our editorial team’s mission. Learn more here.

The Most Successful Outdoor Kickstarter Projects of All Time

“Industry-disrupting.” “First ever.” “Category-bending.” These are some of the phrases you might find attached to a Kickstarter project, and they might be used to describe anything from an at-home 3D printer to a new graphic novel. Since its founding in April 2009, Kickstarter has acted as a successful funding platform for more than 152,000 projects that collectively earned roughly $3.5 billion at the time of this writing. It’s leveraged by artists in need of funding, entrepreneurs building new brands and even already-established businesses that are announcing new products.

But regardless of these numbers, Kickstarter is still the wild west of product development. Not all projects make it off their feet (more than 265,000 have failed), and some that do still fail to go into production, like the notorious iBackPack, which took more than $700,000 in funding and then promptly disappeared, leaving its backers in the lurch. That’s an extremely rare case though; the grand majority of funded projects deliver.

Perhaps more interesting than the statistics are the types of projects that find incredible success on the platform. Board games and video games are common winners, but luggage, headphones and a strange automatic toothbrush also find themselves in the upper echelon of things that have earned millions.

Outdoor products are up there too. Kickstarter doesn’t designate a category for outdoor gear, so we combed through its project archive manually to find the ones that earned the most. We classified these items based on an explicitly-stated purpose for use in the outdoors, but also looked for things that might generally be used for travel and adventure and are optimized with traits like weatherproof materials or technical components. Our findings were, in a word, unexpected.

Coolest Cooler

Goal Amount: $50,000
Total Earned: $13,285,226

The most-funded outdoor Kickstarter project — and the second most-funded project overall — won by more than two times the next-highest earner on this list. It’s a cooler, and it isn’t a Yeti either. The Coolest Cooler won the hearts of backers with built-in USB chargers, internal storage for plates, a Bluetooth speaker and an attached blender for making frozen margs on the go.

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Peak Design Everyday Backpack, Tote and Sling

Goal Amount: $500,000
Total Earned: $6,565,782

Peak Design was already an established camera accessory brand with a devout following of photographers when it launched its first collection of bags. Premium weatherproof materials and a full range of smart features like side access points and magnetic closures helped these bags win big.

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Peak Design Travel Line

Goal Amount: $500,000
Total Earned: $5,206,611

Peak Design broadened the scope of its products beyond adventure-seeking photographers with the Travel Line, which included packing cubes and a Dopp kit as well as the cornerstone Travel Backpack.

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Peak Design Everyday Messenger

Goal Amount: $100,000
Total Earned: $4,869,472

Well, no surprise here. Peak Design gets another top spot with its photographer-focused (but everyday-oriented) messenger bag.

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Baubax Travel Jacket

Goal Amount: $50,000
Total Earned: $3,948,547

Apparently, people want their jacket to do everything. Like house a built-in inflatable neck pillow, a mini blanket and even a footrest. This one is riddled with gimmicks, but it also raked in nearly $4 million.

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BioLite FirePit

Goal Amount: $100,000
Total Earned: $2,534,017

BioLite is another well-established brand that’s well-known for its techy camp stoves and lanterns. The FirePit is a self-contained fire pit that can be used in backyards and tailgate parties as well as out in the wilderness, and it even comes with a rack for grilling.

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Tropic Ultimate Travel Shoe

Goal Amount: ~$14,330
Total Earned: ~$2,453,719

Tropic, which rebranded to Tropicfeel after its successful funding, created a go-everywhere sneaker to wear in water, on hiking trails and in city streets. It’s lightweight and minimal, and you don’t even have to tie its laces.

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North Aware Smart Parka

Goal Amount: ~$22,920
Total Earned: ~$2,488,879

Yep, another coat with lots of stuff built into it. This one is designed specifically for winter, with built-in gloves and a scarf. Other than that, it isn’t much different than lots of other parkas.

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iKamper Skycamp

Goal Amount: $100,000
Total Earned: $2,370,611

Rooftop tents weren’t new when iKamper launched the Skaycamp in 2017, but it stands out with a range of add-ons including an awning, shoe rack and annex room that extends down to the ground to create a shelter as big as some New York City apartments.

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SpeedX Leopard Aero Bike

Goal Amount: $50,000
Total Earned: $2,319,876

When SpeedX announced the Leopard, we called it “the Tesla of road bikes.” That’s because it proposed serious tech integration into a high-end road frame, with sensors to measure stats like cadence, time, distance, speed and altitude. Reviews that have come out since aren’t exactly glowing, but SpeedX has since forged ahead with more improvements and freshly-spec’d bikes.

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