The New 2019 Outdoor Gear We’re Looking Forward to Most

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. This week, we’re looking at some of the things we were most excited about at Outdoor Retailer. Our team saw thousands of new products that will become available next year, and these were some of our favorites. Have something you think we should check out? Or just want to say hi? Drop us a line at outdoor@gearpatrol.com.

Klean Kanteen TKPro

Overnight camping means you’ll need a good cup of coffee the next day, and likely some lunch and dinner. Having a hot meal isn’t super complicated thanks to all the just-add-water options, but if you’re looking to keep chili, chicken noodle soup or even an iced coffee at its desired temperature overnight, your options might be limited. Thanks to Klean Kanteen, that’s no longer the case. The TKPro is a plastic-free thermal canteen with an integrated double-wall stainless steel cup. Unscrew the top slightly to pour at any height and direction — it’ll work 360-degrees, so you don’t have to worry about tweaking your wrist or balancing something to pour at just the right angle. The TKPro is vacuum sealed, BPA-free and the smallest size (16 ounces) will keep beverages hot for 20 hours and iced for 75. The largest size (32 ounces) keeps soups hot for 38 hours and iced bevvies cold for 100 hours. Check it out soon in a stainless steel or black color. — Meg Lappe, Staff Writer

Ortlieb Atrack Backpack and Travel Duffel

Nearly every gear company makes a rugged, water-resistant and tear-proof duffel equipped with backpack straps — we’re at a point where they all begin to appear more or less the same. Ortlieb, a company that already makes an impressive version of this type of bag, showed us a refreshing new take on the category called the Atrack. The most distinctive characteristic of the Atrack is that it puts backpack before duffel, meaning that the harness is full-featured to provide comfort and support in all scenarios. It also uses a simple modular strap system that allows for the carrying of skis, snowboards, snowshoes, trekking poles, helmets and whatever else you can think of to strap to the bag. And, like all the other bags, it’s very durable very waterproof. — Tanner Bowden, Associate Staff Writer

Nanga Aerial Down Parka Packable

My favorite surprise at OR was stumbling upon the Nanga booth. A staple in Japanese outdoor apparel, the brand has been producing gear for over 75 years and is finally making its way to American soil. The down parka was absolutely incredible – tangible quality, solid performance and a unique aesthetic. I’m very excited to see the brand blossom stateside in the coming years. — Brenden Clarke, Social Media Coordinator

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

Editor’s Choice: The Best of Outdoor Retailer Summer 2018

The Best Gym Bags for Work in 2018: Perfect for Showing Off

Getting to and from work with a gym bag and a briefcase can be clunky. Finding a kit that allows you to pack both your gym clothes and laptop without looking like a dork fresh out of gym class can be hard to do. As summer nears and gym-going increases, it’s time to upgrade your gym bag. Below is a selection of good-looking bags with plenty of pockets to streamline your morning or post-work gym routine.

We looked for bags with extremely durable exteriors, minimalist designs and a pocket large enough for a work laptop — waterproofing was an added bonus. Work-appropriate gym backpacks, duffels, messenger bags and briefcases need to be able to hold a change of shoes and clothes, as well as keep your sweaty stench inside, so no one is the wiser if you hit the gym twice in one day.

Brooks England Mott Holdall

From the brand known for well-designed bike saddles and saddlebags comes this medium-sized duffel that blends in at the gym and in the office. The durable riveted handles will hold up no matter you put them through. The external pocket makes it easy to grab your gym card and is also a handy spot to place keys — so that they’re always in the same location. A high-visibility yellow interior means you won’t lose your headphones or Airpods among dirty clothes. Currently offered in a navy or black, this water-resistant cotton textile bag is tough to beat.

Aer Flight Pack Backpack

Thanks to adjustable backpack straps, it’s easy to carry the Aer Flight Pack as a duffel or as a backpack. Built with Cordura ballistic nylon, you can toss it around the CrossFit box and never worry about damage. An interior padded laptop pocket (15.6″) is sandwiched between three other slide-in pockets and mirrors a zip mesh pocket for chargers, credit cards and more. The material won’t give away that you spent your morning sweating through box jumps.

GORUCK Kit Bag and Shoulder Strap

Take off the messenger strap on this small, yet sturdy rucksack, and it almost looks like a slightly more substantial briefcase. GORUCK is known for crafting bags that’ll survive almost anything — considering each bag is made with Special Forces-grade materials and comes with a lifetime guarantee. It’s sure to outlast any fitness trend. While it looks small, the bag holds 32-liters complete with three organizational pockets. Everything you need for the gym has a place here, with space left for work clothes.

Topo Designs Mountain Briefcase

This classically shaped briefcase brings outdoor vibes to any boardroom. The bag seamlessly transitions between messenger bag and briefcase with convertible straps that attach to the leather lash tabs on the side of the zippers. 15″ laptops are easy to fit and secure inside the top zipper, so your tech is protected from any commute situation.

Lexdray Portland Sneaker Duffel

Six pairs of sneakers will fit in this dynamic bag, meaning it can handle your gym clothes, laptop and work clothes; there’s plenty of space to go around. The rolltop middle section expands to fit unusually sized objects — magazines, foam rollers, even size 14 sneakers. A laptop and extra layers are cozy in one of the dual side pockets. And, the vibrant interior print makes it easy to see everything you throw inside.

Stuart and Lau Regimen Gym Bag

The main attraction in this minimalist duffel is the ventilated pocket that prevents sneaker-stink from enveloping work clothes or fresh gym clothes. The built-in locker hook allows you to hang the bag from any existing pole in the locker room or hook on the wall. It’s easier to go through all your gear when you’re not bending over to see it. Unzip one side pocket to reveal a 15″ laptop sleeve and organization pockets lined with blue nylon twill. Gunmetal hardware and waterproof fabric top it all off.

Our Favorite Gear from Outdoor Retailer, Day 3

We’re on the ground at Outdoor Retailer Summer Market 2018, scouting the best new gear from the outdoor industry launching in 2018 and 2019. Ahead of announcing our annual picks for Editor’s Choice, we’re taking a moment each day of the show to share some of our favorite items from the floor.

Contribution by AJ Powell, Meg Lappe and Tanner Bowden.

RMU Core Pack MTB

Rocky Mountain Underground is no longer just a ski company. With every season, the Colorado-based brand expands further into the outdoor space, and it’s following up the recent release of its Tailgate Locker with another mountain bike product, the Core Pack MTB. The pack features many of the same traits as RMU’s other outdoor products: rugged materials, adjustable components, multi-sport versatility. It’s 15 liters and features a ventilated back panel, a dedicated tool pocket, a removable waistbelt, a helmet sling and even an integrated diagonal ski carry (for the colder months). The Core Pack MTB will retail for $140.

GCI Pod Rocker + Pod Rocker with SunShade

The only thing better than a rocking chair on a front porch overlooking a lake is a rocking chair you can take anywhere and roll back and forth to the soothing sounds of all bodies of water. GCI wants you to do just that with the launch of its Pod Rocker. The chair features GCI’s patented Spring-Action Rocking technology, so you’re comfortable in all sitting positions. A beverage holder and side pocket provide you with all the necessities for a good fire-side conversation — sip on a cold beer while playing Cards Against Humanity, solitaire or even Go Fish. If it’s too sunny, the UPF 50 shade adjusts so you can read on a Kindle or check your phone without sun glare. Plus, each chair comes with a limited lifetime warranty.

Big Agnes Copper Spur UL2 Bikepacking Edition

At Outdoor Retailer, Big Agnes launched bike packing tents to help ease the pain of carrying a more heavy-duty tent with you while on the bike. Whether you’re heading from NorCal to SoCal down the 101 or taking a route less traveled, the new Copper Spur UL2 Bikepacking Edition tent has shorter tentpole segments so it’ll fit between your shifters, in a frame bag, or will simply take up less space in your pack. This tent comes with all of the bells and whistles you expect from Big Agnes, in addition to some bikepacking necessities. There’s a helmet sleeve under the fly and a large interior storage area for your bike gear.

Mountainsmith Dry Tour Lumbar Pack

Fanny packs, lumbar packs, hip packs — the name changes, but the trend continues to grow. Mountainsmith designed the Dry Tour hip pack outdoorsmen in mind. The pack keeps your most important gear dry, no matter what inclement weather is about to hit. Store a water bottle in the removable pocket to stay hydrated while you’re getting active. Fishermen can take full advantage of the pass-thru sleeve which is ideal for a fishing net, or just added storage. This is the pack that’ll work for everything from SUP’ing to rainy day hikes, to photography on the water to fishing.

Yeti Panga Backpack

Yeti’s newest product pushes the boundaries on what a backpack can be. The Panga Submersible Backpack 28 is an airtight citadel with the characteristics of the durable Panga duffle, but wraps into a unique backpack design. When you have to keep things dry, like on a boating or rafting trip, or even when you’re headed out to go SUP camping or fly fishing, opt for this new backpack. It’s built to be around water and is 100 percent waterproof. You could even take it surfing if that was socially acceptable (it isn’t).

The Panga Backpack is available now.

Nemo Equipment Roamer Sleeping Pad

Nemo has always done an excellent job of making backpack-friendly sleeping pads that are incredibly lightweight and plush, but for 2019 it’s maximizing comfort with the Roamer. The Roamer isn’t a backpacker’s sleeping pad; it’s built with self-inflating open-cell foam covered with plush fabric and lined on the bottom with a durable base that can be placed squarely on the ground. It’s a significant upgrade to the thick air mattress approach to camping.

Mountain Hardwear Selvedge Denim Climb Pant

More and more outdoor companies are spotlighting lifestyle pieces within their catalogs, and as a result, denim has been revitalized as an outdoor material. Mountain Hardwear impressed us before with its Dyneema-laced Crux pant, but the Selvedge Denim Climb is perhaps the most stylish pair of climbing jeans we’ve seen yet. These jeans are harness-friendly, offer a slight amount of stretch, and are designed to display the results of your efforts through a patina of cracks and scuffs.

Our Favorite Gear from Outdoor Retailer, Day 2

We’re on the ground at Outdoor Retailer Summer Market 2018, scouting the best new gear from the outdoor industry launching in 2018 and 2019. Ahead of announcing our annual picks for Editor’s Choice, we’re taking a moment each day of the show to share some of our favorite items from the floor.

Contribution by AJ Powell, Meg Lappe and Tanner Bowden.

Nanga Outdoor Gear

Nanga, a Japanese outdoor brand with a 75-year history of crafting down blankets and outdoor gear is brand new to the US market. The US launch includes down jackets, blankets and a collection of sleeping bags utilizing water-repellant duck down. The colors and design characteristics of the line have a distinctly Americana outdoor vibe.

Wolverine 1000 Mile Wedge Boot

Further expanding on the 1000 Mile line of boots, Wolverine launched the 1000 Mile Wedge boot. The upper is made from a beautiful deep red Horween leather upper which is stitched to a sythetic rubber wedge sole. The boots are available now (and are even on sale currently at Nordstrom’s Anniversary Sale).

Tepui HyBox

Overland adventurers have always faced a problem: rooftop tent or cargo box. There isn’t space for both. Tepui is addressing the issue with the HyBox. The HyBox is a two-in-one — it’s a rooftop tent with a platform that expands to create a full-sized sleeping platform and includes a protective awning, and it’s also a rugged cargo box constructed with an ABS hardshell exterior. Now, car-based campers can have their box and sleep in it too.

La Tortuga Setout Divide Backpack

La Tortuga specializes in unique backpacks filled with enough pockets to store all of your belongings, with a streamlined exterior that’s tough enough to survive all of your adventures. The newest backpack is the Setout Divide. It holds 25- to 35-liters thanks to an expandable side. Unzip the middle to unveil a clamshell with enough space for a long weekend’s worth of clothes and gear. One side features a mesh unit, so you can see everything you packed, or let dirty laundry air out, while the other side features compression straps so you can stuff everything inside. The exterior is complete with designated laptop, water bottle and passport pockets. Pack it like a carry-on suitcase, then carry it like a backpack.

Kokopelli Rogue Lite

Whether you’re bike packing, hiking the AT, or just walking around near a river, the newest pack raft from Kokopelli should make the top of your list. At just 4.9-pounds, the Rogue Lite is no bigger than a paper towel roll. It’s suitable for a single human, so you can lounge all day on a quiet lake or cruise down a river. The raft features Kevlar flooring, D-ring placements and a state-of-the-art hull design that’s easy to use and simple to throw in your bag. It’s 85-inches in length (just over 7-feet) and 37-inches in width (just over 3-feet wide).

RovR Rollr 45

When we reviewed RovR’s feature-packed RollR 60 cooler, we had few criticisms of the portable icebox, except that it was a bit heavy. We’re excited to see the company shrink its modular design with the RovR 45, making it more suitable for trips that don’t require as many supplies. It’s equipped with many of the same features as the larger models (puncture-resistant tires, an integrated dry bin, add-on accessories like cup holders and a cutting board) but RovR also added a telescoping handle to allow for more comfortable towing.

Sea to Summit Pack Racks

The Sea to Summit Pack Racks is an inflatable rack system that requires no hardware to bolt to the top of your car. Constructed in a durable, flexible, waterproof and easy to clean 420D nylon TPU coated fabric, the racks are perfect for surfboards, kayaks, stand up paddle boards. They also feature a daisy chain to provide multiple lash points for your tie-down straps. Simply blow them up and strap them to the top of your car to transport whatever you need.

La Sportiva Kaptiva Mountain Running Shoe

The new Kaptiva trail runner from La Sportiva is a fast shoe built to tackle technical terrain on race day. Trail running is a strong category for La Sportiva, and the brand continuously puts out high performing sneakers — we loved the Helios 2.0 for minimalist trail runners — and are excited about this new option. The shoes weigh just 9 ounces (slightly more than the Helios 2.0), but feature a full-length rock guard to protect from tough terrain underfoot. The FiXion XF outsole provides intense traction so there’s no slip concerns during any race — even in rain and snow.

Speedvagen’s Handcrafted Bikes Are Getting Us Excited About Steel

You’re not going to see any Speedvagen bikes in the pro peloton when (or if) you tune in to watch le Tour. And you’re almost certainly not going to see any of their bikes in your local shop, either. But mass-quantity production and big brand recognition aren’t the point(s); the brand’s own mission statement includes a desire to not “make a gagillion bikes” but to “make a handful of great bikes that will be truly meaningful to their owners.”

And this little shop is definitely doing something right. Speedvagen’s two newest releases, the King OG and the GTFO, are further proof that properly crafted steel bikes are relevant, desirable and even exciting.

How can a steel bike be exciting or relevant enough to compete with carbon fiber, especially when we’re talking about utility, commuter and touring bikes that cost several thousand dollars? Part of this has to do with Speedvagen’s proprietary construction methods. Taken straight from the brand’s website: “Made from the latest technology, our new steel is to traditional steel what a Tesla is to a 60’s Ford. Speedvagen tubes are 4-6 times stronger than the tubing people typically associate with a steel bike. Because it’s stronger, it can be made lighter, resulting in a Speedvagen as light as 13lbs (6kgs) complete.” (I looked into this claim; it’s true.)

I can’t divulge a lot of technical secrets here — to be totally transparent with you, I’m no bike scientist — but I can tell you the brand uses both Columbus tubing from Italy and dead-stock True Temper stuff to achieve these impressive strength-to-weight ratios. Good steel, sure, and maybe a little bit of magic. It might require a few test rides to really know for sure.

The GTFO

When I spoke with Richard Pool, a designer and jack-of-many-trades at the Portland workshop where these bikes are built, told me he was excited as hell about these new models. The GTFO in particular has been sort of a brainchild of his; it was the first bike he pitched to the brand after he was brought on a couple years ago to oversee Speedvagen’s soft goods.

“Don’t call it a touring bike!” the GTFO’s press release warns, even though at first glance it looks like a cut-and-dried touring bike. Of course there’s more here than meets the eye. The fully-rigid build is versatile enough to tackle gravel, pavement and non-technical trails, and the single-speed design keeps things as simple as they can be.

This is where “dumbed-down” becomes “elegant” — while there aren’t as many moving parts on this bike as the average cyclist is used to, every part that does make it into the build is high-end, and made to perform over miles of trials. And as is the case with any utility-first design, the fewer moving parts you have in the equation, the less likely things are to break down on a dirt road 50 miles from the nearest town. Side note: Pool intended this design to be single-speed only, but you can pay an additional $500 for a Shimano XT build. “Part of the beauty of this bike,” Pool said, “is that riders can more or less make it their own with the options we have available.”

The simplicity of the GTFO’s stock build comes with perks other than simplicity itself: even fully spec’d out, with the bags and lights and pedals shown here, it weighs just shy of 24 pounds.

(For reference, while it’s no custom-built beauty, the Salsa Journeyman comes in above 25 pounds without any bags, lights or bottles. Salsa’s Marrakesh model, another touring-crowd mainstay, appears to start at 29 pounds.)

“This bike is for guys like me,” Pool says — something most product designers are probably secretly pleased to admit. “You get done with a long workday, you’ve got some bags strapped to the bike, you get on it and hustle out of town to set up camp somewhere. Then you get up in the morning, sprint back to the house, and have breakfast with your family.” He reflects a little further to say that most guys like him — that is, guys with young families and demanding day jobs — can’t just get on a touring bike and head out for a week of bikepacking in a state park or along a scenic country highway. But the desire for a quick escape into nowhere, with the promise of a quick return? That attainable quick-hit of fresh air and solitude? That’s where the GTFO comes from, and that’s what it promises when you climb on.

The King OG

The King OG is what it looks like — a beautiful hand-crafted road machine that’s as ready for Tuesday night criteriums as it is for slow-and-steady Sunday rides. Want to blast through a sprint? It can do that. Want to sit up, breathe through your nose and admire the scenery? It can do that too.

The standard-model Speedvagen OG Classic, which has been on the market for years, is already pretty special. So what are you getting when you buy the upgrade, the King OG? Pool weighed in here to say that it was a thing of beauty, and if value is on your mind, you’ll find it here in spades.

“We took our OG Classic model and said, ‘Okay, how can we add more value to this, and make it even more special?’ And the result was a sort of cross-town collaboration with Chris King. We worked closely with them to keep the price from rising too much, and we were able to add their headset, bottom bracket, and wheels to what we already had,” Pool said.

Speedvagen claims this build to weigh in at about 17.6 lbs (maybe a bit more if you’re rocking the XL frame size), which puts it ahead of many carbon bikes in the same price range. Sprinkle in some truly stunning detail work — stuff Speedvagen is known for — and you’ve got something that looks great, feels great, and performs as well as a perfectly-dialed road bike can perform. In other words, it might function as a kind of showpiece when it’s standing still (did you see those dropouts?) but once you get on the pedals, it’s sure not going to slow you down any.

Our Favorite Gear from Outdoor Retailer, Day 1

We’re on the ground at Outdoor Retailer Summer Market 2018, scouting the best new gear from the outdoor industry launching in 2018 and 2019. Ahead of announcing our annual picks for Editor’s Choice, we’re taking a moment each day of the show to share some of our favorite items from the floor.

Contribution by AJ Powell, Meg Lappe and Tanner Bowden.

Big Agnes Fly Creek UL 1 Dyneema

The Fly Creek UL 1 Dyneema is the lightest, semi-freestanding tent that Big Agnes has ever made. It weighs in at only one pound thanks to the use of ultralight Dyneema, a material that has an incredible strength to weight ratio that’s used mostly by innovative garage outdoor brands. We’ve praised the use of Dyneema extensively in the past, and it’s exciting to see a bigger brand like Big Agnes put Dyneema to good use.

Tecnica Plasma Hiking Shoe

A year ago, Tecnica, one of the most well-known ski boot companies in the world, announced that it would begin to make hiking boots. In the months since then, its first boot (a fully-customizable model called Forge) has been a huge success. We’ve done some walking in it, and even gave it our Editor’s Choice Award for best hiking boot. This year, Tecnica is expanding the line with a low-cut hiking shoe called Plasma. It features the same hallmark that makes Forge awesome: heat-molded customization. That means a perfect fit and no break-in period. Plasma will be available with Gore-Tex for $180 and without it for $150 in spring of 2019.

Skechers Go Run Razor 3 Hyper

Skechers Performance will launch the newest Go Run Razor 3 Hyper just in time for the New York City marathon this fall. The Hyper Burst foam is shaping up to be quite the game changer in the running space thanks to its lightweight yet durable attributes. The Go Run Razor 3 Hyper weighs just 6.4 ounces (much less than the 8.4 ounces of the Nike Pegasus Turbo) and has a pretty plush, cushioned rocker underfoot. The shoe will launch first in a black and volt colorway this fall for the marathon, followed by a variety of colors next spring.

BioLite Headlamp

BioLite is known for tackling and solving tough issues around energy in the backcountry. You need fire and light to prep and eat, and Biolite creates some of the toughest, most durable energy sources around. Lanterns are helpful for backyard, car and backcountry camping, but are sometimes an unnecessary weight. Light, however, is always needed, which is why Biolite launched a new Headlamp. At just 2.3 ounces for 320 lumens, the headlamp is ultra-lightweight and bright. We tried it on, and can vouch that it feels comfortable and doesn’t swing all over your head when you nod or rapidly shake your head. The battery pack redistributes the weight from the front to the back, touching the nape of your neck, and the actual light itself twists up or down with just one hand movement. It launches September 19 on Kickstarter for just $49.

Hoka One One Evo Rehi and Speedgoat 3 Waterproof

A brand new shoe for Hoka, the Evo Rehi is fast, light and designed for race day. The Rehi combines the same cushioning Hoka is known and loved for with an extremely light, almost weightless upper made from MATRYX. The upper absorbs zero water, so you can fly through puddles and streams with ease, all while forgetting you’re wearing a shoe.

The Speedgoat 2 launched with rave reviews from the trail running community thanks to its plush cushioning and intense Vibram Megagrip whether you’re heading out for a long day on the trails or recovering. Hoka announced its third generation of the shoe, the Speedgoat 3 Waterproof at Outdoor Retailer this year. One complaint with version two was the narrow toe box, which has opened up, plus runners will find a slightly wider midsole as well. The cushioning is the same, with the addition of a waterproof bootie and tongue. There’s also more support on the upper so you can tackle all the technical trails your heart wants.

Peak Design Travel Pack + Organizers

Peak Design started in 2011 with a single camera accessory. Now it makes straps, backpacks, totes and more — many of which have set funding records on Kickstarter. Its latest product is a 45-liter bag called the Travel Backpack. As with every Peak Design product, versatility and customizability are at the heart of pack. It has access points on the back, sides and top, and handles for carrying on every side. Its shoulder straps and hipbelt tuck away. Smaller highlights include theft-deterrent zippers, a concealed passport stash pocket, a soft sunglasses pocket and a compression snap system that brings the bag down to 35 liters when its full capacity isn’t needed.

To complement the Travel Backpack, Peak Design is releasing a tech organizer, a dopp kit and a series of packing cubes that’ll all work separately or together with the brand’s other products. All of Peak Design’s new products are available for pre-order now on Kickstarter and are slated to arrive to customers before the holiday season.

The North Face One Bag

It’d be easy for a four-season camper to own three or more sleeping bags. The North Face knows this, so it made the One Bag — a sleep system comprised of multiple layers that offers a usable temperature range from 40 degrees Fahrenheit down to five. The top and bottom layers of the One Bag are Heatseeker Pro synthetic insulation, but the middle is 20-degree rated 800-fill down. Use all three for the most warmth, take out the down layer for the least (or use the down layer as a quilt). You’d think that more sleeping bag would mean more money, but the One Bag costs $289 and will be available at The North Face stores next month.

Patagonia x Danner Foot Tractor

The Foot Tractor wading boot (which is a name that Patagonia has used on previous wading boots), looks a lot like a hiking boot. But instead of hiking, the boot is optimized for fly fishing and, as its name implies, wading up and down the slippery beds of a river.

The upper shares many aesthetic and material similarities with Danner’s Light II, a blend of beautifully tanned leather and tough 1000-Denier nylon. The boot, like many of Danner’s other boots, uses a stitch-down construction that allows it to be re-soled and reconstructed over years of use.

Perhaps one of the biggest selling points on the boot is that they are constructed in Danner’s factory in Portland, Oregon. But that type of high-quality US production comes with a price. The Foot Tractor will sell for between $499 and $549 depending on whether or not you kit them out with aluminum gripping bars on the sole. That’s not cheap for a pair of wading boots, but when you consider that they can be re-soled for as long as the upper will last, it’s a small price to pay. For comparison, the most expensive wading boots from Redington, Simms and Orvis will run you $150, $230 and $198 respectively.

The Foot Tractor is slated to be available for purchase in February 2019.

The Tour de France Is Underway. Here’s the New Gear to Watch Out For.

The Tour de France is the biggest, and most important, cycling race in the world. It’s also the second-most-watched live sporting event in the world (next to the FIFA World Cup). The race began in 1903 as a way to boost the circulation of an ailing French newspaper and has grown to include twenty-one stages and 2,069 miles of racing — including 50mph sprints, steep climbs in the Alps and the bone-shaking cobblestones paving the roads of Northern France. The overall winner will wear the yellow jersey into Paris and be crowned the most accomplished cyclist in the world.

Quick Facts

The famed yellow jersey, or Maillot Jaune, is awarded to the rider with the fastest overall time on the General Classification (GC), including time bonuses awarded to the top finishers on each stage. Alongside the Maillot Jaune, riders can win several other jerseys throughout the race.

The green jersey is awarded to the rider who accrues the most sprint points. These points are earned by winning stages and intermediate “hot spot sprints” along the route. The winner is normally a well-rounded rider who can get into breakaways to sweep up mid-race points — not necessarily the fastest bunch sprinter.

The polka dot jersey, also known as the King of the Mountains jersey is awarded to the rider who accrues the most points by crossing the top of mountain passes first. Mountains are graded according to their difficulty, with the hardest being Hors Catégorie, or “beyond classification.”

There is also a white jersey for the fastest rider under 25. These are the guys who are being groomed to contest for the biggest prize in cycling in years to come.

The team classification rewards the team with the lowest combined overall time with yellow race numbers. They may also wear yellow helmets.

Riders to Keep an Eye On

Chris Froome (Team Sky) during his outrageous solo attack to win the Giro d’Italia earlier this year. (Photo: Team Sky via Facebook)

Chris Froome: The three-time champion was nearly forced to sit out the race this year after a test showed excessive levels of Salbutamol (a controlled substance) during last season’s Vuelta a España. With the doping case against Froome dropped, and his dominant ride in the final few days of the Giro d’Italia, the Kenyan-born Brit will be the man to watch. Look out for his ex-teammate and close friend Richie Porte challenging him for the yellow jersey.

Peter Sagan: Wheelies? Motorcross goggles? Flames behind him on the podium? Three world championships? There’s nothing Peter Sagan can’t do in a bike race. Sagan will be extra hungry this year after being controversially disqualified in 2017. The Paris-Roubaix winner will be up against rival Fernando Gaviria for the green jersey, but win or lose, Sagan always puts on a show for his fans and we can’t help but love him for it.

Primož Roglic: He represented his country at the 2010 Winter Olympics as a ski jumper, but he’s flying on the bike these days. The Slovenian rider switched to cycling in 2012, has come second in the world time trial championships and climbs with the best in the world. We wouldn’t be surprised to see him on the podium in Paris.

Adam Yates: Yates is coming to the Tour as the sole leader for the Mitchelton-Scott team. Yates’ brother Simon lost the Giro d’Italia to Chris Froome after the latter’s huge solo breakaway. Yates must be yearning to restore the family honor and has the advantage of being guided over the risky cobbles of stage 9 by former Paris-Roubaix winner Matthew Hayman.

Toms Skjuins: Skjuins has become something of a fan favorite in the USA thanks to his pugnacious antics in multiple Tours of California. The Latvian time trial champion will likely get a free hand on stages where a breakaway is likely and has shown the World Tour field a clean pair of heels in California and Mallorca already this year.

Gear to Watch Out For

100% Peter Sagan Edition Sunglasses

Sagan’s trademark podium goggles won’t be making an appearance in the race just yet, but this collaboration with his eyewear sponsor isn’t something you’d want to shield your eyes from anyhow. 100% is using a new coloring process, meaning no two frames are alike. But that’s okay — nobody is going to mistake you for Peter Sagan anyhow.

Giro Aether MIPS

Giro recently released a do-it-all road racing helmet. Giro claims the helmet is faster and better vented than its Synthe while weighing roughly the same. The helmet also uses a new spherical MIPS (Multiple Impact Protection System) that should keep riders safer in crashes, and boasts pretty impressive wind tunnel numbers.

Giro Prolight Lace-Up

We spotted Taylor Phinney wearing what looked to be a ProLight version of Giro’s Empire at the Tour de Suisse. Giro’s existing ProLight shoe uses a hybrid lace-velcro closure system they call Techlace, but that’s not what we saw Phinney wearing. We reached out to Giro, who suggested Phinney’s shoes might be a homemade modification of the existing ProLight Techlace to meet his fit and aesthetic preferences — but we’re not so sure.

Castelli Body Paint Speed Suit

In collaboration with Team Sky, Castelli has developed a series of time trial suits that aid in aerodynamics through the use of textured fabrics. As if they needed any more help.

The Bikes

Sky: Pinarello Dogma F10

The Pinarello Dogma won the tour last year, and there’s a very good chance a yellow one will be ridden into Paris again this year. Look out for Froome’s custom paint job, adorned with the wildlife of his native Kenya. The Sky leader’s bike also often features crazy weight weenie modifications like his handlebar-top shifter with the casing removed.

Dimension Data: Cervélo S5

Cavendish’s team has upped its aero game again this year. They’ll be using Cervélo’s slippery S5 frame paired with a new aero road bar and stem in the sprint stages and breaking out the new R5 frames for the mountains. Cavendish will be hoping this is enough for him to take at least one stage and equal Eddy Merckx’s record 34 stage wins.

Katusha: Canyon Canyon Aeroad

Appropriately, the now Swiss team will be riding red and white Canyon Aeroad bikes on the flats. SRAM has equipped the team with eTap gearing, disc brakes and a tubular version of Zipp’s 454 NSW.

Movistar: Canyon Ultimate CF SLX

One of the diminishing number of Campagnolo-equipped teams in the race, Movistar’s baby blue Canyon bikes are easy to pick out in the peloton. The Spanish team could cause an upset with its stacked roster and no clear leader — giving them lots of options. Movistar will choose its Ultimate CF SLX bikes for the high mountain stages.

Bora–Hansgrohe: Specialized Venge

Riding the new and (much) improved Venge, Sagan’s Bora-Hansgrohe team should have no problems getting him to the front of the bunch, not that he needs much help. Look out for the custom paint jobs that have adorned the world champion’s bike in the past.

EF Education First-Drapac Cannondale: Cannondale SystemSix

The team with the longest name in cycling will be riding Cannondale’s new aero road bike. Cannondale claims it is “faster everywhere,” and it certainly looks slick. The disc-only bike will likely see use on all but the mountain stages, where riders will likely stick to the lightweight SuperSix Evo.

Astana: Argon 18 Gallium Pro

Fun fact: in previous years, Astana’s entire team at the Tour has ridden the same sized frame! This year, Astana is sticking with the tried-and-tested climbing frame from the Canadian brand and the rarely-seen Corima wheels that have served the team well in previous Tours.

Trek-Segafredo: Madone Disc?

New Madone Disc bikes have been spotted at the warm-up races to the Tour, so look out for those on the flat stages. Trek’s riders will likely opt for the supremely comfortable Domane on the cobbles of stage 9 and the featherweight Emonda in the mountains. Look out for Shimano’s new Ultegra RX rear derailleur on stage nine — its clutch will help to maintain chain tension on the cobbles.

Ag2r-La Mondiale: Factor O2

Ag2r will be riding limited-edition models of British brand Factor’s versatile O2 model. Watch out for Romain Bardet’s custom painted frame, which features a picture of Vercingetorix — a local hero in Bardet’s home region of the Auvergne — and an image of the Puy de Dome, the dormant volcano visible from his home.

The Most Important Stages to Watch

Stage 9 Arras Citadel to Roubaix: The cobbles of northern France can put an end to any contender’s hopes of winning the race. Look out for special bikes to soak up some of the vibrations and teams relying on classics specialists to shepherd their General Classification (GC) contenders through the pavé. The last 5 winners of Paris-Roubaix will be racing at the Tour, so look for them to battle it out for the win, or be yelled at to wait for their GC leaders.

Stage 11 Albertville to La Rosière: Low mileage, mega climbing and no flat valleys to recover — and it’s the first big climbing day. Expect the first summit finish of the tour to be a ripper as GC contenders finally get a chance to feel out their competition. A bad day here could cost a GC rider his chances at the podium.

Stage 17 Bagnères-de-Luchon to Saint–Lary-Soulan: This is the most innovative stage format in recent memory. The stage is just 65km in length and features a staggered start, much like an F1 race, with the leader starting in a sort of pole position. The rest of the riders will be spaced out along 70 meters of road according to GC position. Will the leaders wait for their teammates or take the opportunity to battle it out man to man?

How to Watch

The full broadcast schedule: Head over to NBCSN to watch all of the stages. In order to live stream the stages, you’ll need a NBC Sports Gold Cycling Pass which will run you $50.

Alternatively, you can also sign up for a seven-day free trial of FuboTV to catch a few of the stages.

The hacker method (also known as the Henry Phillips method):
1. Get a VPN
2. Get a Eurosport Player subscription
3. Watch it in HD with a far better commentary team

Summer Road Trip? Here’s All the Gear You Didn’t Know You Needed

We’ve all seen the photograph: a strip of pavement, hazy with heat, stretching endlessly to the horizon, flanked on either side by the American desert and backed by mountains. It’s an image that exists at the core of the American identity. It represents an urge, a compulsion — a feeling that’s existed since Lewis and Clark, since Sal Paradise and Dean Moriarty — to hit the road and wander.

Yes, exploring the small towns and National Parks that dot the vast expanse of land between major airport hubs necessitates hopping in the car for a good old-fashioned road trip. It’s a big journey, one with its own set of necessities: jumper cables, extra toilet paper, a roll of duct tape. But you already know about those. What about the things that you don’t necessarily need, but will make those eight-hour stretches of highway breeze by with a little more ease? I gathered up those must-haves and took them for a 2,365-mile test ride from Jackson Hole, Wyoming, to Dorset, Vermont, with a lot of pit stops in between.

Grovemade Stainless Steel Key Ring

A small detail, but an important one nonetheless. You need something to bundle and tote your keys, so it might as well be well designed and remarkably durable. And capable of cracking open a beer.

Böker Plus Multi Purpose Pen

It’s always handy to have a writing tool on the road. Track miles, mark maps, jot down ideas you have while watching the mile markers go by from the passenger’s seat. Boker’s titanium Multi Purpose Pen does a few other things, too — like shatter car windows in case of wreck or rescue with a built-in glass breaker, or disable would-be assailants (if you’re versed in any Kubotan techniques).

Stanley Classic Vacuum Mug

When hour eight ticks by and you’ve still got 400 miles between you and Chicago, look to that old standby: coffee. A good insulated thermos will beat a paper cup any day — it’ll keep your beverage warm until the next gas station and you can usually get a little more for your money when you opt for your own container over a paper cup. The Classic Vacuum Mug won’t ever spill, yet it will fit nicely in your cupholder.

EPIC Bar Snacks

The open road is abundant with sweet and salty options to cure snacking cravings, and while Pepperoni Pizza Combos are arguably delicious, they are also terrible for you. You’ll see the same junk food at every gas station and truck stop you come across, and none of it will actually give you any real energy. The best alternative is to simply pack a hearty supply before setting off. EPIC makes a variety savory grain- and soy-free protein bars and snacks that actually taste good. Smoked Salmon Maple Strips, Chicken Sriracha Bars and Uncured Bacon Bites are just a sampling of what you should stock up on.

Patagonia Provisions Meals

Along those same lines, truly nourishing meals can be tricky to come across if you are trying to maximize the time and distance you cover in a day. If you’re stopping in some interesting towns, then finding a local watering hole is a great way to get to know a place quickly. But the roughing-it method calls for a little more finesse, and thankfully Patagonia has gotten into the food game with rations of everything from Green Lentil Soup to wild-caught Black Pepper Salmon. My personal favorites were the Organic Red Raspberry Hot Cereal, which we doctored with some Vermont maple syrup and fresh fruit, and the Red Bean Chili, which needed no additions. The best part: all you need is some boiling water.

BioLite CampStove 2

And you can find that boiling water at truck stops and in hotel lobbies, but if you’ve opted to camp — which, let’s face it, you should, because it’s cheaper and will bring you to far more interesting environments — you’ll have to pack a stove. Biolite’s CampStove 2 is an efficient, smokeless, wood-burning machine that gives you feedback on how effective your fire is. It also has a built-in battery that receives power from the heat and can be used to charge your phone or any other device and power lighting accessories. (And yes, it boils water.)

BioLite KettlePot

If you’re going to go with Biolite, it’s in your best interest to pick up a KettlePot, too. The stainless steel pot holds up to a liter and a half of liquid, is constructed with collapsible, heat-resistant handles and has a BPA-free lid that allows for kettle-style pouring. It’s also designed to fit seamlessly with the scalloped edge on the top of the CampStove 2. Take things a step further and grab the CoffeePress for your morning cup.

MSR Alpine Nesting Bowl

You can always eat straight from the pot, but if you prefer a more civilized dining experience, grab some of couple of these simple and durable stainless steel bowls. They’re easy to clean after polishing off your salmon and grains, and a set will nest perfectly for easy packing.

Mizu Cutlery Set

You’ve touched too many dirty gas pumps to eat with your hands.

Opinel No. 10 Corkscrew Knife

There’s no overstating the importance of a good pocket knife in any number of situations you’ll encounter on the road. Opinel’s No. 10 is equipped with a large, foldable locking blade that can handle DIY tasks and food prep (clean the blade between). It also has a built-in corkscrew, just in case.

Voila Instant Coffee

Cities and towns are littered with Starbucks, but the same can’t be said for the open road. If you want an alternative to watery gas station brew, fill your mug with hot water instead — they’ll have some for tea — and opt for instant coffee. A handful of companies are now making quality dissolvable coffee, and Voilà offers a selection of single-origin roasts sourced from locations around the world. These instant coffee packs earned the highest marks from our resident coffee aficionado, but if you want to see other options check out the guide he put together.

Therm-a-Rest Compressible Pillow

You know that feeling when you’re in the passenger seat. Your eyelids begin to sink, sleep takes over, your head drops, and then suddenly you’re awake again — but not for long, because that happens eight more times. You decide to lean up against the seatbelt, and window and if you aren’t woken by the vibration of the pavement channeling through the glass and into your skull, you’re sure to wake up with a nice crick in the neck. Just do yourself a favor and bring a compressible pillow that’s actually comfortable, too.

Rumpl Super Fleece Blanket

You should always have a solid blanket stored in your car. Rumpl’s Original Puffy is incredibly cozy and has a water-repelling and abrasion-resistant nylon outer shell. It’s perfect for the tent and for laying down the seats and crashing in the back. (Or for when a mouse gets stuck in your heater, rendering it useless due to the odor that blows through, and you just need to keep warm — yes, this happens.)

Saxx Quest 2.0 Boxers

Bunching and chafing is real, and your standard boxers aren’t going to cut it during a six-hour slog through South Dakota. The Quest 2.0 utilizes a moisture-wicking blend of nylon, spandex and polyester. The boxers were designed with the contours of the body in mind. And while Saxx’ proprietary Ballpark Pouch sounds hilarious, it’s unimaginably comfortable.

NEMO Equipment Helio Shower

Depending on how long and what kind of a trip you’re planning, you’ll either want this or you won’t. This packable 11-liter shower makes use of pressure applied through a foot pump to produce a stream of water strong enough to rinse all the soap out of your hair without running out of water. There’s no shame in embracing your own filth, but your copilot might want a say in the matter.

Hydrapak Expedition 8L Water Reservoir

We used to stock up on 89-cent gallons of water at the grocery store before undertaking a long drive, but then we discovered HydraPak’s eight-liter storage reservoir. It’s lightweight and flexible when empty, and comes with a handy lever-activated spout for filling water bottles.

Dr. Bronner’s Hand Sanitizer

Did you know that gas pump handles are among the most germ-infested objects in the human world? Yeah, and that roadside bathroom isn’t so clean either (and the chances of the soap dispenser being full are 50-50). Hand sanitizer is an easy thing to keep stashed in your rig’s center console. Dr. Bronner’s is an excellent alternative to the standard bottle of Purell — it’s made with certified-organic ingredients so it won’t be as harsh on your skin.

Film Camera

If a vagabond travels across the country and there is no photo evidence that he did so, did he actually make the trip? Your followers on Instagram will surely affirm the negative. Your cell phone’s tiny lens won’t be enough to take in the expansive landscapes you’ll be traveling through, so if you want to take your road trip documentation seriously, then invest in the real deal. We like the grainy feel of film for these types of adventures, and instead of recommending a specific camera here, we’ll direct you to our comprehensive guide on film cameras so that you can choose the one that best fits your style.

Filson Large Grab ‘n’ Go Tote

At this point, you’ve amassed a lot of gear, so it only makes sense to bring a good carry-all to cart it all from backseat to campsite (or Super 8). The Grab ‘n’ Go will wrap all the essentials in Scottish-milled, abrasion-resistant Tin Cloth. No digging through packs or duffels necessary.

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

These Cleats Scored the Most Goals at the World Cup

France may have lifted the trophy, but no one dominated this year’s World Cup more thoroughly than Nike.

Out of the 156 goals scored in Russia, Nike’s soccer cleats played a part 101 of them, including Kylian Mbappé’s dagger in the 65th minute of yesterday’s match to seal France’s victory.

Worn by Belgium’s Eden Hazard, Croatia’s Ivan Perišic and Brazil’s Philippe Coutinho, the twelfth variation of the lightweight Mercurial Vapor cleat was the leading goal-getter at the tournament, contributing to 42 goals. The second most goals (19) were netted by the Mercurial Superfly, worn by Cristiano Ronaldo and Mbappé.

The Nike Hypervenom III ($250) was developed for greater touch and goal finishing abilities. It was worn by Harry Kane, who won the Golden Boot for scoring six goals during the tournament.

Harry Kane took home the tournament’s Golden Boot award with six goals, all finished wearing the shot-focused Hypervenom IIIs, which finished third in totals goals at the event (with the help of Mario Mandžukic’s three goals).

The only non-Nike cleat to crack the top five was Adidas’s X 18+ model, with all of eight goals, scored primarily by Egypt’s Mohamed Salah, Uruguay’s Luis Suárez and South Korea’s Son Heung-Min.

All statistics from Football Boots Database.

You Will Completely Lose It Over These Custom-Made Backpacks

I was deep in the underbelly of the internet, digging through some niche backpacking forum, when I came across a name I’d never seen before: McHale Packs. Curious, I dug deeper. Everywhere I looked, veteran backpackers spoke of a mysterious old man named Dan McHale who, for several decades, has apparently been running a tiny custom backpack operation somewhere outside of Seattle. Some called him “genius,” some called him a “nutcase.” But the one common thread was this: his backpacks are, according to his fiercely loyal customers, second to none. To hell with all those big outdoor companies with their fancy slogans, sponsored athletes and R&D budgets. McHale hand-builds his packs in his garage, yet somehow manages to humiliate multi-national corporations. Dan versus Goliath.

I had struck gold. On McHale’s website — which, to put it mildly, is a charmingly unmitigated disaster of biblical proportions — I learned about McHale’s impressive history as a climber, mountaineer and thru-hiker. I learned that he, in order to ensure the best possible fit, requests that every customer sends him their precise body measurements, either through email, DVD or VHS cassette tape. I learned that every pack comes with an instructional DVD. I learned that no two McHale packs are alike, though all feature some configuration of Cordura nylon and Dyneema, two of the strongest fabrics in the world. But, above all, I learned that McHale’s packs appear to be a best-kept secret, and that I’ve barely scratched the surface.

Experts Say These Are the Best Bike Products of the Year

This is the biggest cycling news to come out of Europe. No, we’re not referring to the Tour de France; we’re talking about the Eurobike Awards. Eurobike is the biggest trade show in the world of bikes — an annual gathering of riders, brands, and industry insiders — and it’s where companies reveal the many thousands of new products that they’ve been working on over the past years. Every year, a team of judges painstakingly combs through these items to find the best, based on “functionality, innovation, workmanship and sustainability,” according to Eurobike. This year there are 13 that earned the distinguishment of the coveted Gold Award — see what took the prize home below.

Ortema Ortho-Max Light

A highly-adjustable back protector that’s lightweight and provides pleny of ventilation.

Sandini SleepFix Kids Pillow

More and more parents tote their children in bike seats and tow trailers — this climate-managing pillow helps them sleep along the way.

SQlab Griffserie Grips

A new line of grips designed for any bike to provide maximum comfort and dampening.

Troy Lee Designs Stage Helmet

Meet Troy Lee Designs’ lightest full-face helmet yet. It’s built to balance uncompromising saftey standards — MIPS is included here — while providing plenty of ventilation.

by.schulz D.2 ST-Ri Dropper Seatpost

A new lever-controlled dropper seatpost for urban riders as well as off-roaders.

Rotor INpower Direct Mount ROAD

Rotor’s new power meter sits inside the axel and takes precise measurements of power output, cadence, torque effectiveness and pedal smoothness. It connects via Bluetooth to your phone or cycling computer so that you can see these metrics in realtime as you ride.

Radlabor Smartfit Online Sizing

This one’s pretty insider-y; it’s software that will help riders choose the correct frame size when purchasing a bike online. It uses height to calculate arm, leg and torso lengths, which should make life easier for both shops and consumers.

Geonet GEOS Gravel

You wouldn’t know this is an e-bike from its svelte profile. Geonet split the battery into two pieces that are contained by the top and down tubes, keeping the bike at around 33 pounds (one of the lightest e-bikes we’ve seen yet). Despite that, it still has a range of roughly 62 miles.

Riese und Müller Homage

The Homage isn’t new to Riese und Müller’s lineup, but the update makes some major changes to the all-terrain e-bike such as a doubled range and better battery placement.

Pashley Bicycles Bikeshare Bike for London

London is getting an upgrade to its bikeshare program! The new hire bike, as they’re called in the UK, has an emphasis on safety with lots of visibility, a reactive brake light, puncture resistant tires, accelerometer data, a comfier saddle and more.

Chike E Cargo Bike

Chike keeps its cargo bikes compact by positioning the main load-bearing platform above the front wheels. A suspended and tilting chassis also helps the longer frame in going around corners and navigating narrow situations, which are common in urban centers where this bike will see the most use.

Wike Salamander Cycle Stroller

Wike’s new bike uses an offset tricycle design that allows it to convert from bike to stroller/delivery cart in minutes. The extended riding essentially crunchs inward, making it more manageable on public transport and for storage inside.

Muli Cargo Bike

Muli’s family-oriented cargo bike also took home the prize for Best Start-Up. It’s quite compact in form and features a collapsible basket to tote cargo and kids.

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

Plastic Straws May Soon Be Illegal — Get Ahead with a Reusable One

If you’ve been keeping up with the news lately, you’ve likely seen the big announcement that Starbucks plans to do away with the iconic green plastic straws by 2020. It is just the latest brand to make that step. In the US, 500 million disposable plastic straws are used every single day. And it’s not just Starbucks. American Airlines and Hyatt have both joined in phasing out plastic straws along with Alaska Airlines, Bon Appétit, SeaWorld, Royal Caribbean. In fact, there are even city-wide bans in the works like Seattle, San Luis Obispo, Miami Beach and Fort Meyers in Florida. In Monmouth Beach, NJ, you can get fined up to $2,400 for initial violations of single-use plastic straws.

To save yourself $2,400, and a headache, get ahead of the curve and purchase a reusable one. The options out there include glass, metal and silicone, so pick whichever sounds best to you.

Reusable Drinking Staws, Set of 4 Stainless Steel by Yihong $5

Silicone Drinking Straws for 30 oz. Tumblers RTIC/Yeti Compatible by Hiware $9

Stainless Steel Drinking Straws, Set of 4, Cleaning Brush Included by Sipwell $7

Reusable Foldable Stainless Steel Straw by FinalStraw $7

Glass Straws Clear Bent 9″ x 9.5 by Hummingbird $22