Biodegradable Trail Shoes, Dauwalter Running Capsule, Compact Bikepacking Tent, and More Emerging Gear
Memorial Day is behind us, but this year’s “Super El Niño” will likely make the summer season more extreme and unpredictable than ever. On the bright side, it underscores the need for solid gear that can keep you confident outside — regardless of what weather may greet you upon stepping out the door.
This week’s roundup includes plenty of gear to tackle any conditions, particularly for runners and cyclists: biodegradable shoes, a gorgeous running capsule, a sleek bikepacking tent, and a rippin’ BMX frame.
Find all that and more right here in Emerging Gear.
Sustainable Shoes
Keen’s newest running shoe, the Wander, isn’t just another model aimed at improving performance on the trail. Yes, it has a lower stack height and heel-to-toe drop — but it’s also the first model to use a new production method that supposedly allows the shoe to biodegrade once it’s finally used up and taken to a landfill.
It doesn’t use the plastic midsoles like PU or EVA foam, which are the common components that eventually break down into microplastics. Instead, Keen’s EcoEnd tech enables microbes to naturally consume the midsole materials through nature’s organic biodegradation process.
Check out the Wander, available for men and women.
Bikepacking Tent
After a successful crowdfunding campaign on Kickstarter last year, designer Fabian Furrer has brought his super-compact bikepacking tent to broader production through his online store.
His Swiss brand Aper now sells the APEX1. This one-person, three-season, single-pole tent costs a hefty $700, but Furrer claims that this modular system is the most packable one on the market for bike-based camping trips. It has a scant 1L of packed volume while delivering over 2 square meters of usable interior space. It’s made from double-sided, silicone-coated nylon, and it’s undyed to reduce its carbon footprint.
It weighs roughly 480g for the outer shell only or 790g for the full double-wall setup. Water-resistant seams are stitched using a “specially impregnated thread,” which aims to keep the tent repairable over time with simple sewing tools. The bike itself is part of the tent structure, allowing fabric to be used more efficiently and reducing overall pack size and weight. For serious bikepackers, this looks like a cool option.
Salomon x Courtney Dauwaulter
Few ultrarunners deserve “legend” status more than Courtney Dauwalter. A new limited-edition collection celebrates her epic 2023 Triple Crown season, when she became the first runner (male or female) to win the Western States 100, Hardrock 100, and UTMB in a single season.
The Dawn to Dusk collection is a complete kit for ultras “chosen and approved by Courtney,” the brand said. It includes quite a few nifty pieces of gear. The S/LAB Ultra Glide 2 Limited Courtney Edition shoes ($270) sport a beautiful topographic design, as do the Shortney Limited Courtney Edition 10″ shorts ($150). There’s also the S/LAB Sense 6 Limited Courtney Edition running vest ($180), a T-shirt, 4″ shorts, and a hoodie. Check out the whole collection on the Salomon website.
Nestout Portable Solar Charger V2
Wherever I go, my Nestout portable charger is charged and in my backpack. It still remains in GearJunkie’s Best Power Banks guide for good reason.
The brand keeps coming up with new gear to use alongside its popular chargers, including the Solar Charger V2. This update of the brand’s compact, foldable solar panel is designed for camping, backpacking, overlanding, and off-grid travel. It’s available in two- and four-panel options, and this updated version has one USB-C port and one USB-A port.
“Pair the solar charger with any NESTOUT portable power bank to create a complete, modular off-grid power system,” the brand said.
Fenix Bike Lights
When it comes to portable lighting solutions, Chinese brand Fenix keeps outdoing itself. Its latest headlamp, the HM55R RENEGADE, received top marks from AllGear Editorial Director Sean McCoy in a review this year.
Fenix’s gear is often crazy bright — and its two new cycling lights are no exception. The Fenix BC45R ($160) is the brand’s brightest-ever bike light, and with a whopping 3,300 lumens and 938-foot beam distance, that’s easy to believe. It’s designed for “hardcore mountain bikers and adventure racers tackling rugged, remote terrain,” the brand said.
Its other new release is the BC28R ($130), a 2,500-lumen light that’s geared more toward commuters and road cyclists. Both lights are USB-C rechargeable.
LUNO Car Mattress
LUNO’s inflatable car mattresses are among our favorite picks for car camping. Both the LUNO AIR Pro ($350) and its previous iteration, the Luno Life Luno Air Mattress 2.0, have received positive reviews from us GearJunkies.
Now the brand is releasing a (slightly) cheaper mattress that’s also more lightweight and compact. “The team at Luno took their experience over the past 7 years, picked out the most essential features, and packed their favorites into the new AIR BASE model,” the brand said. It still costs $200, but that could still be worth it if the pad brings the same quality as its sister models.
AirPods Strap
There’s no doubt that Bluetooth earbuds have changed the game for athletes. Getting rid of cables while exercising offers a significant advantage for freedom of movement. That being said, the darn things are pretty easy to lose. So an aspiring young entrepreneur has made the Aerostrap, which is essentially a glasses-type strap slightly reengineered for earbuds or AirPods or whatever you want to call their many iterations.
Though new, they’re already selling for just $10. They’re supposedly easy to attach and detach, even with gloves — a feature aimed at skiers and snowboarders, according to the brand’s creator. They’re also available in a few different colors. Given that I’ve lost quite a few earbuds over the ears to simple carelessness (not to mention sunglasses), these aren’t a bad idea for outdoor athletes who use their earbuds regularly.
Customized Insoles
If you’re a big fan of insoles (I know I am), then you might be interested in this cool new offering from Superfeet. The popular insole brand just upgraded its ME3D platform, which lets you create personalized, 3D-printed insoles entirely from a smartphone scan.
You can go through the entire process — from phone scan to production to shipping to your door — all within 2 weeks. “What used to require a trip to a specialty run retail and specialist equipment now happens through an iPhone scan on superfeet.com,” the brand said.
Users analyze their foot profile, preview a 3D rendering, choose from specialized foam options, and even add custom engraving, and then the data goes to Superfeet’s 3D-printing facility in Bellingham, Wash. It costs between $110 and $140.
Sesquicentennial Duffel Bag
There’s a lot of gear coming out that’s celebrating the big sesquicentennial celebration of U.S. independence next month. Unfortunately, much of it is ugly and not even made here in the USA.
You can’t say either of those things, however, about the Icon Collection just released by Steele Canvas Basket. This limited-edition lineup celebrates America’s anniversary in style. Rather than garish explosions of red, white, and blue, the limited-edition collection keeps to an understated aesthetic of navy blue with red and white accents.
Perhaps most importantly, the gear is actually made in the USA: Steele Canvas Basket has been located in Massachusetts for 100 years. I’d say the highlight is the Canvas Duffle Bag ($210), though the Weekender Bag ($190) is pretty cool, too. There are scant 50 units for each item, so act sooner rather than later if you’re interested. I’d guess these will sell fast.
Huffy BMX Frame
Huffy isn’t just for childhood nostalgia: The 130-year-old brand also wants you to take it seriously as a solid choice for elite BMX riders.
That’s why it just launched the Primus BMX frame — Huffy’s second professional-tier frame release since returning to the sport in 2024. The brand even managed to get some good PR after two-time Olympian Nic Long used it to win a USA BMX Grand Nationals competition.
Unlike last year’s freestyle-focused Sledgehammer, the Primus is a “dedicated race frame that is built to handle the stiffness and power output required at the Olympic level,” Huffy said. It has an aluminum build mixed with a patent-pending cable system. And at $700, you could spend a lot more on a pro-level BMX frame.
An Extremely Rare (and Expensive) Pocket Knife
The James Brand is quite popular among EDC enthusiasts. And while premium, most products are quite attainable.
Not so much with The Barnes, a pocket knife with super steel, actual wool handle material, and an $800 price tag. The Barnes’ most incredible feature, beyond its Böhler M390 steel blade, is the “Solidwool” handle. Made with 50% wool and 50% bioresin, the handle is a sustainable, if expensive, alternative to petrochemicals.