SGB brings you the five coolest new products that caught our eye this week…
1. MyZone Sports Bra
2. Outdoor Tech WalkieTalkie App and Chips 2.0
3. Under Armour Architech
4. LowePro Droneguard BP 450 AW Backpack
5. Kelty Trail Ridge Tents
As we prep for the IHRSA trade show in Orlando, FL next week, the big talk is fitness trackers and connectivity. One of biggest reasons the category has taken off is that the technology has gotten small and light enough to fit seamlessly into the consumer athlete’s routine. The latest trackers do their job without being noticed. A good example is the new MyZone Sports Bra for $69 with built-in sensors (tracking module sold separately) to monitor heart rate and caloric burn. Link it to the brand’s app for live results. Smart apparel is on its way.
Staying connected with your group on the ski slope is key for a good day on the mountain, but even with today’s smartphones, fumbling with the devices and missed calls happen more often than not. So Outdoor Tech brings back the old idea of the walkie-talkie to its latest wireless earphone Chips 2.0, $130, that fit under a helmet. Connect them to the brand’s new app, invite friends to join the channel and with a push-and-hold of a button on the chips, users can send and communicate to the entire group. It works through cell signals, so range is limitless when in service.
3D printing could signal big changes in manufacturing. While still in its infancy, 3D production lines would greatly promote the “made-in-market” concept, where more products are made in the same region they’re sold, slashing transportation costs and lead times. On March 18, Under Armour launches its first 3D-printed performance training footwear in the UA Architech, $300. The shoe features a functional 3D-printed midsole and 3D upper design. 3D printing will not only improve manufacturing, Under Armour officials said, but also allow designers to create complex structures that mathematically deliver the exact durability, flexibility and weight desired.
Your opinion on drones in the outdoors may vary, but the bottom line is they are growing in popularity, especially among adventurers who want to capture video and images in epic locations without a ridiculously long selfiestick. And with the rise of drones, now comes protective carrying solutions for the machines. Lowepro’s DroneGuard BP 450 AW Backpack, $250, safely and securely carries a quadcopter and accompanying tech gear out into the wilderness.
Tents continue to get more spacious and practical, while maintaining great carry weights. Kelty helps bring those advances at more affordable prices. And we dig that. Its new Trail Ridge Tents for 2016, $230-$490, feature a longer footprint, night light pockets and an easy to adjust Stargazing Fly. Near-vertical walls and dual-doors heighten the sense of having space. We also like how Kelty offers models for 2, 3, 4, 6 and 8 people. Backpackers and car campers, rejoice!
