Best New Gear: August 2020

The month of August had everything we jones over: killer collabs, finely-tuned upgrades, limited editions, and new releases with innovative flair. So much goodness, so little time. Enjoy!

Urban

Rofmia Backpack V2

The legends are Rofima have unleashed another Dyneema beast… the Backpack V2. This updated backpack has plenty of significant changes that make it really scream. First, they’ve placed two different weights (2.92oz and 5oz) of waterproof Dyneema strategically around the bag for an ultralight yet durable package for everyday use. And that rolltop featuring a Fidlock magnetic buckles add some tech and function to an already space age package. While the price may be a bit high for a nonchalant impulse buy, this is a true bag aficionado’s grail piece that we’re admittedly drooling over.

EDC

Olivers x Pioneer Ion Wallet

Olivers teams up once again with Pioneer to offer their popular Ion Wallet in two limited edition colorways: Army green and Hazelnut. The minimal wallets are crafted from Olivers’ All Over Stretch Weave fabric and are precision laser-cut and heat-welded. It holds 4-8 cards and folded bills.

Leatherman Limited Edition Raptor Shears

Look, we had no idea that we wanted to EDC a pair of shears in our kit (even though many others do), but Leatherman went ahead and changed our minds on that one. These multipurpose shears are serialized, limited edition, fold down to nearly nothing, have a pocket clip, some wild PVD finish options (purple and gold), and… THEY GLOW IN THE DARK. Yep, we’ll take one of each, please and thank you.

Tanner Goods Minimal Series

Tanner Goods (up in Portland, Oregon) knows leather. And they’ve taken their expertise and focused it into an all new collection which keeps things simple. Cut from 5oz and 3oz Skirting leather, this 3 piece (Bifold, Card Holder, Card Wallet) collection offers Tanner’ss thinnest and most minimal wallets yet. Clean, classic, simple.

Airbolt GPS

I’ve seen lots of these devices over the years… and they’ve ALL had some kind of issue. Well, someone was listening to the complaints of users around the world and they created the magic bullet, the AirBolt GPS. First, the battery lasts up to TWELVE MONTHS on one charge. Second, it’s waterproof. Third, it doesn’t require your lost item to be near some bluetooth reader to find it… it actually uses, yep, you guessed it, real life GPS technology. Now you don’t have to worry about losing your bag, purse, pet, or mind, any longer.

Huckberry Woven Face Mask and Merino Wool Face Mask

Our friends at Huckberry noticed that face masks aren’t going away anytime soon, quickly becoming a staple among our everyday carry items. So they went ahead and made their own. But they didn’t just find some factory sources masks and slap their logo on them, they designed these from the ground up and made them in the USA for a proper and comfortable fit. Bonus, 10% of sales will go to a charity to help businesses affected by COVID-19. Win win.

Travel

Heimplanet TRAVEL PACK

I can’t get enough of this pack… it’s just… beautiful. Heimplanet has updated their incredibly successful clamshell-opening Travel Pack for 2020, available in 34L and 28L. The custom dope-dyed DYECOSHELL fabric comes in a handsome charcoal color (called “castlerock”) and fortunately for me, also in black. I’m counting down the days until I get my hands on one as well as getting to use it on some international adventures I have planned for 2021. To learn some more about the specific upgrades, take a peep at this video from Heimplanet.

VSSL JAVA

VSSL, the British Columbia company known for their tubes packed with modern preparedness essentials, launched a Kickstarter campaign for their latest product – VSSL Java, a premium and durable portable hand coffee grinder. For the most passionate coffee enthusiasts, only freshly ground coffee will do and JAVA allows you to dial this in with 30 unique settings. It’s made of aircraft-grade aluminum construction, and a Clip and Flip handle that doubles both as the grinder handle and a carabiner to attach to your pack.

Relwen Windzip Jacket

Relwen seems to really have nailed down a heritage aesthetic while pairing it with high quality performance travel/outdoor apparel. Though this heavily water resistant jacket is right at home in the great outdoors, we think this would make for a killer lightweight and packable midlayer to bring along. The breathable synthetic insulation is a must-have for travels and adventures when their might be a bit of wet weather coming in and this has 60 gram filling of that magic fluff.

Home/Office

Grovemade Hardwood Desk Accessories

It seems like everyone I know is paying attention to their desk setup, trying to get things dialed in just right. Grovemade has a new selection of pen cups, dishes and planters crafted out of solid maple wand walnut, and lined with aluminum and cork, to liven up and organize where you’ll be spending most of your day.

Adventure

Wolf and Grizzly Cook Set

Launching on Kickstarter, COOK SYSTEM is a compact fire-cooking system that keeps everything contained, eliminating the footprint of traditional campfires. Designed for bike-packing, raft-packing, and overlanding in mind, the COOK SYSTEM combines cookware with a cook and food-prep surface, and a collapsible fire pit. The full system includes nesting cooking and prep surfaces (2L Pot, straining lid, hibachi grill, griddle, and cutting board), hot surface grip, height adjustable frame and mountain system, portable fire pit, and carry cases made of recycled materials.

Proof Schoeller Trek Hiker

Proof just dropped their all new adventure pant: the Schoeller Trek Hiker. For those who aren’t hip to Schoeller, they’re a material maker who makes some of the best technical fabrics in the world. In these pants, they feature the EcorepelBio fabric, designed and woven in Switzerland. That magic fabric makes these pants breathable, water resistant, wrinkle free, and odor free. Proof has added in all kinds of clever patterning tricks into these (gusseted crotch, a variety of accessory pockets, microadustability, etc), which will make these your new favorite pants for wherever adventure takes you.

Fitness

Tracksmith Mission Backpack

The runners over at Tracksmith made the brilliant decision to turn to one of our favorite brands when they were looking to make their own pack: Mission Workshop. Converting from a fully featured running backpack with hydration bladder sleeve into a work friendly bag with removable padded laptop sleeve, this 18 liter roll top creation fills their specific niche perfectly.

Photo

Wotancraft “Pilot” Travel Camera Bag 10L

In our opinion, Wotancraft makes some of the most handsome camera bags on earth. The thing is… they don’t look like camera bags. They look like rugged travel bags from a forgotten past. Their new 10L “Pilot” camera sling is made from a Cordura Waxed Canvas that is lighter, stronger, and more durable than traditional waxed cotton. The bag also can accommodate Wotancraft’s add on Modules to further tailor the bag to you and your kit’s needs as they change.