December’s Top New Gear Picks | Upgrade Your Carry Setup

December’s releases didn’t reinvent carry, but they did refine it. Smarter layering for real winter weather, a quietly technical roll-top that won’t weigh you down, limited collaborations that treat waste as a resource rather than an afterthought, and a handful of small-but-smart EDC upgrades.

From ultralight welded packs to heritage jackets with modern details, these are the month’s standout additions in EDC, urban, outdoor, and travel carry.

EDC

WaterField Designs Aero Bifold Wallet

WaterField Designs blends heritage and technical with their new Aero Bifold Wallet. Slim and minimalist, the wallet is crafted with a combination of lightweight X-Pac VX-21 and full-grain leather panels, offering durability, water resistance, and a unique patina over time, with an eye-catching aesthetic. The wallet has four compartments to accommodate cards and cash, and fits up to four cards in each one. Available in three colorways, it’s a sleek companion for pared-back pocket carry.

Urban

Mission Workshop Mission Tee Merino Wool

With its performance properties and timeless style, Mission Workshop’s Merino Wool Mission Tee is a versatile addition to everyday and travel wardrobes alike. Crafted in California with 100% ultrafine 18.5-micron Australian Merino wool, the tee is odor-resistant, temperature-regulating, moisture-wicking, breathable, and quick-drying. Add in the classic cut in three colorways, and you’ve got a dependable go-to for weekend adventures, workouts, travel, and more.

DSPTCH Rollpack

DSPTCH celebrated their 15th anniversary in style with three new releases, including a limited 15th Anniversary Berry Compliant collection crafted with all Mil Spec materials in a nod to the first launch of their bag line. Also on the release front is the Craft Weekender in a new X-Pac fabric and all-metal hardware. However, the star of the show is a new roll-top backpack design. The 30L Rollpack is a lightweight, weatherproof pack available in various material options such as Dyneema Composite Fabric, X-Pac X50, ECOPAK EPX200, and ECOPAK ULTRA400. The Fidlock Snap side adjustments let the volume adjust to changing loads, while the main compartment features both top and side access. A 16″ laptop sleeve, water bottle pockets, and a quick-access pocket round out the details of this tough and adaptable pack.

Lems Zen Clog

Whether you’re relaxing on the weekend or on your travels, the Lems Zen Clog is a comfy addition to both your everyday wardrobe and luggage. The minimalist design features a suede upper and a proprietary lightweight Injection Blown Rubber outsole. The slip-on style is easy to wear at home or further afield, while the zero-drop design and wide toe box keep your feet comfy whether you’re nipping out on a quick errand or enjoying some downtime.

Outlier Adown(45) Splayshirt

Outlier gets playfully experimental with a generous splash of technicality in the Adown(45) Splayshirt. The design finds the sweet spot between a down shirt and a light jacket, with clever construction that allows it to splay open for adjustable warmth. The shirt can be vented from the hem to the forearm through two-way zippered sides, and also features technical fabrics that enable warmth without overheating. The shirt combines two innovative Italian materials, Acrispcotton and Thindown Recycled, which results in comfortable and breathable down insulation made with 100% cotton face fabrics. Additional features include two hand pockets, a chest pocket, and a snap-close placket.

Porter x HYKE FW 2025 Collection

Porter, the iconic Japanese carry brand known for its meticulous craftsmanship, practicality, and attention to detail, has joined forces with Japanese fashion brand HYKE for a stylish twist on three classic silhouettes. The collection includes Porter’s Helmet Bag, Tool Bag, and Bonsac Mini & Coin Case, each available in three seasonal colorways from HYKE’s FW 2025 Collection. The bags are crafted with Tefox, a water-repellent Teflon-treated nylon oxford, and each one comes with a “PORTER x HYKE” drawstring pouch. Available in Olive Drab, Black, and Coyote Brown, the bags can be carried in multiple ways and fit easily into a variety of day-to-day or travel settings.

Outlier Layering Pieces

Layering is key if you want to stay comfortable in inclement weather while easily adapting when conditions change. And Outlier has you covered with three pieces that work well as a system but are also versatile standalone staples too. For outerwear, look to the Bombtwill Alphacore Geojak, a hooded and splayable jacket that blends a classic workwear cut with performance materials. It features a soft and dry Daydry Merino lining, a burly Bombtwill exterior, and Polartec Alpha 120 insulation for breathable warmth. The full splay sides feature two-way zippers to splay the jacket open from the hem to the wrist, enhancing airflow if desired and enabling the jacket to be worn like a cape.

The Awoolyflannel Offshoulder serves as an adaptable mid layer that can be worn as an overshirt or button-up. Ideal for damp and cold conditions, it’s crafted with a blend of merino wool and polyester to keep you dry and comfy, with a cut that sits a few inches off the shoulders for a stylish silhouette that can still be worn comfortably under or over another layer.  

For your next-to-skin layer, Outlier delivers the thoughtfully designed Alpha-D Cinchbottom. Created with a customizable fit in mind, the Cinchbottom features a wide but also super-long design with a shockcord-adjustable hem, making it quick and easy to tailor to your ideal length. Made with warm and breathable Alpha-D 90 fabric, this base layer combines practicality and fashion-forward styling in one.

PACKBAGS x VEJA General Store Collaboration

Amsterdam-based PACKBAGS and VEJA General Store are putting leftover materials to good use with their limited collaboration, including Zip.Slings, Weekenders, and shoes. Eight pairs of VEJA Paulistana shoes have been redesigned with PackBags’ signature materials and feature recycled polyester uppers and bio-based insoles. A celebration of functionality, craftsmanship, and repair culture, the collaboration uses waste production material from both brands and is available exclusively at the VEJA General Store in Paris.

The North Face Japan x Sashiko Gals Collaboration

The North Face Japan have teamed up with the Sashiko Gals to fuse tradition and technology in an extremely limited collaboration. The capsule includes eye-catching BP Nuptse Down Sashiko Booties and durable cotton t-shirts, though front and center is the BP Nuptse Hanten Sashiko Jacket. The jacket reimagines the 1992 Nuptse design by taking inspiration from a hanten, a traditional Japanese winter coat. The jacket has a zipper-free design and is crafted with cozy insulation and innovative Brewed Protein^™, a petroleum-free fiber grown in a lab by Spiber. Sashiko hand-stitching brings artistic flair to each piece while nodding to Japan’s heritage, resulting in unique pieces thoughtfully combining the past and present in functional, fashion-savvy design. The collaboration is available exclusively at The North Face Alter in Harajuku, Tokyo.

Blvck Tennis Bag

Tennis bags often fall short on the style front (and sometimes the functionality front too). But the Blvck Tennis Bag delivers both refined practicality and style. Crafted with lightweight, weatherproof nylon, the backpack provides quick-access racket storage, while the versatile main compartment accommodates tennis or gym gear as well as travel essentials. The padded construction offers enhanced comfort on the go and is complemented by a pared-back silhouette that adapts smoothly from the court to urban streets.

Outdoors

Lems x Vibram Collaboration

Lems and Vibram have teamed up for their very first collaboration, pairing Lems’ zero-drop comfort with Vibram’s trusty grip and durability. The collaboration features the Summit Pro Boots and the Tactical Pro Boots. The Summit Pro is crafted with full-grain leather and a Vibram® Megagrip outsole. Developed in partnership with YouTuber and leather craftsman Weston Kay of Rose Anvil, the heritage-inspired moc-toe boot features a zero-drop design to help correct posture and a wide toe box for comfort. The Tactical Pro collection includes mid and tall heights, with each style featuring a Vibram® Megagrip outsole. Made with Lems’ widest last, the Tactical Pro Tall boots feature AR 670-1 compliant construction for military personnel and are designed for all-day comfort and performance in demanding conditions, while the Tactical Pro Mid boots accommodate a variety of first responder needs with a tough full-grain leather and nylon upper.

Gossamer Gear Alchemy Collection

The Gossamer Gear Alchemy Collection was designed to push the limits of ultralight carry, combining the exceptional lightweight strength of ALUULA Graflyte with a new welding manufacturing process developed specifically for the fabric. The combination of ALUULA fabric and welded seams makes the Alchemy Collection Gossamer Gear’s lightest and most waterproof collection to date. Three packs feature in the collection, including the Mirage 40 Ultralight Backpack (19.4 oz / 550 g), Murmur 36 Hyperlight Backpack (7.9 oz / 225 g), and Elixir 20 Ultralight Daypack (6.2 oz / 178 g). Additionally, the collection also offers three accessories for storing smaller items, including the Alchemy Shoulder Strap Pocket, Alchemy Hipbelt Pocket, and Oasis Ditty.

Barbour x ARKET Fairgame Waxed Jacket

Barbour and ARKET put a modern spin on a Barbour classic with the Barbour x ARKET Fairgame Waxed Jacket. The jacket offers an updated twist on Barbour’s 1960s Gamefair jacket, with multiple new additions including a detachable hood, handwarmer pockets, two interior zip pockets, a wider storm flap, and a roomier fit. The jacket also features a tartan lining designed for the two brands’ collaborative collection. Crafted with a durable 6oz waxed cotton, this versatile jacket easily lends itself to both outdoor and urban excursions.

Travel

Wingback Heavy Lift Pack

Wingback are passionate about building durable everyday pieces that fuse luxury and functionality. And for their Selected Works capsule002: Modularity, they’ve turned their attention to a backpack that straddles the everyday/travel divide. The Wingback Heavy Lift Pack is a 29L pack that moves smoothly between carry-on use and daily commutes with larger loads. Crafted by hand in London, the pack is available in an extremely limited-edition run featuring only 10 units. It’s made with a Challenge Sailcloth EPLX 840 base and EPLX 450RS ripstop upper, YKK water-repellent zippers, and AustriAlpin Cobra buckles. The clamshell main compartment provides convenient packing and access, while a separate externally accessible laptop compartment with an SRPP impact-absorbent skeleton keeps tech secure but close at hand. For added functionality and versatility, the bag can also be paired with optional accessories such as modular divider panels, a removable hipbelt, a set of cargo straps, and a roll-top cargo bag.