Judging by the historic winter storm presently battering the southern U.S. — it’s fairly clear we’ve nonetheless acquired loads of snow and ice forward of us. However that ain’t no thang for us GearJunkies. In any case, what self-respecting outdoorsman (or lady) doesn’t view robust circumstances as a problem?
You gained’t have a lot enjoyable in freezing temperatures with out some respectable gear, although. Fortunately, this week’s Rising Gear column has loads of choices from manufacturers aiming for technical attire that retains you toasty, protected, and (hopefully) having enjoyable.
To that finish, we’ve acquired the products this week. Up to date skis and snow sport equipment? Test. Monumental flashlights and waterproof audio system? Double test. Backcountry moist wipes? Additionally, sure, apparently.
And, oh yeah, we’ve even acquired a elaborate axe made at a 400-year-old Swedish forge. What’s to not love?
Turtlebox Grande Transportable Speaker
Turtlebox Audio has unveiled the Turtlebox Grande, the most recent addition to its moveable outside speaker lineup. The Grande delivers 126 decibels of low-distortion outside audio via a 10-inch waterproof woofer, 1.25-inch titanium tweeter, and two Class D amplifiers.
Outfitted with Bluetooth 5.4 know-how, the Grande helps seamless machine pairing, and the model’s new “Social gathering Mode” permits over 100 linked audio system. It has a 16-cell, 158Wh lithium-ion battery, USB-C charging, and a 3.5mm microphone enter. Constructed with a “crush-proof” ABS exterior, chrome steel parts, and an IP67 waterproof ranking, the Grande withstands saltwater, drops, and excessive temperatures, the model mentioned.
Priced at $700, the Turtlebox Grande is on the market for preorder in White and Grey, delivery in February 2025. It joins the $400 Gen 2 Transportable Speaker in Turtlebox’s audio lineup, which is “constructed like a tank,” in accordance with GearJunkie’s 2024 evaluation.
Salomon QST Ski Assortment
Salomon makes among the greatest all-mountain skis round. In a 2022 evaluation of the QST 106, we discovered that these skis “deal with tight terrain like timber and moguls with aplomb.”
Now, the model’s newest assortment guarantees to up the ante for the 2025/2026 season with redesigned shapes and development to accommodate a good wider number of terrain. The gathering consists of the S/Lab QST Clean, engineered with enter from Mountain Collective athletes for big-mountain adventures.
With a 112mm waist, it balances stability, responsiveness, and efficiency throughout powder and combined circumstances, Salomon mentioned. The QST 100, essentially the most versatile ski within the vary, gives a contemporary design geared toward all-mountain skiers.
The S/Lab QST Clean and QST 100 must be dwell on the Salomon web site by Thursday afternoon. The remainder of the gathering — together with the QST 94 and QST 106 — comes out later this yr.
CRKT 2025 Assortment
You’ll be able to most likely inform we’re large followers of CRKT round right here. We publish a lot of critiques on the model’s stellar blades, with choices just like the CRKT Padawan EDC knife incomes high marks from our consultants.
You’ll discover lots extra than simply EDC knives from the Oregon model’s new 2025 assortment, nevertheless. Highlights of the most recent knives from CRKT embrace the M16-03XK Crossbar Lock ($85), the Minimalist Nessmuk ($75), an out of doors survival knife, and the Walker Blade Lock ($94), a folding EDC pocket knife.
Mission Workshop Superior Peacoat
On the subject of winter put on, nature lovers usually worship on the altar of GORE-TEX — and for good purpose. However for my part, no crinkly, artificial jacket will ever provide the swanky model of a peacoat.
Because of San Francisco’s Mission Workshop, the basic maritime coat now will get a makeover with technical options. Constructed with Schoeller WB-400 material from the Swiss Alps, the Westward has a three-layer design that’s windproof, extremely water resistant, and breathable, in accordance with the model. Its wool/nylon stretch-woven exterior is paired with a tender micro-fleece inside and a water-resistant membrane.
Schoeller’s NanoSphere therapy additionally supposedly enhances the coat’s water and filth repellence. With substantial four-way stretch and a tailor-made match, it’s additionally acquired zippered hand-warmer pockets and the basic peacoat collar.
PACT Wipes
We don’t simply love outside gear — we additionally like retaining the outside free from human waste. That’s why Colorado model PACT Outdoor earned a spot in our 2023 Gear of the 12 months awards for light-weight kits geared toward bagging up your poo as an alternative of leaving it within the wilderness.
Now, the model has launched PACT Physique Wipes and Toilet Wipes, each designed to supply a extra sustainable and environment friendly solution to keep clear throughout outside adventures. These wipes are compressed and dehydrated, requiring solely a small quantity of water to increase into full-sized towels, the model mentioned.
The Toilet Wipes, obtainable for $20 (100 wipes), increase right into a 9-inch towel for light-weight, chemical-free cleanliness. PACT Physique Wipes, priced at $15 for 25 wipes, are bigger and thicker, unfolding right into a 12-inch towel with a pearled texture for efficient cleansing. Each merchandise are constituted of 100% plant-based supplies, and are freed from plastics, fragrances, chlorine, alcohol, and PFAS.
West Slope Chest Packs
As ski season hits its stride, West Slope introduces the PRO-180 Chest Packs. These light-weight, weatherproof packs cater to skiers, snowboarders, and outside fanatics who need to maintain their necessities accessible and safe.
The PRO-180X Chest Pack ($148-158) gives a 6L fleece-lined important compartment to retailer gloves, water, snacks, and extra. Designed with an insulated telephone pocket to keep up battery life in temperatures as little as 10 levels F, the pack additionally has a hands-free telephone digicam mount and a water resistant, abrasion-resistant exterior.
For a extra streamlined possibility, the PRO-180 Slim Chest Pack ($118-128) gives slim storage for on a regular basis necessities like snacks and smartphones. It features a touch-responsive telephone cowl and the identical sturdy, weatherproof development because the PRO-180X, in accordance with West Slope.
Mateminco Highlight Flashlight
This flashlight is so large, it instantly made me reimagine a sure scene from childhood favourite Crocodile Dundee: “That’s not a flashlight. This is a flashlight.”
Mateminco’s MT90 Max SBT90.2 Highlight Flashlight can ship a mind-boggling 7,000 lumens, due to its Luminus SBT90.2 LED mild. It additionally gives a beam distance of three,098 m, making it a useful instrument for search and rescue, safety patrols, or outside exploration, the model mentioned.
The flashlight gives dimmable brightness modes starting from 100 lumens (84 hours runtime) to 7,000 lumens (10 minutes peak, after which as much as 10 hours sustainable output). Constructed with an alloy physique, the flashlight can be IPX6 waterproof and constructed to face up to rugged circumstances, weighing about 7.2 kilos.
It additionally doubles as an influence financial institution and helps USB Sort-C quick charging. Presently promoting at a barely discounted value of $510, the MT90 Max is on the market now.
Inselberg Infima Jacket
New Zealand-based Inselberg is new model to us stateside GearJunkies, however it makes technical mountaineering gear for skilled climbers and guides. Developed within the Southern Alps with New Zealand Search and Rescue, the model’s attire is supposed for rugged climbing adventures. That features Inselberg’s hottest product to this point, the Centile Hoody, a gold-infused down jacket developed and examined on Everest with U.S. guides.
The model simply dropped a tempting new launch with the Infima Jacket, designed for climbers tackling alpine environments. The jacket has a heat-funneling system, which layers progressively much less breathable materials to wick moisture whereas retaining crucial insulation, the model mentioned. Polartec Energy Grid panels alongside high-sweat zones supposedly improve the garment’s airflow and mobility.
Coming in simply 320 g (11.2 ounces) in dimension massive, the Infima gives wind and water resistance with a PFC-free DWR coating. It additionally consists of some sustainable supplies, like a bio-nylon exterior, developed with Toray, that makes use of 60% castor-bean-based nylon. The PrimaLoft Gold Lively+ insulation incorporates 55% recycled content material.
Hults Bruk Spika
First off, don’t miss Editorial Director Sean McCoy’s breakdown of the greatest knives from Las Vegas’ SHOT Present, which simply wrapped up this week. However the large occasion had extra than simply fancy knives to indicate off. It additionally included the debut of a Swedish axe that may tempt any outdoorsman with a watch for high quality development.
The Spika axe, priced at $200, gives a compact 17.5-inch deal with. This makes it extra moveable than the Hults Bruk forester’s axe, whereas retaining the identical high-performance head. A shorter deal with permits customers to work nearer to the physique, so it’s geared towards precision duties like carving, whittling, and campsite development, the model mentioned. But it surely’ll nonetheless chop up some firewood simply nice, too.
Hand-forged in Sweden on the historic Hults Bruk forge (established 1697), the Spika has a blackened Swedish metal head with a razor-sharp, polished edge. The curved American hickory deal with is handled with linseed oil for sturdiness and grip. Every axe features a leather-based sheath, storage field, and detailed person handbook.
Curious the way it performs? Try our full evaluation of the Hults Bruk Spika.
HIMALI Himalayan Attire
We’re lastly testing out among the gear from HIMALI, a Colorado model with loads of connections to Himalayan climbing. In any case, when your model consists of design collaborations with legendary climbers like Ed Viesturs and Tendi Sherpa — it’s most likely value trying out.
HIMALI simply launched the Ascent Stretch Pants, a flexible artificial insulation layer impressed by Winter K2 summiteer Mingma G Sherpa (Mingma, together with Nims Purja, simply set a new quickest time for scaling all 14 peaks with out supplemental oxygen.)
The pants carry 40g PrimaLoft Gold insulation, offering heat that’s breathable, packable, and efficient even when moist, HIMALI mentioned. Constructed with a proprietary shell material, they provide wind and water resistance whereas sustaining stretch and breathability for unrestricted motion.
An ergonomic, articulated match minimizes weight and bulk, making them perfect for mountaineering on peaks like K2 or Denali, in addition to cold-weather pursuits corresponding to snowboarding and mountaineering, in accordance with the model.
