Emerging Gear: Smartwool Sock Dog Bed, Artist Collab Splitboard, and More

New for this winter, the Muck Boots Apex PRO ($190) for men is a boot made for the harsher elements winter brings. The Apex PRO boots are 100% waterproof with a 4mm neoprene bootie, an Arctic Grip outsole, breathable mesh lining, a memory foam footbed, and Vibram’s new traction lug technology, which could improve traction by up to 25%.

To celebrate National Sock Day, Smartwool released the first product from its Second Cut program. The program collects used socks that would otherwise go to a landfill and recycles them into new materials. The Second Cut K9 Camp Cushion (from $120) is stuffed with recycled sock shreddings and is available in three sizes. The small measures 18 x 24 inches, the medium 24 x 36 inches, and the large 36 x 48 inches.

Weston’s collaboration with Pacific Northwest artist Brooklyn Bell includes a splitboard, a snowboard, and skis ($599-899) adorned with Bell’s groovy artwork for amazing on-mountain vibes. A portion of proceeds from the collaboration supports Weston’s ongoing mission to increase avalanche safety education among traditionally underrepresented groups in the backcountry.

The Ibex Woolies 2 for men and women ($145) are designed to be merino wool winter staples. Base layer, active layer, lounge layer, what have you, this cozy merino zip-up should do the job. The quarter-zip layer is made with 100% 18.9-micron merino and has a weight of 240 gsm. There are three color choices available.

A new brand based out of Salt Lake City, Pine Cycles just debuted its first frame. The RASA ($1,050-1,200) steel frame has a 1.25-inch custom headtube, Columbus Zona tubing, English threaded BB, and custom dropouts. And it’s compatible with four forks, three tire sizes (700×35, 650×48, and 26×2.3), and can be used with either rim or disc brakes. Orders placed by Dec. 30 will ship in February 2022.

Designed for overlanders and frequent adventurers is the new D-Bag Emergency Kit ($650) from DECKED and Uncharted Supply. The kit is designed to keep two people alive for up to 72 hours and includes a variety of tools in categories like first aid, air and vision, power, warmth, food and water needs, and more. It has standard goods like a flashlight and multitool but also things like a power station, waterproof gloves, and a water filter.

This month, Gobi introduced its Vertex Heated Ski Gloves ($219), which should keep your fingers toasty with Gobi’s heating elements on the hand and around each fingertip. The ski gloves, made with a leather exterior and touchscreen-compatible fingers, provide up to 6 hours of heat. They have a choice of three different heat settings — low, medium, and high — and will recharge in 3-4 hours.

A new offering for the U.S. market, 1UP’s USA Recon Rack (from $1,200) is built for hauling five or six bikes. 1UP stipulates that it built these big haulers as compactly as possible (choose from the Recon 5 or Recon 6). The Recon racks have smooth pivot operation, which folds the rack down to provide rear trunk access, adjustable ground clearance, and different wheel baskets to fit youth 20-inch bikes up to 5-inch fat bikes.