Emerging Gear: Backcountry Vest, Sunglasses for Snow Glare, and More

From your skins to your snacks, Dakine’s new Poacher R.A.S. Vest ($195) has a designated pocket for every part of your backcountry ski kit. In addition to the low-profile pack, the vest also has a compartment for an avalanche airbag for safety. As a testament to its quality, the Poacher R.A.S. will be the official vest of the Natural Selection Tour — one of the world’s top snowboarding competitions where riders complete on extreme natural terrain.

Smith has launched two brand-new sunglass models — the glacier-style Embark ($199-219) and the versatile Bobcat ($209-229). While the Embark aims to cut glare with its wraparound fit, the Bobcat features a “smaller face fit” and flexible autolock hinges. Both styles are available with Smith’s widely celebrated ChromaPop technology.

All at once, Stio has released a full range of seven glove styles. The exciting new lineup contains various styles for specific outdoor pursuits as well as everyday wear. In the fresh batch are the Uptrack Glove ($89) — a lightweight option geared toward the uphill grind — and the Trail Creek Glove ($59), which is ready-made for the nordic track. Most of the gloves have GORE-TEX and PrimaLoft Gold insulation.

Saucony’s new Peregrine running shoes ($130) are a great update to its trail running line. The Peregrine 12 has Saucony’s PWRRUN cushioning, textile uppers, and a new lug design for improved traction and grip (5-6.5mm lugs). And this shoe is over an ounce lighter than the previous Peregrine. It’s available in men’s and women’s sizes.

Noso just dropped its first collab of the year with Skida, a Vermont-based headwear company. Skida founder Corinne Prevot and Noso founder Kelli Jones got together to share their enthusiasm for sustainability and new patch designs. Get these fun new Noso patch prints.

Sooner or later, all mountain bikers wipe out. When your time comes, be sure to be prepared with these new ultralight knee pads from Rapha ($110). To create these low-profile and highly protective pads, Rapha partnered with RHEON Labs, a design agency known for its innovative protective equipment technology.

Small brand Event Gear has just released a new high-performance ski and snowboard wax called Speed Glide ($28). To Event Gear, “eliminating harmful chemicals is just as important as winning races.” Similar to mountainFLOW’s waxes, Event Gear’s Speed Glide is fluorocarbon-free and fully biodegradable.

The latest selection of SustainaSole footwear from Sanuk includes three eye-catching Grateful Dead-inspired designs. There are three shoes in the collection — the women’s Vazon Sandal ($80), the men’s Nopal sneaker ($80), and the men’s Rippah flip flop ($80). All three designs are composed of recycled, repurposed, and natural materials.

Nite Ize, a leading manufacturer of clever and handy products, has just released its new GearPro Utility Straps($6-$10). With a working load limit of 70 to 80 pounds these do-it-all straps are perfect for bundling skis, securing items to a roof rack, or strapping down lumber. Plus, they’re available in three sizes and two colors.