Just released this week, the new Columbia Facet 75 is a steep trail hiker that’ll keep your feet warm and dry all day. While the Columbia Facet line of footwear has been out for a couple of years, the latest iteration (Facet 75) is designed for steeper and more technical terrain.
Featuring the same TechLite+ cushioning and Navic Fit secure lacing system and OutDry waterproof breathable membrane, the new Facet 75 adds the Adapt Trax outsole to provide additional traction in wet and dry conditions. In our brief initial test, the Facet 75 has proven to be extremely comfortable, and although the shoe was designed as a steep hiker, it’s just at home in early-spring cold slush around town.
Make brunch on the grill! At least, that’s the first thing I’d do with Traeger’s new Flatrock propane grill. Go beyond brats, burgers, and steaks — the Flatrock’s flat steel cooking surface can tackle hashbrowns, pancakes, eggs, and yes, even non-brunch food prep. Three U-shaped burners provide three zones of heat control across the 33” x 18” cook surface. The Flatrock also sports a built-in fuel gauge to monitor propane levels. Available now for $899.
Take quiz, get healthy. OK, we’re skipping a lot of steps along the way — particularly, daily nutrition. But that’s exactly the idea behind Gnarly Nutrition’s new customizable sample boxes. Here’s how it works: Head over to Gnarly’s website, take a short quiz, and see your results.
Gnarly will use your inputs, goals, and habits to match you with one of four sample boxes loaded with supplements to meet your needs. You’ll receive either an Everyday, Strength, Endurance, or Adventure Sample Box — each containing a unique combination of nutrition. What are you waiting for? Go take the quiz and find out!
HOKA has had no shortage of new shoes this spring, but one of the most notable launches has been the next Challenger ATX 7. The all-terrain, GORE-TEX-equipped shoe can straddle the line between trail, mixed, and road surfaces with ease. It has a 5mm drop, 4mm lugs, and this time, a taller stack height and lower weight than the last Challenger (under 8 ounces per shoe).
HOKA was able to shed over an ounce here with an updated upper, foam, and new heel pull. The Challenger is definitely stepping up to become one of the ultimate hybrid performance shoes. The Challenger 7 ($145) comes in men’s and women’s, six colors, and regular and wide widths, with total sizes 5-15. Bonus: the Challenger 7 ATX comes in colors like Outer Space and Golden and Avocado.
Moosejaw this week unveils its own line of hard- and soft-side coolers. The “Ice Fort” line includes a 25- and 50-quart hard-side cooler, as well as a 55-quart rolling cooler (prices from $119 to $249). On the softer side, the “Chilladilla” series comprises a 24-can backpack, 36-can cooler, and 42-can tote ($99-149). The cooler launch also coincides with an all-new line of Moosejaw-branded camp gear, including tents, sleeping pads, and more. Big things happening — check it out at Moosejaw.
Released last week, the new Timberland Motion 6 Hiker is part of the brand’s Venture Out collection. The Greenstride Motion 6 Hiker ($140) is designed to provide comfort and improved rebound with its Greenstride comfort soles. The lugs on the outsole have 55% regenerative rubber sourced from regenerative agriculture forests, and upper mesh panels and linings made from at least 50% recycled plastic. The Greenstride Motion 6 Hiker also has CORDURA fabric woven into the upper for durability.
This week, Tifosi Optics launched the next iteration of its best-selling Rail series, the Rail XC. The Rail XC features a rimless shield with a shallower lens cut to fit smaller face profiles. Like the original Rails, the nosepieces and ear grips are adjustable.
The Rail XC shield measures 52.6 mm x 131 mm. It has increased ventilation, and will also incorporate the brand’s first Clarion Blue Fototec lens — a combo of mirror and photochromic technology. The Rail XC will come in four colors (including “satin Vapor,” clear, and black) and is $80 MSRP.
Faction’s second collaboration with Madhappy, an LA-based lifestyle brand focused on creating conversation around mental health, is out. Faction’s first collab with the brand was a set of limited skis back in 2021, which went fast. The 2023 Agent 4 Madhappy Collab “celebrates the healing, calming and restorative effects we can access through the mountains and our time on snow,” wrote the brands.
A big-mountain or touring ski, the Agent 4 Madhappy Collab is light and designed for those seeking the ultimate strength-to-light-weight ratio. The artwork features mountain silhouettes styled with Madhappy’s 2023 winter gradient. Like the last collab, 1% of sales of the ski are donated to 1% for the Planet. It comes in two lengths, 171 cm and 179 cm, and retails for $849. Only 50 pairs are available worldwide.
Despite the efforts of PlayStation, Xbox, and virtual reality, mighty chess continues to earn its spot at the top of the gaming podium. Though the stone chess tables of Central Park are the game’s ultimate venue, compact portable boards allow players to sharpen their strategic minds on the road.
VentureBoard ($39) is a new petite chess and checkers board that rolls up to easily fit into a drink holder. The board is magnetic — simply roll up the board with the pieces in place to pause the game. If Bobby Fischer were to hike the PCT, he’d certainly pack one of these.
The Geotrecca Low RP ($140) is Teva’s first-ever all-gender hiking shoe. While the brand says the shoe features “modern styling,” its pink and orange polka dot pattern looks like it belongs in a 1970s nightclub. But that’s not a diss — it’s a welcome departure for Teva, a brand that tends to stick to its time-worn staples.
A “progressive hiker” with a lugged rubber outsole and waterproof membrane, the Geotrecca Low RP offers plenty of utility beyond its flashy appearance. If the pictured version is too loud for you, check out the olive and cream color options.