This week we have some additional great gear releases aimed squarely at women who love the outdoors. This includes a trail shoe inspired by rising outdoor collective GorpGirls, an ultralight fleece from women’s hiking brand HikerKind, a linen running shirt, and aviator sunglasses named after Ella Fitzgerald (it’s not clear why).
But that’s not all, outdoor lovers. Gear utilitarians will love the chef-focused backpacks and Gossamer Gear’s latest tent innovations, while fashionable athletes will appreciate Topo Design’s Snoopy apparel and G-Shock’s blinged-out watches.
Find all that and more right here rising gear.
chef backpack
Outdoor chefs will have a field day with this – literally. limited-edition Chrome x TILIT 29L Chef Pack Building on the popularity of the brand’s previous collaboration: the Chrome x Tillitt Cadet Chef Knife Sling.
This new backpack expands the partnership with large-format carry solutions for the “chef on the go.” This pack combines Chrome’s focus on sustainable urban carry with TILIT’s understanding of hospitality workwear.
It includes a removable knife case with secure storage for two to five essential knives and tools, a secure blade storage compartment with Velcro straps and protective flap, and several other storage compartments. It also has a padded U-lock holster for bike travelers. Get yours for $220.
Adjustable tint shades
This interesting new release from POVEC Optics offers a pair of shades that let wearers “change the lens tint in less than a second” with a simple swipe. This is not the first case of its kind. At first glance, they look very similar to the Chamelo Music Shield sunglasses we reviewed in 2024.
Despite, Povec C1 Provides another way for outdoor athletes to have a quiver of lens options in a single package. Additionally, these shades utilize Ambilight, an automotive innovator that has developed solid-state electrochromic technology for Audi and BYD.
“The technology has been thoroughly tested in the harshest environments and engineered to withstand extreme heat, intense UV rays, constant vibration and long-term climate exposure,” POVEC said in a news release.
The shades have dual manual tint modes, including Clear mode (Category CAT 2 for low light/cloudy conditions) and Dark mode (Category CAT 3 for high brightness/bright sunlight). You can buy a pair for $250.
ultralight backpacking tent
Gossamer Gear, based in Austin, Texas, has earned a loyal following among hardcore backpackers. This week, the brand released updated versions of several of its tents, many of them now made from recycled fabrics.
But it also started AzadA one-person tent that it’s calling “the lightest double-wall freestanding tent ever seen outdoors.” Interestingly, it does not require stakes and weighs an impressively low 29.8 ounces. The tent has integrated poles and is made from Clearskies recycled fabric, just like many of the brand’s other tents. It is also the brand’s first freestanding tent. It’s not cheap at $400, but it’s definitely worth checking out.
gorpgirls trail shoe
This is just for women. GorpGirls, a female-led outdoor community, partnered with Montana’s Oboz Footwear for this colorful celebration of women on the trail.
The Oboz x GorpGirls Crosscut debuts online today, although it also has a few launch events in New York and Los Angeles. Additionally, this is the initial release of Oboz’s Crosscut Low, a new style that won’t fully launch until this autumn. The Oboz x Gorp Girls Crosscut features a quick lacing system, breathable mesh and leather upper and a grippy Trail Tread AT outsole. It also features a Kinertia Energy midsole and O FIT Ortholite insole.
The collab edition is marked by its Brambleberry color, jointly developed by both brands. Oboz crosscut low x gorpgirls hit Oboz website 11 a.m. Mountain Time. Its price is $155.
Women’s Wool Midlayer
Hikerkind, a women-focused hiking brand that originated as a result of a chance meeting at a Gucci photo shoot, has become a highly popular outdoor brand. Its latest release is ultralight alpha midlayerA hooded wool mid layer. Made from Polartec Alpha Direct 90 fabric, it’s ultralight, versatile, and travel-friendly, the brand said.
Built for big-mile days and multi-night travel, the midlayer weighs just 4.9 ounces. It has crossbody paneling that reportedly adds 1.5 extra layers of warmth to the core, as well as a fitted hood. It packs even smaller than a 32-ounce Nalgene. Get yours in white or black for $158.
brow bar aviator
These retro-style aviators from shade brand Valon are a solid choice. Its ski aviators received a highly positive review last year from GJ editorial director Sean McCoy.
Now Valon has launched a new brow bar aviator: the Ella (female) and elmore (for men). They are named after famous jazz singer Ella Fitzgerald and blues guitarist Elmore James. I don’t know what those musicians have to do with aviator sunglasses, but as a jazz and blues fan, I’m willing to overlook that to celebrate some of my favorite musicians.
The Aviators have a cellulose acetate frame and proprietary V52 polarized lenses. They come in a few color options and cost $170.
linen running shirt
In some ways, synthetic fabrics are hard to beat in terms of moisture wicking and breathability. However, there is also something to be said for natural fibers being sweat wicking rather than plastic.
That’s why Tracksmith, a popular New England running brand, recently launched some linen running shirts. On the one hand, it’s hard to imagine running in these in the middle of the day. But these shirts are made from “Japanese performance linen” and the brand’s proprietary Coolmax fabric. For anyone with sensitive skin forced to wear natural fibers, these certainly look good enough to wear in formal situations. So if they also work on runs, it is a plus.
tracksmith’s Run Cannonball Run Linen The shirt features a drop-in pocket, center-back box pleat, and traditional barrel cuffs. They come in either pop-over or button-up styles.
snoopy apparel collection
Snoopy is a lot like Smokey Bear – he never really goes out of style. Charles Schulz’s iconic beagle peanuts The comics are a perfect pairing with Colorado-based Topo Designs, which has become increasingly popular for its bold, colorful designs.
The brand has just dropped its third and final collaboration peanuts-themed gear, this time with a collection focused entirely on everyone’s favorite comic dog. The lineup includes vintage-inspired Snoopy graphics T-shirts, trucker hats, socks and 100%-cotton sweatshirts like the Woodstock Quarter Zip. There’s also a short-sleeve sweatshirt. View the full collection at topo design website.
lavender bike frame
Take it from someone who frequently rides social bikes: There’s something really fun about zipping through town on a colorful bike. And the limited-edition return of Surly Bikes’ Steamroller frameset is a nice-looking example.
The bike frameset returns in what the brand calls “Anxious Lavender.” The Steamroller was one of the brand’s first models when it was launched in 2000. It comes with the same 700c x 38mm tire clearance and “street-proof” steel frame. But this time it has cable stops for “cleaner rear brake routing”, the brand said. Get your set for $700 Surly Bikes Website.
Blingy G-Shock
Even as watches get even smarter thanks to AI, G-SHOCK continues to lead the way with new iterations of the classic design that was a staple of my childhood (and many others). This summer, it’s releasing Camo and Gold SeriesA dazzling, four-watch collection that “re-imagines classic military-inspired camouflage through a fashion-forward lens.” I mean, why not, right?
The new lineup includes the GM6900CMG-3, GAV01CMG-3A, DW6900CMG-3, and GA700CMG-3A, each designed with a gold-tone dial and camouflage aesthetic. The collection ranges from $145 to $280.
