If you’re the type of athlete who likes to buy the latest, fastest gear availableWe’ve got several potential winners this week. Both runners and cyclists will want to see the race-winning shoes and bikes announced this week. This includes On Running and Specialized, both of which are releasing new models with some pretty cool superlatives – as well as the data to back them up.
However, there’s also plenty of style on display. It includes a sexy café racer, colorful hemp apparel and stylish pack. Did I mention there’s also a pen that also works as a firestarter?
Find plenty of goodies to balance out the extreme heat in this week’s batch rising gear.
Electric Cafe Racer
Combining vintage style with modern innovation is a powerful mix – one that Canada’s Beechman Bikes offers in abundance.
This fledgling brand first entered the market in 2021, debuting with a vintage-inspired electric bike on a crowdfunding platform. Its latest model, the Aviator, arrives “just in time for the summer riding season,” the brand said. These electric vehicles are styled like old-time cafe racers.
The Aviator lineup currently starts with two models Available for Pre-order: A Class 2 e-bike ($5,500) and a light motorcycle (starting at $6,000). A “premium,” 125cc-equivalent electric motorcycle with “greater speed, range and highway capability” arrives later this autumn, the brand said.
Even writing with a pen causes fire
James Bond meets Bear Grylls in this creative Kickstarter project. ‘Cause let’s be honest: It’s hard not to like a writing pen with a secret compartment for lighting a fire. This is the idea behind it pen-metheus (I love this silly name too, and you can’t convince me it’s not brilliant).
This pen is made by Colorado-based outdoor brand Outdoor Element, known for other creative offerings like the Scout Feather fixed blade and the “Survival Carabiner.” The Pen-Matheus is an aluminum “adventure pen” with a replaceable ferro rod stored inside. When it’s not used for sketching or journaling, it transforms into a fire-starter and even comes with a kindle.
The Kickstarter campaign is still 2 weeks away and has already surpassed its funding goal. With an “initial purchase” of just $35, it’s impressively affordable too.
The next generation of Boston Marathon favorites
On Running’s Cloudboom Strike definitely looks a little weird, thanks to the LightSpray upper technology created by a robot in this laceless, slip-on shoe. But you can’t argue with the results. The first iteration of this innovative running shoe was used by? Helen Obiri for her 2024 Boston Marathon win. It also received a 9/10 score in a 2025 GearJunkie review.
Now the brand is back with the second generation: the Cloudboom Strike 2. This new model features the Cloudtec Sphere, the next version of On’s proprietary Cloudtec. It has thinner gaps between the forefoot and midfoot, which allows the foam to move more freely, the brand said. It is paired with a Helion Hyper Foam midsole, a super-foam material that is 15% lighter than the first generation.
These changes will result in a 1.6% growth in the current economy, On said. With a hefty price tag of $310, these shoes are not cheap by any means. The model will officially launch on July 30, but you can sign up for cloudboom strike 2 The product page will be notified when they drop.
Exclusive: ‘The fastest bike ever’
Yes, speed really is the name of the game for road riders, and this is no less true for road cyclists. Specialized scored a winner with the S-Works Tarmac SL8, a bike that was used with great success by riders in the 2024 Tour de France.
Now the brand is back with the second generation Promises even faster delivery For elite cyclists: S-Works Tarmac SL9. It’s the “fastest road bike the brand has ever made,” and Specialized claims this $14,000 ride will outrun every other road bike on the planet (big surprise).
“In exclusive simulation of the decisive final stage of the 2024 Tour de France Fames, the Tarmac SL9 gained 14 seconds over the Tarmac SL8 – a significant difference in a race that was ultimately decided by just four seconds,” the brand said.
Nomad Bag Collection
Nomadix is probably best known for its colorful, high-performance towels. But this San Clemente, California-based brand is now offering some cool bags too.
Its first collection of bags, the Daytripper Collection, is “built for everyday performance using recycled materials,” the brand said. This tiny capsule includes the 25L Daytripper Backpack, 26L Daytripper Tote, and 3L Traveler Tech Sling – all made from the brand’s proprietary StormGrid fabric for durability and weather resistance.
They are also quite attractive, with some funky and colorful accents reminiscent of Cotopaxi or Topo designs. 25L Daytripper Backpack The cost is $196, while 26L Daytripper Tote Sells for $150. Given that no one should go out without water right now 3L Traveler Tech Sling May be most useful. At $70 it is also the most affordable. Find them all at REI Co-op or the Nomadix website.
flexible sports shades
An eyewear retailer that first debuted in 1992, LensDirect has long attracted customers by offering subscription lenses from name brands at lower prices than those typically found at eye doctors. In recent years, the brand has started introducing its own glasses. And this week, it released its first sports model.
lensdirect diablo line Made from Japanese nylon and comes with spring hinges for added flexibility. These are designed to stay comfortable and stay healthy even in the scorching heat of this summer. Perhaps the best part is that these shades not only offer 100% UV protection — they’re also available in 10 different styles and with prescription lenses. Not too shabby for the almost $100 price tag.
colorful hemp apparel
Plastic is an ever-increasing presence in our lives, so it’s no surprise that more brands are introducing apparel made from natural fibers instead. So it’s nice to see that Astral, an outdoor brand based in Asheville, NC, has added several bright summer colors to its lineup of hemp and cotton-based apparel.
High Noon Hemp Tea ($60), available for men And womenEarlier it was made only in black or white color. Now you can have one of Smoke Blue, Moss or Olive. There’s also the High Noon Hemp Hoodie ($85), a sun hoodie made for warmer weather. men And women. It is now available in Moss and Silver Pine for men, or Málaga and Silver Pine for women.
This performance-focused garment offers great fabric “without chemical or petroleum-based fibers next to your open pores,” the brand said.
new runners from ultra
If you want the latest and greatest Vibram outsole on the market, it’s only available on Ultra – at least for the next few months.
Altra recently launched the Torin 9, which comes with a special Vibram XS Dura outsole that reportedly provides 8.5% more traction than the Torin 8. “Ultra has had exclusivity on the compound for six months, so it is currently the only model on the market that can give runners this level of road traction,” the brand said.
The Torin 9 also features a P35X dual-density midsole, a new mesh upper, and improvements to the tongue and heel. Other details, like the zero-drop platform and roomy toe box, remain the same as the previous model. Torin 9 is available for both men And women For $160.
Women-centric gravel bike
Liv Bikes has made a name for itself in the competitive bike market by focusing exclusively on female riders. GearJunkie’s Morgan Tilton reviewed the brand’s Liv Intrigue X Advanced last year and concluded that it became the “do-it-all trail bike sweet spot” for female mountain bikers.
This week, the brand has released Dedicate Advanced SLIt is “the fastest, lightest and most race-focused gravel platform to date.” According to Liv, the new bike “offers measurable gains in speed, efficiency and handling precision for the demands of gravel competition.”
It reduces weight by 297 grams compared to the previous Divot Advanced Pro system and also has improved rolling resistance and gravel-centric geometry. Prices range from $7,300 to $12,000 depending on the model.
Margaritaville Hammocks
Who could have guessed that a song about hedonism and mournful regret would give rise to the billion-dollar empire that would come to be known as Margaritaville? I doubt Jimmy Buffett had any idea that his 1977 hit would go this far.
But hey, the charm of these colorful swings cannot be denied. yellow leaf swingA company with a successful history shark TankJust released a collaboration with the Margaritaville brand.
It is releasing five swings “inspired by the brand’s iconic lifestyle” with names taken from Buffett’s song catalog, including Cheeseburger in Paradise, Boat Drinks, Margaritaville, Son of a Son of a Sailor and Changes in Latitudes. Three of those styles are currently available on the website.
For currently available models, prices start at $229. You’ll have to pay an extra $40 for the hanging straps, and much more than that for one of the brand’s fancy hammock chairs.
