When it comes to the weather, this summer is looking like a mixed bag of extremes. On the one hand, we’ve got a “Super El Niño” brewing that could bring many severe storms. And when it’s not storming, most forecasters expect a hotter-than-average summer. Either way, an unpredictable climate means one thing for us GearJunkies: Make sure you’re prepared for any scenario.
This week’s batch of new gear showcases just how useful camping gear can be when you don’t know what to expect from the Great Outdoors. We’ve got innovative coolers, reliable power stations, streamlined hydration, waterproof jackets, and a “core” camping gear collection from four iconic brands.
Find all that and more in this week’s Emerging Gear.
Magnetic Soft Cooler
If you’ve ever used a cooler with a waterproof zipper, then you probably know they can be a bit temperamental. Functional? Yes. Easy to open? Not so much. The coolers from Kansas City–based CORE Equipment, however, have a creative solution: a magnetic seal.
The waterproof zippers are still here. But once you’re situated with the cooler, you can just leave it unzipped and easily reach in and out of the cooler, allowing the magnets to keep things cool — without constantly unzipping and rezipping.
The CLIMAKEEP Soft Cooler with MagSnap has a few varieties available, including multiple sizes from 12 cans to 36 cans, a backpack version, and even a completely zipperless option. Check out this video for a clearer explanation of how the coolers work.
New Take on Hydration Vest
Hydration vests were already pretty minimal. But a creative new take on this formula from Colorado brand RSVR Hydration ups the ante. It doesn’t even call its new design a vest; it’s a “hydration system.” The brand’s Kickstarter is already fully funded, but with roughly two weeks left, there’s still time to get your hands on this thoughtful approach to hydration for endurance athletes.
This isn’t the ol’ “bag-in-a-bag format” that has long dominated hydration vests. The RSVR Hydration System opts for a body-contoured bladder and modular harness. The full harness and 1.8L bladder come in at roughly 11 ounces. That certainly makes it competitive among GearJunkie’s guide to the Best Running Vests of 2026.
It could end up a popular option for cyclists, given it aims for an aerodynamic, three-piece reservoir. There’s also waterproof zippers, “anti-slosh baffles,” and under-arm hose routing. It’s also a modular system, so athletes can “swap and scale without replacing everything.” The early bird price for this interesting design is still $85.
Campcore Collection
As collaborations go, this one pulls together four heavyweights in outdoor gear. Osprey, Helinox, Hydro Flask, and OXO teamed up to launch a new collection of “essential” campsite gear. They call it the Campcore Collection, and it does include some pretty nifty items.
“Built specifically for the rig-based adventurer, the collection is thoughtfully designed to turn any vehicle into a high-performance basecamp without the usual organizational headache,” the brand said in a release.
The collection includes organizers and duffel bags as well as tables, chairs, cookware, and coolers. Personally, the coolest items here are the Hydro Flask Campcore Carryout 22L Backpack Cooler ($25), OXO Campcore Cooking Tool Roll & Utensil Set ($120), and the OXO Campcore Coffee Brewing Set with Carry Case ($140). But there’s plenty of other cool stuff here to get you stoked for summer adventures.
Women’s Swimwear
Need a swimsuit for this summer? How about ones approved by both Olympic athletes and Fox’s reboot of Baywatch? That’s what you’ll get from Jolyn, a women’s swimwear brand based in Southern California.
The apparel uses the brand’s proprietary SurfTec fabric, which is apparently saltwater-resistant, rated UPF 50+, and both durable and stretchy, according to Jolyn.
In its latest offerings, Jolyn once again partnered with surfer and influencer Eryn Krouse. Check out the website to see the latest pieces in this ongoing collaboration.
Innovative Power Station
By launching the S-Series, Anker SOLIX has released a power station with two big advantages compared to the competition. First of all, the Anker SOLIX S2000 offers a 40-70% reduction in battery loss from idle power consumption. With a sub-6W loss, it’s a major improvement from the industry standard of 10-20W idle draw. That means this 2,010Wh station offers up to 35 hours of refrigerator backup.
Secondly, it has a higher energy output for its size. At 208 x 282 x 323mm, its energy density (106 Wh/L) is significantly better than that of many competing power stations, including larger ones. Those in need of a high-output station with minimal space have good reason to pick this one. And with an “early access” price of $600, there’s good reason to hop on the bandwagon early.
‘Instagrammable’ Cooler Expansion
When GearJunkie writer Erica Zazo reviewed the TRAVOCA Rigel 25 Dual Zone eCooler last year, she said this “Instagrammable, luxury-grade” cooler was “built like a tank.” Its dual compartments allow users to freeze and cool simultaneously. However, it’s a bit heavy and — like any electric cooler — must be plugged in to work.
Now TRAVOCA has unveiled a broader lineup of the cooler, with larger sizes and additional features “inspired by conversations at overlanding events,” the brand said. The new Rigel+ Dual Zone eCooler includes a built-in MOLLE panel, aka a modular storage system. It also sports an integrated steel shelf for beverages or food prep, and removable baskets.
With a steel body, these things are truly tough. But the new Rigel+ coolers, which include 35L, 45L, and 60L options, are even heavier than the slightly smaller 25L version we reviewed last year. The weight for the 35L starts at 51.7 pounds — so you’re unlikely to be carrying this much. And at $830 for the 35L, they’re certainly not cheap. That being said, if you’re just going to keep them in one place, like a car or truck, and want something that’s both literally and figuratively cool, these fit the bill.
National Park Notebooks
In an age of AI answers to any question and social media posts of every experience, Field Notes poses an interesting question: What if you didn’t do any of that, and simply made notes to yourself? On paper. With a pen.
Jokes aside, these sexy little national park notebooks offer a beautiful package for observations meant only for yourself. Notebook brand Field Notes just debuted some beautiful new options for personalizing your next outdoor park trip with the first two 3-Packs of its new “Explore America” Series.
The new options include the Northern California pack and the Triple Crown of Hiking pack. They’re available for $15 each, with gorgeous covers printed on sturdy cover stock, and include brief histories of the landmark on its inside back cover. They also have a spot for an official stamp or memento on the inside front cover, and 48 pages of Domtar Lynx Opaque 60-pound text paper marked with a 3/16″ dot-grid to record your plans — and memories.
Alpine Expedition Tent
When you’re aiming for long, technical missions at high altitude, you need a tent that can withstand some truly harsh conditions. That’s the aim of Samaya’s new ASSAUT2 ULTRA XP tent. Developed in partnership with Feeding The Rat Expeditions (FTRE), this is an alpine-style expedition tent for two climbers.
According to the brand, the tent combines extreme lightness (2.7 pounds) with “geodesic strength, an integrated vestibule, and optimized interior space.” It has a packed volume of 6.2 L, and comes with three stuff sacks and an exclusive Samaya x FTRE neck gaiter.
Gay Pride Gear
June is Gay Pride Month, and a few outdoor brands often create limited-edition collections for this annual celebration of queer culture. That includes Chrome Industries, the brand founded in 1995 and known for its buckled messenger bags.
For its fifth Pride collection to date, Chrome partnered with Brazilian visual artist and illustrator Jenifer Prince. The eight-piece collection merges Chrome’s functional design with Prince’s mid-century comic aesthetic: “My style is deeply inspired by vintage aesthetics, especially mid-century comics and lesbian pulp fiction covers,” Prince said in a release.
Highlights of the collection include The Kadet ($100), Kadet Max ($135), and Large Utility Pouch ($20).
Cycling Shell
The cycling gear from Portland, Oregon-based Showers Pass has been around for decades, earning a loyal following. Its latest version of the Century Jacket, a popular cycling shell, makes a few significant improvements.
For starters, it weighs just 250 g, and is more packable, meaning you can pack it inside of its rear pocket. It also ditches the plastic “crinkle” of rain jackets by opting for Artex Gold Ultra fabric that’s “whisper-quiet,” comfy, and PFAS-Free, according to the brand.
The jacket is also 2.5x more waterproof than its predecessor, has a drop-bar–specific cut with elongated sleeves, a shortened front hem to prevent bunching, and a generous drop-tail to block road spray. It costs $220, is backed by a 2-year guarantee, and comes in Leaf Green and Firecracker Red.
Read the full article here
