It’s a fine week to be surfing the web for sweet new gear to take outside. This week’s lineup includes lots of cooler-than-normal collaborations, many of them focused on upcoming events, like the chilly Winter Olympics in Italy or ultramarathons in the Arizona desert.
Other new releases are content with creative opportunities to share the love on Valentine’s Day, or to trim down backpacking gear in the never-ending race to make our gear lighter and more packable.
Find all that and more in this week’s Emerging Gear.
Stars and Stripes Olympics Shades
The Winter Olympics kick off today! And you can sport your Team USA pride with some very patriotic sunglasses from Pit Viper. These 2026 Originals have a removable nosepiece, polycarbonate lenses, and both regular and wide frame sizes.
While the lens color is red, the look-through color is actually brown, according to the brand. It’s another bold design from Pit Viper, which even got Olympian skier Nick Goepper to sport them for the ad campaign.
His and Hers Pocket Knives
With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, you’re probably stressed out looking for the perfect gift for your partner. What better gift for the one you love than a matching set of pocket knives?
WESN, a cottage knife brand out of Detroit, has just released its “Forged Together” collection, which offers custom versions of its Microblade folding knives. With an overall length of 3.75 inches and using D2 blade steel with titanium handle scales, the Microblade knives have been a hit since their release.
This is due to their compact size and burly build. However, what’s unique about these knives is that they are cut from the same plates of steel and titanium. This makes them truly a matching set.
The set includes one rose gold Microblade and one black forged version. They’re available now, as a limited run, at wesn.com.
‘Blinking of You’ Bike Light
Knives not your thing? No problem. That’s not the only Valentine’s Day–themed outdoor gear available.
Portland Design Works is releasing the “Blinking of You” Tail Light ($25) on Valentine’s Day. It sports 81 “super-bright” COB LEDs, a form of LEDs known for their energy efficiency and intense light. The tail lights have five different modes, including solid and “pulsing heart” modes as well as basic square modes.
You’ll have to be quick on the draw to snag these cycling lights, though. The product page for the “Blinking of You Light” will debut on the Portland Design Works website on Valentine’s Day with a “Notify Me When Available” button. The light will become available for purchase the following week.
La Spo’s ‘Most Versatile’ Trail Shoe
Italian brand La Sportiva has long been a go-to choice for outdoor obsessives, and the outfitter just released a new pair of trail runners.
The Prodigio 2 comes on the heels of the pricier Prodigio Pro, a “super shoe” trail runner that earned a rare 9.4 rating from GearJunkie last year. For those of us who can’t afford that shoe’s $225 price tag, the Prodigio 2 steps in with a (slightly) more reasonable price of $170.
It aims to be a trail runner that can “do it all,” from “technical ridgelines to daily runs,” according to La Sportiva. It updates the original Prodigio model with a nitrogen-infused midsole, a repositioned rocker, added forefoot cushion, and a wider platform.
‘Desert Dreaming’ Running Kit
Style-minded runners have long turned to outdoor brand Janji for practical running wear that also turns heads with unique designs. And the brand’s latest collaboration with Aravaipa Racing, the organizers behind Arizona’s Black Canyon Ultra Marathon later this month, doesn’t disappoint.
The limited-edition collab Desert Dreaming is a trail running–focused collection inspired by the desert landscapes and Southwest roots of Aravaipa. The collection’s design focuses on hydrological soil maps of the Arizona desert overlaid with detailed flora native to the Black Canyon course. It went live on Thursday, Feb. 5, so snag this gear while it lasts.
Fishing Net, Alpaca Fleece Jacket
In recent years, sustainability has become a bigger focus for outdoor brands, which have long relied on the production of synthetic materials with a long shelf life. That’s why Paka, a brand known for combining alpaca fibers with synthetic ones, has made the Huascarán Jacket.
It’s meant to be both high-performing and ethically sourced. The jacket has a shell and lining made from NetPlus Nylon Ripstop, constructed from discarded fishing nets collected in South America. That’s paired with the brand’s proprietary PAKAFILL insulation (a 50/50 blend of alpaca fiber and recycled polyester).
The result is “a technical jacket that provides real performance through innovative natural and recycled materials,” the brand said. It’s now available in red and black for $400.
Limited-Edition Turtlebox Speakers
In case you don’t know, we’re pretty big fans of the Houston-based brand Turtlebox. It makes some righteous-sounding speakers that can take a serious beating and survive prolonged submersion in water without a problem. That’s why they’ve repeatedly made GearJunkie’s list of the Best Portable Bluetooth Speakers.
As of this week, both of the brand’s most well-received speakers — the Ranger ($250) and the Original ($430) — are available in a new “Fighting Lady Yellow” color. Apparently, this color was first seen on the hulls of sportfishing boats, and became popular for its durability against long days on the water, as well as its aesthetic appeal. So it’s a fitting color for speakers meant to endure plenty of abuse while blasting out your favorite tunes.
Find both of these limited-edition speakers on the Turtlebox website.
Less Weight, More Comfort Sleeping Mat
Australian brand Sea to Summit doesn’t mess around with its sleeping gear. Its first major product of 2026 is the Ultralight XR Sleeping Mat, now available on REI.
Designed for backpackers and any travelers looking to move quickly, the Ultralight XR ($140) supposedly improves comfort and packability — while also cutting weight.
According to Sea to Summit, it’s 14% lighter and 30% thicker, while still offering 16% more insulation. Moreover, it has an impressive 53% smaller packed volume. It looks to be a solid choice for the ultralight crowd.
Origami-Inspired Watches
Leave it to G-SHOCK to consistently invent fun new watch designs. Its latest is the Origami Made collection, a watch lineup honoring the artistry of traditional Japanese origami.
The two new models “merge traditional origami characteristics with elements of G-SHOCK’s most iconic models,” the brand said in a press release. Origami-inspired details appear throughout both watches, from origami dotted-line patterns on the bezel and band that reference mountain and valley folds to a texture inspired by “washi,” or traditional Japanese paper. Both models also have a crane motif, which appears on the LED backlight and the engraved case back.
Both models cost $165 and include the usual G-SHOCK features, like shock resistance, 200m water resistance, and an LED backlight.
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