Published June 30, 2026 09:08AM
New Orleans is known for great music and amazing food. In the middle of June, it was also host to the Switchback gear show, where brands from around the world gathered to show off all the new gear they’re launching in the coming year. For two days, we paced the floor of the NOLA convention center to find the most innovative, most exciting new gear releases. Here are eight innovative outdoor gear products you need to check out.
Rumpl Wrap Sack
Rumpl doesn’t mess around when it comes to comfortable car camping gear. They’re known for their plush original puffy blanket, which has become a staple for our family not only at the campground but also at home on the couch. What most folks may not know is that Rumpl also makes sleeping bags for car camping. They launched the Wrap Sack last year (and we named it “Best Overall” in car camping sleeping bags). This spring they’re dropping an even better version. The updated bag comes with several functional upgrades: a less-insulated, 40-degree-rated version for summer camping, a larger hood pocket that fits a standard-sized pillow, a two-way zipper foot box for ventilation on warmer nights, and cape clips along the edge of the bag that allow you to attach a Rumple OG blanket on top for chillier, shoulder-season camping. As the name suggests, this bag wraps around you like a burrito of pure comfort to give more of a cozy, blanket-type feel. If you yearn for at-home comfort when sleeping under the stars, the Wrap Sack was made for you. —Erica Zazo, Outside contributor
PyreLogs Original
My mom still teases me about the hissy fit I threw the one time I wasn’t able to get our campfire going during a family trip. There will be no more teasing thanks to the PyreLogs, which almost guarantee a roaring inferno. Made from 12-gauge steel, the set of two triangle-shaped PyreLogs keep your firewood elevated so there’s always airflow underneath, and you never have to worry about wet ground. Cut-out vents in the steel ensure continued airflow once there’s a bed of coals sitting between the PyreLogs. The company says the steel won’t warp—even if you douse a raging fire with water—and the triangles pack down flat when not in use. There’s a mini steel version that’s great for smaller fires you might cook over, but heads up: there’s no backpacking version yet. —Jakob Schiller, Outside contributor
Sea to Summit Horizon Ramen Bowl
When my family and I backpack, we never want to schlep a camp table in the woods, so we simply hold our food bowls when we eat. Realizing this is true for most backpackers, the thoughtful engineers at Sea to Summit created the Horizon bowl. The smartest feature is a thumb tab on the outer rim that lets you hold the Horizon comfortably and securely with just one hand, freeing up your other hand to use a spoon or grab a drink. Vertical plastic channels along the outside of the bowl help keep your hand away from the plastic that actually holds the soup, so your skin isn’t scalded. Another clever design element is that the bowl’s circumference is narrow enough and the depth shallow enough to prevent the Sea to Summit backpacking cutlery from sliding down and falling completely into the soup. —JS
Altra Mont Blanc Speed 2 Shoes
I used to brag about having “easy-going” feet that fit into nearly any shoe. Then I had plantar fasciitis for six months, and now I have to be much more careful. Altras have been a life saver, thanks to the wide toe box and low drop. I’m excited about the Mont Blanc Speed 2s because they could likely be the perfect blend of trainer and race-day rocket for me. I’m not very fast, so I don’t really need a carbon-plated shoe; the Mont Blanc 2s come with a Pebax plate that adds stability and plenty of underfoot responsiveness without requiring me to run on my toes. At just 10 ounces, the shoes are feathery enough for a fast 10k while supportive enough for a sloggy 50k. I have no doubt the five millimeter lugs on the Vibram Megragrip sole will keep me planted while going up and down the local trails here in New Mexico that are covered in kitty litter: ball bearing-like rocks that threaten to destabilize every step. The price tag is on the higher end, but well under what I’d have to pay for top-tier trail racing shoes, which would likely be overkill and inappropriate for a mid-pack runner like me. —JS
The North Face A5 Collection
To be honest, I’m not much of a climber. But one look at The North Face’s new A5 Collection and suddenly I’m itching to get to the crag. The A5 Collection is an ode to the brand’s climbing DNA, specifically its late-90s acquisition of A5 Adventures, a cult big-wall gear company. The archival-inspired line spans apparel and pieces built for both performance and style, from jackets to tops to bottoms to approach shoes. My personal favorites are the vintage-colored ultralight and breathable A5 FUTUREFLEECE longsleeve, the Griffin Relaxed Crew with the original A5 emblem embroidered on the back, and a throwback-designed A5 Short-Sleeve Cordura Shirt that looks like it belongs in a bowling alley (except it’s engineered with highly durable, abrasion-resistant fabric that could survive a multi-pitch). The vibe of this collection is retro, but the function is very much state-of-the-art. —EZ
Dometic Mag Collar
Dometic, which has long made the nicest overland fridges, recently launched a line of coolers and drinkware. It seems risky to enter a market that’s saturated by brands like Yeti, Igloo, and RTIC, but Dometic has found a way to stand out with competitive prices and clever products. One accessory that caught my eye is the Mag Collar, which screws onto the top of a Dometic coffee mug or water bottle and magnetically holds your phone. I now have a tripod on my bottle for group selfies on top of my next 14er, and a phone stand in my tent when my wife and I want to relax and stream TV shows after a long day outside (don’t judge me). —JS
Flylow Jack Snap Sun Shirt
Next spring, Flylow is launching the Jack Snap Sun Shirt, an idea that emerged from a recent rafting trip taken by co-founder Dan Abrams. One of the guides was wearing a snap shirt over his sun hoody to add more steeze, inspiring Abrams to design a snap shirt with a removable sun shirt hoody built in. Made from a stretchy polyester and spandex blend, the Jack Snap has a 50+ UPF rating, reportedly breathes as well as any sun hoody on the market, and will dry in an instant if you get splashed or end up in the drink. And, if you want to use the Jack Snap for everyday use, just take the hood off and wear it into work or out to dinner. —JS
Flabocce
Camp games are having a moment. We saw them everywhere on the tradeshow floor at Switchback, from ENO’s new badminton set that strings between a freestanding hammock stand (launching Spring 2027) to a whole slew of new games by GSI Outdoors. But one stopped us cold in our tracks: Flabocce. Michigan-based founder Jack Rutkowski reinvented a cult classic with this flat version of bocce that uses rubber, hexagonal discs called “Flabs.” The game packs down small and can be played literally anywhere, no flat ground required. Jack said folks tell him they have played this game everywhere from the red rocks of Zion National Park to their local beach and summer campground spot. Playing is simple: toss Flabs toward the “Jack,” or central target. Cover it completely for an instant win, or land closest and overlap it to score. It’s portable, stupidly easy to learn, and highly addictive. Don’t say we didn’t warn you! —EZ
