Stealth Fishing Craft, Simms Angling Bibs, Infinite Bike Light, and More Emerging Gear

Anglers are eating well this week (at least in terms of gear). From durable apparel to high-tech fishing craft and hip new shades — fishermen don’t want to miss this week’s catch.

But swimmers, cyclists, and hikers also have cool stuff to window-shop, including AI swim goggles, sexy MTB shoes, and redesigned backpacking tents. And no matter what outdoor activity you love, who doesn’t want to gulp down a recovery drink that tastes like watermelon or horchata?

Find all that and more right here in Emerging Gear.

Simms Fishing Apparel

Simms makes some of GearJunkie’s favorite fishing gear, including innovative apparel like the Simms Flyweight Wader, which received high praise from reviewer Morgan Nowels last year.

Now the Montana-based brand has launched its Challenger collection, offering bibs and jackets redesigned for “durability, mobility and unrivaled on-deck fishability.” They’re made for anglers who need serious protection while facing harsh weather.

The all-new Challenger suit has a three-layer construction that provides greater durability and stretchiness, giving on-deck fishermen more freedom of movement, even in tough, open water conditions. It’s also breathable, despite being waterproof. The bibs are available for both men ($360) and women ($330). Jackets are also available for both men ($360) and women ($330), and the men’s has a few extra color options.

Stealth Fishing Craft

Two iconic fishing brands came together for this special release. Paddlesports brand Northwest River Supplies (NRS) and fly-fishing specialist Orvis joined forces to launch their first collaborative fishing craft: the Orvis Approach 120 Fishing Raft Package.

This raft is designed to access skinny water and remote fisheries that larger drift boats and heavy rafts simply cannot reach, the brands said. It has already earned some recognition by winning the 2026 Fly Fishing Show Consumer’s Choice Awards for Best Boat/Personal Watercraft.

“Purpose-built for stealth,” the Approach 120 combines smaller tubes with a thick drop-stitch floor insert to enhance buoyancy, allowing it to draft even in skinny water. Yet it’s also lightweight enough to fit in a standard truck bed or on top of a Jeep or SUV. Available for preorder now, the boat costs $6,495, with an optional Guide Package available for $995.

Hybrid Dynamo Light

Dynamo lights are a niche and super-cool gear category specific to long-distance cyclists. They employ a special hub that generates power from pedal strokes and sends it to your bike lights, ensuring that you never run out of battery.

Exposure Lights, a British brand focused on bike lighting, just launched an interesting upgrade in this category: the Revo 5 dynamo light. With a max output of 2,000 lumens, it’s certainly one of the brightest dynamo lights now available. But perhaps more importantly, it also incorporates an internal 1,600mAh battery, effectively making it a hybrid that can function either as a dynamo light or a battery-powered one. It costs a hefty $390, but dedicated bikepackers and other long-distance cyclists could certainly make good use of this light’s hybrid features.

For those new to dynamo lights, however, you’ll also need a dynamo hub that can convert pedal strokes into energy. You can get one from Exposure for $121.

AI Swim Goggles

Leveling up your swimming regimen is now more affordable than ever. Canadian brand Form just released an entry-level version of its popular “smart swim goggles,” for just $150.

The Smart Swim 2 LT is the newest model in the FORM Swim System, which it calls “the world’s most advanced in-water coaching platform.” The goggles (and accompanying app, of course) are like many wearables aimed at athletic performance. They offer data tracking and analysis powered by AI, giving swimmers personalized workout plans based on their swim history.

The upgraded model, Smart Swim 2, is GearJunkie’s choice for Best Swimming Goggles for Technology Geeks. But those cost $100 more than the new LT model. Either way, you’re getting a powerful pair of swim goggles.

Blue Mirror Ombraz

Sometimes, if a limited-edition product gains enough popularity, we end up getting it in perpetuity (or at least longer than a month). That’s the case with Ombraz’s uber-cool Blue Mirror lens. After a short run of the lenses on the brand’s Leggero model, these gorgeous shades are now available in four styles: Teton, Classic, Viales, and Leggero.

We love Ombraz’s armless shades, as evidenced by their Best Sunglasses for Hiking or Backpacking slot in our Best Sunglasses guide. We’ve been fans since 2018, and now these righteous shades for outdoor adventure look cooler than ever.

The Blue Mirror shades cost $175 for all four styles.

Big Agnes Tent Line

Colorado’s Big Agnes just dropped what it’s calling the brand’s “biggest tent update in years.” Its design team spent nearly 2 years on the redesign, working with thru-hikers to identify common failure points.

The new VST tent lineup uses recycled HyperBead fabric (PFAS-free, 4,000mm waterproof), a hybrid single/double-wall design to limit condensation, and updated geometry that eliminates wasted space, Big Agnes said.

The VST Lineup includes the String Ridge VST (1.5- and 2.5-person options), a trekking pole-supported, minimalist model for fast-and-light travel. It costs $550 for the 1.5-person size and weighs 19 ounces. The 2.5-person model costs $680 and weighs 30 ounces.

There’s also the Pitchpine VST 1.5 (a non-freestanding, single-pole shelter that costs $650 and weighs just 27 ounces), as well as the Sarvis VST, a freestanding, ultralight design. It costs $750 for the 2-person (2 pounds, 8 ounces), and $850 for the 3-person (3 pounds).

Summer Cycling Jersey

This summer will likely be a scorcher, based on early estimates, so you’ll want to make sure you have apparel designed to keep you as cool as possible. That’s the idea behind Ornot’s Habanero Delta Jersey, the newest in its Special Projects lineup.

This lightweight jersey is made with Polartec Delta, a patented fabric tech that supposedly “disperses perspiration across the skin for efficient cooling when hot.” The knit uses both hydrophobic and hydrophilic yarns, reducing wet cling and increasing airflow. That functionality also won’t wash out, as it’s built into the material, according to Ornot.

The colorful Cold Blocks design is also quite fetching, though a simpler Ice Fade color is available as well. Cut and sewn in Oakland, Calif., the jersey costs $165 and is available for both men and women.

Waterproof MTB Shoe

I hadn’t heard of Drift before, a cycling brand based in the Pacific Northwest, making some darn sexy shoes. Formerly called DZR, the rebranded company just released some waterproof MTB shoes that look both functional and classy.

After making some sneakers compatible with SPD pedals, Drift has now brought the same concept to mountain biking. The ARC is a full-grain leather, waterproof cycling shoe that eschews synthetic materials in favor of waterproofed leather meant to “age with character.” The shoes cost $240 and come in five eye-catching designs, though the Cedar stands out with a minimal design.

Delicious Trail Fuel

You had me at “horchata,” Skratch Labs. The Boulder, Colorado–based brand makes some of the best trail food and sports drinks anywhere, and its latest seasonal flavors will make you want to exercise simply for the joy of consuming their trail fuel. (Can you tell they’re my favorite?)

The brand just dropped several seasonal releases, including the limited-edition Sour Apple Energy Chews (yes, please). You can also try the new Watermelon flavor of its recovery powders, as well as a bigger bag of the Horchata flavor. What’s not to love?