10 Outdoor Gadgets to Look Forward to in 2018

Ski goggles with photochromic lenses automatically change their tint when the sun appears or vanishes. But there’s usually a time lag. And if you’re on a run and skipping in and out of trees, that lag can be a bummer. Take control back with Spy Optic's Ace EC (electrochromic) goggles, which adapt technology that is normally used for airplane and office windows. Push a button to send an electric pulse through a filament sandwiched between the goggle’s lenses and switch instantly between three different tint settings.

After picking up pieces of dry ice with these ice gloves at the show, I had the almost irresistible urge to try picking them up with my bare hands (despite all the warning signs telling me explicitly not to do that). How cold could those ice pieces really be? The ice gloves have PrimaLoft Gold Aerogel inserts in the palm and fingers, a material that was originally designed to insulate space suits. Rather than trapping heat from escaping, the gel blocks cold from moving in. It’s also flexible, waterproof, lightweight, and doesn’t compress, which compromises a material's ability to insulate.

Waxing your skis or snowboard isn't just an annoying ski season task. Conventional waxes use perfluorocarbons (PFCs) to allow skis to glide swiftly over the snow, but repeated exposure—like, say, from scraping and inhaling tiny shreds of wax multiple times a season—can lead to side effects like organ damage and infertility. Not fun! DPS's Phantom is an easy, one-time treatment that can be applied at home in 20 minutes. The treatment “cures” in UV light (i.e. the sun) for up to six hours, and then, poof! One more task that you’ll never have to think about ever again.

As an insulating material, spider silk is fantastic. It’s strong, soft, and warm, and is made without using petrochemicals. Outerwear company Goldwin is one of the leading contenders to turn out apparel made with spider silk. At Outdoor Retailer, they debuted a jacket prototype made from Qmonos, a spider silk protein manufactured by Spiber, Inc. The jacket is currently undergoing rigorous quality-certification testing, but so far, it looks promising.

You might be forgiven for thinking that Capita's Spring Break boards, designed by former pro snowboarder and artist Corey Smith, are in fact conceptual wall art instead of functioning pieces of sports gear. Despite their serene, natural colors and organic shapes inspired by vintage surf boards, they are manufactured in one of the most high-tech, environmentally sustainable ways possible. Capita's boards are made in the Mothership, a 100-percent hydropower, zero-emission facility in Austria. This year, they're also debuting FUS3D sidewall technology, which uses a custom machine to 3D print a unique monocomposite thermoplastic sidewall directly onto the board, drastically improving production speed and reduces waste.

Treepod’s child-friendly Hanging Treehouse was so popular, adults started getting a little jealous. This January, Treepod debuted their latest products for adults. The Cabana is a mesh-sided, portable shelter that comes in a variety of colors and sizes. It’s a light and airy hangout (get it?!) that would be perfect for lounging on your patio, in the backyard, or at your favorite campsite.

"It's hard to make socks sound exciting," admitted Dissent Labs founder Josh Hall. Nevertheless, a well-fitting sock can make all the difference in determining whether you spend the day whooping and making turns, or sitting in the wet snow trying to tape up your yucky, bleeding feet. Frustrated with constant chafing, Hall discovered that the construction of medical-grade compression socks was ideal. For years, he worked to develop an anti-friction, precision-fit sock that stays "locked on" through the longest day, socks that quickly became beloved by some of the best skiers in the world. For fall 2018, Dissent is debuting the GFX Compression Hybrid DLX-Wool sock, which uses a combination of synthetic and merino fibers to take advantage of the best qualities of both.

Instead of attaching a daypack to the outside of a traveling bag, Osprey founder Mike Pfotenhauer opted to build a pack where the cargo bag straps over the daypack. You might think it seems weird. Well, Pfotenhauer begs to differ. Keeping the daypack closer to your back protects your valuables and keeps heavier elements closer, instead of swaying precariously whilst strapped on the other side of your clothes and shoes. Detach the cargo bag to slide it into the overhead compartment or leave it at the hostel while you carry the slim, black daypack out on adventures.