The BACH reLAY 3R Split is a sleeping pad that offers a comfortable, inflatable sleeping option with an excellent warmth-to-weight ratio. A detachable part of the mummy shaped pad can be taken off easily and offers a durable seating option on the trail.
With a width of 58 cm and a wide mummy shape, the BACH reLAY 3R Split sleeping pad allows you to sleep comfortably while minimizing weight and pack size. »It was obvious to us not to follow what other brands do to save weight and offer a wider pad of 58 cm. 52 cm is too narrow to sleep comfortably according to our standard,« says BACH sleep systems product manager Julien Gautier. »We also like to say that the reLAY 3R Split air mat brings comfort at night but also during the day, thanks to the comfy detachable sit pad.«
Its main idea is to offer a lightweight two-in-one solution when camping or back-packing: In one piece, the BACH reLAY 3R Split is a comfortable, inflatable sleeping pad with an excellent warmth-to-weight ratio. »We opted for a horizontal tube construction. This is for us the most comfortable construction, if you lay on it, you barely feel the tubes.« The sleeping pad can be split to get a comfortable inflatable sitting pad with a robust bottom fabric, which is also highlighted in a different color.
»We designed the reLAY 3R Split for those who always hesitate between carrying a sit pad for added comfort or going without it to save weight and hope to find the right rock as a replacement,« Gautier explains. For pretty much no added weight or volume, this is perfect for those who always hesitate to bring a seat on the trails. For weight-conscious travelers with kids, the smaller pad could also be left at home for the time they are still small and added when they need a full-size sleeping pad.
To inflate the pad is easy and quickly done using the included pump-sack. The smart design of the valve allows you to micro-adjust the pressure of the pad and to deflate quickly when you are packing.
The fabric is made of 100% recycled 30D brushed ripstop polyester and has been selected for its soft-to-touch, anti-static, anti-slip, and anti-noise properties. It is also 3rd party certified recycled. »And to make sure your sit pad is robust enough, we used a 75D at the bottom made out 100% recycled polyester,« adds product manager Julien Gautier. The BACH reLAY3R Split is great in balancing versatility, durability, comfort and weight-reduction whilst using eco-friendly materials.
With the MTL Long Sky 2 Matryx, Merrell enters the upper echelon of performance trail running shoes, providing a stable running experience for long distances.
Trail runners can look forward to a reliable new running partner with the MTL Long Sky 2 Matryx from Merrell. For the jury, execution and material mix were decisive for the award decision. Thanks to the chosen 5 mm lugs and Vibram outsole, the shoe promises excellent grip. The use of Kevlar in the upper material noticeably reduces weight and also increases the lifespan of a trail running shoe. Sharp stones on trails will be less of a problem for the new upper material in the future. The combination with sustainable 37.5-technology, a contemporary material for thermoregulation based on natural minerals, is a successful one. Merrell’s development leap is clearly visible. The update of the MTL Long Sky 2 has been successfully completed.
With the MTL Long Sky 2 Matryx, the US manufacturer is primarily targeting professional trail athletes. “The MTL Long Sky 2 Matryx is aimed at elite trail runners that train day-in and day-out, regardless of the weather, so that they can compete at the highest level on race day. These shoes are meant to race hard and race fast on technical terrain around the globe,” says Ben Stark, Senior Brand Marketing Specialist at Merrell.
Feedback from numerous test runs by professional runners from the Merrell athlete team was decisive in the development of the now award-winning trail running shoes. An exchange that is now proving to be worthwhile. “We use our global team of professional athletes to test and vet all of our trail running concepts and prototypes”, Ben Stark describes the cooperation with the athlete team. “The insights we gain from literal thousands of hours of athlete testing helps us determine necessary changes and improvements to our shoes before we bring them to market.”
This cooperation ranges in something as small as lacing material to something as important as outsole lug design. Once Merrell has validated the prototypes through athlete testing and feedback, the shoes were sent to third-party testing partners. “We wanted to put the shoes through human and mechanical trials to determine scientific data points on whatever specific concepts we built the shoes for”, Ben Stark explains. “For example, the original MTL Long Sky 2 was designed with a unique upper material meant to drain water quickly.” Merrell has designed unique tests with its competitors to prove that their shoe gains less water and drains water the fastest. Accordingly, the upper promises good breathability while keeping feet dry. Especially for long runs, this is a feature that should not be underestimated.
The focus with the Matryx Pack was evolution over reinvention. “With our elite athletes competing at the highest levels in the MTL Longsky 2, the goal was to further tune this pattern to meet their needs”, says Ben Stark. For the upper, Merrell partnered with Chamatex to develop a single layer, Kevlar reinforced, Matryx Woven textile. The Kevlar threads dramatically reduce stretch, locking the foot to the planform for a precise and breathable fit and feel on the trail. As described earlier: The lining package features a 37.5 moisture wicking treatment for comfort in the warmer months. The outsole features Vibram Megagrip with 5 mm lugs for maximum traction.
ISPO's sustainability expert Luisa Smith, who was consulted for the judging, also gives the new materials a thoroughly positive assessment: “The use of Kevlar, an aramid fiber that is used for bulletproof vests, is extremely strong and lightweight. The mention of 37.5, this is a brand ingredient that uses natural minerals for thermal regulation.”
The Adidas Terrex Xploric Wind Jacket combines style and functionality for light mountain activities and is best suited for any micro adventure right outside the front door or on the weekend. The special feature: The jacket is made of cotton. Its functionality is based on a particularly robust fabric construction with water-repellent finish.
Functional jackets made of cotton still belong to the exotics in the outdoor world. Yet cotton also offers a lot of protection and high breathability and allows for a more urban and sustainable look. The Terrex Xploric Wind Jacket is a durable jacket designed for less intense activities in nature or camping. It is part of the 'Made With Nature in adidas terrex Apparel', a range of functional and stylish products that venture into the future of outdoor clothing. The goal is to use natural materials, harness their inherent performance properties and enhance them through construction and additional treatments. To help make better decisions, adidas Terrex measures and shares the carbon footprint (CO2e) of these products.
The jacket was made from 98 percent cotton, with 78 percent of that being organic cotton and 20 percent BCI cotton (Better Cotton Initiative). The missing two percent is made of spandex, which provides additional freedom of movement, but without compromising the stability of the fabric. In addition, a particularly durable, windproof ripstop construction was used for the outer fabric, which can also withstand light rain showers thanks to a PFC-free DWR finish.
The abrasion resistance of the material was tested by the Terrex product test team in various activities and conditions to ensure that the product meets the requirements and is durable. Sustainability, durability and comfort were at the forefront of the Terrex development team's minds.
Due to the material composition and fiber selection, the wind jacket offers UPF protection of 50+, which is especially important in the spring/summer months when UV exposure is high.
Thanks to the jacket's urban design and versatile functionality with many spacious pockets, the jacket fits just as well in the city as it does in the great outdoors. The target group is young outdoor lovers* who are looking for micro adventures but prefer their own look. The jacket will be launched in February 2024 and is available for men and women in different colors.
The Helu One Road cycling shoe from Hezo Cycling features a 3D-printed outer shell that is modeled and customized to fit the feet of each rider. The custom-made shoe consists of a modular 3 piece concept with a magnetic Fidlock closure for precise adjustment options.
Your feet can have kinks that only you might know about. No matter if they are skewed, sunken, splayed, or have been battered in the past, a custom fit and tailor-made cycling shoe will be the thing to stop aching feet when spending long hours on the road. The Helu One from Hezo Cycling aims to achieve just that in a computer-assisted way. The most innovative feature of this tailor-made cycling shoe is the 3D-printed outer shell using a SLS printing technology to create a customized fit for each rider.
During the purchase, the rider scans each of his or her feet through a custom app. From here the data will be checked and Hezo produces a digital 3D instruction that then goes to the printer. The produced 3D model is then the basis to produce a custom cycling shoe. This shoe is tailored to the unique shape and contours of the feet. Its construction process makes the shoe stiff, lightweight and a 100% fit for great power transfer onto the pedal. Cleats can be positioned individually as well.
The Helu One features a modular three part design to cater to different needs. A torsion-resistant plant-based PA11 upper shoe gives great hold in the midsection of the foot, a 3D knitted breathable liner adds comfort and a Fidlock® system gives precise adjustment options. The magnet buckle guides the individual components, causing them to snap shut automatically with an edible click. When closed, the mechanical latch provides a secure hold. This closure system works great and can be quickly opened and closed with one hand or even gradually adjusted while riding. And if you want to give your feet a bit more air after a steep climb or a long ride, the inner shoe is also constructed for walking more comfortably. It is also easily washable.
Another plus of this design is that different parts are repairable or replaceable and can be broken down into its individual components. For better sustainability, the shoes are made out of recycled and bio based materials. And a side effect of using 3D print is a reduction in waste and energy consumption. The shoe is produced in Europe and will be shipped to customers 6-8 weeks after purchase. And if it doesn’t fit, the team will fix it or the customer will get back their money.
Large doctor’s bag style opening and, thus, easy access: the BACH Dr. Expedition Duffel is a great organizer for all your gear on the road and allows efficient use of packing space. It has also been constructed from more sustainable materials.
Being well-organized is key while traveling, no matter if you are on an outdoor adventure or a business trip. The BACH Dr. Expedition Duffel bag has a large doctor’s style opening to give you a good overview of the contents you have packed. With its padded self-standing mechanism, this 40L carry-on sized bag also offers great access and safety for travel necessities. It comes with a lockable main zipper, padded shoulder straps and practical attachment and carry options for individual adjustment. »We wanted to make the BACH best-selling Dr. Duffel more adventure ready by making it weather resistant and more minimalist but functional by combining many functions into fewer parts«, explains BACH product manager Jozua Schiltz.
Helping customers to make a conscious decision, the Dr. Expedition Duffel features a blend of more sustainable materials. »BACH Equipment has always been about making durable products that stand the test of time but here we also want to pursue a path of using fewer virgin materials. Therefore, we chose a 100% recycled polyester shell fabric,« explains Nadia Zoller, CMF Designer/Developer. The bag falls under the Re-source by BACH label, which the brand only uses for products, that are made of a minimum of 50 percent recycled or biobased content regarding their weight and have PFC-free DWR.
In the past, BACH has been tackling sustainability by developing durable products first. Therefore, if the brand was looking to make durable but light products, the obvious choice was to use premium (Cordura, HT) polyamide over polyester fabrics. »Weight was not the main concern for these products, so we chose a heavier weight 900D polyester fabric to reach our strength targets.« To get the best strength to weight ratio compared to nylon, this heavier weight fabric was chosen to reach the desired durability for the bag. »On top of the fabric a 90% recycled polyvinyl butyral lamination is applied. In the first place to get a waterproof and easy to clean outer layer, but also to increase even further the abrasion and rip resistance of the fabric.« This way, the Dr. Duffel is a long-lasting piece of luggage that is up to the durability standards of BACH.