Our gear editors scoured the floor of聽Summer Outdoor Retailer 2018 for the most interesting small brands. Here鈥檚 what they found.
Mule
I鈥檓 a sucker for a good-looking, slim wallet, and San Diego鈥揵ased 聽makes one of the best. Its leather聽Trek is built with a cash pocket, a mini-pen slot, and two side-by-side pockets that hold five cards each. The exterior is made of premium vegetable-tanned leather, and the interior is lined with durable, water-resistant nylon.
鈥擝en Fox, affiliate reviews director
Bitchstix
This 聽makes lip balm, muscle rubs, anti-chafe sticks, and sunscreen, then donates a portion of the proceeds to domestic-abuse victims. The name is part of the company鈥檚 effort to reclaim the聽word 鈥渂itch鈥澛燼nd turn it into a vehicle of empowerment, rather than an insult. No testing on animals, no GMOs, no palm oil, and all natural ingredients.
鈥擡mily Reed, assistant reviews editor
碍补惫耻听
I鈥檓 very much a one-strap-over-the-shoulder kind of guy when it comes to casual backpacks. So Kavu鈥檚 offerings, like , are right up my alley. It helps that the strap is made from a handsome length of rope, and that the bag鈥檚 body is a bomber cotton canvas and 600-denier polyester that can stand up to no small amount of abuse.
鈥擶ill Egensteiner, senior editor
Wildsam
These cover more than just where to drink. More storybook than guidebook, Wildsam鈥檚 slim volumes include local culture and history, essays, short stories, illustrations, and short biographies鈥攖he kind of information you need to truly learn about a place rather than just putting together a tick-list of things聽to do.聽
鈥擜riella Gintzler, assistant editor