By admin 
Moving your body is for everyone, regardless of experience level, skill or location. This year’s Best of What’s New innovations make it easier to get outside and be active in many ways. A tightly woven shirt stops itchy mosquito bites without chemicals. An electric fishing reel cuts the cord and throws away heavy batteries once and for all. An app combines avalanche information with hard-to-find reports for safer snowshoeing and skiing. A waterproof jacket uses a battery membrane to maintain breathability and waterproofness. An exercise bike with advanced technology provides the experience of a quiet ride. Overall, the best sports and outdoor innovations take the “rough” out of the “roughing.”
(Editor’s note: This is an excerpt from Popular Science’s 37th annual Best of What’s New awards. Be sure to read the complete list of the 50 biggest innovations of 2024.)
Grand Prize Winner
HoloBike by Saga: a relaxing yet immersive bike ride at home
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‘Cycling outside’ and ‘cycling in the gym’ are completely different experiences. You feel immersive and relaxing; the other may feel tortuous and monotonous. Samuel Matson, the founder of Saga and former Google VR designer, noticed the same dichotomy after returning from a sabbatical during the pandemic, which he spent cycling in Colombia’s Andes Mountains. However, wearing a large VR headset is not ideal for cycling training. Instead, the HoloBike forgoes a wearable headset for a high-resolution lenticular-inspired display that uses optic flow, the same phenomenon that underlies eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR). Eye-tracking cameras adjust the scene based on where you’re looking for an immersive experience. The 3D environments were created using AI-powered scans of real trails and resembles an open-world video game. Best of all, the HoloBike has about the same footprint as a Peloton, meaning it won’t take up too much space in your home. It is currently available for pre-order online.
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Mosquito Protection Technology from Royal Robbins: a chemical-free way to stop mosquitoes
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There are a few ways to effectively prevent mosquito bites in the forest. Almost all of them require chemicals, from DEET in insect spray on pyrethrin-treated clothing, which washes away and potentially enters the water system – all except Royal Robbins Mosquito Protection Technology (MPT). MPT uses an incredibly tight weave that prevents mosquitoes from penetrating their proboscis without sacrificing breathability. The fabric is also made to not deform, meaning a washing machine spin will not affect the protection. It will be launched in spring 2025.
Fathom Electric Reel by Penn: Goodbye, cords
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Electric saltwater fishing reels are typically powered by a cord connected to a power source. If you’ve been on a boat, you know that “wet surface” and “something you can trip over” don’t go together. The Fathom Electric reel ditches those cords for a rechargeable lithium-ion battery. Despite the battery, the reels are impressively lightweight: 60, 71 and 84 grams, depending on size. The grinder also has bonus features such as an easy-to-use LED display with customizable settings.
Aspect Avy App: Avalanche safety made simple
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According to FEMAAn average of 28 people die from avalanches in the United States each winter. Obtaining accurate avalanche data requires a lot of research, and reports are typically written for professionals. Even the most advanced professional guide makes assumptions when looking at avalanche data. The Aspect Avy app combines historical data, live data from the North American Public Avalanche Danger Scale, “avalanche problems”, and LiDAR maps to give those visiting or living in snow country an accurate, dynamic picture of daily conditions. The app’s ‘go’ and ‘no’go’ slope categorizations make it easier to understand reports and make safe decisions in the mountains. They also keep winter scouts out of the run-out zone if there is a chance of an avalanche above them.
M10 collection from Patagonia: a waterproof jacket made with battery membranes
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Starting in 2025, several states, including New York and California, will ban the sale of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in the field of clothing. Other states will follow in the years to come. PFAS has been integral to waterproofing – and can be found in other components such as zippers and tapes – but they are forever chemicals and harmful to the environment. Patagonia’s ground-up M10 collection is an indication of what’s to come in textiles. The waterproof membrane is borrowed from the automotive battery industry, which uses mechanically manufactured nanoporous membranes to separate ions. In the M10, these consistently sized pores keep rain and snow out without PFAS, but allow heat and sweat to escape even better than the rain jackets and ski shells we are used to.
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