Moving your body is accessible to everyone, regardless of your experience level, skills or location. This year’s Best of What’s New innovations make getting outdoors and active easier in more ways than one. A tightly woven shirt stops itchy mosquito bites without chemicals. An electric fishing reel cuts the cord and ditch the heavy batteries once and for all. An app combines avalanche education and hard-to-find reports for safer snowshoeing and skiing. A waterproof jacket uses a battery membrane to maintain its breathability and waterproofing. An exercise bike with cutting-edge technology takes the experience of a leisurely ride and brings it indoors. Overall, the best sports and outdoor innovations take the “hard” out of the “roughness.”
(Editor’s Note: This is a section of 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 in your home
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“Cycling outdoors” and “cycling at the gym” are very different experiences. It feels immersive and relaxing; the other may seem tortuous and monotonous. Samuel Matson, founder of Saga and former designer of Google VR, noticed this same dichotomy after returning from a sabbatical during the pandemic, which he spent cycling in the Andes in Colombia. However, wearing a bulky VR headset is not ideal for cycling training. Instead, the HoloBike forgoes a wearable headset for a high-resolution, lenticular-inspired display that uses optical flow, the same phenomenon that is the basis of eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy. Eye tracking cameras adjust the scene based on where you are looking for an immersive experience. 3D environments are created using AI-optimized analyzes of real trails and resembles an open world video game. Best of all, the HoloBike has roughly the same footprint as a Peloton, which means it won’t take up too much space in your home. It is currently available for pre-order online.
Royal Robbins Mosquito Repellent Technology: A Chemical-Free Way to Stop Mosquitoes
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There are several ways to effectively prevent mosquito bites in the woods. Almost all require chemicals, DEET in insecticides on pyrethrin-treated clothing, which washes off and potentially enters the water system, with the exception of Royal Robbins Mosquito Repellent Technology (MPT). MPT uses an incredibly tight weave that prevents mosquitoes from passing their proboscis without sacrificing breathability. The fabric is also designed to resist warping, meaning spinning in the machine will not affect protection. Its launch is planned for spring 2025.
Penn Fathom Electric Reel: Goodbye cords
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Electric saltwater fishing reels are usually powered by a cord plugged into a power source. If you’ve been on a boat, you know that “wet surface” and “object you can trip over” don’t mix. The Fathom Electric hose reel ditches those cords for a rechargeable lithium-ion battery. Despite the battery, the reels are incredibly light: 60, 71, and 84 ounces, depending on size. The reel also has bonus features like an easy-to-use LED display with customizable settings.
Aspect Avy app: avalanche safety made simple
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According to FEMAon average 28 people die each winter in avalanches in the United States. Obtaining accurate avalanche data involves a lot of research and the reports are usually written for professionals. Even the most advanced professional guide makes assumptions when reviewing avalanche data. The Aspect Avy app combines historical data and live data from the North American Public Avalanche Danger Scale, “avalanche problems“, and LiDAR mapping to give those who visit or live in snowy areas an accurate and dynamic view of daily conditions. The app’s “go” and “no go” slope categorizations make it easy to understand the reports and safe decision making in the mountains They also keep winter explorers out of the escape zone if an avalanche is likely to occur above them.
Patagonia M10 collection: 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 clothing. Other states are expected to follow in the coming years. PFAS are an integral part of waterproofing – and can be found in other components such as zippers and webbing – but they are still chemicals and harmful to the environment. Patagonia’s M10 collection, built from the ground up, is an indication of what’s to come in the textile space. The waterproof membrane is borrowed from the automotive battery industry, which uses mechanically fabricated nanoporous membranes to separate ions. In the M10, these consistently sized pores keep rain and snow out without PFAS, but let heat and sweat escape even better than the rain jackets and ski shells we’re used to.
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