The Best New Gear to Know This September

Multitools don’t get slimmer and functional than The James Brand’s new Helton. Housing the eight most basic tools (a partially serrated VG-10 blade, two magnetic drivers, chisel-tipped tweezers, and various carry methods like a pocket clip or a lanyard and bead), it’s thinner than a pack of gum and is sure to be a family heirloom you hand down—after plenty of years of good use, of course.

What if I said you could track your sleep without having to wear a device? I’d be talking about the new Hatch Sleep Clock, which takes what we loved about the Hatch Restore Sunrise Alarm Clock and bakes in remote sleep tracking right with the bedside device.

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This is one of those collabs that makes you wonder why the two brands hadn’t gotten together sooner?! A fit like peanut butter and jelly, Norda and Black Diamond put together this nine-piece collection that feels much more robust. Maybe that’s because it includes a brand-new Norda shoe in the 000, made because of the collab. That’s nearly unheard of, and we’re here for these two just doing collections together every season from here on out.

I’ve been consistently going back to the Adidas Evo SL as my everyday trainer; I’ve just found it hard to get away from. But the new FuelCell Rebel v5 has cracked the door open to replace the Evo. The drop is just right for me at 6mm, the padding is comfy without being too much, it weighs under 8 ounces, and the EVA/PEBA midsole feels soft yet extremely lively. I especially like the midsole geometry that stays a little wider, as midsoles that get too skinny are tough for me. I’ve put a few runs on these and it feels like plenty more are coming.

Read More: Best Running Shoes

Arc’teryx has launched System 0 to strive toward closed-loop products (meaning they can be repaired and recycled infinitely). The first product in that new endeavor is the Sperro SV Jacket. It will be the brand’s first Gore-Tex hardshell that incorporates recycled and recoverable materials. It meets the Arc’teryx standards for hardshells while also being repairable and designed for disassembly at the end of its life. While $1,200 is certainly steep, it’s a buy-once-and-keep forever sort of purchase.

Shokz continues to refine its open-ear prowess with the new OpenFit Pro. What I’ve found with Shokz is that each iteration gets a little bit better, and that’s the case here. You’re getting 50 hours of use-time and some of the clearest audio and some of the best transparency for workouts we’ve come across.

Read More: Best Workout Headphones

Another collab we’re here for, with Coros tapping Satisfy to give the Apex 4 a spiffy makeover. The big upgrades from the standard Apex 4 are the ice crystallized titanium bezel and the inclusion of both a silicone and nylon band. I’m digging the fatigue green for those, and I’m about to get some testing underway with this—although the testing we’ve done on the OG Apex 4 has previously confirmed this to be one of the top hiking/trail running watches around.

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Free Fly’s new Thermowind Jacket combines a windshell outer that sheds moisture with a microfleece inner that helps block strong winds. Taped seams mean even further protection from the wind and rain, making this one an easy pick for the upcoming cooler weather when a typical windbreaker just won’t cut it.

Football season is about to get underway and Christian McCaffrey is dropping his first signature shoe with his brand, While on Earth. Built for varying workouts with a 10mm drop and a midfoot TPU plate, this thing is about stability and creating force. Stay tuned as we’re in the midst of putting it through some of CMC’s actual workouts for testing.

Read More: Best Cross-Training Shoes

Lems is out with its first running shoes in the ZenSpeed Lite and the ZenSpeed+. The Lite is a minimalist daily trainer with lots of ground feel thanks to a 2mm drop (24mm stack height) and a cork insole. You’re getting some energy return from the EVA + 10% PEBA midsole, and plenty of room in the toe box to ensure comfort.

The new Fenix 9 and Fenix 9 Pro take everything we loved about the Fenix 8 and souped it up. Both have twice the RAM and storage, which means faster performance (especially in maps/GPS). The brightness also gets an upgrade, with twice the nits of the Fenix 8. And you get some more detailed and enhanced performance metrics, helping you stay attuned to your body and physical output even better.

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Nobull’s new recovery slide is built for comfort and to be easy on your feet and knees. Made from EVA foam, the cushioning is solid while still offering plenty of no-slip grip to make sure you’re not losing a sandal mid-walk.