Today in Gear: Onsen Towels, the Smartest Coffee Mug Ever, Rapha’s Latest Shades and More

The best way to catch up on the day’s most important product releases and stories.

Published November 13, 2017

Updated December 13, 2023

We’ve made some new adjustments to Today in Gear, including a new publishing time of 4 p.m. in order to capture all the day’s new stories. Comments or concerns? We’d love to hear from you at [email protected].

New & Noteworthy Releases

Onsen Towels
It shouldn’t be so hard to make a quality towel. So why do so many towels lose their softness and absorbency so quickly? The problem: most towel makers use a chemical process to produce a superficial, fleeting softness to enhance the inferior cotton being used. Onsen’s answer is to use extra-long-staple Supima cotton instead, (grown in the U.S.) which is among the finest in the world. Each Onsen towel is garment-washed multiple times to bring out its natural softness, without any of the chemical trickery. All of this means that you end up with a lusciously lightweight and resilient towel that only gets softer with time.

Buy Now: $50+

Ember Ceramic Mug
Ember, which built its brand on a smart temperature-controlled travel mug, released a mug for home use. Developed by industrial designer Robert Brunner, the Ceramic Mug allows users the ability to control the exact temperature of a beverage via an app. — Jack Seemer

Buy Now: $80

2018 Corvette ZR1
Chevrolet has taken the wraps off the inevitable ZR1 iteration of the C7 Corvette, and the result is the fastest, most powerful and most bonkers Corvette produced yet. Under the hood lies a hand-assembled, 6.2-liter small block V8 boasting a bigger supercharger, bigger throttle bodies and an upgraded fuel injection system resulting in a whopping 750 horsepower and 715 lb-ft of torque. It also include the most aggressive aero kit seen on a ‘Vette short of the LeMans racer. — Andrew Connor

Learn More: Here

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Rapha Pro Team Arenberg Glasses
When it comes to cycling, the widely accepted ideology is that lighter is better, period. Rapha has always championed this viewpoint, but when its riders returned with feedback saying that the 0.9-ounce Pro Team Flyweight Glasses were in fact too light, it beefed things up a bit. The new Arenberg Glasses feature the same, gorgeously retro lens shape as the Flyweights and are dirt, oil and UV resistant, but they’re constructed with a low-profile frame to make things just a tad heavier — eight grams, or about a quarter ounce, to be exact. — Tanner Bowden

Buy Now: $220

Ginew Crow Wing Jean
After the recent news that the White Oak plant in North Carolina will be closing, American selvedge denim will soon be a thing of the past. If you want to invest in a pair now, Oregon-based Ginew just released a new jean that is completely sourced and constructed in America. Each pair features 2017 Cone Mills White Oak 13.75 ounce selvedge denim, custom hardware, and a hunter deerskin patch. — John Zientek

Buy Now: $235

Fresh Deals

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The One Headlamp I Take on Every Adventure Is On Sale Now
Last year, before heading down to the southern tip of South America with nothing more than a one-way ticket and a backpack, I bought Black Diamond’s Spot headlamp to take along for the journey. At the time, all I cared about was the fact that it was waterproof, didn’t have one of those back-of-the-head battery packs and cost about $40. Countless nights spent in a tent later, and the Spot is still my favorite headlamp. Along with the 40-ounce water bottle I carry everywhere, it has earned a permanent place in my pack whenever I head out for an adventure.

Buy Now: $28+

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Amazon’s Sound Bar Is a Dirt Cheap Introduction to Immersive Home Audio
Even a mediocre soundbar can make a good home theater set-up great. It wouldn’t be fair to call Amazon’s Sound Bar “mediocre,” but it’s certainly a worthy entry-level option. It does what all proper soundbars should: provide an immersive home theater audio experience without the need for a costly, invasive surround sound system. It is 31 inches long (best for pairing with TVs less than 42 inches), has 2.1 channel audio, Bluetooth connectivity, three modes (Standard, News, Movie) and kicks out up to 90 decibels of crystal-clear sound. Right now, you can get a standalone Sound Bar for just $50 (29 percent off); the Sound Bar with built-in Subwoofer is $80 (20 percent off).

Buy Now: $50+