10 Strange & Unique Mountain Bike Products

Today we will take a closer look at 10

products

for cyclists of all types. Some of them are cheap, some are expensive and some are a bit

strange

. Let's go for it. First we have the Blackburn Outpost rack, which is a sort of rack for the bottle cage mount. This is probably a good accessory for gravel

bike

s, but I tested mine on the down tube of my fat

bike

, which wouldn't be a good place in wet conditions. The Outpost mounts like any bottle cage, but it is definitely heavier and stiffer. It's sturdy, but not particularly light. The load is held in place with two straps which work very well, but Blackburn didn't provide an obvious way to secure loose ends.

You can find them for between $20 and $30, which is less than many standard bottle cages. So for the price, this is a good product for adventurers looking to add some extra storage to their bikes. Next we have the Follow Hollow alpaca socks, which are marketed towards

mountain

bikers. They are made from alpaca wool, 80% of which is actually baby alpaca for its superior alpaca quality. Now, despite their friendly appearance and behavior, alpacas are actually super gnarly and difficult to shear, or at least that's my assumption. Because they charge $25 a pair for these. The company included two pages about the benefits of alpaca wool, including warmth, durability and water repellency, and in practice they all seem to be true.

Even compared to other cycling socks, these Alpaca socks clearly resist moisture better. So if that's your main concern, it may be worth it. My only complaint besides the price is that these socks are a little boring. Cycling socks usually have a little more personality. So these socks are good, but unless water resistance is worth it to you, there are vegan socks that do the job very well for a fraction of the price. The next product is a handlebar jack stand. I'm probably not the only one who works with my bike upside down when a repair stand isn't available, and in a very old video I even showed how to prop up the handlebars to keep the accessories free and clear of the ground.

Needless to say, this doesn't require much engineering to achieve, as you can rest your bike on almost anything. That makes the handlebar jack overly fun engineering. These jack stands operate with the precision of Swiss watches. They unfold like little tripods, attach to the bars to prevent them from tipping over, and even attach magnetically so you don't lose them. But do we need them? I mean...maybe? I guess if you're picky about scratching your cabin and don't have room for a repair stand, these are still ridiculous and cost $30. I wouldn't buy them for any price, but there is probably a dedicated user who would.

If you are that specialized user, you will be impressed by how well designed and effective they are. Now, some Topeak

products

. The first is the Headlux Dual USB, which is a rechargeable headlamp with a built-in rear light. Now, this doesn't provide enough light to shred at night, but if you get stuck after sunset, it's enough to get you home and makes you actually visible to motorists during the road portion of your trip. As you can imagine, this light has several modes, including a bright setting that lasts for over 3 hours. But it's the small form factor and built-in rear light that makes this product worth talking about.

I would consider leaving this on my helmet semi-permanently. For $30, this is truly a great rechargeable security light, perhaps the best for its price considering its features and form factor. But unfortunately for Topeak, this next product of theirs didn't do so well. The Airbooster G2 looks like a very well designed CO2 inflator. It has a pressure gauge that is unusual, a separate storage thread for a spare cartridge, and a very nice mechanical valve. Although this successfully inflated my tire, the CO2 entered the gauge and turned into dry ice. Since then, the gauge has been stuck at 70 psi.

Now to be fair, no product has a 0% failure rate, so someday we'll try again with a new one and see if it was a fluke. The next product is a digital tire pressure gauge with air inlet. This means you can use it as a standalone meter or as a digital air chuck with any pump. The Shuttle Digital Gauge has a rotating head, locks into place with a very sturdy lever, and works with either presa or shraeder at both ends. My only complaint is that it takes a few seconds to start up, which doesn't seem like a big deal, but I notice it every time I turn it on.

It also costs over $60, which is an incredible premium over other digital meters, although they are bulkier and have fewer features. However, I will definitely keep the shuttle digital display in my flight bag for its flexibility. The next product is rebel hoes, which we've been using a lot to build trails on Berm Peak. What I find with most hoes is that you can't trust them, but Rebel hoes are made from high quality tempered steel. They come meticulously sharpened at the factory and actually have an impressive edge. Rogue Hoes are available in many different styles, but the rake and hoe combination is my favorite.

It looks like a mcleod but cuts off the roots like they aren't even there. It also has a completely flat bottom with no rivets or notches, making it really good for compacting. If you are bench cutting in rooted soil like we have here at Berm Peak, this is the only tool you need and it makes the job much more enjoyable. Depending on the style you choose and whether you opt for a fiberglass or walnut handle, these range from $40 to $90. That's more than you'd pay for a hoe at your local hardware store, but I'm willing to bet it's a lot better.

The next product is an $11 mini floor pump, and the reason I chose one to review is that it looks like a $30 mini floor pump that I reviewed last year that looks like a mini floor pump. $60 floor made by Lezyne. That means this could be considered an imitation of an imitation and therefore we have to look at this and... it's about what you would expect. The “Hasbeen” mini floor pump is a floor pump the size of a hand pump, making it super portable. And according to the Topeak Shuttle indicator, it really works. Judging by how tacky it feels, I wouldn't want to rely on this for high pressure road tires, but for anything under 30 PSI it works quite easily.

Plus, it surprisingly works with Presta valves without any adapters. Although this has been working, I don't see it lasting long and will therefore continue to use my other knockoff mini floor pump. The next product is without a doubt the most compact tripod out there, and if you know someone who posts videos of themselves

mountain

biking, this is a great gift for them. The Joby Griptight ONE comes with a small folding tripod that tilts in any direction you want. It also comes with a foldable phone stand that folds neatly against the stand, making it incredibly small - small enough to always have with you.

But it comes with a price: $30 for this tiny little thing. But it's the only tripod I've seen that is this small. So for mountain bikers or any adventurers, it's a great travel accessory. The last product is also the most expensive: the nextstep lander with DD airbags. Most of you have already seen this, but I'm finally going to give you my opinion on it. The Nextstep lander measures 6.5 feet tall, 11.5 feet wide, 21.5 feet long and costs $3,850. Things like this used to cost tens of thousands of dollars, but the nextstep lander costs as much as a good mountain bike.

Its price includes shipping and the blower to keep it inflated. You'll also need a long extension cord and a serious hand truck to move this. A reasonably capable person can set up the nextstep lander, but putting it back in its bag is like packing an inflatable mattress times 100. Of course, the purpose of this lander is to learn tricks without breaking bones. You can make a mistake with this and come out of it unscathed. Of course, that doesn't help if your bike lands on you or if you lose the lander entirely. For me, the biggest benefit beyond the safety part is simply having an instant landing wherever you want;

Now we have the setup of this truly huge device in about 10 minutes. I love my airbag lander, but I predict you'll be able to buy them for about half the price in the next few years. For example, this bag on Ali Express costs about $2,500 once you pay customs and shipping. But we have no idea if it's good. So I think the next step lander is fairly priced since DD already did their homework and got a good lander. Still, it'll be a tough sell if you want your parents to put one of these under the tree. I hope you found these products as entertaining as I did, and if you enjoy these videos, I have a few more products to share with you: the Seth's Bike Hacks product.

We have a new store up and running where you can buy trail markers, hoodies, t-shirts, and other things all in the same place. Everything is printed and packaged right here in Western North Carolina, where screen printing is no laughing matter. Anyway, I hope it stays dry enough to build a trail for next week, so thanks for riding with me today and I'll see you next time.