Skip to main content

Digital Trends may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site. Why trust us?

Best Recreation Gear: 2017 Digital Trends Outdoor Awards

best recreation gear 2017 digital trends outdoor awards

All season long, we camped, backpacked, paddle boarded, and hiked our way through the Pacific Northwest to find the best new outdoor gear for the first annual Digital Trends Outdoor Awards. After pushing each contender to the limit, we crowned our favorite products for Cooking, Sleeping, Trekking, Recreation, Unwinding, and a special award for Innovation. And we’re giving away one of every winning product, so enter our contest!

Hiking and camping are fun, but sometimes a day outside requires a bit of an adrenaline boost, be it running, biking, rafting, or surfing. And more than any other category in our Outdoor Awards, the recreation space has been turned on its head by tech: With fat tires and funky designs, modern bikes look little likes those from just a decade or two ago, and the entire sport of stand-up paddleboarding still has some folks scratching their heads.

As the Digital Trends Outdoor Awards marched forth these past few months, we tried our hand at a bevy of summer pastimes intended for anyone ranging from casual outdoorsy types to seasoned veterans. We hopped on huge mountain bikes from REI’s Co-op Cycles, hybrid trail bikes from Diamondback, and even tried our hand at an inflatable stand-up paddle board from the leaders in the space, Red Paddle.

 

Winner

Red Paddle 10’6″ inflatable SUP

If you don’t yet understand the appeal of stand-up paddle boarding, hop aboard Red Paddle’s 10-foot, six-inch Ride. This is a sport that’s accessible to anyone, and the best stand-up paddleboards make it even easier. Not only was it simple to pump up, but transporting the board between uses was an utter breeze thanks to how easily it rolled up and stowed in a companion bag — which also contains the board’s pump and paddle, as well as a handy repair kit should the board’s material rip at all.


The Tech: How do they make inflatable SUPs so rigid? A board’s top and bottom are connected by thousands of tiny internal threads that make up what’s called a dropstitch core. As you pump in air, the threads prevent the sides from moving apart, creating a sturdy platform. Red Paddle Co. takes this process even further with its new Monocoque Structural Laminate, or MSL fusion technology. This industrial process fuses another layer of polymer to the dropstitch core, which means less glue used and a smaller margin of error than from hand-gluing. The new laminate process also produces greater stiffness when the board is riding at lower pressures and higher durability.


Once pumped to the proper PSI — which only takes a matter of minutes — the Ride is ready to float. We preferred using it on calm lakes; thanks to that MSL fusion composite and exterior coating, it remained incredibly stable once we actually jumped on. The Ride’s built-in fins also provided enough stability and control throughout our sessions.

best recreation gear 2017 digital trends outdoor awards
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Though a mere pump may not seem very exciting, Red Paddle’s Dual Cylinder Titan pump system isn’t just a simple pump. With its easy to use handle, it took no more than five minutes to inflate the board to its intended pressure and helped conserve energy along the way — what good would it do if you were too tired to ride?

From the moment we unzipped the board from its bag to when we (begrudgingly) rolled it back up at the end of the day, Red Paddle’s Ride paddle board consistently provided us with an extremely enjoyable experience. We’ve harped on accessibility and this board has it in spades. Price, ease of use, low learning curve, you name it — this board is our new favorite way to spend a day on the lake.

Runners up

Make sure to check out all the winning products for Cooking, Sleeping, Trekking, Recreation, Unwinding, and a special award for Innovation. And we’re giving away one of every winning product, so enter our contest!

Videos and photography by Dan Baker/Digitaltrends

Rick Stella
Former Associate Editor, Outdoor
Rick became enamored with technology the moment his parents got him an original NES for Christmas in 1991. And as they say…
Aventon Abound SR e-bike (Winner Selected)
aventon abound sr e bike giveaway january 2025 dt

If you've been trying to save up for an electric bike but life keeps getting in the way, why not try your luck in this giveaway for the Aventon Abound SR? It's made by one of the top makers of electric bikes, and here's your chance to get one as a prize!

Joining the giveaway is extremely easy, so there's really no reason not to enter if you've always wanted an e-bike. We wish you the best of luck in this giveaway!
Giveaway Has Ended
Enter here to win the Aventon Abound SR

Read more
Aventon goes all in on smart security and connectivity on Level 3 commuter e-bike
Aventon Level 3 right profile with Queen Mary in the background.

Aventon invited me to a pre-launch press briefing on its new Level.3 commuter e-bike in Long Beach, California. The Level.3 has several significant upgrades from the Level.2, including increased range and an adjustable suspension seat post, but the greatest upgrade is the Aventon Control Unit (ACU).

The ACU is a proprietary technology that incorporates 4G, Bluetooth connectivity, and GPS tracking. It enables a host of security, convenience, and personalization features. The Level 3 isn't the first Aventon model with the ACU; the Abound SR utility and cargo e-bike was the initial ACU-equipped e-bike.

Read more
Anker Solix EverFrost 2 Giveaway (Winner Selected)
anker solix everfrost 2 electric cooler giveaway february 2025 1024a241 40be 4543 9e71 cf91899c8f33

Would you believe that Anker, an electronics brand that's known for its power banks, also has an electric cooler? Known as the Anker Solix EverFrost, it's the perfect companion for backyard parties and outdoor adventures. It's so good that it's getting a sequel in the form of the Anker Solix EverFrost 2, and you've got a chance to win one!

Anker's giveaway for the Anker Solix EverFrost 2 runs from February 27 to March 27, which means you've got a month to send in your entries. You're going to want to do so as early as you can just to make sure that you don't forget. There will be only one lucky winner of the all-new electric cooler, so we wish you the best of luck!

Read more