Our favorite product releases this week: Hulken, Lego, Sony and more
To close out the week, our deals team of Rikka Altland, Jacqueline Saquin and Elena Matarazzo scoured the web to find the best new product drops. This week brings the launch of a fresh rolling carry-on tote from Hulken, a Lego recreation of an Italian Riviera and an all-new, sleek Sony mirrorless camera.
Leica may have some competition
Sony's newest camera hit store shelves this week, and our senior editor, Rikka Altland, recently had a chance to try it out for herself. In true Sony fashion, the new RX1 R III is a mouthful of a name for a camera that's as elegant as they come in the mirrorless world. It features a lightweight body that includes a fixed Zeiss 35mm f/2 prime lens that is versatile enough to simulate the experience of other lenses. The camera's massive 61-megapixel full-frame sensor helps the cause, with more than enough pixels to crop in and adjust pictures as needed.
Altland spent an evening with the new camera earlier in the week, immediately noticing another one of the Sony RX1R III's new tricks: an updated autofocus system. It's one of the snappiest autofocuses she has tried in this kind of camera, meaning blurry photos of your kids will be a thing of the past. Where it starts to give cameras in this class (think of Leica) a run for their money is with the introduction of 12 film presets, which include settings for a classic filmic FL look, a nostalgic FL2 film mode and more.
There's just one problem with the Sony RX1 R III — its price tag. You'll have to shell out a whopping $5,098 to bring this shiny new piece to your photography setup.
An all-denim collab between two fashionable powerhouses
The latest limited-edition collaboration between Gap and Béis is a game-changer for anyone who's ever felt the burden of packing for both style and function. Each piece in this exclusive collection seamlessly blends Gap's iconic essentials with Béis's trendy travel-centric designs. Whether you're jet-setting to a tropical destination or heading out on a weekend adventure, the collection ensures you won't have to compromise on comfort or aesthetics while you're on the move.
What sets this collaboration apart is its dedication to the needs of the modern traveler. Take the Convertible Cargo Barrel Pants, for example — two looks in one, designed to adapt to any situation with minimal effort. The pants can be transformed from shorts to pants with a zip. Add in the denim-like knits that offer the appearance of your favorite pair of jeans, but with all the softness and stretch of a knit. It also decks out bestselling Béis travel gear, like the already sold-out Weekender Bag and the Carry-On, in Gap's signature denim.
The collections are available at both Béis and Gap. While both brands are typically priced accessibly alone, the collab does carry a slightly higher premium. Prices range from $40 to $378, with the higher-end pieces reflecting the exclusivity of this limited-edition partnership.
For those who start celebrating spooky season a few months early
Christmas in July was a couple of weeks back, and Lush is here to continue the spirit of celebration with its limited-edition Halloween collection. In about a month, or when Labor Day weekend rolls around, many of us will be slipping into chunky knits and sipping on PSLs, so why not start a bit early?
Indulge in self-care nights and fight off those spooky Sunday scaries with an adorable Ghostie Bath Bomb or Dracula Bubble Bar, and coat your lips in a Blood Orange Lip Scrub while taking a soak. If baths aren't your or their thing, this spicy vanilla shower gel will look great in a boo basket alongside a creepy alien shower jelly.
And if you haven't heard, Lush's body sprays are all the rage and give off a subtle scent that lasts all day. Mist yourself or even your space with the decadent Pumpkin Spice and earthy Lord Of Misrule.
Build your own Ligurian fishing village, no passport required
CNN Underscored's Lego expert, Altland, may have just checked out her favorite sets from the new summer wave that just launched, but there's another new kit on the block worth taking a closer look at. Now available for purchase for those with a Lego account and officially going up for sale this weekend, the new Ideas Italian Riviera assembles an incredibly detailed replica of a coastal fishing village with 3,251 pieces.
Aside from gorgeous facades and intricate details on the outside, the three buildings have interior furnishing that can be revealed by lifting the building's different modules. Popping off the roofs and upper stories of the gelato store, diving equipment shop and fish market reveal plenty of scenes fit for a typical Ligurian village. To really sell those vibes, you're getting 10 minifigures who are right at home in the Italian Riviera.
Selling for $300, this set is one of the more expensive models in recent months, but that isn't stopping Altland from eyeing this build for her own Lego collection.
Another favorite way to schelp
Hulken, a lifestyle brand synonymous with the hustle of modern life, has expanded its offerings into the world of travel with two exciting new releases that cater perfectly to the needs of people who are always on the go. The Hulken Carry-On ($150) is a lightweight, fold-flat, top-opening luggage solution that redefines the traditional carry-on bag, making it an essential for anyone who values both convenience and style during their travels.
Deals editor Jacqueline Saguin has been a faithful user of the brand's original Hulken Bag, relying on it for picking up heavy packages and lugging large loads of laundry. Following in its footsteps, the Carry-On packs that OG design down into an airplane-ready footprint. Unlike typical carry-ons that open from the side or front, the top-opening feature allows for quick, easy access to your belongings, especially in tight overhead compartments or when you're trying to grab something mid-flight. It differs from the OG with additional carrying straps and an additional outer laptop compartment.
Its lightweight construction means you won't have to worry about lugging a heavy bag through crowded airports or navigating a busy city with your gear. And, of course, the signature Hulken foldability makes it a breeze to stow away when not in use, freeing up precious storage space for those who prefer to travel light.
At $150, it's a bit steeper than its Rolling Tote counterparts. For those looking to maximize value, bundle the Carry-On and its companion Schlep Stack together for $200 and free shipping, which means $45 in savings.
Back-to-school pieces that the whole family can enjoy
Calling all Crayola fanatics! Crayola just released its collaboration with the iconic reusable water bottle brand, Swell, and with it, 12 limited-edition pieces in retired colors. Violet Blue, Orange Red, Magic Mint and Dandelion are back and were missed by folks old enough to remember that they even existed in the first place.
We're loving the retro-inspired prints and vintage twist on this back-to-school collection. It feels nostalgic, and although none of us are school-aged, we feel like we're going back this fall after seeing these pieces. Shop by your preferred color or mix and match between your favorites. The durable and easy-to-clean Salad Bowl Kits are blended with two colors and are perfect for the kids at heart who want to make their in-office desk salad a bit more cheerful.
Little ones can enjoy the itty bitty, 9-ounce flip straw bottle, which comes with a carrying handle and a set of old school sticker print-adorned food canisters for all their school snacks. If you're in the market for a new reusable water bottle that's a bit larger than the mini kid's one, the brand made a Crayola version of its classic screw top silhouette that holds 17 ounces of liquid.
Mustard's lineup of lively lockers is one of our editors' favorite storage solutions. The company is now expanding its collection with a new wall-mounted organizer named The Storyboard. Available in 12 different colors ranging from light pink hues and dark blues to chalkboard-inspired looks, it is made from the same powder-coated steel as the brand's lockers.
Each one measures 33.5 inches wide and 20.9 inches tall — or vice versa, depending on whether you're hanging it in portrait or landscape position. In either case, The Storyboard can be used to hang up important documents, serve as a mood board and more when paired with Mustard's new magnetic Buttons that come in the same array of styles.
Altland has been eyeing a new way to organize all the printed keepsakes she gets from the restaurants she visits. This seems like the perfect solution for hanging up ornate Omakase menus, postcards from hole-in-the-wall sandwich spots and all the other prints she has collected from her time eating her way around New York City. Mustard's new The Storyboard retails for $129 and is now available for purchase alongside The Buttons, which go for $28 when you buy a 6-pack.
Science meets beauty with this heat protectant
Launched August 1, K18's new Heat Bounce is a science-led approach to how you can help shield hair from heat styling damage. This lightweight cream-to-mist formula is powered by the brand's ResiliCore technology, a molecule that aims to penetrate the hair's cortex to defend against heat up to 450°F and UV rays, per the brand. Priced at $38, it offers a fresh approach to heat protection without the usual heaviness or greasiness you'd associate with traditional heat protectants.
Heat Bounce completes K18's signature hair repair routine of leave-in masks and volumizers, ideal for those who prioritize maintaining healthy hair while styling with heat. Designed for all hair types and textures, it's designed to protect hair while leaving soft, shiny hair in its wake, without feeling weighed down. The brand also took notes from leading industry hair experts like Devante Turnbull, stylist to celebrities like Sza, to tweak its formulation.
Leave hair frizz-free and smelling fresh with this summer inspired hair spray
Since June, our associate editor, Elena Matarazzo, has used R+Co's Sun Catcher Leave-In Conditioner from its Ashley Streicher Collection. Instead of blow-drying her hair before a night or day out on the town, she's been using three or so pumps of the leave-in serum and letting her hair dry naturally. Surprisingly, her thick and bluntly cut bob has dried frizz-free with summery waves throughout.
Before learning about the leave-in conditioner and this most recent launch from Streicher and R+Co, Matarazzo had been following the talented hairstylist for years and adored the way she cut and created relaxed yet chic, textured styles with her clients' hair. So, once she got her hands on the first product from the Sun Catcher line, she was hooked.
The Sun Catcher Power C Nourish + Refresh Styling Spray is the newest addition to the block and is here to prep your hair for pre-blowout or air-drying. It lightly coats your hair and doubles as a heat protectant (up to 450 degrees Fahrenheit) and is packed with vitamin C to keep harmful UV rays out and pollution. Like the other products from Streicher, this one smells amazing. It reminds Matarazzo of a summer in California and smells of citrus, palo santo and cedar.
Columbia Women's Amaze Puff Hooded Jacket
When temperatures dip, the stylish Amaze puffer lives up to its name thanks to 650-fill-power down and a weather-repellent design that keeps you cozy and dry. Its internal backpack straps are a clever detail, too. If you want more coverage, check out the mid-length and long versions. As deals editors at CNN Underscored, we are some of the first people to hear about the latest product news from reader-favorite brands. Our deals team — comprised of senior editor Rikka Altland, editor Jacqueline Saguin and associate editor Elena Matarazzo — is passionate about product launches that we would be tempted to shop, and we enjoy finding a coveted new item (especially one from a brand with top marks from our experts) because it means we're helping our readers make savvy buying decisions.
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