Dakine's Newest Pads, Gloves, & Hip Packs - Across the Pond Beaver

Sep 4, 2020
by Mike Levy  
Across the Pond Beaver 2020


If you own a pick-up truck and your list of riding buddies starts and ends with the one other person who'll hang out with you, then Dakine's new Halfside tailgate pad could be just what you need. As the name suggests, it's essentially a half-width tailgate pad that's easier to deal with when it's not on your truck, and it won't interfere with latches and back-up cameras for the same reason.

To compare, their current large and small-sized pads measure 62" and 52" wide, whereas the Halfside comes in at just 29" across. Dakine says that it'll fit onto the back of any truck.

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The Halfside tailgate pad retails for $85 USD and can hold two bikes.

It's constructed with the same 1000D recycled polyester as the bigger pads, but while those hold seven and five bikes, the Halfside is made for just two. Those bikes are held in place via some cinch-down straps, and you can get it in black or a camo pattern, both with a reflective Dakine logo.

The best part about only having one riding buddy? The $85 USD Halfside pad is $40 less expensive than the small-sized five-bike version.


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The blurly new Agent kneepad comes in slide-on and strap-on versions for $110 and $115 USD.
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From truck pads to kneepads with Dakine's new Agent that's intended for gravity riding. That means that it's a relatively burly pad, and maybe not something for a long, hot pedal. That said, Dakine is offering two versions of the Agent; one that you have to pull up over your feet (or shoes), and another that uses two hook-and-loop straps to make things easier. Not only that, but the protection is also laid over a breathable sleeve, and they sport an open back that should help them from getting too sweaty.

The protection is identical on both versions of the Agent, with a tough shell and "3D dual-density foam layup,'' as well as a few additional pads to protect the important bits in the side of your knee. The slide-on Agent can be had in small to extra-large sizes for $110 USD, while the on/off model will cost you an extra 5$ and run from extra-small to double-extra-large.


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The $48 USD Sentinel glove has its seams on the outside where they can't be felt.

Now it's time to talk hands, and here's Dakine's new Sentinel glove. That name has been in their catalog for a while, but this is an all-new design for them that puts the seams on the outside rather than inside. I guess Dakine wondered why you'd want to have the sewing in there where it can sometimes feel odd against your fingers. I've definitely seen this in other places, but Dakine says they're the first to do it in the bike world.

If you've ever turned a glove inside out, you'll know that the seams can look like something a one-armed employee might sew during the last hour of a twenty-year-long night shift. The Sentinel's exposed seams look really clean, though, and that's all connected via a 4-way stretch Nylon shell. This isn't a barely-there glove, however, as there's padding on the outer three fingers and the palm; dress for the slide, not the ride! Other details include touchscreen-compatible fingertips, a soft nose wipe for when you get the sniffles mid-climb, and a hook-and-loop strap at the cuff.

The black Sentinel glove is available in extra-small to double-extra-large sizes, while the black/tan version runs from extra-small to extra-large. Both colors cost $48 USD.


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The new Stealth is a small, lightweight hip pack, but the fold-out sleeve means it can still carry a bottle.

Lastly, Dakine has completely re-worked their range of Hot Lap hip bags ''to give riders more options for carrying the necessities.'' Now you can choose between redesigned their five and two-liter bags, the Stealth and Gripper options, or an all-new one-liter size for when you want to, you know, just do a quick hot lap.

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The Stealth costs $40 USD and weighs just 0.3lbs.
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The tiny Stealth bag is meant to be essentially invisible under a baggy jersey, but it can still fit a phone and even has a fold-out water bottle sleeve. Dakine says that this little guy weighs 0.3lbs, and it retails for $40 USD. At the other end of the spectrum, the five-liter bag comes with a 70oz reservoir, hose, and bite valve, and even uses a breathable back panel as a large backpack would. You'll find a few different pockets inside, including a soft one for your $1,000 phone that already has a cracked screen, and external straps mean you can attach a jacket or pads rather than have to suffer up a climb with them on. The five-liter Hot Lap bag retails for $80 USD, and you can get it seven different colors.

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For those days when you require more supplies and fluids, the five-liter Hot Lap bag retails for $80 USD.

The least expensive Hot Lapper is their Gripper kit that lets you carry a tube and tools almost anywhere on the bike where they'll fit - you could even strap it under your seat if you wanted. The Gripper comes in seven different colors and costs $25 USD.






Author Info:
mikelevy avatar

Member since Oct 18, 2005
2,032 articles

56 Comments
  • 42 0
 I love Dakine stuff. Have a MTB pack, snowboard pack and luggage. They really nail the function and design of their products. More than most other brands. Not just that they make a good quality product. If it's an MTB pack, for example, the design and features of the product is *really* useful for riding MTB. Same for their other discipline-specific stuff.
  • 7 0
 Agree with your feedback on Dakine quality and thoughtful design. We have a Dakine Backpack around 20 years old - 12 of those seeing daily commuter duty and being overstuffed with *heavy* gear. No loose thread, zips are great, pockets in all the right places. Even has an internal Sony Discman semi-hard shell capsule with cd separators hidden behind the padded back section. Amazing company.
  • 3 0
 Yeah, true that. I've still got my ancient Drafter for really big rides. My newer Hotlap 5 was a better size for a 2 hour night rides with the boys. Now I've got a bike with a decent bottle mount, the Stealth is perfect for a quick thrash. The new Stealth would be great for carrying a mid ride tinnie.
  • 3 0
 Yeah, I ride with the stealth hip pack all the time. Unlike some belts it actually fits a modern phone in vertical orientation so you cannot feal it. It even goes under my poc back protector. Best hip pack ever.
  • 2 0
 @lkubica: I actually unpicked the centre divider in mine to lie the phone on it's side because an iPhone XR wouldn't fit like that.
  • 2 0
 @MikeLevy:

The blurly new Agent kneepad
  • 1 1
 I'm fan of Dakine stuff. Really well made and designed. I have several Dakine hydration packs and backpacks. I just wished they had more normal solid colors in the lineups. Not a fan of their loud prints on bags.
  • 1 0
 @Kiwijohn42: Well, fortunately I cannot afford such a phone, so not a problem for me. P20 fits fine.
  • 2 0
 @tacklingdummy: We hear you! Here is a peek at the colors for 2021
www.pinkbike.com/photo/19340200
  • 1 1
 Stay away from their gloves, very bad quality, lasted me 2 weeks.
  • 1 0
 @GOPHOQUEYOURSELF: I have had some Dakine gloves that have lasted me a few years.
  • 13 0
 I've always been a Dakine fan for snowboarding, their gloves are ace. I'd like to try these gloves and hip pack! Also...

RE: "$1,000 phone that already has a cracked screen" - How about my iphone 6s with a dent & abrupt 10deg bend at the center of the the chassis (and uncracked screen), procured from an enduro race? It saved my thigh, wrapping itself around a rock. It's like the guy who got the nail thru the head and survived... How is it still working??
  • 2 0
 10/10 Pinkbike Phineas Gage shout out
  • 2 0
 Iphone X saved me from nasty inner thigh carnage in mtb crash. Stitches everywhere leading up to it. Was new; nothing broke, just bent to heck. Apple store told me: "it was impossible I bent it that way". I told them "I went to the E.R. to prove it could".....
  • 1 0
 @dedmann: Right? I need to get a picture of mine. Screens to the inside everyone!
  • 13 0
 I sometimes wonder if I'm the only one who prefers the idea of carrying a regular water bottle on my hip pack Vs a bladder. I own a Camelbak Repack LR4 which I love, but the bladder is a PIA to clean, specially if you ride day in day out or more
  • 6 0
 Agreed. If I need more than a bottle’s worth of water(or an extra layer), I wear a backpack.
  • 2 0
 I've found Osprey bladders to be really easy to clean/dry out. I open the top and stick a pair of grill tongs inside and put it upside down in the drying rack next to the sink overnight and it's 100% dry by the next morning.
  • 1 0
 I put a 600ml soft flask in my hip pack. It's perfect for most rides.
  • 8 0
 If you're riding day after day you don't need to clean a bladder...just keep putting water in it...
  • 1 0
 I have the old camo Dakine hip pack, and I wish so bad it had a carrier for a water bottle. The bladder doesn't sit well and the pack sags way more than it should when the bladder is half-full or more.
  • 3 2
 @NorCalNomad: went down that road before... Not again
  • 6 0
 Put your bladder in the freezer when you come back from a ride and leave it there until the next ride. I've been doing this for 15 years and my bladders never develop any bacteria, don't taste anything, and I've never ever cleaned the inside of any of them after the first thorough wash!
  • 3 0
 @mntnmrtn: Take off bite valve and soak in mouthwash or Bacardi 151 for extra cleanliness
  • 10 0
 I really like my Hotlaps 2L pouch butit really needs some pockets inside that can be closed. I find everything ends up in the main pouch after a few jumps. Good product though.
  • 5 0
 Thanks for the support! We have addressed this in all of the new Hot Laps styles as they now have a velcro closure on the inside pockets to keep things from moving around.
  • 1 0
 @dakine: Awesome!
  • 1 0
 so true. Its so incredibly annoying
  • 2 1
 Interesting - I thought Dakine was going to stop making MTB gear when they laid off 90% of their workforce, pulled up stakes, and took their business to the conglomerate bat-cave in So-Cal.
  • 2 1
 It amazes me how much people spend on tailgate pads. Go to harbor freight with a coupon and get a moving blanket for free. Fold it up a few times and BOOM! Tailgate pad.
  • 1 0
 @dakine when will the updated versions be on your site/available to purchase? Can't see them on either US or CA.
  • 2 1
 All of these items will be available in March 2021.
  • 1 0
 Hot laps gripper is the best you can get a pump multi tool cable ties tube co2 tubeless pokers it’s great
  • 1 0
 All of those also easily fit on my bike...
  • 3 0
 blurly
  • 2 1
 Go low profile and get a hip pack. Proceed to put a kilo of water and a spare tube in it... derp
  • 6 8
 Way too many people leave their tailgate pads on 24/7 as some sort of "virtue signalling" that they are rad and outdoorsy. They are becoming like pickup truck tramp-stamps to me

That's my opinion... Fight me!
  • 7 1
 Haha. Yeah I'm guilty of this but mainly out of laziness - who wants to be taking these things on and off all the time? The bike straps also work well to hold moto ramps from sliding around... Not to mention protecting the tailgate from whatever other things might damage it.
  • 5 0
 @p2rida: fair point on the removing/reinstalling part. If you are living the dream and riding often I can understand that. I might do the same if I had a truck
  • 2 2
 @showmethemountains: I've had that exact opinion for a while now! Similar to people that hang their goggles from the rearview mirror...
  • 2 0
 @p2rida: I take mine on/off all the time, mainly because it’s black and my truck is always outside in the SoCal sun which I’m pretty sure can ruin anything eventually. It only takes 2-minutes max.
  • 1 0
 Hip pack actually look super dope for 40$
  • 1 0
 They have ONE gate pad on their site, and this isn't it
  • 4 0
 thanks for checking out dakine.com This is a peek at next years gear, it will be on the site by March.
  • 1 0
 @dakine: Thanks for the tip - was wondering the timing.
  • 1 2
 so lets just forget about backup cameras on pickups ?
  • 1 0
 We have thought of that. Our full size pick up pads are designed with a folding flap so you can utilize your backup camera. This half pad pictured will not cover up your camera.
  • 6 0
 Learn to drive backwards...
  • 1 0
 @ridestuff: For real. Even if I had a backup cam I'm pretty sure I'd look over my shoulder. It amazes me people want that at all unless you're loaded up with stuff and can't see out the back.
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