Gearing up for a trip into the outdoors? Avoid an overstuffed closet by opting for clever designs that fold and tuck away. From an origami-inspired canoe to a bike helmet you can stash in your purse, this gear is so low profile that even apartment dwellers can stock up for alfresco adventures. 

Even aerodynamic helmets seem bulky when they're dangling from your backpack all day, but the Transformers-like Plixi Fit helmet from OVERADE packs into a tidy bundle that's a third of its full volume. You can customize the fit using interior pads and adjustable straps, then trick out the helmet with an optional visor or rain protector. The Plixi Fit is not just for cyclists—it offers head protection for skaters, scooter riders, and rollerbladers too. $110, overade.com

The closet-friendly DAHON GB-1 Gravel Bike folds neatly in half. While hinged frames are generally great for storage, a break in the tubing can mean too much flex while riding. Dahon's hinges tackle the problem with a series of interlocking ridges for a secure hold. And they're not this aluminum bike's only bendable feature: Pedals swing up, and bars twist down and to the side. So tuck the whole thing in until it's time to ride this gravel-shredding road beast again. $2,700, usa.dahon.com

Integrated 3.6-watt solar panels keep the Qwnn Solar Lantern and Phone Charger from SOLIGHT DESIGN running for up to 40 hours. You can turn the adjustable Qwnn down to a flowerlike ruff that emits an atmospheric glow or expand it to its full dome shape and maximum 320 lumens for poker games and tick checks. It's surprisingly slim—contracting to just three-fourths of an inch—and makes for an elegant addition to a camping box or adventure kit. $110, solight-design.com

The full-size ONAK canoe folds into a slim package with a handle and wheels, so you can head to the water by bike, bus, or subway. While this recyclable boat was designed with urban adventurers in mind—picture an afternoon canal paddle—ambitious paddlers have taken it on New Brunswick's rivers and along the Australian coast. The canoe weighs less than 37 pounds, and its high abrasion resistance reduces the shearing of microplastics into waterways. $1,900, onakcanoes.com

Bear Bowl cookers from BEAR MINIMUM OUTDOORS combine PTFE-coated fiberglass with an aluminum base. The two-quart Baby Bear Blue weighs just 6.2 ounces, and the line tops out with the 14.5-ounce Papa Bear Blue, which holds nearly a gallon of water. Cooking with Bear Bowls isn't always efficient—because of the pots' lid-free setup and their insulating properties, contents are slow to boil—but their folding design is an unexpected innovation. From $30, bearminimum.org

LEKI's all-carbon, ultralight Micro Vario Carbon Black trekking poles weigh in at just over seven ounces. They collapse into four pieces, which at 15.7 inches long can be tucked into a daypack or a carry-on. Veteran trekkers know that locking mechanisms are poles' persistent weak point; however, Leki's core locking device proves sturdy. Use the extended grip to switch hand positions and keep your balance as you switchback across slopes or scramble over boulders. $250, leki.com

The Ibex Tactix mountaineering skis from ELAN fold into pieces that won't protrude from your pack. A rotating carbon plate lends flexibility and strength to each ski's midsection, ensuring that it snaps to attention even in demanding alpine conditions. (Slovenian adventurer Davo Karnicar put the folding skis to the ultimate test when he took them on a 2017 attempt of K2's Cesen route.) $2,000, elanskis.com

KATHMANDU's minimalist Federate Adapt Pack morphs from full-size rucksack into adventure-ready day bag. The sleek shape-shifter maxes out at 50 liters; you can check it on a plane for a round-the-world expedition or keep it to an overhead-compartment-friendly 38 liters. Once you're on the ground, pull out the removable packing cell as a 28-liter daypack—ideal for toting layers, a water bottle, and snacks. $160, kathmanduoutdoor.com

This article appeared in the September/October 2019 edition with the headline "Know When to Fold 'Em."