Outdoor Retailer: A Recap
I'm still recovering from last week's Outdoor Retailer, the industry's gearapalooza held twice a year in Salt Lake City. I like gear just as much (ok, probably a whole lot more) than than average dude, but after main-lining midsoles and membranes for 3 days straight, literally from dawn to dusk, I'm ready for a break. That said, here are a few more cool things I saw at the sho: A hardcore tent, some super comfy flips, and an awesomely-priced sunglass and headlamp. —Sam Moulton
This is a pretty interesting minimalist, non-freestanding tent from Brooks-Range Mountaineering Equipment Co., an innovative manufacturer of mountaineering and backcountry equipment based in California. Because it uses ski poles and an avalanche probe instead of tent poles, it weighs just one pound, six ounces. It’s made with stuff called CT3 fabric, an incredibly strong, lightweight, and waterproof fabric. (I reefed on it at the show and it’s much, much burlier than most lightweight tent fabrics.) It’s not breathable, but three vents are supposed to take care of dealing with condensation (we shall see). The metallic finish is there to minimize heat loss in winter and heat gain in summer.
I’m hoping to test one this fall, and will let you know how it performs. ($600; available this fall)
I’ve been wearing a pair of Sole flip-flops consistently for a year straight now. And I could bore you with all the details about the wear moldable footbed, the metatarsal support pad, the deep heel cup, and so on. Or I could just tell you that they’re the most comfy flip-flops I’ve every tested. They mold to your foot over time. They don’t smell (this fact all by itself is downright amazing).
Now they’re coming out with a new model with cork, one of the most renewable resources around, in the top- and midsole, which Sole says are just as comfy but will just use less rubber. ($70, available November)
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July 27, 2009
The Gear Junkie: Outdoor Retailer Wrap-Up
The Outdoor Retailer trade show is a twice-annual peek at what's coming to market soon in the outdoors industry. This summer's show, held in Salt Lake City, revealed a spread of innovations--from the upgrade of a popular GPS messenger device to a vest jacket that provides warmth via fabric cells inflated with argon gas.
Indeed, Klymit's line of vests, available now at www.klymit.com, inflate at the press of a button to create a suit of insulating cells. Argon gas is pumped into the vests via a small valve in a side pocket. The result, according to the company, is a system that is "not only adjustable, but warmer, thinner and lighter-weight than other insulators."
Klymit's NobleTek insulation, which employs flexible, gastight chambers, is looking to take on goose down and synthetic insulating fibers in winter jackets and sleeping pads. The company's debut line of vests, which cost $199, come with a small C02-like cartridge device that lets you insert and inflate for varying levels of warmth at will.
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July 24, 2009
Outdoor Retailer Highlights: Sexy Tandem Sleeping Bag
Camping can be a great date, and the Alite company has decided to really drive that point home. The small company has unveiled a line of car camping sleeping bags (20-degree, synthetic) designed for young people who
a) like to be be really comfortable around a campsite, and
b) like to spend time very, very close to each other.
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The Wonk: Outdoor Retailer, Day 3
Today is the last day of Outdoor Retailer, the industry's gearapalooza held twice a year in Salt Lake City, but I’m back at the office. There’s only just so much new gear one man can take. Here are a few cool things I saw yesterday. —Sam Moulton
The North Face TreeHugger 32 pack ($150; thenorthface.com, available Spring ’10)
Looks like your average day pack, right? Well, it’s not. Although it doesn’t look (or feel) like it, this pack is made from Merino wool. Not the webbing and buckles and mesh and foam—all that stuff is made mostly from recycled plastic—but the fabric is all wool. It feels much tougher than you’d think, but I’m looking forward to testing it in the field this fall.
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July 23, 2009
Material Girl: Outdoor Retailer, Day Two
Yesterday, I circled the show floor, heading from Simple to Dakine, Patagonia to REI. Not a key player is missed when editors make their rounds here. That's actually harder than it sounds. Even though we have three editors here--which means at least 120 booth visits (wow!)--we still can't see it all. But we certainly try.
--Alicia Carr
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July 22, 2009
Outdoor Retailer Highlights: Merrell Bike Commuter Clothes
Some of the coolest new apparel I've seen at Outdoor Retailer comes from Merrell's upcoming bike commuter line(Spring 2010), which includes a jean pant and waterproof jacket. The pant and jacket are designed as weather resistant and functional bike apparel, but the techy elements can be tucked away so you don't look like a nerd when you get wherever you are riding to. And the pants have chaps. —JUSTIN NYBERG
From Merrell
Furtive: Jacket, made with Merrell® Opti-Shell™
waterproof-breathable technology, Fully seam sealed for complete waterproof
protection, Lightweight ripstop droptail provides
extra coverage and snaps up out of the way, Lightweight ripstop hood with one-handed drawcord fits comfortably under
a helmet and stows away for minimal bulk, Merrell® reflective chain print on droptail for complete
visibilityReflective cuff straps that hide by day.
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The Wonk: Outdoor Retailer, Day Two
I'm here at Outdoor Retailer, the industry's gearapalooza held twice a year in Salt Lake City, checking out the latest gear. I spent a good part of the day giving out awards to Gear of the Year winners from last Summer Buyer's Guide. Not surprisingly, may of these same companies also have some of the most innovative new gear. Like Osprey, a small pack company based in Cortez, Colorado. Here's a sneak peak of their new multi-purpose hydration pack, the Raptor, which will be available this Spring in a few different sizes starting for around $79. (The 10, pictured below, has 600 cubic inches of storage and will cost $89.)
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The Wonk: Outdoor Retailer, To Make A Knife
I'm here with a few colleagues at Outdoor Retailer, the industry's gearapalooza held twice a year in Salt Lake City, checking out the latest gear. One of the coolest things I saw yesterday was at the Swiss Army booth, where I snapped a few pictures of Swiss Army's Brian Ordway assembling knifes. If you know what you're doing, like Brian, you can assemble a standard knife like the one below in under 10 minutes, whereas it takes first-timers like me more like 15. Check it out. I'm going to make my own one today and will let you know how it turns out. —Sam Moulton
Here are all the pieces you need.
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July 21, 2009
Material Girl: Outdoor Retailer, Day One
Outdoor Retailer kicked off it's first day of Summer Market today in Salt Lake City. Material Girl, here, blogging live from the show! So far, I've seen a lively collection of products that run the gamut from design innovation to plain old cool. Thought I'd give you a look-see as to what I've come across so far.
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Outdoor Retailer Highlights: Merrell Commuter Clothes
Merrell is showing some of the coolest new apparel at the Outdoor Retailer Summer Market--a jean pant and waterproof jacket from their upcoming bike commuter line (Spring 2010). The company designed the weather resistant and functional bike apparel with techy elements that can be tucked away, so you don't look like a nerd at that party across town. And just to make sure you don't get wet or muddy, the pants have chaps. —JUSTIN NYBERG
Furtive: The jacket is made with Merrell® Opti-Shell™
waterproof-breathable technology and is fully seam sealed for complete protection. It includes a lightweight ripstop droptail that provides
extra coverage and snaps up out of the way. A lightweight ripstop hood with one-handed drawcord fits comfortably under
a helmet or stows away for minimal bulk. The jacket also includes reflective cuff straps that you can hide by day.
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