Sierra Designs New Tensegrity Tarp Shelters – 1 person and 2 person sizes
Outdoor Retailer is a twice annual (summer and winter) outdoor industry trade show held in Salt Lake City where outdoor gear manufacturers exhibit products that will be available in retail stores 6-18 months in the future . The show is free to attend for wholesale buyers, the people who order the products in quantity that you buy online or in outdoor stores, but closed to the general public. This year’s summer show was a mob scene, a huge bacchanalian gear orgy, with over 27,000 attendees and 1,500 gear manufacturers exhibiting new products at the Salt Lake City Convention Center.
Hassle Free Lightweight Backpacking
Gear Trends and Highlights
The top gear trends at this show were:
1. Lightweight backpacking gear weights are in free fall with lighter weight fabrics and clever designs. Lighter weight tents, sleeping bags, backpacks, and outerwear are the standard by which new products are judged.
2. Hybrid insulation mixes – Apparel and sleeping bag manufacturers mix natural insulators like down and wool with synthetic insulators like Primaloft, fleece, and Polartec insulation, to create hybrid garments and gear that is less expensive to manufacture as natural materials become more expensive to produce.
3. Portable power and battery packs in all shapes have eclipsed renewable power supplies such as solar cells or wood burning rechargers. People want mobile power on-demand and don’t want to wait for it.
4. Bluetooth data loggers: manufacturers are increasingly integrating watches and mobile data loggers with cell phones, tablets, and cloud based apps so people can track their training progress and share their outdoor experiences with friends.
Outdoor Retailer Summer 2014: New Product Roundup
Here’s a synopsis of the new products that caught my eye at this summer’s show.
Rechargeable Isobutane Canister Stove
Kovea: Rechargeable Canister Stoves
Korean stovemaker Kovea quietly introduced a rechargeable isobutane stove that carries 30 grams of isobutane canister fuel and can be recharged by decanting a small amount of fuel from a larger pressurized canister. Called the Black Alpine EZ Eco Stove, this rechargeable canister stove will be a game changer in canister stove portability, sharply reducing the amount of fuel you need to carry for shorter trips: 30 grams of fuel is enough to boil 6 x 500 ml pots of water. Kovea has a second model which will carry 90 grams of fuel, under development.
If you’re not familiar with the Kovea brand, they’re known for their impeccable quality and design, and respected by camping stove aficionados worldwide. Kovea also manufactures many of the liquid fuel and canister stoves sold in the United States today under other brand names such as MSR and Snow Peak.
New Kovea EZ Eco Alpine Stove
Kovea’s other stoves are known for their small footprint and packability, such as the Kovea Spider, which can burn inverted isobutane canister fuel in cold weather. Other new models include the multi-fuel Kovea Hydra with a new sound suppressor to reduce noise, the Kovea SupaLite Titanium, and the Kovea Power Nano canister stove, for wide pans and pots.
Exped Synmat Hyperlite Sleeping Pad
Osprey Packs: New Anti-Gravity Suspension System
Osprey Packs introduced a breakthrough ventilated suspension system for the Aura and Atmos backpack models which eliminates the need for structural aluminum or fiberglass frame rods and instead relies on the tension sewn into the ventilated mesh backing for support. The new AG, for anti-gravity, suspension system integrates the back panel and pack hip-belt into one complete unit, providing a body hugging fit with optimal load to hip weight transfer.
Osprey Packs Aura AG (Anti-Gravity) Ventilated Frame
Manufacturing a backpack with this kind of suspension is quite difficult and a breakthrough in its own right because the frame has to be sewn under tension, requiring the development of specialized sewing jigs to automate production.
Atmos AG and Aura AG Backpacks
I got to try on an Atmos AG at the show and the fit is amazing. It might almost be worth carrying a 4 pound backpack instead of an ultralight one to enjoy the hip-to-load transfer benefits the new AG frame provides. Almost…and almost certainly for winter use when I need to carry 40+ pounds of backpacking gear and require a heavier pack to haul the load.
Exped Synmat Hyperlite Insulated Inflatable Sleeping Pad
Exped: Ultralight Insulated Sleeping Pads
Exped announced a new line of lightweight insulated sleeping pads called the Downmat Winterlite, Synmat Winterlite, and Synmat Hyperlite.
Downmat Winterlite: 17.4 ounces, R-Value 8.0
Synmat Winterlite: 13.9 ounces, R-Value 6.0
Synmat Hyperlite: 11.6 ounces, R-Value 3.1
The weight reductions on these new models is impressive and will be hard to resist when winter arrives. If you have an old Exped Downmat sleeping for winter backpacking or camping and want something lighter, this would be a good time to upgrade.
Exped’s new Ultralight Insulated Sleeping Pads
Building on the success of last year’s Lightning 45 (36.3 ounces) and Lightning 60 backpacks (38.8 ounces), Exped also introduced the even larger Thunder backpack which will be available in 50 Liter (52.5 ounces) and 70 Liter sizes (55.7 ounces).
Exped Thunder 70 Backpack
Like the Lightning, the Thunder features an adjustable frame, top loading and panel access, front and side mesh pockets, side compression straps, daisy chains and ice axe loops. I think the Thunder 70 will be an excellent winter pack and hope to give one a try.
Big Agnes: Another Awesome Ultralight Tent
Big Agnes continues to expand its line of ultralight backpacking tents, introducing the Bitter Springs UL 1 and UL 2, the company’s first hoop tent. Weighing just 2 pounds 4 ounces, the 2 person Bitter Springs UL 2 is made almost entirely of mesh providing excellent ventilation, and the rear end can be pitched with a single trekking pole to save weight.
Bitter Springs UL 2 Tent
The Bitter Springs UL 1 and UL 2 will be available with a supersized vestibule, including a gear garage, like the one on last year’s Super Scout Plus UL 2 Tent, making it ideal for bikepackers who want to store their bikes out of the rain.
Big Agnes Bitter Springs 1 and 2 Floor Plan and Specs
MSR: A Consumer-Ready Reactor Stove “System”
MSR announced a consumer-ready version of the famed Reactor stove and a new ultralight 2-person single walled tent that breaks the 2 pound weight barrier.
The MSR WindBoiler
The MSR WindBoiler stove comes complete with a Reactor-style radiant stove, integrated cook pot with built-in heat exchange fins for greater fuel efficiency, an insulated pot cozy, lid, and plastic drinking cup. Designed to compete with the Jetboil, the MSR WindBoiler is much more efficient in windy conditions because the stove burner is fully enclosed and because it has a wider surface area that heats the entire bottom of the cook pot and not just the middle. A number of stove accessories are also available including a stove hanging kit and a coffee press. Weighing 15.2 ounces, the WindBoiler will cost $130.
MSR WindBoiler Radiant Stove Burner
MSR also introduced the FlyLite, a one pound and nine ounce single-walled, 2 person tent that pitches with two trekking poles and a rear pole or 3rd trekking pole. The FlyLite is an updated riff on the MSR Fast Stash that MSR introduced two years ago, made with lighter 10 denier and 20 denier nylon, taped seams, and reinforced stress points.
MSR FlyLite Specs
Vargo Outdoors: Titanium External Frame Backpack
Brian Vargo of Vargo Outdoors displayed the TI-ARC backpack (currently available), an external frame backpack made with 6 ounces of titanium tubing. An updated model with a cuben fiber packbag is in the works. I got a chance to try it on at the show and it is really comfortable, even though it wears very differently with a higher center of gravity than the other internal frame or frameless backpack that you’re probably familiar. The weight of the cuben TI-ARC packbag is currently unavailable but should bring the weight of this pack down substantially.
Brian Vargo and the Vargo TI-ARC External Frame Titanium Backpack, with a new ultralight cuben fiber packbag
Ex Officio: Bugsaway with Style
Lifestyle clothing manufacturer Ex Officio continues to expands its Bugsaway, Insect Repellent clothing line with more stylish fabrics and styles including plaid shirts, sweaters, pants for men and blouses, skirts, and dresses for women. As tick-borne Lyme disease continues to spread across the US and Western Europe, insect repellent clothing is increasingly becoming a must-have for frequent hikers who’d rather cover up with clothing instead of covering themselves in DEET.
Ex Officio’s Men’s Bugsaway Collection
In addition to stylish shirts, pants, sweaters, blouses, skirts, and dresses, the Ex Officio Bugsaway clothing line includes a full set of accessory items as well including gaiters, socks, hats, and underwear, all pre-treated with Insect Shield repellent which has a guaranteed lifetime of 70 washings.
Ex Officio’s Women’s Bugsaway Collection
Princeton Tec: Headlamp Usability Improvements
Princeton Tec unveiled the Synch Headlamp with an easy to use side, self-documenting analog selector switch. Priced at $29, the Synch provides 80 lumens of light. If you can’t remember what the button presses on your current headlamp do, this might be the headlamp for you.
Princeton Tec Synch headlamp
Hilleberg Tents: Breaking the 3 Pound Weight Barrier
European Hilleberg has finally entered the lightweight backpacking market with the Enan, a one-person, 2 pound 7 ounce lightweight version of the famed Akto tent. The outer tent is made with a 10 denier Kerlon 600 fabric, which is triple coated with 100 percent silicone, providing strength but light weight. All mesh ends provide more ventilation than the Akto, but have inner doors which can be closed in heavy rain to keep occupants dry.
Hilleberg Enan Lightweight Tent
Like the Akto, the single entrance and vestibule provides easy access as well as storage space for bad weather and separable inner and outer tents allow the outer to be pitched first in rain, while keeping the inner tent dry. With ample, guy out points, the Enan has the same wind-shedding characteristics as the Akto, but with lighter weight fabrics for three-season use.
Larger, simplified end vents with integrated fiberglass vent pole for support
Big Sky: New Cuben Fiber Trekking Pole Tent
Tent Maker Big Sky announced its first trekking pole tent, the cuben fiber Wisp, which is also available in several different grades of silnylon. The cuben version of this tent weighs 300 grams and retails for $499, while the entry-level silnylon version costs $150.
Big Sky Wisp Tent in Cuben Fiber (300g)
With a large vestibule, top vent, mesh foot vent, and a high bathtub floor, the 1-person Wisp provides excellent ventilation and storm protection.
Big Sky Wisp Foot Vent
Brunton: Portable Power
Brunton continues to expand its line of power rechargers including the All Day, a 4000 mAh Lithium Polymer Battery which integrates with the GoPro Hero 3+ case and provides 4 times the standard run time. Plus, you can use the same battery to top off your cell phone or tablet using a built-in USB access door.
Brunton All Day GoPro Hero 3+ 4x Power Pack
Brunton also introduced a new upgraded line of compasses under the product line name “TruArc” which have global needles and can be used interchangeably in the northern and southern hemisphere. The TruArc 10, 15, and 20 compasses also have rare earth magnets integrated into the compass that help prevent local magnetic rocks or portable electronic devices from interfering with or de-magnetizing the compass needle.
Outdoor Research: Performance Clothing Innovation
Outdoor Research Deviator Hoody
Outdoor Research continues to lead the industry in the development of hybrid clothing that can be worn across a wide range of activities without forcing the wearer to add, remove, or adjust layers. This season, OR introduced the Deviator Hoody, which combines front and side panels filled with Polartec Alpha insulation with Polartec Power Dry High Efficiency grid fleece on the arms and back to promote cooling and rapid moisture transport. I think this garment will be an excellent winter hiking mid-layer for cold, high angle ascents.
Outdoor Research ActiveIce Cap
Outdoor Research also expanded its ActiveIce clothing line, a unique fabric that lowers skin temperature up to 5 degrees as you sweat and offers serious 50 UPF sun protection. OR’s new hats, headbands, and sleeves are ideal for runners, hikers, paddlers, and climbers who spend extended time in hot, sun-baked places.
Sierra Designs: Active Venting Rain Gear
Sierra Designs Cagoule, a cape/poncho style rain jacket
Sierra Designs continues to break the mold on traditional gear and apparel. In addition, to the new Tensegrity tarp style 1 person and 2 person tents shown at the top of this article, the company introduced radical new rainwear that relies on active venting (including pit zips) rather than waterproof breathable fabrics like Gore-tex or eVent.
The first garment to reflect this new design approach is the Sierra Designs Cagoule, a pullover rain jacket with pit zips, a deep neck opening, and long side vents that let you drape the front of the jacket over your hip belt rather than under it. Rather than relying on expensive breathable fabrics, which have a poor track record in wet conditions (despite the marketing hype), an active venting approach takes the position that pit zips and draped openings provide much more breathability and moisture evaporation than high-tech fabrics. No kidding. Priced at $129 for the Cagoule jacket, it will be interesting to see whether the post-breathable-clothing paradigm shift represented by this jacket will appeal to consumers (see also Mechanical Venting, Pit Zips, and Layering.)
In addition to the Cagoule, Sierra Designs also introduced Rain Chaps, which are like thigh high gaiters if you’re not familiar with them, and hang from your belt loops or the waistline of your pants. Rain chaps leave the top of your pants fully exposed to the weather so the moisture that collects around your pockets and below your crotch evaporates naturally (without trying to push it through a breathable membrane layer like other rain pants.) As long as the tops of your pants are shielded from rain by a rain jacket, wearing rain chaps in wet weather is far cooler than full rain pants and will keep you much drier.
Sierra Designs Rain Chaps
Montane: More Active Venting
British equipment and gear maker, Montane, introduced the ultralight Minimus Grand Tour hard shell, adding pit zips and torso vents to further enhance the shell’s breathability. When it comes to performance, Montane is well-known for not sipping the ‘breathability kool-aid’ and this jacket is a welcome upgrade to the ultralight Montane Minimus Smock which suffered from internal condensation buildup.
Montane Minimus Grand Tour Jacket
Weighing 7.6 ounces, the Minimus Grand Tour, is made with ultralight, breathable Pertex Shield fabric. Complete with waterproof zippers, taped seams, and reinforced in the shoulders, hips, and rear to provide greater abrasion resistance while wearing a backpack, the Minimus Grand Tour looks like a promising ultra distance backpacking shell jacket for use in wet or cold conditions.
Mountain Hardwear: Waterproof Backpacks
I’ve never understood why more backpack makers don’t make waterproof backpacks since they’re such a valuable and differentiating feature in cold or wet environments for backpacking, canyoneering, and ski mountaineering.
Mountain Hardwear OutDry Waterproof Backpacks
Leave it to Mountain Hardwear to step up to the plate and introduce a new backpack waterproofing process using the OutDry waterproof membrane, which is laminated to the inside of their backpacks eliminating the need to tape each seam. This is easier said than done because the lamination process must take place after the backpack has been sewn requiring the development of a new manufacturing process to apply the OutDry membrane to the inside of the packbag.
Kelty: Lots of New Backpacks
Kelty introduced a new line of adjustable frame overnight and weekend backpacks called the Catalyst Series, available in different volumes and men’s and women’s models.
Sierra Designs Rain Chaps
Featuring an adjustable frame, the shoulder harness slides up and down a pair of aluminum stays and can be fitted by pulling down on webbing straps while worn. Designed as top loaders, the Catalyst packs are designed for weekend and overnight use and will be available in mens and women’s models.
Kelty Day Packs with new Action Pocket
Kelty also introduced a nifty set of new day packs that sport a sternum multimedia pocket, allowing you to take videos using your cell phone, without the need to upgrade to a more specialized camera. The pocket only works with Kelty Packs currently because it requires two sternum strap attachment points.
Vasque: Mesh Hiking Boots, High and Low
Vasque Inhaler Boot and Low Trail Shoe
Vasque announced a new mesh hiking boot and low trail shoe called the Inhaler with additional toe and heel vents, available in a high and low shoe version. The low is available with and without a GTX liner.
Salomon: Enters Mountaineering Boot Market
Shoe and snowsport powerhouse, Salomon announced a new winter boot product line targeting light mountaineering for easy ridge ascents, mixed climbing, and glacier crossings. None of their new boots are rated for less than 10 degrees (F) and do not have the heel welts required for semi-automatic crampons, so I have yet to see how applicable they will be for east coast winter hiking and backpacking.
Salomon enters Mountaineering Boot Market
EmberLit: New Fold-Flat Fire-Ant Wood Stove
Ultralight wood stove maker EmberLit introduced a new titanium wood stove at the show called the Fire-Ant.
EmberLit Fire-Ant wood stove
Weighing 2.8 ounces, this single person wood stove disasembles and folds flat for easy storage and transport. In addition to burning wood, the Fire-Ant can also be used as a base and wind screen for Trangia style alcohol stoves.
Granite Gear: Virga 26L
Granite Gear announced a smaller, 26 liter version of the classic Virga2 backpack, called the Virga 26, suitable for day hiking and ultralight adventures. Weighing 1 pound, the frameless and stay-less, Virga 26 is rated for 20 pound / 9 kilogram loads. The regular 54 Liter Virga2 backpack weighs 1 pound 3 ounces.
The Granite Gear Virga 26L
NEMO: Ultralight Tents
Product design upstart NEMO unveiled two new ultralight tent called the Hornet and the Blaze, both available in 1 person and 2 person models. The Hornet 1P (1 pound 10 ounces) and 2P (one pound, 15 ounces) are highly livable, with deep bathtub floors, large mesh inners, wrap-around privacy screen, a 7 denier Sil/PU fly and 15 denier Sil/PU floor. The 2P Hornet features also features 2 doors and 2 vestibules. Both Hornet models are pitched with external hubbed poles.
NEMO Hornet – Bathtub Floor and Privacy Screen
Like the Hornet, the NEMO Blaze is also available in 1 person (1 pound 11 ounces) and 2 person (2 pounds, 0 ounces) models, with an externally hubbed pole set, a 7 denier Sil/PU floor, and 10 denier Sil/PU floor fabric. Like the Hornet, the Blaze 2P also features two doors and two vestibules.
Brooks Range Mountaineering
If you like pushing gear weight limits, you should check out Brooks Range Mountaineering’s full range of winter apparel, sleeping bags, tents and tarps. There’s a practical lightweight sensibility about their gear, unparalleled by larger gear manufacturers.
Brooks Range Mountaineering Light Breeze Wind Shirt
Take the Light Breeze wind shirt, new this year, which is lined with tiny squares of fleece that keep the wind shirt from clinging to you when you sweat. Weighing 5.5 ounces, it’s a bit heavier than many lightweight wind shirts, but I could see that extra ounce or two being well worth the added comfort it if it works as designed.
Eureka: Vibrant Color Selection for Adults and Kids
Leaving no stone unturned at Outdoor Retailer, I visited with Eureka Tents, a division of Johnson Outdoors, which is also the parent company of JetBoil.
Eureka Sleeping Bags, in new vibrant colors for adults and children
In addition to car camping tents, Eureka has a large product line of value-priced sleeping bags, sleeping pads, and camp furniture. Many of next years sleeping bags have been upgrades, especially in the female and kids’ product lines, with the introduction of vibrant new colors and fabric patterns.
Therm-a-Rest: Comfort Camping
New Polyester Hammocks from Therm-a-Rest, Stands Not Included
Treo Folding Chair
Therm-a-Rest announced a large number of new products at the show ranging from new hammocks and camp chairs to updated sleeping pads, all focused on making your camping experience more comfortable.
The new Therm-a-Rest hammocks are made out of super strong polyester that has a very soft hand. Each hammock is cut from a single piece of fabric, eliminating the need for seams, and providing increased strength. Each hammock includes a small attached pocket for ease of storage.
The Treo Chair is made out of durable Dyneema Grid Fabric and packs down into a plastic case which doubles as the chair’s frame.
Therm-a-Rest has upgraded the NeoAir XTherm and XLite Pads with quieter surface fabrics. A new self-inflating pad called the EvoLite was also introduced that combines foam and air channels to reduce weight while amplifying loft.
New Self-Inflating EvoLite Sleeping Pad
Suunto: Bluetooth Data Logging
Suunto introduced two new watch models the Ambit3 Sport and the Ambit3 Peak, including new capabilities that make the tracking, recording, and sharing your activities with friends easier. Chief amongst these is the ability to take photos on your iPhone or iPad that display elevation, distance, abd other details that are superimposed on the image using data from your Ambit3 watch and Suunto’s Movescount Mobile app.
The new Suunto Movescount Mobile App lets you take photos with real-time speed, distance, or other details shown on the image.
Goal Zero: Not Your Father’s Car Battery
Mobile power was all the rage this year at Outdoor Retailer, eclipsing last year’s infatuation with solar power generation. The reality is that backcountry adventurers and campers want mobile power and a lot of it, even if it means generating it by conventional means (wall outlets or phone rechargers) rather than renewable power sources.
Goal Zero YETI 150 Power Supply
As usual, Goal Zero was way ahead of the mobile power curve, introducing the Yeti Class of mobile storage devices which have a striking resemblance to car batteries in size and weight. The 12 pound Yeti 150, shown here, is capable of recharging a cell phone 15 times, a tablet 6 times, or a laptop twice. With a built-in AC inverter, it can be recharged from the wall, a car cigarette lighter, or a solar panel, with larger and still heavier models that can power a portable refrigerator. Unfortunately, none of the Yetis are rated to act as car batteries, even though this would be useful in an emergency.
Darn Tough: Colors Arrive
Fans of Darn Tough Hike/Trek socks can rejoice at the introduction of stylish new colors to add a little extra pizzaz to your sock collection.
Darn Tough Heady Stripe Socks – Now in Color!
Guaranteed for life, Darn Tough’s Merino and Lycra blend socks can be returned to the manufacturer for replacement, no questions asked, if they ever wear out.
Jetboil: Simmering
Jetboil announced the new Mini Mo Personal Cook System with a new regulator valve designed to enable simmering, which is difficult to achieve with most of the company’s other cooking systems, without burning your food.
Jetboil Mini Mo PCS
Weighing 14.6 ounces, the Mini Mo comes with a shorter and wider cook pot, making it easier to eat out meals out of the pot with a spoon.
Synopsis
And that is just scratching the surface of the new products that caught my eye last week at the Outdoor Retailer 2014 summer show. If any of these new products interest you, keep your eyes peeled for future hands-on product reviews about them on SectionHiker.com