Trailspace Blog

Outdoor Retailer Winter Market 2012

Trailspace is in Salt Lake City January 18-22 for Outdoor Retailer Winter Market. See all of our coverage of the outdoor gear industry gathering here.

Outdoor Retailer Gear Preview: Warm and Dry Apparel

In our final Outdoor Retailer gear preview we highlight insulation and outerwear. Expect even more puffy jackets, plus down and wool insulation and mid and outer layers in the backcountry, and around town.

OR Gear Preview: Packs, Hydrophobic Down, Trekking Poles, Little Cups

Longing for gear coverage from next week's Outdoor Retailer? Here are some new product previews, including winter ski and alpine packs, hydrophobic down bags, trekking poles, and unique dishware made from biomaterial.

Outdoor Retailer Gear Preview: On Snow

Here's our first OR product preview to whet your appetite. Since it's a winter show, we'll start with some backcountry snow gear. Stay tuned for full show coverage starting January 18.

Cookware: Titanium, Aluminum, or...Paper?

Would you buy a foldable, disposable cooking pot made out of...paper? The 100-percent paper, origami-inspired Hexa Pot is designed for boiling water indoors or out.

Andrew Skurka's "Ultimate Hiker's Gear Guide"

Many would jump at the chance to hike alongside professional adventurer and super-long-distance hiker Andrew Skurka. Now Skurka shares his backcountry know-how in "The Ultimate Hiker’s Gear Guide: Tools & Tips to Hit the Trail."

Arc'teryx makes all-weather capes for homeless

Arc’teryx is known for its high-end outdoor apparel, but staying warm and dry shouldn't be a luxury. The company turns its end-of-roll and discontinued Gore-Tex fabrics into outdoor necessities: all-weather capes for the homeless and disadvantaged.

What Would Santa Wear?

It's the first day of winter here in the Northern Hemisphere (hooray!), and one's thoughts turn to wishes for snow, winter recreation, and important outdoor...

Ibex Offers 100% Made in America Wool

From Montana sheep farm to hoodies and half-zips, Ibex's fall 2012 Shak Lite garments will be 100-percent American-made, sourced, and processed.

Made in America: What's it Worth to You?

Made in America. For many, that designation is an important criteria when choosing goods, including outdoor gear and apparel.

You're the Designer: Outdoor Companies Turn to Customers for New Product Ideas

Want to design your own gear, but can't afford a custom product? These companies use crowd-sourcing to bring unique ideas into the design process at a lower cost than “full custom” design.

Winter Traction: An Introduction to Snowshoes and Crampons

The biggest difference between three-season and winter hiking is the walking surface. Snow and ice require traction aids such as snowshoes, microspikes, or crampons. Here's an overview of the options.

Custom Gear Revival

Chaco and Princeton Tec have new custom products, but custom gear has a long history. Trailspace reviews new custom gear and companies that have been making unique gear and equipment for years.

Treat Your Feet to a Pair of Custom Hiking Boots

How often do you buy a new pair of hiking boots? What if you could buy a pair of boots that would last 25 or 30 years? That's one of several reasons some people choose to have their boots custom-made.

Hyperlite Debuts Cuben Fiber Climbing Packs

Hyperlite Mountain Gear (HMG) has just introduced two new backpacks for ice climbing and mountaineering called the Ice Pack and the Porter. They are made using an ultralight non-woven fabric called Cuben Fiber.

See and Be Seen with Reflective Technology

Reflective technology can improve visibility, convenience and safety as days get shorter.

Hunting Season Safety Tips

A little extra caution is prudent if you plan on hiking, running, paddling or biking through natural areas where hunters are likely to be present.

Learning Wilderness First Aid

Are you prepared to deal with a backcountry medical emergency?

Is that a drum circle in your pocketknife?

Wenger's outrageously large Giant Knife boasts 87 implements, 141 functions, and a place in the Guinness Book of World Records for "most functions on...

Instant Camp Eggs Cook-Off

Dehydrated and freeze-dried instant eggs can inspire strong reactions among outdoor enthusiasts. We wondered which, if any, were worth packing along on the trail and put a batch to the backcountry taste test.

Therm-a-Rest Sleep System Review

Combine Therm-a-Rest's NeoAir All Season pad, Alpine Down Blanket, and Fitted Sheet and you get a full sleep system. Find out how comfortable and versatile the pieces were for our tester.

Chaco and Merrell move up and down footwear line

Footwear companies like Chaco and Merrell may start out with an iconic product (like water sandals or classic leather boots), but many move up or down the footwear line.

Comfortable paddling from Nova Craft, Kokatat, Teva

Being comfortable outdoors isn't always a given, but it's a plus. Three paddlesports companies — Nova Craft, Kokatat, and Teva — are working to make every paddling experience an enjoyable one for newcomers and old timers alike.

New Product Lines from Old(er) Companies

A dizzying array of new products were being hawked by young and old-line companies at Outdoor Retailer, including new gear and apparel lines from Eureka!, Wenger, and Brooks-Range.

Not-so-new-and-shiny backcountry stoves

While MSR was debuting three new stoves at Outdoor Retailer this month, the company, which has been building camping stoves for nearly 40 years, had a few other interesting models on exhibit.

How to Wash Your Down Sleeping Bag

You've invested in a down sleeping bag you'll use for years to come. Now, treat it well on the trail and at home. Proper care and cleaning will help your bag last for many seasons. And a clean bag will have improved loft to keep you warmer.

Blazing New Backcountry and Camping Lights

Outdoor Retailer was ablaze with new lighting products. Here are a few of the more interesting from Energizer, ICON, SureFire, and Brunton.

Stuff I Ate at OR

Food is essential whether you're thru hiking, climbing, or wandering for miles inside a convention hall. To expand your outdoor taste horizons, we've highlighted some outdoor food you may not have heard of or tried, yet.

Evernew and Jetboil offer titanium cooking systems

Titanium is all the rage in stoves and cookware at Outdoor Retailer this summer, including these new offerings from Evernew and Jetboil.

Nemo's first sleeping bags new shape for side-sleepers

Side sleeping is the most common sleep position, preferred by as many as two-thirds of people. But mummy bags are designed for back sleeping. Nemo's new Spoon Shaped bags are designed with side-sleepers in mind.

The North Face's first mountaineering boot (really)

The North Face has been outfitting alpinists since the 1960s. But up until now, those athletes did so wearing mountaineering boots made by other companies. To fix what The North Face saw as an oversight, the company has built its very first mountaineering boot, the Verto S-4K.

Switch from Walk to Climb with Salewa Pro Gaiter Boot

Just as you switch your AT ski boots from walk to ski mode, Salewa's PRO Gaiter allows you to switch your mountaineering boots from walk to climb mode.

MSR Introduces Three New Stoves

MSR introduced three new stoves at Outdoor Retailer, including the liquid- and canister-fuel burning WhisperLite Universal.

Mile High Mountaineering Brings the Passion

Jeff Popp started Mile High Mountaineering because he felt some existing pack designs "lacked passion." His fresh approach is on full display at Outdoor Retailer.

Exped and NEMO help users live outdoors comfortably

Two companies at this week's Outdoor Retailer show, NEMO and Exped, are designing, from a personal level, outdoor products for living outdoors.

Hilleberg Introduces 3-Season Tents

For the first time in its 40-year history, Swedish tent maker Hilleberg has created a series of three-season tents.

SteriPEN Freedom: smaller, lighter, rechargeable UV purifier

SteriPen introduced its smallest, lightest, and first rechargeable water purifier: the Freedom.

Ruff Wear OmniJore for dog-pulling fun year-round

Have a dog to walk or run? Like to cross-country ski? Combine the two and you've got skijoring, though that's just the start. Ruff Wear designed an OmniJore system that allows dogs and their people to "jor" together year-round.

New Ultralight Packs from Granite Gear, HMG, Terra Nova

There are many, many new packs at Outdoor Retailer. Here are just a few from Granite Gear, Hyperlite Mountain Gear, and Terra Nova that caught our eye.

ACR ResQLink is world's smallest personal locator beacon

ACR has released ResQLink, which it claims is the world's smallest 406 MHz personal locator beacon. The ResQLink's small and light waterproof package can be held in one hand and clocks in at less than four inches tall and 4.6 ounces in weight.

L.L. Bean limited-edition 100th anniversary outdoor gear

For its 100th anniversary in 2012, iconic outdoor brand L.L. Bean will release commemorative versions of some classic Maine gear, like a limited-edition canoe, handcrafted pack baskets, and the original Maine Hunting Shoe.

Ultralight Shelters Not Just About the Light Weight

Shelter systems are pushing boundaries not just for weight, but for innovative and interesting designs. Here are a few highlights from Eagles Nest Outfitters, Easton, Sea to Summit, and Hyperlite Mountain Gear, fresh off the OR show floor.

CamelBak's All Clear UV Bottle Purifier Available for 2012

Two years ago at OR, CamelBak announced its noteworthy All Clear, an in-bottle microbiological UV water purifier. After a lengthy wait and redesign, the All Clear finally will be launched in a new and improved form for 2012.

Mad River Canoe launches Serenade 13, lightweight solo hybrid canoe

Among the plethora of kayaks and SUP boards at OR Demo Day was a diminutive little canoe that everyone seemed anxious to try: the Mad River Serenade 13.

Outdoor Retailer: Wenonah Recon solo whitewater canoe

Dana Henry, son of Mad River Canoe founder Jim Henry, has designed his first boat for Wenonah: the Recon, a 13-foot solo whitewater canoe.

Outdoor Retailer: DeLorme InReach offers 2-way messaging

With DeLorme's inReach two-way GPS satellite communicator, users won't be left wondering if rescuers received their emergency message about a broken leg in the backcountry, or if Mom got the text update on their summit attempt.

Outdoor Retailer: Innova goes PVC-free with inflatable kayaks

Innova Kayaks produces PVC-free inflatable kayaks, for what they call the lightest, greenest, general recreation inflatable kayaks on the market.

Outdoor Retailer: Demo Day Impressions

Outdoor Retailer's Demo Day is a like movie preview — flash, lots of quick cuts, and hints of things to come. This Demo Day was no exception: cool new gear, interesting random events, and nonprofits working hard to make a difference.