It’s a collar, it’s a leash, it’s a Supercollar. New this year at Outdoor Retailer Winter Market was the Supercollar team with their one of a kind dog collar. To show off the collar, the team borrowed a dog from No More Homeless Pets, and had a volunteer walk him around the show (hopefully he found a forever home with one of the attendees.) Supercollar was designed to make life easier because your dog’s leash is always on. Supercollar is designed for medium to large dogs, up to 90 pounds. The steel coated cables that make up the retractable...
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The furry faces of Ellie May and Peggy Sue, baby alpacas from Montana, made their debut at the Outdoor Retailer 2011 Winter Market. Their owners, James and Sarah Budd, were also at the show for the first time with their company, Alpacas of Montana. The Budds have over 150 alpacas at their ranch in Bozeman, Montana. The fiber harvested from the animals is spun and knitted by 18-30 knitters throughout the year for a boutique line of sweaters, hats, and other products. James and Sarah decided they wanted to launch a line of technical products that could be worn...
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Wolverine is a brand I had never heard of before the Outdoor Retailer 2011 Winter Market, but after visiting their booth and seeing the quality of their boots and shoes, I think it’s a brand that we’ll be seeing a lot more of. Below is just a small sample of their 2011 selection, and a look at their interesting “Individual Comfort System.” First up is my personal favorite boot from Wolverine, the Fulcrum. It’s a backpacker’s dream with full leather uppers, beefy, lugged Vibram soles and classic styling. Next is a good example of the mid-cut hiking boots in the Wolverine...
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The Ryders Eyewear booth at the Outdoor Retailer 2011 Winter Market was pretty much a party atmosphere, and for good reason. The company is celebrating their 25th birthday, and the occasion was marked with neon headbands, mullet wigs, hillbilly teeth, and cheesy music set to a backdrop of a ’70s style basement complete with wood paneling, vintage ski posters, and overstuffed couches. Of course there were some new sunglasses and even goggles to look at, but first, the steezy dudes at Ryders Eyewear: And on with the sunglasses… The Seeker are multi-sport sunglasses with semi-rim frames and full coverage...
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Cloudveil has undergone a huge transition this past year, after the Jackson, Wyoming-based company was bought by private investors and moved to Massachusetts. The new owners have restructured operations and are now focusing on the basics of outdoor gear with hard and softshell jackets, pants and mid-layers. The new Cloudveil had a presence at the Outdoor Retailer 2011 Winter Market and their booth was hopping with interested retailers. Before the reborn Cloudveil starts to devolop new designs, they’re concentrating on bringing back the classics that made Cloudveil known for quality gear. The RPK Jacket is a technical hard shell...
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It’s a promise made by few, but Darn Tough Vermont guarantees their socks for life. Plus, the guys at the Darn Tough Vermont booth at the Outdoor Retailer 2011 Winter Market were some of the most darn nice people at the whole darn show. The entire sock making process is done all on site in Vermont and employs about 100 people. Darn Tough socks are said to last 10 times longer than any other sock. The socks are made mostly of merino wool and have over 1,400 knit stitches per square inch, which means they’re durable without the bulk....
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GoLite is going BareTech. Rather than endorsing completely barefoot running, GoLite is meeting the audience half way. They’re offering a stripped down running shoe with a zero drop heel and enough protection to keep your feet safe, and they showed them off at the Outdoor Retailer 2011 Winter Market. They’ve turned tradition shoes inside out, literally. The “Soft Against the Ground Technology” puts the soft part of the shoes closer to the ground. The new trail runners are lighter, roomier, and have a high traction rubber out-sole that keeps you sticking to the terrain. The woman’s SpringLite has a...
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Salomon is once again taking gear to another level at the Outdoor Retailer 2011 Winter Market, with a new AT ski boot that’s even more advanced than the Quest 12, and updated trail running shoes designed around the needs of elite runners, but made for you, the consumer, to use on your own adventurous trail runs. Salomon’s ski boot line will get a whole lot more burly, as if their boots weren’t burly enough. The Quest 14 is a step above the Salomon Quest 12, with a new V-Shape cutout on the back of the lower shell for more...
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The scientists hidden away in the GU labs have been hard at work concocting new creations and flavors to be consumed by the sweating, recreating masses. Unique tastes in GU Chomps, GU Roctane and their latest bit o’ mixology, the GU Brew, were on display at the Outdoor Retailer 2011 Winter Market where samples were tasted. First up is a brand new flavor of GU Roctane for 2011, Cherry Lime. GU Roctane is an energy gel that has twice the amount of caffeine compared the others. The new Cherry Lime tastes pretty good, and although I’m not really a...
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Suunto is celebrating its 75th anniversary this year, and in honor of the milestone, the company has built a special edition watch. In addition, they’ve redesigned the Foot POD and Movestick so that they are both much smaller and easier to use. All of this was on display at Suunto’s booth at the Outdoor Retailer 2011 Winter Market in downtown Salt Lake City. The Suunto Core Anniversary Edition honors Suunto’s long history in the outdoor adventure and sports precision watch market. The Core is an all-in-one watch that is packed with features like an altimeter, barometer, and compass, as...
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Eagles Nest Outfitters is a company out of Asheville, North Carolina that creates cool stuff to make life easier while camping or backpacking. Relaxation gear such as hammocks, tarps, bug nets, padded guitar cases and even speakers are part of the ENO family, and each piece speaks volumes about the company’s chill vibe. Eagles Nest Outfitters showed off some of their new inventions at the Outdoor Retailer 2011 Winter Market, like the Ember Underquilt. The Ember Underquilt is a synthetic insulated liner that makes winter camping (in a hammock) possible. The Ember surrounds the sides and bottom of any...
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