When I sauntered up to the Sierra Designs booth at this summer’s Outdoor Retailer, I noticed a few changes. Okay, I noticed a lot of changes. Instead of asking “what’s new?” for SD in 2013-14, it might be easier to ask “what isn’t new?” The iconic brand has undergone a major redesign, ranging from the…
Tag: outdoor gear
Innate Kaze Modular Vacuum Bottle review
The perfect insulated vacuum bottle for backcountry skiing has been difficult to find these days, as some don’t keep my coffee hot long enough, while others have leaked. We’ve been testing out the Innate Kaze Modular Vacuum Bottle ever since we picked one up at Outdoor Retailer in January, and so far it’s been an…
Easton Mountain Products sets up new tents at Outdoor Retailer Summer Market
Easton Mountain Products shook the condensation off the outdoor world’s rainfly when they unveiled the ultra-light weight Kilo 2P tent that weighs only 2lbs 4oz. Since then, they’ve expanded their lineup of high-quality tents with the new Rimrock and Torrent series of tents. First, the Rimrock 2P is a two-person tent that is similar to…
New shells and shirts from Season Five at Outdoor Retailer 2012 Summer Market
Season Five made waves at last year’s Outdoor Retailer with their unique shirts and shorts that are a sort of cross between rash guard and wet suit. Inspired by standup paddle boarding, the innovative fabric was a big hit for its waterproofiness and insulative properties. This year, Season Five is expanding their line to more…
Salomon revolutionizes running at Outdoor Retailer 2012 Summer Market
Salomon has long been at the front line of the running battlefield, with world-class athletes designing and testing the gear they make. Their lab in France is ground zero for problem solving and innovation, as evidenced in the gear released to us average humans in stores. At this year’s Outdoor Retailer Summer Market, Salomon is…
Marker beefs up the new Duke EPF binding at Outdoor Retailer
Marker has long been the king of burly, backcountry capable bindings with offerings like the Duke, Baron and Tour. But the Duke is about to get a whole lot bigger for the 2012/13 ski season when the new Duke EPF is released to the masses. Marker showed off the new Duke at the Outdoor Retailer…
Eton empowers at 2012 Outdoor Retailer Winter Market
Eton is a company that specializes in radios and lighting for emergencies and outdoor applications. At the 2012 Outdoor Retailer Winter Market, Eton displayed their line of radios, some of which were donated to the Red Cross for use during recent disasters like the earthquake and tsunami in Japan. But for those of us looking…
Brooks-Range Isto Soft Shell Jacket review
Simplicity. That’s a key word for a lot of outdoor gear, especially stuff that you want to be light weight. There’s a fine line between gear that is functional, yet simple. Brooks-Range, a company specializing in technical backcountry gear, has recently starting to produce outerwear, and have definitely found the sweet spot with their Isto…
Primus Express Stove Ti review
Gone are the days of cumbersome tents and sleeping bags, and your backcountry cooking gear shouldn’t be any different. Primus has been a trusted name in outdoor gear for a long time, and their stoves are a highlight of the product line. They sent along the Express Stove Ti for testing and I put it…
PORON Cushioning excites Foam Geeks
At the Outdoor Retailer Winter Market in Salt Lake, there’s an awful lot of focus on sexy new gear, but not so much attention is paid to the very unsexy components that gear is made of. Things like foam. But you’d be hard pressed to find anyone more excited about cushioning than the self-proclaimed “Foam…