We all love life in the mountains and on the trail. But for most, the reality is that while an outdoors life is our passion, it’s not the entirety of our existence. Daily reality revolves around routine; getting the kids to school, getting to work and running errands. When the moment is right, we break away from our urban dwellings and head for the blue skies and fresh air of the open trail. That’s when Pop Outerwear comes into play.
Cyclists beware. The Course aero road helmet by Louis Garneau isn’t just another bike helmet. Aided by advanced Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) software and wind tunnel testing, Garneau engineers managed to create a lightning fast aero road helmet in a traditional looking shell.
In its core, the Outdoor Retailer Winter Market is a business trade show. Over the course of several days, manufacturers display products inside Salt Lake City’s Salt Palace Convention Center to buyers for retail stores who must decide what to stock on their shelves. However, the products alone do not compose the entirety of the Outdoor Retailer experience. In fact, the products are merely a small segment of the Outdoor Retailer experience. What truly makes this trade show special are the people and storylines behind the brands that influence the products that consumers will soon see on retail shelves.
The Outdoor Retailer Winter Market, known affectionately as Winter OR, is the outdoor industry’s largest trade show. Twice a year retailers, distributors and members of the media gather in Salt Lake City to check out the brands, gear and emerging industry trends for the year ahead. Our team spent four days scouring the show room floor seeking out the best gear for the year ahead. Following is our list of the very best gear from Winter OR 2014.
The Sonoran Desert. 120,000 square miles that range from a sun-blasted wasteland, to jagged peaks and expanses of vegetation so thick that it’s nearly impossible to see over, much less walk through. In other words, it was the perfect place for our crew to put the V-Lite Sphike through the paces.
Last year, the Yeti Snowshoe from Louis Garneau received our 2013 Winter Outdoor Retailer Best in Show award. This winter we finally had the opportunity to strap them on and put them through the paces. What we discovered was the next evolutionary step in the design of snowshoes that will help get you out into the unknown winter landscapes faster and with greater ease.
Trends swing like a pendulum, creating waves of fashion, art, culture, performance, you name it… there is a cycle to trends (if not everything). In the world of athletic footwear it appears as though the design pendulum is once again on the move making it’s way from max minimalism to max cushioning in a lightweight, zero drop package. The new Olympus from Altra seems to be the case in point.
When winter reveals snow topped mountains, frozen lakes and bitter cold, the updated Bodyfit Range from Icebreaker reminds you that merino wool was destined for moments like these.
The crew at Hillsound knows that the problem with winter is that it tends to put a few hundred yards of icy terrain and steep snow between you and your favorite summer hiking route. To overcome that little problem, they designed the Trail Crampon Ultra. Ideal for walking, hiking and running on snow-packed icy trails, the Trail Crampon Ultra is ready to tackle Old Man Winter and whatever tricks he’s got up his sleeve.
In mankind’s timeless struggle against the cold, nothing confronts winter’s icy cold grasp like Mother Nature’s best insulator, down. Utilizing the power of 800-fill DriDown, rest assured the Gnar Lite from Sierra Designs is ready and willing to serve as your fortress of warmth and loft as part of your layering system or solo.