Each January, the outdoor recreation industry showcases thousands of new products at its Winter Market show in Utah aimed at attracting the attention of retailers, who then put the best of the best on their shelves for the nation’s consumers.
And each year, The Salt Lake Tribune presents mini-reviews of selected gear. Note that many of the products may not make it online or to stores for weeks or months, but until then, read on to get a taste of what’s cool and new.
Also, there are many more items from the Winter Market that we couldn’t include here. Look for them on the Tribune’s Hiking Utah (http://www.sltrib.com/Blogs/hiking) or Fishing Utah (http://www.sltrib.com/Blogs/fishing) blogs.
Black Diamond launches apparel line »
Much of the talk at the show centered on the massive 24-piece launch into the apparel world by Utah’s own Black Diamond Equipment. The fall 2013 collection is an all men’s line including soft-shell, insulation and fleece pieces that will be available in September. The line is sharp, clean and designed to be used, not just worn as a statement. Local models showed off all two dozen items at a special evening event held at the Utah Museum of Natural History during Outdoor Retailer. Black Diamond has scheduled new lines for six upcoming seasons, including spring 2014 (men’s alpine and climbing), fall 2014 (women’s outerwear) and fall 2015 (ski wear). BD’s launch into apparel seems as clean as its new line. The Dawn Patrol hybrid shell weighs under 17 ounces and features Schoeller StretchWoven nylon with NanoSphere Technology. $349. www.blackdiamondequipment.com/en-us
Hole in the Wall DownTek jacket from Big Agnes »
The market may seem stuffed with down jackets, but Big Agnes has joined the fray with the Hole in the Wall jacket. Big Agnes is well known for its sleeping bags and pads and increasingly for its tents. Designers incorporated DownTek technology from the sleeping bags into the jacket and designed vertical baffles to distribute heat in a more uniform manner. Hole in the Wall will be available fall 2013 for $219.95. www.bigagnes.com/
Astis mittens »
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Bag the future of gloves and go back to the past with Astis leather mittens. The hand-sewn gloves are based on original works from Cree Indians and include hand-stitched beadwork and come in long-cuff, short-cuff and glove models ranging from $145 to $225. The gloves do have some technology to go with the past in the form of Polartec Thermal Pro High Loft insulation. The idea for Astis came from a gift of original Cree mittens to one of the owners. Available now. www.astismittens.com/
Tec-Cork Hat from Tilley »
A lot of companies are releasing gear with Schoeller fabric technologies in the fall of 2013. Tilley is using Schoeller Corkshell on the Tec-Cork hat. The hat is made from a byproduct in the manufacturing of wine corks. Tilley folks say the Corkshell is breathable, soft, lightweight and offers up to 50 percent more thermal insulation than other soft-shell hats. Available fall 2013 in black or gray for $105. www.tilley.com
eCycle Flask from Stanley »
Flasks seem to be a popular item in the outdoor world these days. Stanley brought a new twist to the old form of finding a buzz with the eCycle Flask. The flask is made of recycled plastics and features a flip top lid that opens the entire top of the container so it can be cleaned. No more mixing your last drink with your new drink. Open the flask and throw it in the dishwasher. Available fall 2013 for $20. www.stanley-pmi.com/
Spark sleeping bag from Sea to Summit »
Sea to Summit was showing off the 12.3 -ounce minimalist Spark bag they are touting as perfect for summer sleeping and particularly useful for cycle touring and ultra-light hiking. The bag is rated for 46 degrees. The 850+ loft Ultra-Dry Down bag would also be useful in cold weather situations as a liner for other sleeping bags. Available August 2013 for $269. www.seatosummit.com
Torrent tent from Easton Mountain Products »
In the outdoor industry when you are on a roll you ride it as long as possible. Easton Mountain Products out of Salt Lake City had great success with the Kilo and Torrent tents. They are following those up with the Torrent three-person ultralight all-season tent. The tent features double-wall construction and weather-taped seams. The Torrent is also hermetically sealed to keep out dust and snow. The design sheds snow and venting makes it possible to use the tent any time of the year. Easton Mountain Products included a vestibule, supported by trekking poles (not included). The tent will be available late summer 2013 for $529. eastonmountainproducts.com/
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