Outdoor Retailer

Outdoor Retailer Snow Show 2019 | Recap

Another January in the books and two major trade shows attended. Like last year, I attended SHOT Show in Las Vegas with the crew from the Loadout Room. And then flew directly to Denver for Outdoor Retailer the following week. Two weeks living out of a 5.11 suitcase and backpack in various AirBnb’s but I’m glad to be home. Now is when the shows pay off for this website. Following up the dozens of meetings with vendors to acquire the newest and most innovative products in the tactical and outdoor space. The face to face meetings with PR firms and manufacturers allow us as writers and editors to make a physical connection with them. Let them know who we are and what we do. And how we can help them.

The Show

Outdoor Retailer Snow Show focuses mainly on the winter sports market. Skis, snowshoes, winter apparel, footwear, etc. You get the picture. But making the mental switch from the beard’fest of SHOT Show to the manicured mustache’fest of OR takes some getting used to. Outdoor Retailer is a friendly meeting among enthusiast and doesn’t have that cut-throat competitive vibe that SHOT exudes. Each booth offers a healthy snack, cup of coffee or a craft brew later in the afternoon. The meetings with manufacturers and PR agents open with a genuine conversation about us as writers. They are as curious about the Loadout Room as we are about them. After all, we all have the same objective.

And that objective is to educate the purchasing public about their new products. As a gear junkie myself, you can imagine the opportunity to sit down with product specialists and engineers to discuss what they’ve come up with. And at the same time asking us for our thoughts and input. Below are just a few highlights from the show. Some of which we hope to get our hands on for in depth testing and review.

Drinkwear

Yeti always offers a nice display for their new products. This year, telling stories with three fresh new color ways. A Sand color that offers a beach vibe. I thought it looked to be a tactical desert color. I guess it depends on your personal perspective. A new vibrant Blue was showcased with a nautical waterman display. Complete with a Blue Marlin. And finally, a Red Rock color displayed with matching climbing ropes and the Southwest landscape of Red Rock Canyon.

Boots and Pants

Winter apparel and footwear is a large part of the Snow Show. Xtratuf showcased a new Glacier Trek Pro sole for their bread and butter work boots. These high topped neoprene and rubber boots already kicked ass. Now they feature special sole lugs (colored blue) with embedded glass to help grip on slick icy surfaces. Right next door at Muck Boots were examples of their new waterproof leather line-up. Here is a review of the Freeman boot recently published. Swedish company Fjällräven had a huge display featuring their complete line of rugged hiking and climbing gear. I was drawn in by a few pairs of pants that might be the perfect Overlanding companion in the future.

Snowshoes and Celebrity

Mountain Safety Research makes some of the best snowshoes on the market. Featuring their 360 degree Traction Frames, these shoes have an edge to edge grip like no other. Perfect for those steep mountain accents as well as casual trail excursions. MSR went one step further by greatly improving on their tried and true binding system. Thinking outside of the box they came up with the new Paragon Snowshoe Binding. A binding offering no hot spots, ultralight durability, quick and secure adjustability and field maintainability. Stanley’s rich 100+ year history just keeps getting better and better. Further perfecting their vacuum bottle with the new Master Series. As a bonus, I spotted Olympic Gold Medalist Jonny Moseley reviewing a Black Diamond Jacket.

Adidas Terrex as always, featured several new pieces of footwear as well as revisions of existing pieces. Alongside some innovative insulation and waterproof jackets. I hope to get my hands on a few of these to showcase the Terrex line as a major player in the high-end outdoor clothing market. I thought I was having a SHOT Show flashback when I saw the Wild Things display out of the corner of my eye. The only Multicam seen for miles within the Colorado Convention Center.

Favorite item

The most revolutionary item I spotted was the DAHU ski boot. As an alpine skier of 44 years, I’ve experienced huge technological leaps in the ski industry. Mostly in soft goods and skis. While alpine ski boots have maintained the status quo for too long. Always jealous of the snowboarders and their warm comfy boots. DAHU is looking to bring some of that love to the alpine skier. With an unusual Corsair opening, the skeletonized exterior boot allows the skier to completely step out while wearing the liner as a stand alone boot. Complete with a rubber sole, this boot will change the way skiers get around the resort.

Below is a list of the manufacturers I sat down with at Outdoor Retailer in the hopes of testing upcoming gear. So stay tuned to the Loadout Room.

Manufacturers:

Muck Boots
Xtratuf
Black Diamond
Ortovox
Farm to Feet
Mountain Safety Research
FiveTen footwear
Sportube
Rumpl
Danner
Jack Wolfskin
Costa Sunglasses
DAHU Ski Boots
Fjällräven
Adidas Terrex
Yeti
Stanley
Bogs Footwear
Beyond Clothing
Darn Tough Socks
Scarpa

Outdoor Retailer Summer Market 2018 | Recap

Outdoor Retailer Summer Market is the culmination of all the major outdoor brands showcasing what they have in their development pipeline. And I’m like a kid in a candy store at this show. If you’re into outdoor gear, this is the place to be. It’s an REI hopped up on steroids. Each year, the Loadout Room schedules meetings with as many manufacturers as we can fit into the three day convention. To bring you, the readers, the most cutting edge and up to date product reviews of the new gear for the following year.

Environmental Responsibility

This year, we saw several recurring themes circulating at the show. One was environmental responsibility. Many companies realize the importance of this and showcased what they are doing specifically at OR. From Costa sunglasses making their Untangled Collection of sunglasses from recycled fishnets. To Adidas Terrex using Parley ocean plastic to create the threads used in several of their products including shoes and jackets. Even Ruffwear, a dog focused company, is joining the fight to save Mother Nature. By using the un-recyclable closed cell foam “punch-outs” from backpack manufacturers to fill and insulate their line of dog beds. And PrimaLoft is well on their way to reaching a goal of 50% recycled content in 90% of their products by 2020.

Overland Travel and Camping at Outdoor Retailer

Another segment that is rapidly growing in popularity is the Overland camping movement. Whether it’s a modified van for day camping or a purpose-built truck to get to those less permissive locations, the Overland market is hot. Several manufacturers at OR are either fully vested in this segment or have products that support it. Tepui Tents, a premier rooftop tent company, saw the need to add a well built set of lawn chairs and table to their line. In addition to a dedicated kitchen set-up.

Dometic offers a full line of plug-in compact refrigerators and freezers specific to Overland campers. While Yeti finally added wheels to their robust Tundra cooler. Goal Zero showcased several “off the grid” solar/battery set-ups that are great companions when Overlanding. With the growing popularity of Overland camping, the Loadout Room will be dedicating more time covering products within this segment in the coming months to help you pick and choose what items you’ll want to add to your Loadout.

Outdoor Retailer Summer Market

We saw several innovative ways to cook food and brew coffee. Including a true all-in-one dutch oven from CampMaid. And a refined version of the MSR Pocket Rocket stove. Kelty has a new line with a creative name that says it all. G.Y.S.T. (Get your shit together) which is obviously an organizational item. New types of insulation for sleeping bags and outerwear. Updated backpack designs from Kelty, Gregory and Deuter. Cutting-edge manufacturing and materials, etc. New colors and coolers from big hitters Hydro Flask and Yeti. And a streamlined lightweight hiking boot from Vasque.

Although Outdoor Retailer just wrapped up its Summer Market, here is a sneak peek at the list of companies we will be reviewing products from. All of these products are designed to get you off the couch and outdoors. To explore and be stewards of the amazing landscape that makes up this beautiful country.

Benchmade Introduces Ultralight 535 Bugout Knife

Less than 3 months after introducing the Proper, the company’s first slip joint knife, Benchmade is continuing to fill holes in their line-up. This time they’re introducing an astonishingly lightweight Axis folder called the 535 Bugout. The new knife will take center stage at the opening of the Outdoor Retailer Show in Salt Lake City, Utah later this morning.

“[The 535 Bugout] is truly an ultralight carry,” Benchmade’s Derrick Lau says. “It’s the lightest knife in our Blue Class, weighing in at 1.85 ounces.” Lau tells us Benchmade went all out to find every possible opportunity to save weight without compromising the knife’s durability. “We didn’t want to sacrifice strength. Because when you’re out in the sticks, you really rely on your knife,” he says.

The Bugout’s handles are made of Grivory, a strong and light polymer material. The knife features a pillar construction to avoid the need for liners and backspacers. Even the Axis bar got the ultralight treatment and is made of DLC-coated titanium instead of steel.

The knife’s 3.25-inch S30V drop point blade is reminiscent of the award-winning 490 and should be popular with anybody looking for a substantial blade in a featherlight package. “It’s going to make people who are conscious of counting every ounce of their gear very happy,” Lau promises.

Continue reading on Knife News

Photo courtesy of Knife News

Summer Outdoor Retailer 2015: Hydro Flask

Stop Drinking Warm Water…Even Worse, Warm Beer

About five years ago, I was doing some summer biathlon training and I had a race that consisted of running, kayaking, and standard prone/standing shooting. I was out of town and forgot to bring a water bottle for hydrating prior to and after the race. I felt unprepared and quite embarrassed for not having what I needed. I ended up borrowing a bottle from a friend, filled it with ice cold water, and headed off for the race. In another rookie move, I left the bottle on the front seat of my pickup on a 90 degree day.

The race went great and I finished in a much higher place and time than expected. I headed back to my truck knowing I would find some nice warm water to drink prior to my post race cool-down. I unscrewed the bottle and was pleasantly surprised the water was still ice cold. Over the last five years I’ve heard countless other similar stories. At the time, I had never heard of Hydro Flask and had no idea the bottle was even insulated.

If there’s one company that started the insulated bottle revolution, it’s Hydro Flask. There collection now comes in all shapes and sizes. From food containers, standard water bottles, to the highly coveted 64 oz. growler and True Pint, I haven’t found a line of products that keep your cold drinks cold or hot drinks hot for as long as Hydro Flask.

We had a chance to visit Hydro Flask at Summer Outdoor Retailer 2015 and see what’s new.

Below, Hydro Flask has some pretty awesome new products and holiday gift packs arriving that are definitely worth checking out.

Hydro Flask True Pint Holiday Gift Pack

Hydro Flask’s 16 oz True Pints are made from 18/8 food-grade stainless steel and the double wall vacuum provides top-notch insulation power. Hydro Flask is proud that all of its products are BPA-free, 100% recyclable and are backed by a lifetime warranty. Gift givers can also feel great about their purchase as the company gives 5% of its net profits to 12 different non-profits through its charitable arm 5% back. 4-Pack of True Pints — MSRP $79.95

Hydro Flask Food Flask Holiday Gift Pack

The newly redesigned 12 oz and 18 oz Food Flasks are just the right size for snacks and in-between meal temptations. Durable and backed by a lifetime warranty, the Food Flask’s wide mouth opening allows for easy access for eating straight out of the container, as well as easy pouring. Great for transporting food or hearty liquids to and from the office, school or anywhere in between, our double wall vacuum insulated technology will keep hot foods steaming hot and cold foods chilled and fresh. The 18/8 food-grade stainless steel interior provides non-porous storage with no residual odors or flavors from the previous day’s contents, while our airtight lid keeps today’s meal as fresh going out as it was going in. — MSRP $59.95

In the Chamber: SHOT Show & Outdoor Retailer

It’s that time of year again. In the chamber this week, we’ll have attendees at both the SHOT show and Outdoor Retailer Winter Market scouring the floor for the latest and greatest gear on the planet, as well as testing the newest toys at the SHOT Media Range Day and the Outdoor Retailer All Mountain Demo. Throughout the next few weeks we’ll be pushing out content from both trade shows and you’ll have the opportunity to see some of the newest gear, products yet to hit the shelves, and interviews with industry representatives.

If you haven’t been on the site in a while, here are some of the things you may have missed in the last week:

*Note: any article with “First Impression” in the title means we have just gotten our hands on the product and will be performing a comprehensive review of the product in the future, after we’ve had the opportunity to put it through its paces.

Firing

In the chamber this week, you will see a continuation of our Monday, Wednesday, and Friday-morning series:

Drinking stories/reviews: Maker’s Mark, Sake, Cavendish & Canadians—A story of making friends between missions.
Think Like a Green Beret: Never Quit—Only death can stop a truly determined man. You have to know that the man next to you will not break and run when things get tough.
Reaper Tips: Trigger Follow-through—Learn about how any movement caused by a premature reset of the trigger could negatively impact the trajectory of the round.

Some highlighted products that we will be covering, include:

VG6 Precision’s EPSILON 556: First Impression—The magicians at VG6 have reduced recoil and blast, making them fast-shooting, yet subtle.
Rat Worx MRX Black: First Impression—Through their many years of research and testing, Rat Worx has come up with a damn-near indestructible automatic knife.
Bering Optics Urban Patrol Night Vision Pocket Scope Review—The Urban Patrol by Bering Optics is a new lightweight, compact, affordable option for those wanting to get into night-vision products.

Along with updates from SHOT show and the Outdoor Retailer show, these are just a taste of what is coming. Stay tuned!

Spent Casings

Below are recaps of last year’s SHOT show and the Outdoor Retailer All Mountain Demo.