A few days ago I shared my thoughts on the best gear that I saw at this year's Outdoor Retailer Summer Market. But the half-dozen items that I spotlighted at the time were just a tiny fraction of the new outdoor equipment that was on display there. Here are a few more items that caught my eye and may of interest to you when they hit store shelves over the next few months.

Kelty TraiLogic
One of the more impressive set of products that I saw at OR this year was the new TraiLogic system from Kelty. The company has gone back to its roots, creating a collection of gear that is designed to work well with one another in a very efficient manner. The TraiLogic product line includes a tent, sleeping pad, Dry-down sleeping bag and a backpack that converts from a 50-liter bag designed for backpacking to a 35-liter day pack in seconds. It is difficult to sum up all of the innovation that I saw in the TraiLogic designs but just know that Kelty is focused on making a complete backpacking system that is lightweight and affordable. How lightweight and affordable you ask? The entire collection weighs less than 10 pounds and will cost just $800-$900 depending on which configuration you select. Expect to hear much more about this product as it gets closer to launch next spring.

Adventure Medical Kits Fire Cubes
I've been a big fan of Adventure Medical Kits for years and absolutely love the products they've designed for travel, adventure racing and backpacking. At OR, the company was showing off another new innovative product in the form of their All Weather Fire Cubes. Somewhat resembling small marshmallows, the cubes are designed to help you easily start a fire in the backcountry. They are designed to ignite easily with the included fire sparker, even when wet and they are capable of generating a flame that burns as hot as 1300ºF (704ºC) for about 10-12 minutes. In other words, they burn long enough for you to get your tinder going so you can build a fire when ever you need one. Available in the spring, a $12 bag will include 48 cubes, which can actually be broken down into 8 smaller pieces should the need arise.

Brunton Hydrogen Reactor
One of the more ambitious projects that I saw at the show this year was the new Hydrogen Reactor from Brunton. The device uses hydrogen fuel cells to power our USB-chargeable gadgets such as headlamps, smartphones, GPS devices and so on. The fuel cells are good for approximately six charges of a typical smartphone and when depleted they can be refilled at a local gear store or swapped out for a fresh cell as needed. There will even be a $250 device available to charge you own fuel cells if you find yourself going through them quickly. The point of the reactor is to provide clean, renewable power to our devices from a lightweight and rugged source. The device works great, but Brunton is still building an infrastructure with retailers to support it. You have to commend them for their efforts at the very least.

Mountain Hardwear Optic 2.5 Tent
I'm a big fan of Mountain Hardwear gear so admittedly they can sway me pretty easily with their new products. That said, it is hard to not like the new Optic 2.5 tent that is designed for two people and features a door on both one side and one end. When both are opened you get a nice panoramic view of the landscapes around you that will make you wonder why someone didn't incorporate this design sooner. With a trail weight of 5 pounds, 13 ounces it is a bit heavier than most of the new two-person tents I saw at the show, but it comes with a pretty sweet price tag to help balance it out. The Optic 2.5 costs just $240, which is a great entry level for anyone who wants to buy a Mountain Hardwear tent.

Jetboil Joule Group Cooking System
Jetboil pretty much set the standard for a lightweight cooking system when they released their original
stove a few years back. Since then the competition in this space has gotten stiffer and the company has continued to improve and expand its product line to meet the needs of its customers. The new Joule stove, due in the spring, is large enough to feed 3-5 people and yet still packs down small enough to easily carry with you in your pack. It features a unique design that puts the fuel canister up-side-down which should improve the consistency of performance even as the canister runs low or the temperature begins to drop. The Joule is a cinch to use, heats up extremely quickly and provides ample space for the backwoods gourmet.

Mio Alpha Fitness Watch
If you've ever been to Outdoor Retailer you probably know that some of the more innovative products are often found tucked away in the pavilions that are located across from the main hall. That's where I came across the new Mio Alpha fitness watch which is designed to help athletes train and race better. The watch is capable of monitoring the heart rate of the wearer without the need for a cumbersome and uncomfortable heartrate strap. The watch can then give visual feedback on how much the athlete is pushing him or herself and help them perform better. The watch itself is comfortable and attractive, and can connect to a smartphone via Bluetooth for use with some of the more popular fitness apps out there.

I have a few more products I'll probably spotlight in the next few days. As you can see, there were a lot of items to checkout and excellent improvements and innovation from a number of sources. All of this gear may make your wallet groan a bit, but we're living in a time where things are continually improving and we get to reap the benefits.

While I work on putting together part 2 of my favorite gear from this year's Outdoor Retailer, here are two videos that will give you a sense of some of the things that were introduced at the show. Each of the videos is hosted by Cameron Martindell of Offyonder.com and feature gear from such companies as  Big Agnes, Vasque, Mountain Hardwear and more. This will give you a little taste of what its like to walk the expo floor for a few days.

As many of you know, I spent the better part of last week at the Outdoor Retailer gear convention in Salt Lake City, an event that I like to call "Gearvana." Over the course of three-and-a-half days, I saw lots of great new gear, some not-so-great stuff and some things that were just downright silly. But all in all, it was another good show with plenty of innovations coming in the months ahead. Here is a taste of some of the things I saw that really caught my eye.

New Direction For Sierra Designs
Sierra Designs has been making excellent outdoor gear for a very long time but in recent years their product line has gotten stale, uninspired and massive in scale. At OR they announced a new direction of sorts, nuking their entire catalog and going back to the start. The result are a new line of lightweight backpacking tents, attractive performance apparel and new sleeping bags that are built for convenience and comfort. One of those sleeping bags is even completely zipperless, integrating a built in comforter that seals up the bag as needed. It is a mummy-bag with 800-fill waterproof down that won't be nearly as constraining as others of its kind. It looked so comfortable that I recommended that the company start designing a two-person version ASAP. Once you see it, you'll probably want to snuggle in it.

Customizable Sandals From Keen
It has now been a decade since Keen hit the outdoor market with their iconic Newport sandal and over the years that shoe has continued to improve and evolve. Soon however you'll get to build your own version of the Newport by going online and customizing it to your exact specifications. A new website that is set to go live in the next few weeks will let you select from a dizzying array of colors and apply them to nearly every aspect of the show. Keen reps said there were more than 65 million possible combinations, so the chances of you actually running into someone with the exact same sandal are pretty low.

Switch Eyewear Introduces New Styles
Last year I was very impressed with Switch Eyewear's innovative design that allowed you to swamp out lenses as needed for various times of the day. The lenses and frames use powerful magnet to stay firmly in place and allow endurance athletes to use a single pair of glasses for the length of their competition or training. This year, the company has made some subtle but important design tweaks to improve the over all experience, while also introducing some great new frames to integrate the lenses into. The result is more options and a refined product that is even better than the one I so favorably reviewed after last year's summer OR.

Osprey Goes Ultralight With New Packs

I spent some time in the Osprey booth checking out their great new line of packs that are designed to be lightweight and move fast. Chief amongst them was the new Exo series which will come in 38, 48 and 58-liter sizes. These packs are incredibly svelte with the largest tipping the scales at a mere 2.5 pounds. Still, Osprey didn't scrimp on features or comfort as the packs have some of the best and most innovative shoulder straps I've seen. The company also debuted a new small, ultra-lightweight 6-liter pack designed for trail runners with lots of nice features as well. The Rev line of packs will debut in the spring and are extremely high on my "want" list. I was impressed by the integrated smartphone holder built into the shoulder strap that protects the device while on the go but also grants easy access as needed. 

Snow Peak Mola Headlamp
I'm convinced that the designers over at Snow Peak are zen-master mad scientists. They come up with some of the simplest and coolest designs around, leaving you scratching your head as to why someone hadn't thought of their ideas sooner. One example of this is the new Mola headlamp that is due in the spring. The Mola puts out 90 lumens and weighs a mere 2.5 ounces, but the most innovative thing about it is that it has a built-in accelerometer that will adjust the light's angle based on where you are looking. Glance upwards and the beam will automatically sift and additional ten degrees up. Look down at a map or to tie your shoes and the headlamp will adjust accordingly. It is a simple, yet very effective, design that I'm sure will spark imitators in the headlamp space.

Adventure Earbuds From  Yurbuds
Outdoor athletes who enjoy listening to their music will be happy to hear that Yurbuds is introducing a new line of earbuds specifically to meet their needs. The new designs are rugged, sound great and have been ergonomically tweaked to be more comfortable and fit better. They also feature a set of handy magnets integrated into the back of each earbud so that you can connect them and hold them in place when you're not listening. As a recent convert to Yurbuds, I found the new designs to be very nice and I'm looking forward to putting them through their paces when they become available in a few months.

This is just a small sample of my favorite gear that I saw at OR. I'll share more of my "Best of Show" over the next few days.

As I've mentioned in a few posts over the past week or so, the Outdoor Retailer Summer Market gets underway in Salt Lake City, Utah tomorrow and for the next few days I'll be up to my eyeballs in new backpacks, tents, boots and other assorted gear. It is an incredibly fun show to attend although also very busy and packed full with more things that you can possibly see in the allotted time. Still, you won't find me complaining because it is four days of total immersion in the outdoor and adventure culture.

Since I'll be otherwise indisposed over the next few days there won't be any updates to the blog for the rest of the week. I will however be sharing my OR experience on social media. That usually involves posting photos of some cool new gear and maybe snapping a shot of a personality from the world of outdoor adventure. In the past, I've rubbed elbows with the likes of Conrad Anker, Ueli Steck, Alex Honnold and similar folks who go completely unnoticed in the regular world but are rock stars while at Outdoor Retailer. If you'd like to join in on the fun, follow me on Twitter or Facebook to get a glimpse of the show.

Regular updates to the Adventure Blog will resume next Monday when I'm sure I'll have plenty of thoughts on new gear and other things announced at the convention. Until then, make sure you get outside and find a little adventure of your own.

A day before the start of the 2013 Outdoor Retailer convention the Gear Junkie brings us the scoop on yet another interesting new product that should be arriving later this year. This time it is new tent from Eddie Bauer that integrates a solar charging solution from Goal Zero to create a shelter that can also power your outdoor gadgets.

The new tent doesn't have a release day or price just yet, but we do know that it is an update on EB's Katabatic four-sason model. The upgrade comes in the form of a built in solar panel on the roof that links internally to a Goal Zero charging system that uses the company's Sherpa 50 battery pack. The Sherpa 50 is capable of charing a number of devices, including laptops, and is a fantastic mobile power source. So much so that I gave it high marks when I reviewed one earlier this year.

The combination of these products should make for a great mobile base camp for the outdoor adventurer and professional alike. The Katabatic tent weighs in at a little over 10 pounds and the Sherpa will adds another couple of pounds to that, so this isn't exactly an ultra-lightweight option. But if you're setting up camp in a single location for some time and need to keep your satellite phone, GPS, laptop and other gear charged, this is an interesting option.

As mentioned above, there is no release date or price yet, but Eddie Bauer sells the tent at $599 on its own and Goal Zero retail the Sherpa 50 system for $360. A little math will tell you this will be an expensive alternative but potentially a very good one for those who need this kind of set-up. The possibilities look promising anyway.

Eddie Bauer and First Ascent aren't at Outdoor Retailer traditionally but I'm hoping Goal Zero will have one of these on display in their booth. I'll try to drop by and take a peek and see if I can find out a few more details. I'm sure more than a few of you will be wondering how well the solar-tent performs and when you might be able to order one.

As I mentioned earlier, the Outdoor Retailer show is set to get underway tomorrow in Salt Lake City with the Open Air Demo, followed by the launch of the convention itself on Wednesday. Over the next few days, gear companies, retail buyers, media and a swarm of outdoor personalities will descend on SLC in what is one of the most outdoor and adventure focused events that you could ever imagine. Gear hounds in particular would love spending a few days at OR. There is literally acres of new equipment to sift through ranging from tents, backpacks and boots to stand-up paddleboards, camp stoves and just about anything else you can think of that is suitable for the outdoors. In short, it is gear nirvana with the latest and greatest products that will be filling our store shelves in the months ahead.

As usual, the Gear Junkie has done a good job of previewing some of the products that will be at the show in a few days. In a post that went up last week, and I'm only just now getting a chance to share, GJ gives us a nice glimpse of a few of the items that may be of interest to outdoor enthusiasts. For instance, there is a sneak peek at new sleeping bags coming from Sierra Designs. What sets these bags apart from the crowd is that one features waterproof down – a vast improvement over traditional down fill – while the other has a zipperless design with a built in "comforter." Other gear items in the preview include SUP boards that have built in lights powered be a rechargeable battery, a new tent from Big Agnes and a super-lightweight shell jacket from Bergans.

This is all just scratching the surface however and there will be hundreds, if not thousands, of new products on display. If you're in the market for an expensive new piece of gear, you'll probably want to delay your purchase at least through this week so that you can see what the gear companies have in the pipeline. You may be able to get older models at substantially reduced prices or the next big thing could very well be exactly what you're looking for.

I arrive in Salt Lake City on Wednesday morning and have appointments with many gear companies running through Saturday. As I have in the past, I intend to share some thoughts from the show floor, including photos, on both Facebook and Twitter. If you're interested in seeing what's new from the outdoor industry, you may want to give me a follow. Hopefully I'll have plenty of good stuff to show.

Here in the States we're still a couple of weeks away from the Summer Outdoor Retailer show, which will unveil all of the great new gear we can expect to see on store shelves in the months ahead. But across the pond in Europe their big gear show, known as OutDoor Friedrichshafen, just wrapped up with plenty of new products making their debut. Our friends over at EpicTV were on hand to check out the latest gear and they've been posting videos to a YouTube playlist for all of us to enjoy. If you're a gear hound of any kind, you'll probably want to check out some of the videos for yourself. Here's an example of what EpicTV has put together. It's a sneak peak at the new ultralight Exos backpacks coming from Osprey, something I'm looking forward to seeing for myself in a few weeks.

Still haven't gotten your fill of gear coverage from the just-completed 2013 Outdoor Retailer Winter Market? Then you're in luck, because there are still a few sneak-peeks to be had, including part two of the the Gear Junkie`s Best in Show Awards and another video from the gang at Off Yonder.

In his extended picks for the best new gear on display at OR, the Gear Junkie shares some really interesting stuff that will be appearing on store shelves later this year. For instance, he has the scoop on an amazing new sleeping bag from Sea to Summit that is rated for 46ºF/8ºC, weighs just 12.3 ounces (348 grams) and packs down to the size of a "large apple." We also get a preview of a new modular backpack system from Boreas that adapts to the needs of the user by adding or removing the components you need for the adventure you're about to embark on. Other new products include new split toed running shoes from several companies, a new ski suit from Salomon and innovative insulating fabrics from Polartec that will be in a variety of jackets by next winter.

Finally, the video below gives us another great, first-hand look at some of the gear that was on display, including products from Keen, Gregory Packs, Eton and more. It's the third and final video produced by Cameron Martindell from Off Yonder and if you're the kind of person who can't get enough gear news, you'll definitely enjoy it.

Yesterday I shared a couple of Outdoor Retailer Winter Market round-ups that gave us a sneak-peek at some of the gear we can expect to find on store shelves later in the year. But the team over at Off Yonder went the extra mile by compiling a bunch of video clips shot on location at OR to give us a glimpse at even more products. The first of these videos can be found below and you'll find a second one after the jump.

Thanks to the National Geographic Adventure for sharing these clips. Good stuff for those of us who couldn't make it!

Over the weekend the 2013 Outdoor Retailer Winter Market came to a close, putting an end to the bi-annual gear fest where the latest and greatest equipment is unveiled to the public. Most of the gear that was shown there won't be available until late in the year, but it gives us a sneak peek at what will be appearing on store shelves in the months ahead. Some of our online friends posted good gear round-ups and shared their thoughts on the best new products that will be competing for our hard-earned cash in the semi-near future. Here's a look at what you can expect.

The Gear Junkie is always a great source of information from any of the OR shows and this Winter Market is no exception. As usual, he's posted his picks for the Best In Show, spotlighting his favorite products that were on display there. Amongst the gear items garnering this distinction were a light-weight, space age tent from Easton Mountain Products that features an out of this world price tag of $2000. That's just the tip of the gear-iceberg if you will however, as GJ also gives the nod to a helmet from C-Preme that comes with a built-in action camera, new waterproof backpacks from Mountain Hardwear that incorporate the company's proprietary OutDry fabrics and new ultralight base layers from Brooks Running. The Gear Junkie has plenty of other items on his list as well and if you're a gear junkie in your own right, you'll probably want to check out the full article.

Outside Online also shares some sneak-peeks at gear from the show, offering up their picks for the best new products on hand as well. Some of those items include the new Utility Vest from Dakine which is for the backcountry skier who doesn't want to wear a backpack on his or her excursions. They also liked the new on-mountain communications system from Backcountry Access (BCA) that is designed to keep skiers in constant contact when traveling in potentially dangerous areas. Outside was also impressed with a new water bottle from Vapur that incorporates a filter right into the nozzle. It looks like a fantastic option for drinking safe and clean water in the backcountry, especially for those who like to go as light as possible.


Finally, Trailspace always does a good job of keeping us informed of the latest gear from the show and this year is no exception. Their OR Winter Market coverage is conveniently located on a single page, giving us quick access to all of their previews and notes. That page features photo galleries, videos and plenty of other information on some of the excellent gear that was on display, including new insulated boots from Vasque and new snowshoes from a variety of companies including Tubbs, Easton and more.

If you're in the market for any kind of new gear, particularly for cold weather adventures, you'll want to give these articles a look. With the Winter OR now behind us, I'm already looking ahead to the Summer show in August. I plan to once again be on hand for that event, sharing my own thoughts on the best gear on display there.