Since there was too much good gear to talk about in only one post, I’m writing about gear for summer 2013 in two separate posts. This is my follow up to last week’s write up discussing footwear, women’s travel wear, and portable power chargers.
Camping Gear
If you saw me at the show, I probably talked your ear off about Alite Designs. I couldn’t stop talking about this company. Based in San Francisco, Alite Designs produces useful, fun camping gear that (and I quote from their website), “make you wonder why you’re still inside”. My favorite products from Alite were the two-legged Monarch Chair ($70) and their Mantis Chair ($120).
I also was impressed with Cocoon and their sleeping accessories, especially their mummy pillow. The pillow is incredibly light and fits perfectly into a mummy shaped sleeping bag. It will be in stores spring 2013.
Eagles Nest Outfitters (ENO), who are well known for their hammocks, displayed new down quilt blankets known as the Blaze and the Ignitor. The blankets fit perfectly around an ENO SingleNest hammock. Who knew lying in a hammock could get any more comfortable? Seriously.
I loathe buying bottled water. When I travel I try to bring a purifier so I can avoid doing this. The Steripen Freedom and the Camelbak All Clear water purifier are two products that I’m looking forward to testing out on my upcoming trips to Cuba and Bhutan. The Camelbak All Clear ($99) is meant more for backcountry trips, but I think it will fare well on trips abroad. A major plus with the All Clear is that it comes with its’ own water bottle.
The Steripen Freedom ($120) is the smallest, first rechargeable UV water purifier and provides 8000 treatments. It comes with its’ own small solar charger and can purify .5 L of water in 48 seconds. WOW.
Sunglasses (Functional and Fashionable)
The message from the masses was heard loud and clear at OR; People want sunglasses that perform AND look good. And the sunglass designers have listened, showcasing a number of options that combine style and practicality (not to mention include polarized lenses and extremely durable frames). Smith Optics displayed excellent new models, one frame that caught my eye was the Shoreline. Continuing to dominate the magnetic lenses interchange sunglass market was Switch Vision, another favorite of mine. Last but not least there was Zeal Optics and Optic Nerve, two smaller sunglass companies I saw for the first time at OR, which had impressive performance and lifestyle options to choose from.
The Pennylane from Zeal Optics.
An Honorable Mention…
Waterproof cases were very popular at the OR show. These cases protect your iPhones and iPods while you’re out stand up paddleboarding (see below) or kayaking. DryCASE has a vacuum-sealed waterproof phone cover that comes with a floatable armband. It’s perfect for yes, you guessed it-stand up paddleboarding.
On a Final Note….
If you haven’t gotten on the SUP bandwagon yet, well, you best hop on it. Stand Up Paddleboarding (SUP boarding) has exploded the outdoor market, and the sport is expecting their biggest year yet in 2013. If you’re thinking about trying it out, check out my post on SUP boarding. It’s so easy your grandmother could do it.
Photograph of Pennylane sunglasses courtesy of ZEAL Optics.