Twice a year, in January and August, the Outdoor Retailer Show (OR) takes place in Salt Lake City. This is where product manufacturers present their next season’s products. Right now, it’s Fall 2015. Retail buyers and journalists come to learn about what the latest and greatest items will be hitting the market later in the year.
For me, it’s where I make connections with the manufacturers (well usually their fab PR people) to hear about what’s coming to market and may be appropriate for our readers. I then review many of these items in my WanderGear Wednesday posts.
Last week I attended OR. In addition to meeting with upwards of 30 PR folks, I also had a chance to just walk the floor to make some new discoveries. Here are some of the more interesting things I found.
goTenna
The item that got me most excited was a device I had already known about but hadn’t seen in person yet.
goTenna produces communication devices that work through an iPhone app. The brilliant thing is that you don’t need a cell, WiFi or satellite connection to communicate with someone else through your phone. I know that one day this won’t amaze me so much but, for now, I think this is a huge game changer.
I can just imagine the many uses including hiking where there’s no cell connection and someone gets lost or during an earthquake or other natural disaster when power’s out and cell connection is jammed. This smart little device is going to save lives. Period.
Currently this is only available for pre-order (Jon and I already have our order in) and, according to the gals at the OR booth, these should be shipping in March.
Sierra Designs Two-person Sleeping Bag
For couples who love to camp, our options have been pretty limited in terms of sleeping, I mean actually sleeping, together. It usually consists of zipping together two bags–and making sure before you even buy them that they are compatible to do just that.
But Sierra Designs has just come out with a two-person bag. The bag is similar to the Backcountry Bed 800 sleeping bag I recently reviewed. There’s no zipper on this one, just a comfy blanket-like insert that you can pull up to cover yourself or pull down if you’re too warm.
Jon and I have always had separate sleeping bags when we camp but I’ve heard from friends that the body heat generated by two people in a bag is quite significant. We might have to give this a try. 🙂
Klymit Sleeping Pad
I just happened to walk by the Klymit booth and was struck by the looks of this strange sleeping pad (the one with the holes in it). It didn’t take long for me to figure out the benefit of having a pad with such a design–it’ll pack down nice and small and be super lightweight.
Oh my gosh–if I only had this on the Snowman Trek! I think back to what I (OK, the ponies) carried in my bag for that trip and wince. I brought an older inflatable sleeping pad that I’m sure I picked up at the Army/Navy store years ago. Not only is it heavy (relative to the Klymit) but it’s also bulky, taking up precious space in my bag. D’oh!
InCase Action Camera Pro Pack
I struggle with how to best carry my GoPro camera when I travel. While this bag might be a bit overkill for my needs, I think the idea behind it is awesome. This backpack from InCase is built to carry all of your sport video camera needs. If you own one of these cameras, you already know how cumbersome all of the cords and accessories are.
But this bag allows you to neatly organize cords, camera backs, batteries, monopods, etc.
While I’m not sure this big bag is right for me, the organizing bags and carrier for the camera itself look awesome.
AVEX Water Bottles
This is another company I just happened upon as I was wandering the aisles of the show. It’s hard to make a “special” water bottle but I really liked what the folks at AVEX are doing.
These folks specialize in spill-proof valves. As someone who had a water bottle leak out into her laptop, um, yeah, I get the value of having a water-tight bottle!
The bottle I picked up at the show (shown above), is also meant for one-handed use. So I can work out on the treadmill, go for a run or have my other hand full while I’m walking through the airport and simply flip open the cap and drink with the hand that’s holding the bottle.
Watch for full reviews of these and other products in the coming months. And if there are things you’d like to know more about (clothes, shoes, accessories), lemme know.
Be Bold,
Beth
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