As we enter a new year, we can’t help but wonder when winter will release its grip, and we can once again replace our titanium crampons with zero drop shoes and leave the handwarmers at home as we begin the process of planning trips for the coming year.
With that trip planning comes a twinge of excitement, perhaps, for what new gear will be released this year, starting with this coming week’s announcements from the Outdoor Retailer Show. Unfortunately, missing from Outdoor Retailer (and rightfully so, considering the massive costs of renting a booth) is news from the cottage industry.
So, here are a few new and noteworthy pieces of gear from smaller manufacturers that were either released late in 2011 or are coming in 2012. Keep these items on your radar as you prepare for the coming season.
ARTICLE OUTLINE
- Summary
# WORDS: 2600
# PHOTOS: 13
Member Exclusive
A Premium or Unlimited Membership* is required to view the rest of this article.
* A Basic Membership is required to view Member Q&A events
Discussion
Become a member to post in the forums.
Any time i'm dealing with UL fabrics, i always use 'bungy' cord at atress points to spread the load. :)
Use a loop of bungy/shock cord at each corner of the bivvy, and stake that instead of the loops on the bivvy. A sleeping man can put a lot of stress on a tie-out when he turns in his sleep.
Great overview of some cool items. You mention the Outdoor Retail Show which I think starts this week. Are you guys doing you're normal coverage ? – I always enjoy your insights and look forward to the multiple days of articles.
Thanks Mike!
Yeah, I want to know about the down also. If it works out al of my down stuff would be on the swap within a few days.
Just curious: why do folks stake out their bivy? I have the tie-outs on mine, but have never used them.
Only thing I can think of is if you're at a basecamp and you don't want it to blow away while you're gone.
Me too, please! Who else will be selling us 'hydrophobic down' products? I know about Berghaus and Kjus (the ski brand), I wouldn't be surprised if there weren't others.
Regarding the hydrophobic down being discussed – I really hope that if this works there will be the opportunity to retro-proof our old gear rather than everyone shelling out for expensive new hydrophobic down gear- especially when down has a potentially long usable life.
MEC in Canada has sleeping bags available now. Anybody up to test one for us?
I thought there would be more comments by now.
I really admire Ron Moak's design (re-design?) of the tents in the Skyscape series. And he's got a Skyscape for just about every pocketbook and user, from Scouts to
UL backpackers.
The Skyscape X is the one I lust after with it's very low weight – to match its very high price. But it does show that combinming the familiar tarpers' aspects of a Cuben tarp, groundloth and full mosquito net gives a true tent that is lighter than the tarper's setup.
But being a silnylon TT Moment owner, and fonder still of that design, I TRULY lust after a Moment in a durable weight Cuben fabric.
Become a member to post in the forums.