ORWM 2018 Coverage

Will Rietveld usually posts about it, but I don’t see it yet on his page.

http://ultralightinsights.blogspot.com/search/label/Outdoor%20Retailer

I’m here working the OR Winter Market (my company has a booth) and while I’ve walked the whole show I haven’t had time to take a serious look at anything. It’s a really big show this year, since it was combined with the Snow Show, and while Will may be able to uncover some hidden gems I only noticed a new North Face softshell that incorporates stretch Gore Tex. Nice, but the stretch feature is only in particular areas of the jacket. Plenty of fashion-oriented “outdoor” brands here too. Get yourself a pretty model in some outdoorsy looking clothes, add a snow scene and bam, you’re an outdoor brand.

I do have to say there is a truly unbelievable selection of shoes/boots and jackets on display. Sorting through it all and making a good choice gets harder every year.

Looks like Will has an article up on OR 2018, but there’s nothing too exciting yet:
http://ultralightinsights.blogspot.ca/2018/01/highlights-from-outdoor-retailer-winter.html

Will usually runs several OR stories, the next one went up today:

http://ultralightinsights.blogspot.ca/2018/01/highlights-from-outdoor-retailer-winter_30.html

Interesting to me:

• Lifestraw Flex Water Filtration System looks like a clone of the Katadyn BeFree
• Big Agnes AXL Sleeping Pad, challenging the Thermarest NeoAir
• Western Mountaineering Quilts

All coming Spring 2018 -ish.

— Rex

That BA pad will come in a wide width, regular length at 13 oz. Sounds very nice. I know a lot of people have been clamoring for a wide/regular air pad.

Still nothing to carry it all for you :(

The LifeStraw filter seems quite a bit different from the BeFree: it can be screwed onto a normal soda bottle, it can be backflushed, and it has a 2-stage filter (hollow-fiber and a replaceable “carbon capsule”):

https://www.rei.com/product/129674/lifestraw-flex-2-stage-multi-function-water-filter-system

Big Agnes does have some nice stuff. As discussed in another thread, the AXL pads look promising, and that Tiger Wall UL tent looks interesting. Pretty similar to a Fly Creek in design, but with a more boxy shape that looks roomier. Not sure I could go back to a tent that pitches with the inner first though.

Also interesting is Patagonia’s Capilene Air. It’ll be interesting to find out how this compares the Capilene Lightweight.

As mentioned, surprising and interesting to see WM getting into quilts. Indeed quilts are the way to go for warmer conditions. Sounds like WM is doing a nice job with these, with their 7D fabric.

More of a people observation than new product news, but the OR show was spread over 3 levels of the big Denver convention center. As you might expect for this show’s focus, its attendees were primarily younger, fit, active, outdoor lifestyle type people.  That being said, I noticed that almost NOBODY was taking the stairs between floors. Escalators and stairs were side-by-side, and it probably skewed 50-1 for the escalators. Maybe it’s just me (I took the stairs), but I found that to be kind of funny.

‘Not sure I could go back to a tent that pitches inner first, though ’

Preach on, brother

I’ve spent way too much time at large convention centers for multi-day events. I’ve learned to pace myself, and take elevators and escalators whenever possible.

— Rex

“That being said, I noticed that almost NOBODY was taking the stairs between floors. Escalators and stairs were side-by-side, and it probably skewed 50-1 for the escalators. Maybe it’s just me (I took the stairs), but I found that to be kind of funny.”

Kinda reminds me of this old commercial