If I had to summarize OR with one word, I think that word would be "encouraging."
"Encouraging" because of many things, but particularly because one major trend I noticed at the show was a shift toward lighter gear. Hard goods (packs, tents, sleeping bags, etc) are tending toward lighter materials and construction, and soft goods (clothing) are becoming lighter weight across the board. More people are realizing that lighter weight doesn't necessarily mean a practical increase in fragility. With the exception of one vendor (who showed me a 1-pound propane cylinder fueled coffee maker), most vendors knew immediately who Backpacking Light is and what we're trying to do. The vast majority of them had quite a bit of respect for BPL and were legitimately interested in our feedback... we represent the shifting trend in the market that seems obvious to nearly everyone.
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