OR Summer Market
Dentists have conventions. Tech geeks have conventions. Gun lovers have lots of conventions.
None of these other conventions, however, can hold a candle to Outdoor Retailer, the twice-annual outdoor industry gathering at the Salt Palace Convention Center in Salt Lake City. That's because no one knows how to have fun like outdoor lovers. The people who show up to OR throw themselves off cliffs or freeze their asses off in the mountains for fun, so when they get together it goes off.
We recently spent a couple days at OR drinking beer, not sleeping enough and looking at the products brands will be releasing for next summer. There were thousands of new gadgets being pitched, but here's a gallery featuring the products we're most excited about and look forward to testing when the prototypes become production models.
Photo: Jakob Schiller/Element.ly
Smith Overtake
Here's why we love the new $250 Overtake road helmet from Smith.
It uses Koroyd (those tubular things you see in the vents), a breathable material the company claims offers 30 percent more impact protection than traditional EPS.
It's super aerodynamic. Almost as aerodynamic as the Specialized Evade, which is a big deal because the Evade is considered an industry leader in aerodynamics.
It's beautiful.
Photo: Jakob Schiller/Element.ly
Mio FUSE
The $179 Mio FUSE does a lot of things that we care about. Most importantly, it's a heart rate monitor on your wrist that's ANT+ and Bluetooth compatible so it will sync with devices like the Garmin 1000. Be gone annoying heart rate monitor across your chest.
The FUSE is also a performance monitor that will track your steps, calories, pace, speed and distance, so you can get rid of your other, inferior fitness tracker.
We appreciate it when companies find a way to combine multiple devices into one and look forward to riding, running and living with the FUSE on our wrist.
Photo: Jakob Schiller/Element.ly
Arc'teryx Alpha2 FL
Arc'teryx makes bad ass jackets, packs and harnesses. Now they make hella nice shoes as well.
They'll be rolling out eight models next year, but the crème de la crème is the low-cut approach Alpha2 FL ($270), which works a lot like a ski boot, with a shell and a swappable Gore-Tex liner. The shoe comes standard with a low-cut spring/summer liner that’s more breathable, but people can also buy a high-cut winter liner that's insulated.
In addition to swapability, liners are also a smart feature because they offer better waterproofing, are washable, and dry faster.
The shell of the shoe is made using lamination, which means there's no stitching. No stitching means you can beat the shoe up even more than your regular pair of hikers and they'll be just fine.
Photo: Jakob Schiller/Element.ly
Eddie Bauer BC Cubed Jacket
Light is definitely right in the outdoor industry these days. Everyone is making a super feathery shell that packs down to nothing but offers plenty of protection for when the winds start whipping or the rain starts falling.
What sets the Eddie Bauer BC Cubed ($499) apart is that it's more durable. So you get an ultra lightweight jacket that you beat the crap out of.
It's tough because it's built with Cuben Fiber Laminate, a non-woven material made of Dyneema fibers. And Dyneema, by weight, is much stronger than steel.
Photo: Jakob Schiller/Element.ly
Hydro Flask Beer Pint
Hydro Flask has taken its double wall vacuum insulated technology and applied it to the beer pint ($21.99).
Hell yes.
If you've ever used one of their other products, you know just how well they work, so we look forward to enjoying icy-cold beers all the way to the last sip.
Photo: Jakob Schiller/Element.ly
Nau Acoustic Short
Nau makes some of the nicest commuter stuff on the market and we can't wait to pedal around in the new Acoustic short ($130).
The shorts are made from a softshell material with a DWR finish, which means they're comfortable, have a nice range of motion, and won't soak out when the rain starts falling.
In terms of design, the Acoustic shorts are clean and understated, which is exactly what we want when we're out cruising around on our way to the local pub.
Photo: Jakob Schiller/Element.ly
adidas Outdoor X King
The Outdoor X King mountain running shoes from adidas are just prototypes and in possible development for Spring 16.
They grabbed our attention because outsole is made from Continental's well-known and well-loved X King mountain bike tires. The shoe also features seamless welding, which insures durability.
If these shoes perform under our feet like the tires perform on a bike, they could quickly become a cult favorite.
Photo: Jakob Schiller/Element.ly
