Here’s our second batch of favs from the recent OR show in Salt Lake City.
goTenna
The goTenna ($150 for two) was probably the most innovative device we saw at OR and we suspect lots of people will be using them outdoors very soon.
GoTenna pairs with your iPhone or Android via Bluetooth and allows users to communicate with other goTenna users via text even if there's no cell service or wifi.
To do this, goTenna uses long-range radio waves. The company says the range depends greatly on the surrounding terrain, but in ideal conditions they can work up to 50 miles apart.
To be clear, goTenna does not allow a user to communicate with a regular cell phone. But they're affordable, so the expectation is that if you need to communicate, you make sure the person you want to talk to has one of the devices as well.
Photo: Jakob Schiller/Element.ly
Salomon S-Lab X Alp Carbon GTX
Kilian Jornet hepled designed the new S-Lab X Alp Carbon GTX ($300) mountaineering shoe from Salomon. That says a lot right there.
Jornet is famous for taking just a couple hours to run up mountains that take normal people days to climb. The bar he sets is silly high.
He wants The S-Lab X Alp Carbon GTX on his feet because they're super lightweight but can take a crampon. They also have a Gore-Tex liner to keep him dry, an integrated gaiter, and enough insulation to keep him comfy all the way down to 20 degrees.
We're not Kilian Jornet. But we very much look forward to testing these to see just how fast we can move when we're not being held back by a heavy pair of mountaineering boots.
Photo: Jakob Schiller/Element.ly
Big Agnes mtnGLO tent lights
Big Agnes's mtnGLO line of tents ($200-$600) made us have one of those "why the heck didn't we think of that" moments.
What they've done is sew a lightweight string of LEDs into the lining of various tent, so instead of having to turn on your headlamp, you just turn on your tent. The lights weigh almost nothing, give off enough light so you can get ready for bed, and have a super long running time on just two double A batteries.
Big Agnes is also selling a string of lights that you can add to your normal tent, pictured here.
Photo: Jakob Schiller/Element.ly
Osprey Aura AG
"Revolutionize" is a word we like to stay away from. But it's appropriate here because Osprey has indeed revolutionized the pack with their new Anti-Gravity Suspension system, featured in the Atmos AG and Aura AG ($260 for the 65L version).
What the company has done is build a suspension system that literally wraps around your body like someone hugging you. Instead of having to make tons of adjustments to get the pack to conform to your body, this suspension system does it for you. You still have to adjust some straps for the perfect fit, but we've never used a pack that felt so comfortable, right from the start.
Photo: Jakob Schiller/Element.ly
Black Diamond Ember Power Light
The Ember Power Light from Black Diamond will permanently live in our hiking and backpacking kits. Permanently.
There's nothing groundbreaking here, but BD has smartly mashed a flashlight with a USB charger, combining two of the most important things we rely on out in the woods.
And knowing BD, this thing will be reliable and last forever.
Photo: Jakob Schiller/Element.ly
Therm-a-Rest EvoLite
The EvoLite mattress ($120) from Therm-a-Rest caught our attention because it's a hybrid. It uses alternating foam and air channels to reduce the weight of traditional foam mattresses while amplifying loft. All told there are two inches of loft, which means you'll have an extra-comfy pad that's also plenty light (1 lb. 1 oz) and plenty packable.
Photo: Jakob Schiller/Element.ly
Salewa Speed Ascents
As you can see from the photo, the Salewa Speed Ascents ($140) have camber. Or put more plainly, they're bent in the toe and heal.
This curved, or rockered design, is for people who are running up or down hills because it helps the shoe meet the angle of the hill more head on, ensuring better traction.
Photo: Jakob Schiller/Element.ly
