Trailspace Blog
Outdoor Retailer: New Kids Outdoor Gear
Getting more kids actively outdoors has become a mission for the outdoor industry in the past couple of years, and a number of companies introduced new children's outdoor gear, footwear, and technical clothing at Outdoor Retailer in August.
For various reasons (blame it on the economy, a glut of new outdoor products, or lack of interest), quite a few of those debuts didn't make the final cut for spring/summer 2009 (a disconcerting trend on its own). However, here are some new-for-2009 items that did make the cut, and that may help your little one gear up and get out.
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Deuter Climber Weight: 1 lb 12 oz |
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Deuter Junior Weight: 15 oz |
 | Slumberjack Kids Composite Mat Weight: 1 lb 12 oz |
 | Roonwear “Mountain to C” and Roonbug Collections No See Em ActiviT No See Em Haulin Cargo Pants |
 | Sierra Designs Boulder and River Rock Pants MSRP: $45 |
 | Merrell Chameleon Strap Mid Weight: 14 oz |
 | Merrell Chameleon Leather Mid Waterproof MSRP: $70 |
For more kids outdoor gear available now from these and other brands, visit Trailspace's reviews and information on kids backpacks, sleeping bags, clothing and outerwear, and footwear.
And remember, even more important than the gear, is getting out there in the first place.
It's Time to Vote...for Trails
The election is still a month away, but it's already time to vote, for trails that is. Twenty finalists have been selected for the American Hiking Society and Nature Valley's Save the Trails grants.
Visit www.wheresyours.com in October and cast a vote for your favorite trail project. Help extend a loop trail in Hawaii. Supply the Lulu Lake Land Trust in Georgia with maps, signage and trailhead gates. Introduce recreational walking and hiking to an impoverished New Mexico community. Restore legal public access to Wilson's peak in Colorado. These are just a handful of the projects that you can make a reality. AHS and Nature Valley will grant $5,000 each to ten finalists.
The 16 winning projects for the American Hiking Society's 2008 National Trails Fund have already been named and are listed at www.americanhiking.org/NTFReceipients.aspx?id=5
National Trails System Turns 40
The National Trails System was signed into law on October 2, 1968, with the Appalachian and Pacific Crest Trails becoming the first National Trails. Forty years later, the National Trails System totals more than 60,000 miles of scenic, historic,
and recreation trails in all 50 states and is longer than the Interstate Highway System.
For more info: www.nps.gov/nts
SendMeHome.com: Helping Lost Gear Find Its Way
What would happen to your GPS receiver, backpack, or ice axe if someone forgot them at the airport, the trailhead parking lot, or even on top of a mountain? (Trust me, this does happen.) If you’re lucky, you’ll find them in a lost-and-found bin (or table, like at right) before anyone else. Or you'll hope the finder can ID you as the owner and contact you. If not, you’ll be looking for replacement gear.
Aiming to make the recovery process easier is SendMeHome.com, which launched this month and claims to be the first free lost-and-found recovery service in the world. At SendMeHome.com you can register anything of personal or monetary value—tents, backpacks, that sweet new soft shell that broke your gear budget.
I have yet to use SendMeHome, but for free it sounds like a simple and worthwhile
service, one that will prove itself—and the kindness of strangers—only after you lose something.
Here's how it works. Each item gets a unique and anonymous ID code. You can write this code on the item, print free labels, or order professional labels. If your contact information changes update it on the site. The site is entirely free, unless you opt to buy labels, and you can register an unlimited number of items. If you lose something, SendMeHome.com lets you communicate anonymously with anyone who finds it in order to arrange for its return.
Here’s hoping no one forgets your new ice ax at the summit, but if you register it with SendMeHome.com first, you at least stand a chance of seeing it again.
For more information: www.sendmehome.com/about
See Timmy Slackline (Way) Up High
We've done this before with Yvon Chouinard, Conrad Anker, and Steph Davis, but here's the latest short film from Timex Expedition's Return to the Outdoors campaign, in partnership with The Conservation Alliance.
Timmy O’Neill highlining in Cracked Canyon at the Ophir Wall, San Juans, Colorado:
There's also a new clip of Rick Ridgeway surfing in Mexico.
For more information: www.returntotheoutdoors.com
Monday is World Carfree Day
Monday, September 22, is World Carfree Day, a day for people to remind the
world that we don't have to accept a car-dominated society. Consider cycling, walking, or public transport instead of the automobile. It's also an excellent reason to hit the trails for a hike, run, or bike ride on the first day of fall. You just can't drive to the trailhead.
For more info: www.worldcarfree.net/wcfd/
Outdoor Retailer Trend Alert: Skirts Hit the Trails
Female runners have probably noticed that skirts and skorts have come into athletic vogue (see the August cover of Runner's World, anyone?). Since 2005, SkirtSports has led the athletic skirt craze, with other running-oriented companies following suit.
But now outdoor companies are joining the skirt movement, offering more technical options for trail running, hiking, and other outdoor pursuits.
Whether you adore skirts' blend of fashionable femininity and function, or are wary of looking "cute" while on the trail, here are just a few of the outdoor skirts and skorts debuting in spring/summer 2009. There's even something below just for the guys.
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Arc’teryx Visio Skort |
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Arc’teryx Escala Skort
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 | Mountain Hardwear Pacer Skort Designed for trail running and other endurance activities, the 14.5-inch Pacer Skort is lightweight and quick drying. A side slit on the woven skirt aids mobility while a polyester, knit compression short with 3.5-inch inseam and anti-microbial properties prevents odor. It features a waist drawcord, internal key pocket, and rear zip pocket. It will also come in a shorts version. 6 oz., $55 |
 | Mountain Hardwear La Rambla Skirt The La Rambla, a 22-inch hiking and backpacking skirt, features a subtle textured nylon weave, flared hem, and slightly dropped seamless conical waist that fits under a pack. It has front hand pockets and two snap close cargo pockets. It will also come in a shorts version. 7 oz., $55 |
 | Patagonia Multi-Use Skirt The 14-inch Multi-Use Skirt is a soft, quick-drying, stretch-woven skirt for running, cycling, trekking, and around town use. It features a 3-inch, built-in compression short with interior back right pocket, flat knit waistband, and crossover front skirt panel with adjustable button closure and ties. 5.2 oz., $55 |
 | Sierra Designs Purity Skirt |
 | GoLite Cali Skort |
 | GoLite Strawberry Short Skirt The shorter, 13-inch Strawberry Short Skirt has an ultra-lite poly shell, soft, flat knit waistband, and compression boy brief with 4.5-inch inseam. 6 oz., $50 |
 | Athleta Sherpa Skirt So, this one isn't new for 2009, but since it claims to be ready to take you up the mountain it earns a mention. The semi-fitted, 20-inch Sherpa Skirt is made from a stretchy, water-resistant, anti-static, Trek Tech fabric (nylon, polyester, and spandex) that's fleeced on the inside. It has four zippered pockets to hold snacks and other items on the trail. $69 |
 | Mountain Hardwear Mountain Kilt
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 | UtiliKilts |
Want to try a skirt on the trail, but don't want to wait for 2009? A number of running and hiking skirts are already available from brands like Cloudveil, Marmot, Outdoor Research, and Prana.
Check out all of our skirt reviews and product information. And share your outdoor skirt experience by writing a gear review.
Outdoor Retailer: Four-Season Backpacking Tents
Although Outdoor Retailer Summer Market is generally a showcase of spring/summer products, I saw several new four-season backpacking tents being unveiled. That is, tents build to withstand cold temperatures and winter snow loads, but not necessarily the high winds or cramped conditions associated with high-altitude mountaineering. These spring 2009 tents were designed more with the average winter backpacker in mind:
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Mountain Hardwear’s new Taurine 2 anchors the manufacturer’s “Mountain Performance” line of tents. Designed to fill the niche between the company’s expedition tents and 3-season “all mountain” tents, the four-season Taurine 2 combines high-end features like an internal guy system and lightweight webbing and buckles with creature comforts such as dual doors and vestibules and mesh storage pockets. The 33 square foot Taurine 2 weighs 7 lbs. 15 oz. and will retail at $475. |
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Hilleberg’s Kaitum 2 GT and Kaitum 3 GT build on the company’s lightweight, four-season Kaitum tunnel tents. The GT models feature extended vestibules, adding 12 square feet of full-height vestibule space to the 2-person model and 17 square feet to the 3-person version. The $845 Kaitum 2 GT provides 31 square feet of interior space and 38 of vestibule at 6 lbs. 4 oz., while the $895 Kaitum 4 GT provides 44 square feet (plus 45 square feet of vestibule) at 7 lbs 4 oz. |
 | The Kelty Foxhole 2 and Foxhole 3 feature welded, waterproof seams, two doors and two vestibules. Both tents include ample ventilation options, including mesh doors with solid panels that can be opened or closed to control airflow, and several hooded vents in the fly. The $380 Foxhole 2 offers 35 square feet of living space at 7 lbs. while the $420 Foxhole 3 is 45 sq. ft. and 9 lbs 4 oz. |
 | On the lightweight end of the spectrum, British tentmaker Terra Nova is bringing its full line of tents to the U.S., including several two-person, four-season backpacking models weighing less than five pounds. The 4 lb. 15 oz. Superlight Quasar is a lightened version of Terra Nova’s Quasar four-pole mountaineering tents. The 4 lb. 10 oz. Voyager features a minimalist 3-pole design, while the 4 lb. 15 oz. Voyager XL adds a sizable vestibule with a dedicated hoop-style fourth pole. |
Get the Kids Outside: Play With Fire and Knives
Yet more reasons to get the kids outside:
- A lack of time spent playing in the great outdoors can make kids literally shortsighted. That’s according to Australian researchers who found an association between high levels of outdoor activity and low rates of myopia (shortsightedness). (Via Treehugger and Hindustan Times)
- Also, a new British study blames over-protective Mom and Dad for the decline in outdoor play. The study found that half of all children have been stopped from climbing trees and 17 percent have been told they cannot take part in games of tag or chase. (Via Treehugger and The Guardian)
Want to help counteract these alarming trends?
Promise to take at least two kids outside as part of The Outdoor Foundation's "I Will" campaign. Not only will the kids benefit, but creating a new generation of backcountry enthusiasts is necessary for the future of outdoor recreation and the environment.- Parents who want creative, confident, in-control kids, also should watch Gever Tulley's short TED talk, “5 dangerous things you should let your kids do.” Tulley, co-founder of the Tinkering School (where kids get to play with power tools!), explains why children should own a pocketknife and play with fire, among other "dangerous" activities. I'm eager to read his forthcoming 50 dangerous things book.
Outdoor Retailer: Eat, Drink, and Be Merry
Amid all the tents, backpacks, and sleeping bags, I spotted a few interesting camp kitchen items at Outdoor Retailer:
For 2009, Mountain House has reduced the sodium content of ten of its most popular meals, replacing much of the salt content with sea salt and other flavorings. Mountain House also now has ten different meals available in their ProPak packaging, which is smaller, lighter, and vacuum-sealed. The company’s sole new entrée is a Beef Tostada (with “crispy tostada shells” – no word yet on how those survive being stuffed into a backpack).
Not new, but new to me, are the dehydrated meals from Peak Camp ’n Trail. These all-vegetarian offerings are priced between $3 and $4 – more than grocery store ramen, but less than most backcountry-oriented dehydrated meals. The “meat” meals use a wheat-based meat substitute that’s reasonably convincing and pack a decent caloric punch – about 100 calories per ounce for the entrées I sampled.
For those who enjoy watching the sunset with a robust merlot in hand, carrying quality wine into the backcountry just got a little easier. The 1-oz. Platypus PlatyPreserve carries a full 750 ml of any wine, at a fraction of the weight of the original glass bottle. More importantly, the PlatyPreserve addresses wine’s two taste-altering enemies: oxygen and ultraviolet light. By squeezing the PlatyPreserve, you can purge nearly all the air from the container, while a special UV-blocking plastic keeps out the harmful light. Platypus employees claim to have kept wine in the PlatyPreserve for up to six months without noticeable taste degradation. The PlatyPreserve will be available this fall for $13.
Speaking of taste, Guyot Designs is introducing the TapGuard, an activated carbon filter that nests in the mouth of Nalgene or other widemouth water bottles. The TapGuard won’t protect against nasties like giardia or cryptosporidium, but it will remove the taste of iodine or chlorine, combining with those treatments to provide a fresh-tasting alternative to pumping.
Harking back to the classic scouting mess kit, “integrated cookware systems” seemed to be all the rage at OR. Bowls, plates, and mugs designed to nest together were on display at the MSR and GSI Outdoors booths. The MSR version is available in pre-packages sets size for 2, 3, or 4 people. Primus’s new EtaPackLight stove includes a plate and bowl, not to mention a locking lid with built-in strainer. Also featuring a strainer-lid is the Vargo Titanium Sierra 750, a traditional Sierra Cup design made large enough to use as a pot or bowl. And to complete your multi-use cookset, Sea to Summit’s AlphaSet utensils have 3-, 4-, and 5-mm hex wrenches built into the handles – potentially useful for emergency stove repairs.
Outdoor Retailer Trend: Hiking Boots Get Trail Running Tech
For years, lightweight backpackers have been ditching their hiking boots in favor of lighter, more nimble trail running shoes. Now manufacturers are responding to that trend and revitalizing the “light hiker” category (traditionally based on watered-down backpacking boot concepts) with materials, construction, and designs pulled directly from their trail running lines.
 Montrail Hardrock Mid GTX
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Montrail’s new Hardrock Mid GTX is a mid-height version of the brand’s popular Hardrock trail runner. The Hardrock Mid GTX adds a supportive mid-height cuff, gusseted tongue, and GoreTex waterproof-breathable membrane. Montrail has also redesigned all Hardrocks to be lighter and lower-profile. The result? The mid-height version will actually be several ounces lighter than the current low-top. The Hardrock Mid GTX will be available this fall in men’s (12.6 oz., $175) and women’s (12 oz., $150) versions. |
 La Sportiva FC3.0 |
The La Sportiva FC (Flex Control) series applies lessons and features from La Sportiva’s trail running line, including dual-density EVA midsoles with a “flex control” feature that allows the boot to flex more naturally at the ball of the foot. The FC series will include four models each for men and women: the FC1.1 ($105) and FC2.0 GTX ($140) low day hikers, the mid-height FC3.0 ($150) and the full-height FC4.0 GTX ($170). |
 GoLite Footwear Speed of Lite | GoLite Footwear is back. After being discontinued earlier this year by Timberland, the brand has been resurrected by former Timberland employee Doug Clark. The Spring 2009 line will bring GoLite’s signature “Soft Against the Ground” outsoles to several models of lightweight hikers and fastpacking boots. The Speed of Lite and Pak Lite mid-height boots feature co-molded leather and EVA uppers, as does the multi-purpose Versa Lite low hiker. |
| Hi-Tec is bringing its 4:SYS midsole technology to two hikers, the Rainier eVent and the Cascadia XCm eVent. The 4:SYS midsole incorporates eight different densities of foam, mapped to the specific needs of different parts of the foot, for increased comfort and efficiency. Both boots also feature eVent waterproof-breathable membranes. The $200 Rainier is a full grain leather boot, while the $180 Cascadia incorporates a synthetic mesh upper. |
Outdoor Retailer: Bits and Pieces
Having escaped the Salt Palace and survived the domestic air travel system, I've finally had a chance to catch my breath and review my notes. Here are a few interesting tidbits I picked up over the weekend:
- Several companies traditionally associated with the snowsports market were present at Outdoor Retailer. Ski maker Rossignol and technical skiwear company Spyder were both displaying lines of “outdoor lifestyle” clothing. (And, to my eye both were more “lifestyle” than outdoor. Casual clothing seems like a strange niche to be targeted by two companies known for their technical gear.) Meanwhile, Salomon (“The Mountain Sports Company”) and Under Armour (the compression clothes company) both unveiled more-technical, hiking-specific clothing and outerwear lines.
- Primus has put the performance of their EtaPower and EtaExpress into a stove system built for two. The Eta PackLight features a one-liter pot and comes with a plate and bowl set that nest snugly with the pot and stove components. Like the other Eta stoves, the Eta PackLight includes a windscreen and built-in heat exchanger to maximize efficiency.
- Black Diamond has redesigned the popular Raven Pro mountaineering axe. The 2009 version will be lighter and the redesigned head will include two clip points for easier anchor construction. Black Diamond is also bringing their ferrata gear, previously available only in Europe, to the U.S. for the first time.
- Brunton is introducing a coated aluminum water bottle (BPA-free, natch) with a standard 53 mm wide mouth.
- British tentmaker Terra Nova, best known for their lightweight tents, is making a push into the U.S. market. With four retailers already on board, the Terra Nova crew is hoping to significantly expand their U.S. distribution in the coming year. The company is making its entire product line available to American retailers and for Spring 2009 is introducing a line of ultralight packs designed for adventure racing, trail running, and fastpacking.
Outdoor Retailer: Black Crater Cord Lock Light
Here’s a nifty multi-purpose gadget: the Cord Lock Light from Black Crater. As the name implies, this is a miniature LED light embedded within a cord lock. Weighing just a quarter of an ounce, the Cord Lock Light can replace a standard cord lock on your jacket, pack, or sleeping bag.
The $10 light runs on a single watch battery and has two brightness levels, plus a flashing mode. The switch to operate the light is separate from the cord-lock mechanism, so you’re not likely to inadvertently turn on the light when adjusting the cord lock. The Cord Lock Light is a bit larger than most standard cord locks, and not as bright as most dedicated lights, but it’s a novel way to keep a backup light source handy.
Outdoor Retailer: Trekking Poles
If you’ve gone shopping for trekking poles lately, you’re probably all-too aware of the numerous options available in grips, shocks, pole materials, and locking mechanisms – often obliquely named and presented in a dizzying array of combinations. Well, here are two more options to add to the mix:
Leki’s new Aergon grip adds an oval bulb to the top of the grip, so the pole can be held comfortably either as a trekking pole or comfortably palmed as a staff. The top of the Aergon grip is rubberized and textured for a secure grip, and it’s hollow to keep pole weight down. The Aergon grip will be available in February atop both cork and synthetic grips on 11 Leki models.
Komperdell has modified the top of their grips in an altogether different way with the Snaplock system, a trigger-like latch that allows you to adjust the height of the poles without ever taking your hands off the grips. Flick the Snaplock lever up with your forefinger and the pole unlocks; push down on the grip to shorten the pole, or lift up and a spring assist lengthens it. When the pole is at the right height, just pull the trigger to lock it in. The Snaplock pole will be available with both cork and synthetic grips.
Outdoor Retailer: Marmot MemBrain Strata
Marmot is introducing a new “2.5 layer” version of the company’s MemBrain waterproof-breathable laminate. Dubbed MemBrain Strata, the new laminate does away with the inner protective layer of fabric that’s typically required to protect the waterproof membrane. Instead, Marmot uses a thin “half layer” of printed-on material to do the job usually done by a third layer of fabric.
The result is an astonishingly lightweight finished product. Membrane Strata will appear in two jackets for spring 2009: the women’s Crystalline Jacket will weigh in at just 6 oz., and the men’s Mica at 6.5 oz. The jackets resemble a light wind shirt in both feel and look (the white version is somewhat see-through), but offer full waterproof-breathable protection. Both jackets will retail for $130.
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