by Alicia MacLeay
Cooking without fire, the lightest snow sport helmet, an AT boot that automatically switches from walk to ski mode, a new packraft, plus insulation and footwear. Check out some highlights from Day 1 of Outdoor Retailer.
Baro Cook without Fire
Cook without fire with Korean company Baro Cook. Place a Baro one-time-use 20g heating pad in a Baro Cook plastic container, which come in various sizes and shapes. Add 40 ml of water. Once things start steaming, nest in the stainless steel bowl and add your food inside it. Things will heat up to 98°C (around 200°F).
Of course, one wonders what is in those little heat packets. I was told they are non-chemical, non-toxic, and "from nature," containing 18 natural ingredients. barocook.net
Berghaus Comes to U.S.
In 1974, Berghaus was the first company to introduce a rucksack with an internal frame, in 1977 it was the first European brand to use Gore-tex commercially, and more recently it pioneered the use of hydrophic down with its proprietary HydroDown. Now the technical outdoor, British brand is bringing its Extrem, Mountain, and Trail apparel and pack lines to the United States.
Above the Ramche Hyper Down Jacket ($299) and the Ulvetanna Hybrid Down Jacket ($329) with 850 loft both feature body mapping specific for men and women. Look for Berghaus stateside later this year.
Icebreaker Even Warmer with MerinoLoft
Icebreaker is offering its warmest layers ever, with recycled Merino. Its new MerinoLoft jackets, including the Helix Hood (men's above; women's Halo Hood not shown, $289), are made from premium merino teased apart to create a lightweight insulation that traps warmth. They include 10 percent recycled merino loft and a recycled polyester water-resistant shell.
For its 2014 Art in Nature collection, Icebreaker is teaming up with British snow artist Simon Beck (you know, the guy who makes amazing snow art just by walking in his snowshoes). The collection includes monochromatic shirt designs inspired by snowflakes, cubes, and spirals from Beck's artwork, like the grey zip-neck above.
K2: The Shaxe and The Route
Combine a Rescue Shovel Plus and an ice axe and you get the Shaxe, the brainchild of Mike Hattrup, skier and Global Director of K2’s Adventure category. The rescue shovel comes with an interchangeable ice axe head and Rescue Kit hardware for sled construction. "The goal is to create multipurpose tools so you carry less into the backcountry," said K2's Mike Powell.
Weight: 810 g
MSRP: $139.95
Available Now
K2 claims its Route helmet is the lightest snow sport helmet on the market. The Route is certified for both biking and ski, features 48 air holes with space to mount lighting, and offers an optional rain slick to cover holes.
Weight: 320 g
MSRP: $150
Available fall 2014
Scarpa: F1 Evo Boot
Scarpa's F1 Evo is the first alpine touring ski boot to automatically switch between ski and walk modes. The Tronic hands-free mechanism switches the boot from ski to walk—engaging and disengaging the modes—based on whether the heel is locked into the binding. The F1 Evo features a Boa closure on the bottom half and a quick-release buckle and strap combo on the upper half.
Weight: 2 lb 7 oz per boot
Available winter 2014 in men's and women's
MSRP: $699
Mountain Hardwear Super Compressor
Mountain Hardwear called the Super Compressor Hooded Jacket its piece de resistance. A stand-alone for cold belays and expeditions, it features 100 grams of Mountain Hardwear's proprietary Thermal.Q Elite insulation, two pack- and harness-compatible PU zip handwarmer pockets, a helmet-compatible hood, and 20D nylon ripstop fabric.
Weight: 1 lb
MSRP: $295
Available fall 2014
American Built by Keen
Keen's Duran Mid WP is an "American Built" waterproof hiker. It features dual compound rubber outsole and an integrated PU heel cushion for traction, durability, and comfort.
The Durand WP is built only five miles from Keen's headquarters in Portland, Ore. Opened in 2010, the Portland Factory is a 15,000 square foot facility that assembles shoes using a direct-inject process, which adheres the outsole of the shoe directly to the upper to increase durability.
MSRP: $180 Mid; $160 Low
Available in men's and women's
Available fall 2014
Vasque Eriksson GTX
Vasque got some European design inspiration for its new Eriksson GTX backpacking boot (above left, next to the Sundowner). The Eriksson features a waterproof, full-grain leather upper, a Gore-tex lining, and a composite, three-part midsole.
Weight: 3 lb 3 oz (men's). 2 lb 13 oz (women's)
MSRP: $219.99
Available fall 2014
Packrafting with Klymit
Above, Matt Maxfield, R&D Manager at Klymit, attempts to hand-paddle the OR aisles in the LiteWater Dinghy (LWD). Designed for the paddling adventurer's backpacking trip to a high mountain lake, canyoneering, crossing rivers, or getting to that secret fishing hole, the packraft packs small (4.5 x 9 inches), but is ready for big adventures. An inflatable seat cushion keeps you dry and out of the water.
Weight: 35 oz / 992 g
Inflated Size: 43 x 71 in / 107 x 180 cm
Capacity: 350 lbs / 159 kg
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