by Seth Levy
Day three of Outdoor Retailer Summer Market was a parade of technological innovations. First, a fuel cell from PowerTrekk turned water into electricity. Next, Vargo Outdoors revived the external frame pack with a healthy dose of titanium! Last, Montane capped off the day with a totally waterproof sleeping bag packed with interesting features.
myFC PowerTrekk fuel cell
PowerTrekk
The myFC PowerTrekk is a fuel cell designed for backcountry use. Fill the tank with water, pressurize it and snap in one of the "pucks."
These disposable pucks are packed with a chemical that liberates the hydrogen from your water. The hydrogen seeps into a fuel cell that converts it into a clean 5 watts of 5 Volt DC power. Zap!
The system also has an internal battery that can be recharged externally, or from the fuel cell.
myFC PowerTrekk
Weight: 8.5 oz
Output: 5 Watts @5 Volts DC
Price: $229.99
Available: Shortly
Graeme Esarey demonstrated the myFC PowerTrekk fuel cell for us at Outdoor Retailer:
Vargo Outdoors
Vargo Ti-Arc external frame
Vargo Outdoors is revitalizing the external frame backpack category with the Ti-Arc, boasting innovative design features, including a pack frame constructed from titanium.
Vargo claims its titanium frame provides great support and adds very little weight. After trying on the Ti-Arc (albeit unloaded), I'd have to agree. At two pounds, the prototype model is lighter than many of my daypacks.
For those who'd like to push even further into the realm of exotic materials, Vargo will offer a model with a cuben-fiber packbag!
Vargo Ti-Arc
Weight: Approximately 2 lb
Capacity: 36 L
Price: $300
Available: Shortly
Chad North demonstrated the Vargo Ti-Arc titanium external-frame backpack:
Montane
Montane Minimus sleeping bag with roundels!
Montane Minimus stuff sack/pillow
Montane's summer offering is the Minimus, a ridiculously tricked out sleeping bag packed with 800+ fill goose down, sheathed in waterproof-breathable PERTEX Shield fabric. Even the zipper boasts water-repellent features!
The bottom of the Minimus is studded with silicone "roundels" (American translation: sticky dots) that prevent the bag from sliding on slick shelter floors. The stuff sack is a waterproof, roll-top dry bag that puffs up with air to double as a comfy pillow.
Montane Minimus
Weight: 30.6 oz
Temp Rating: EN Comfort 37-28°F
Price: $499
Available: Spring 2014
Stay tuned for more innovations as Outdoor Retailer continues Saturday. And don't forget to follow Trailspace on Facebook and Twitter for additional pictures and live reports from the show floor.
