Here we are again, back for another day of delicious OR Show goods from day two. The second day at any show is always the busiest. You already scanned the show floor on day one turning today into a strategic mapping event. Appointment count is always doubled, the long lunch break you had yesterday is replaced with cafeteria food and you run out of business cards before your last meeting.
Thanks again to everyone who spent time with us today. We covered so many great products today that we decided to spread the love out a little bit over the next few days. We’ll be back at OR Show tomorrow for day three after a morning side trip that we know you will love.
It’s now midnight, time to grab food and hit the sack.
Kicking off day two we made a stop at Mountainsmith. Our Rocky Mountain friends have been busy getting ready to launch an assortment of packs for you and your best friend this year. Their new Scream 25 (center) and Scream 55 (left) stood out. Both are tough, made from a 100D Nylon Ripstop exterior and 210D Nylon liner. Other standout features include breathable shoulder straps and back panels, room for a 3L hydration pouch, YKK zippers and the Scream 25 packs down into its own pocket.
The Fanny Pack is making a strong comeback in the outdoor nation. No longer are we associating the waist weapon with hammer-pants wearing gym rats and that guy Lou from the local pub. Embracing this movement, Mountainsmith is launching a new line of Lumbar Packs, picture is the Tour pack. It is reinforced with 610D Cordura HP fabric, has a tuck-away waistbelt, interior tablet sleeve, backpanel stash pocket, side reinforced bottle pockets, front panel bungie system and much more. Look for all their new packs early 2016.
They didn’t forget about man’s best friend either. Plenty of trail options for Spot and Buster.
If you’re in the market for a new EDC light, the F1R from LED Lenser (Leatherman) should be considered. This 1000 lumen pocket light clips to your jeans or pack, carries an IPX8 waterproof rating, the front is an interchangeable glass breaking ring for safety/escape, and weighs in at only 4.2oz. Comes with a convenient charging station.
Gerber’s Impromptu Pen is more than just a tough writing instrument. This machined steel pen is made in their Portland facility from a solid piece of steel. An integrated glass-breaker tip is made from tempered steel designed to get you out of trouble. It clips easily into your pocket and a “Rite in the Rain” ink cartridge means it will write in any weather condition. Check it out.
One of Adam’s favorite blades of the show was the new Gerber 39 Series Micarta. The Black Micarta handle is complimented by a 3-inch CPM-S30V steel blade combining handsome good looks and tough work ethics. A large ambidextrous thumbstud mounted directly on the top of the blade makes it very quick to open. The balance of the knife felt great in hand, action was smooth and the deep pocket clip is a nice touch.
Are you into rock climbing? Take a look at these three brand new offerings from CRKT. All three were designed by Hans Florine, a World Record Speed Climber. The NAID (bottom left) folds and loops into any piece of your gear for easy access. The two-piece design is easy to use because when you’re climbing, you need full use of both hands at all times. The BIVY (top center) is a single-handed multitool. With a simple button press, spring-assisted pliers explode from one end, ready for action. A folding knife, marlinspike, and screwdrivers are also onboard. You can clip the new HYPHENATE (bottom right) fixed-blade knife to your carabiner or to your pack in its nylon sheath. Two large holes help with grip and shave weight. Even if climbing isn’t your thing, all three of these new CRKT knives are great for camping and minimalist carry.
Well, The Terminator did say, “I’ll be back.” His Gargoyle glasses made famous in the movies are back. The company is being reborn, breathing new life into the old brand. As you’d expect, these are more than just ordinary sunglasses. They carry a true ANSI-Rating. That means you can fire a 22 rifle at them from 20 feet and your eyes will still be in your head. The frames are also nearly indestructible. We gave it our best shot stretching and pulling on them with no luck. These are a great choice for police, fire, military and tactical gurus. They have some great modern styles as well if The Terminator look isn’t for you.
The Kelty Redwing 50 Reserve impressed us with its LightBeam aluminum stay suspension. Everything can be adjusted for large and small users on the fly with dual suspension hip pulls. No need to remove the pack from your back. Load up, strap in, and go. The pack is hydration compatible, uses panel loading construction, has two water bottle pockets, and plenty of zippered pockets. We also liked the high-quality hardware surrounding the bag and convenient zipper pulls.
Coming to Kelty’s women’s line in Spring 2016 is the new Tru.Comfrot sleeping bag. It features a dual-layer interior, spacious headroom big enough to bring along your home pillow, and an open zippered foot area to let your footsies breathe at night. It will also launch for unisex and kids in Fall 2016.
Looking for a cookware setup for the entire family? The GSI Pinnacle Camper has everything you need in a portable package. Inside the included pouch is a 3L pot, 2L pot, 2 strainer lids, 9-inch fry pan, four 14fl.oz. mugs with insulated sleeves, four 14fl.oz. bowls, four 7.5-inch plates, four Sip-It tops, folding pot gripper and a welded sink. Everything you need for 2 to 4 people backpacking or car camping. The carry pouch doubles as a sink or wash basin.
Before we even made it to the show, Adam was raving about his love of Superfeet. Adding to their collection this year is something for the Hunting crowd. All three insoles use Merino Wool and feature plenty of support for packing out large packs and kills. A long trek out of the bush is one thing, a long trek out with a 300lb animal on your back is an entirely different adventure. After you drop a healthy dose of cash on a nice pair of boots, don’t forget about what’s hugging your feet on the inside. Adam and I were both outfitted with new insoles during the show. I’ll let you know tomorrow how they’re holding up to 8 miles a day walking the show floor. Tune in to our Twitter.
All of Sony’s Action Cameras from their entry level HDR-AS20 to the 4K shooting FDR-X1000V have the ability to shoot 1080p HD video (and more), feature wireless controls and use all of Sony’s accessories. A few other features that standout from competitors include a splashproof housing that doesn’t require a waterproof housing (a waterproof housing is available for diving), specific white case coloring to keep heat away, slim profile design making them easy to mount in tight places, the Live-View Remote can control up to 5 cameras as well as playback control. Then there’s that picture above. Yes, that’s a Sony Action Cam loaded into their Handheld Grip with LCD screen that turns your action cam into a Camcorder. Great for walking around shows, Vlogging, and interviews. One of my must have accessories.
If you’re into car camping, you should add this to your want list. The Genesis Basecamp 2 Burner System from Jetboil takes the classic dual-burner stove from your childhood camping days and slams 2015 tech inside. Both burners fold into themselves like a clamshell to nest inside an included 5L pot. Each burner is capable of putting out 10,000 BTUs, which should boil water in under 3 minutes. The lid is also a 10-inch ceramic-coated fry pan. If you’re Overland glamping for a party of 10, you can also connect an additional system creating a massive 4 burner kitchen. A small satellite burner can also be attached. Look for this to hit stores Jan 1.
The Didi Galgalu knife from Helle of Norway is the second full tang blade from the bladesmith. It is named after the Didi Galgalu desert range in Kenya. It was designed in collaboration with Voetspore, an overland expedition company specializing in traversing Africa’s Great Rift Valley. The blade is Sandvik 12C27 and will not be laminated like many other Helle blades are. Blade length measures 5.1-inches with the African Kiaat wood and Vulcanfibre liner handle coming in at 4.7-inches. A leather sheath is also included to accompany this classically-styled fixed blade hunting knife.
As the name implies, SAXX is a performance underwear brand that uses a patented mesh panel keeping everything in its place. Like a hammock for your gentlemen. An ergonomic front pouch offers plenty of room and support. Nine-panel construction and flat lock seams keep every pair hugging you tight with the right amount of stretch in all the right places. We’ve got a few on the way, we’ll let you know how everything is “sorting itself out” after a few hikes and rides.
Patagonia is breaking into the mountain bike category for both men and women with their new Dirt Craft Soft Shell Jacket and Shorts. The jacket is designed to hug your body and wick moisture away while still looking casual enough to wear to the office. The chamois liner in the shorts felt soft and comfortable and is completely removable so you can remove it after your ride and still kick it around the campfire in your shorts. Nobody wants to sit around in their own sweat for hours. Look for these to drop Spring 16.
Something that really caught my eye was the Patagonia Baggies Parka. Inspired from 60’s expedition jackets, this parka is made of durable nylon (38% recycled) with PU coating and DWR (durable water repellent) finish. Aside from good looks, I liked that although they call it a parka, it’s more aligned with the weight of a jacket at 706g. The interior liner is made to wick sweat from you and the assortment of pockets make its great for adventure travelers without screaming “I’m a tourist!” Look for this early next year.
We’re putting together an EDC Knife article that is going to be very different from others you’ve seen. One of the contenders may be the new Spyderco Native FRN. With an overall length of 7″ and blade length of 3.125″ it’s legal in every state. Adam and I both appreciated the ergonomic shape, light weight, dual finger choils, and bi-directional texturing on the grip. The clip can be secured on either side for right and left handed users and a plain edge is also available.
Day Two Dog Count – 18.
More tomorrow…
[Photos: Adam Bendig]
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