Outdoor Retailer – 5 Intriguing Products
Ok, we know you guys want trip reports now, but we’re still mixing some gear in ’till we get more snow around here (it’s snowing today), and Lou starts filing again from Europe.
One of my other missions throughout the show besides munching on energy bars, scoring lip balm and trying to avoid drinking 3.2% beer before noon was to find five, just five, intriguing products at the show. No walk in the park. With tens of thousands of square feet more akin to NYC Midtown traffic it took some time.
Dakine Tempest Touchtec iPod glove features a conductive metallic coating on the entire surface of the glove. This allows you to use any finger surface palm down or up on touch screen devices. For general use we like these better than gloves with a single tiny touch tip. Angry Birds anyone?
Developed by a group of British mountaineers it was only appropriate that I got one of them to step inside their Blizzard emergency bag.. Once he emerged he was covered in sweat and dense fog caked his glasses. Just the thing if you need to heat up some fish and chips or need an emergency bag to hold someone over till additional support arrives.
A look inside a Blizzard emergency bag and its layering system for emergency blankets and sleeping bags. It utilizes a 3 layered system featuring a dedicated air layer to aid heating capabilities suspended by nylon.
Vapur bottles feature a 3-ply construction to resist damage from the contents freezing. Antimicrobial lining to keep the funk at bay. Plus it all folds down within the carabiner when empty. They come in .7 liter and full liter sizes. Additionally the second layer has logo branding capabilities.
Lizard shoes based in Torino Italy, incepted in 1992 by Luca Pedrotti, recently introduced the Lizard Kross. An absolutely perfect hut shoe at 240 grams with a Schoeller upper and Primaloft insulation. Terrific combination of grip, warmth and packability.
Vibram Ice Trek sole compound gets softer as the temperature drops with small nail lugs. On closer inspection it appears walnut shells may be combined with the rubber. Nice for walking around outside the hut, grabbing firewood or checking out moonrise.
Swedish axes, handmade pieces of art made by machinery 100's of years old that are guaranteed for life always top on my list. Perhaps we should grace WildSnow Field HQ with one of these?
Nemo tents and shelters are known for their lightweight air tube supported tents. Their latest offering is a pneumatic portable shower for backcountry skiers. The Helio Pressure Shower will surely keep you and your gear squeaky clean. Just pump it up!
Nemo shower in action provides 60 seconds of waterflow.
(Guest blogger Joseph Risi was raised on pasta and meatballs in the “backwoods” of Long Island before seeking higher education in the mountains of Vermont. Always looking for adventure, building treehouses, working too many odd jobs around the world he now lives in the Aspen area of Colorado. He’s been helping Lou out as Production Assistant.)
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11 Responses to “Outdoor Retailer – 5 Intriguing Products”
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The intriguing products were:
an app (which shouldn’t be used in the BC due to interference w/ transcievers)
a space blanket
a water bottle
a shoe
a herbicide sprayer disguised as a shower
should be a cheap year in terms of gear aquisition;-)
As a owner of two Gränsfors axes I can tell you that not only are they great works of art and a fine exampel of craftmanship they are also very nice to work with and easy to keep sharp. I seldom bring them with me when skiing but I highly recommend getting one for your HQ. Go Sweden
Cory, you laugh, just wait. Those shoes are the ultimate hut shoe, and watch that shower rock up at WildSnow Field HQ… But yeah, we apologize for reviewing gear that costs under $500.00 (grin).
The Gransfors axes are well worth the money. Beautiful and they even chop things good too.
Let it be known in true OR rookie status I bummed a spot on the floor in the Wildsnow SLC hideaway. The key was finding 5 intriguing products that not only proved to be useful out in the backcountry but also just in case the hotel staff had a “no camping” policy. At least I would have a pair of shoes, a warm shower, a sleeping bag, an axe to fend off SLC zombies and gloves so I could navigate Google Maps around town.
Joe, I really enjoyed the write up, going to pick me up a pair of those Lizard shoes. Already own to many Bruks axes.
Gotta agree with Cory on this one…
My store sells the Swedish axes. Those things are fantastic. Could shave with ‘em.
Ive carried a double blizzard bag for a while now, still unused, vacuum packed into a 500g brick. Seems like it would be particularly suited for getting caught out in the snow as a small snow hole or lean-to with branches to provide some modicum of shelter is really required. An alternative to an insulated jacket and bivvy bag. Allthough, as Andy Kirkpatric preaches, who wants to bunk down and get wet and miserable? Most would prefer to just press on. But possible uses i came up with to justify the extra weight are , getting lost, avalanche danger spike, an immobilising injury and even as a tactical biv if the route was good enough to justify unpacking it. The single version is quite a bit lighter.
Great article, but I am a little surprised that my companies’ products didn’t make the list. Has anyone else seen an 8 hour warming vest that weighs only 10 ounces or a active warming blanket that lasts 6 hours and is used to: warm sleeping bags or as emergency equipment to prevent and treat hypothermia and shock?…. just wondering- if the author of this would like more info, contact me direct.
Alex
Ready-Heat
Alex, our job is to cause wonder and surprise. Glad we could cause such emotions to well up so strong. Lou