OR DAILY 2018 _ SUMMER MARKET DAY3

3 DAY

NEWS VOTER GUIDE

OIA’s new initiative urges us to cast a ballot for the outdoors this fall.

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PEOPLE HELLO GUV

GEAR FOOTLOOSE

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Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper has his eye on November.

The latest shoes for hiking, trail running, climbing, and more.

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POWERED BY SNEWS

WINNER!

Best in Show

Check out today’s Best of Booth.

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What does it take to rise to the top? These standout products make it happen with groundbreaking technology, elegant design, and enough buzz to make our ears ring.

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Black Diamond Camalot C4

Thank you for 30 years of amazing partnerships with the best shelter brands in the business.

The official publication of:

BOOTH #42110- UL

3 DAY

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What does it take to rise to the top? These standout products make it happen with groundbreaking technology, elegant design, and enough buzz to make our ears ring.

Black Diamond Camalot C4 The official publication of:

OIA’s new initiative urges us to cast a ballot for the outdoors this fall.

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PEOPLE HELLO GUV

GEAR FOOTLOOSE

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Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper has his eye on November.

The latest shoes for hiking, trail running, climbing, and more.

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POWERED BY SNEWS

Best in Show PAGE 22

NEWS VOTER GUIDE

WINNER! Check out today’s Best of Booth.

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CONTENTS

Day 3 SUMMER MARKET 2018

Show-goers let loose at the Industry Party after Day 1.

NEWS

22 Showstoppers

9Fired Up

According to outdoor industry media who crush meetings and race through the aisles to identify the hottest trends and the coolest innovations, these are the four buzziest products at Summer Market.

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These might seem like dark times for public land conservation, but sometimes those come right before the dawn.

Author Timothy Egan urged the industry to seize the moment and fight back at the Conservation Alliance Breakfast.

“THERE IS A CULTURE WAR GOING ON. BUT THERE ARE MORE YOGA INSTRUCTORS IN AMERICA TODAY THAN THERE ARE COAL MINERS.” —TIMOTHY EGAN, AUTHOR, HISTORIAN, AND CONSERVATION ALLIANCE SPEAKER PAGE 9

EVENTS

83 Fill Your Calendar

Day 3 is when the real ORSM pros show off their stamina.

Hit your stride with the day’s talks, seminars, giveaways, happy hours, and events with our go-to guide.

PHOTO BY LOUISA ALBANESE

COVER

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CONTENTS

Day 3 SUMMER MARKET 2018

68 NEWS

for every type of attendee.

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12 tribal leaders gathered to talk public lands and the outdoor industry at ORSM.

Everything you need to know about the show’s new home.

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SCENE

Sock fits and tire-rubber soles will be on everyone’s feet next season.

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Get Down, Get Down

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A hoppin’ Industry Party set the tone for a lively show.

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Arty People

These three artists create the work that makes booth and show more vibrant.

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Hero Shots

Ogle an insulating water bottle, a put-together mess kit, and a jacket that’s as colorful as it is technical.

SHOW PLANNER

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Show Areas

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Get a close look at these special spots.

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Show Map

Navigate the Colorado Convention Center.

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OR Like a Pro

Maximize your day with tips

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GEAR TRENDS

Gotta-Have Gear

Check out this retailer’s top product picks.

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Denver Guide

Hiking Footwear

Trail Running Footwear

Runners and backpackers go wild for natural drop and terrain-specific shoes.

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Climbing Footwear

At last: climbing shoes that don’t pinch.

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Lifestyle Footwear

Line up for these comfy, sustainably made kicks.

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Socks

Wool micro designs, bold color, and anti-bug treatments get on your feet.

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New Product Gallery

There’s lots of cool new stuff at the show. Start your wish list here.

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Best of Booth

Channel your inner ninja warrior at this winner.

PHOTOS BY COURTESY

Fresh Perspective

Some people don’t mind bugs in their teeth.

There’s more to this story. 360° More. Experience it at booth #54037-UL. ©2018 INVISTA. CORDURA® is a trademark of INVISTA for durable fabrics.

PRIMALOFT® IS A REGISTERED TRADEMARK OF PRIMALOFT, INC. ©2018 PRIMALOFT, INC.

TAILORED FOR CHANGE We’ve rescued 84.7 million plastic bottles from landfills and transformed them into high performance insulation.

Because we believe when something is made for the outdoors, it should also be good for the outdoors. That’s why we’re continuously striving to lessen our impact on the earth. To date, we have produced three insulation technologies made of 100% post-consumer recycled content, striking the perfect balance between performance and sustainability.

Each one elevated. Neither sacrificed. It’s our commitment to being Relentlessly Responsible.

Join us to make change at booth #56006.

NEWS

WHAT’S HAPPENING OUT THERE

The room was packed at the Conservation Alliance Breakfast.

Hope Amid the Flames

Author and historian Timothy Egan preached action and optimism at the Conservation Alliance Breakfast. BY COREY BUHAY

PHOTOSBY PHOTO BYNICK TK COTE

J

UST LIKE IN THE PINE FORESTS of the West, sometimes fire and ash are a necessary prelude to renewal.

This was the message of author, historian, and New York Times columnist Timothy Egan at Day 2’s Conservation Alliance Breakfast.

Egan drew together threads of history, policy, and personal anecdote to assess our nation’s current political reality, and then to find hope amid the dismantling of American public lands.

Our land’s protections are in peril, Egan said, but it’s a threat this country has faced—and overcome—in the past. When Teddy Roosevelt first started establishing national forests in the 1890s, he wasn’t celebrated like he is today; he was scorned. In fact, one of the first Forest Service rangers that went to Montana was shot and killed. And after Roosevelt left office, when his conservation programs were still in their infancy, members of Congress began systematically removing those hard-fought land protection policies, one by one.

“You think we have a dark moment now? That was a dark moment,” Egan said. Enter the Great

Fire of 1910. The catastrophic, 3-million-acre blaze destroyed huge swaths of Montana and Idaho— and ultimately saved the public lands policies we have today by turning fire-fighting Forest Service rangers into heroes. Shortly thereafter, the Forest Service’s powers to protect land were expanded by congressional decree, and successive presidents continued to work toward conservation. You can’t start a revolution without hitting rock bottom, Egan reminded listeners. You can’t be reborn without dying first. And if we can do it once, we can do it again.

Egan spurred on his message of hope by urging those present to consider conservation for its ability to unify and serve people across both the political and socioeconomic spectrums. “There were nine people in my family growing up,” he said. “We didn’t have any money. But we went camping in the wilds of Idaho and Montana . . . and there, I felt rich.”

Public lands are what make America great, Egan said. They’re our birthright and our property, our continent’s version of castles and cathedrals. And now, facing the largest rollback of public land in America’s history, the outdoor industry is looking

at the loss not only of its heritage, but its livelihood.

Egan called Patagonia’s sharp, immediate response to the rollback of protection for Bears Ears National Monument—and the stark, black web page accompanying it—“a shot heard round the world.” He urged other outdoor brands to make their voices just as loud.

“Make no mistake: There is a culture war going on,” Egan said. “But there are more yoga instructors in America today than there are coal miners.” In the United States, lovers of the outdoors and backers of conservation are the majority. He noted that we have the numbers, but we’re missing the volume.

Deciding whether to speak up is no longer a luxury, or a matter of attracting or alienating of consumers; it’s a matter of preserving the land we need for our industry to exist at all.

Besides, clientele tend to flock to those brands that take a stand. “What do your consumers want?”

Egan asked. “They want to think you share their values. They want to think you’ve got their back.”

He encouraged attendees to tell the stories of how they fell in love with the outdoors and to be vocal about what public lands mean to their business—to be as loud and bright as the forest fire that changed this nation’s opinions 100 years ago. “Do me a favor: Flex some muscle,” Egan said.

“Remember that the best stories belong to those who can tell them. And in November, remember who your friends are. And remember who your enemies are.”

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NEWS

VOTE THE OUTDOORS

The Colorado River no longer reaches the ocean.

Standing Together Why shrinking rivers need us all. BY COURTNEY HOLDEN

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T’S GOING TO TAKE a collective effort to save the natural places where we all live, work, and play.

And that’s precisely the focus of Protect the West, an outdoor industry unifying effort led by nonprofit advocacy organization Western Resource Advocates (WRA). The goal: unite brands, businesses, and the outdoor community at large—as well as scientists, farmers, ranchers, and policymakers— against the environmental issues that threaten the places we love.

“It’s a rallying cry for the outdoor industry to increase its involvement in helping protect the West’s air, land, and water,” said Bart Miller, WRA Healthy Rivers's program director.

Yesterday’s panel, “Avoiding Crisis on America’s Rivers: How the Outdoor Industry Can Seize Opportunities in a Changing Climate,” brought together leading voices on water, farming, recreation, and business to discuss the critical role we all play in preservation. The discussion centered on water as the nexus between diverse groups and industries.

Take the Colorado River, for example. According to Miller, who sat on the panel, 40 million people from Denver to Los Angeles rely on the river for drinking water. Four million acres of irrigated land use its river water. And recreation on that river alone supports

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250,000 jobs and brings in $26 billion annually in revenue across the Colorado basin.

“Rivers all across the country—rivers just like the Colorado River—really are the lifeblood of our communities, and they’re just getting sucked dry,” Miller said. “It affects everybody.”

Imagery from panelist and National Geographic photographer Pete McBride showed the point where the Colorado River ends, 90 miles short of the Gulf of California into which it once flowed, providing a tragic illustration of the problem.

Miller pointed to specific evidence representative of the larger problem: Lower snowpack levels lead to less water in the river, resulting in higher likelihood of fire and negative impacts on fish and other wildlife. “We’re all going to see more and more of that unless we make some changes,” he said.

“It’s really important to use our voice, our platform, and our resources to help promote work on the nonprofit level,” said Kim Miller, CEO of SCARPA, who was influential in introducing WRA to the outdoor community. “The West is the threshold of some of the wildest places that we have. When we start talking about land, air, and water conservation, it’s important to think about where the headwaters are. We all need to be activists.”

The Outdoor Industry Association is taking its political work to a deeper level.

This show, OIA announced a new campaign called Vote the Outdoors, marking a shift for the organization. The group has long devoted itself to lobbying efforts in Washington and in state houses, but until now, has never tried to rally voters directly.

“Vote the Outdoors is exciting because it’s the first time the outdoor industry has really taken a step into electoral politics,” said OIA political director Alex Boian.

The initiative launched alongside the OIA Congressional Scorecard, an interactive online tool grading all members of Congress on their voting history as it pertains to protecting public land, advocating for clean air and water, and fighting for trade interests that would benefit the outdoor industry. Vote the Outdoors will encourage voters to use this tool for the upcoming midterms and beyond.

“The ultimate outcome we hope for is that the outdoor recreation economy and public land and water issues will be voting issues in 2018 in races across the country,” Boian said.

Over time, OIA hopes that brands will adopt the #VoteTheOutdoors campaign and encourage their customers to use the scorecard, and that the scorecard will unify voters across the industry.

The scorecard will adjust in real time as votes on tariffs and other issues come in, but it currently favors Democrats, awarding far more A and B grades to liberal Congress members than to conservatives.

While Boian emphasized that the scorecard was created objectively without any partisan goals—conservation and business interests are both bipartisan issues, after all—the unmistakable takeaway for voters still might prove an obstacle for brands considering adoption.

“I personally feel like it’s still really polarizing,” said Alan Butts, membership outreach coordinator at Outdoor Prolink.

“I’m from the South, and a lot of people there really care about the land, but the politics are still a tough subject.”

Other visitors to OIA’s booth, where the Vote The Outdoors logo is prominently displayed, agreed that it was a touchy subject, but that unity would be useful in effecting change.

“People vote on what’s important to them,” said Tracy Benson, cofounder of BeAlive Media. “And the more you can collaborate and encourage a community to vote as a bloc, that’s important—regardless of where that bloc lies.” –Corey Buhay

PHOTO BY PETE MCBRIDGE

OIA’s new campaign delves into the electoral side of politics to encourage the outdoor industry to put its ballot where its mouth is.

GEAR CHECK | FAST & LIGHT HYDRATION

Pocket Power Weight and ergonomics matter—whether on a oneday summit bid or a long weekend fastpacking loop.

These racking-up-miles-and-vertical missions are no

Katadyn BeFree Filtration System 0.6 L

place for water to be sloshing around a half-filled, heavy metal water bottle. Instead, maximize pocket space with a HydraPak flexible bottle—such as the SoftFlask 750 ml, which weighs in at a scant 2.3 ounces. Or the 500 ml Stow that tips the postal scales at 1.5 ounces and tucks away into its own handle when empty. And even with an in-line filter, the Katadyn BeFree 0.6 L, with HydraPak-made flexible bottle, is just 2.3 ounces. Flexible bottles have the benefit of shrinking around the remaining water as you drink it down, which eliminates sloshing in your pocket or pack. As the kicker, all three of these products from gram-shaving pioneer HydraPak are built from ultra-durable TPU material—essentially survival insurance if your drinking vessel takes a tumble from a high point. Now if only they could dehydrate water.

SpeedCup 200 ml

SoftFlask 750 ml

Stow 500 ml expanded and collapsed

NEWS

Show-goers learn how to fight sexual harassment and assault with #SafeOutside. BY CHARLIE LIEU Charlie Lieu (left) and Dr. Callie Rennison led a discussion about sexual harassment in the world of climbing.

NATIVE SUMMIT

Leaders of 12 tribal nations make history at Outdoor Retailer.

For the first time, leaders from tribal nations spread across seven states came together to discuss public lands issues and collaboration with the outdoor industry.

One of the key takeaways from the Tribal Nations Summit, according to participants, was that there’s great potential for teamwork with the outdoor industry to unite in protection of land. However, there’s also a clear need for better education about tribal culture and history.

“Being that tribal lands are consid-

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ered public lands, it is instrumental that tribes partner with industry federal offices and individuals themselves to bring awareness to tribal land status, preventing the desecration of culturally sacred and federally protected sites,” said Southern Ute Tribal Treasurer Lorelei Cloud. Collaboration between the outdoor industry and tribal nations will foster broader cultural education and understanding, she added.

Most public lands were previously held by tribal nations before they were deemed public domain, and it’s critical for the outdoor industry to be respectful of that, said Luis Benitez, director of the Colorado Outdoor Recreation Industry Office, which co-hosted the summit.

“This is the right time and place to have this conversation, and we’re com-

I

mitted to continuing it,” he said.

Members of the tribes represented at the Summit—including the Pawnee Nation, Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, La Jolla Band of Luiseno Indians, Pueblo of Pojoaque, Ohkay Owingeh Pueblo, Kewa Pueblo, Southern Ute Indian Tribe, San Juan Paiute Tribe, and ShoshoneBannock Tribes—were encouraged to walk the trade show floor and engage with brands, said Ernest House Jr., a member of the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe and executive director of the Colorado Commission of Indian Affairs.

“One thing that we learned from Bears Ears is that there are a lot of people who want to be advocates,” House said, adding that tribes in at least seven states are facing their own “Bears Ears” situations.

The industry also needs to look seriously at cultural appropriation, Benitez said. The first step the industry can take is to educate themselves and their customers about the native history of the lands where they recreate, as well as the significance of any product names or apparel designs intended to be reminiscent of native culture.

“It’s sad, because as Native Americans, it’s the first thing we notice,” House Jr. said. And as Native Americans make up just 2 percent of the country’s whole population, “when we raise the flag [calling out appropriation], it’s very much discarded and swept under the rug, like ‘Everyone does it.’ I think that’s why these conversations are so important.”

–Kassondra Cloos

PHOTO BY COURTESY

Safe Spaces

MAGINE BEING PROPOSITIONED BY your boss, catcalled and harassed on official work overnight trips, or groped and forcibly kissed by a climbing partner who’s tied into a rope with you. Women in the outdoor industry have endured all that and worse. And as much as we might like to think this business is above sexual harassment and assault, it’s not immune to the abuses of society as a whole. That was just one of the key takeaways that University of ColoradoDenver professor and Department of Justice veteran Dr. Callie Rennison highlighted yesterday afternoon during a session titled “Addressing Sexual Harassment and Assault in the Outdoor Industry.”

A group of nonprofit leaders, media, professional climbers, and curious individuals gathered on crash pads at the High Altitude Den to discuss what the industry can do about sexual harassment and assault. Attendees explored best practices for preventing, addressing, and handling occurrences. First and foremost, organizations and workplaces must create a supportive environment that is safe for victims to come forward and report incidents. They should also educate members about sexual harassment and assault, and clearly communicate expectations for behavior and consequences for not meeting them.

Organizations also need to create policies for reporting and handling incidents.

The group discussed #SafeOutside, a grassroots initiative taking aim at combating sexual harassment and assault and how it has gained momentum, with participation from dozens of climbing and outdoor industry partners and press.

Individuals can join #SafeOutside in a united front against sexual harassment and assault August 27th by posting stories and/or a pledge to intervene on social media with the hashtag #SafeOutside.

Organizations from all industries can participate by putting up public statements of support.

For more information on how to participate, contact Charlie Lieu at lieu@alum.mit.edu.

SCENE

CAPTURING THE SHOW’S KEY MOMENTS

Life of the Party

The Industry Party kept up its long streak of fun on Night 1.

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PHOTOS BY LOUISA TK ALBANESE

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1. It takes a village: Kristen Coker adds a few colorful dabs to a paint-by-number mural for the Outdoor Industry Association, the party’s sponsor. 2. Tunes, brews, and dancing shoes set the stage for an up-tempo event. 3. But how did they get all those pretzels so high on the wall? And why? 4. Guests proudly sported their backpacks and badges, inadvertently proving that business and pleasure mix up like cocktails here at the show. 5. Any bare bit of brick can be a dance floor when you’re among friends. 6. Monico Garza knows exactly where he is, but where is he going? 7. The wailing soprano sax, compliments of Fat City Band, let partygoers know they’d found the right place.

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SCENE

Arty People

Want your brand to have more visual impact? Hire an artist to dress things up for you.

1. Jeremy Collins works on a digital version of his trademark pen-and-ink drawings for the Access Fund (44100-UL). 2. In the RANGER Station, Lisa Kowieski levels up on a piece inspired by outdoor experiences.

3. Latasha Dunston’s murals for nonprofits Rainforest Connection and Native Women’s Wilderness decorate the Craghoppers booth (53072-UL).

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PHOTOS BY LOUISA ALBANESE; NICK COTE (2)

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NEWS

Question of the

Day

If you could have a 1-on-1 with anyone in the biz, who would it be and why?

Colorado, OR’s new home, is the headwaters of the Colorado River.

“Climber Michaela Kiersch. Her social media isn’t all about having the perfect picture and seeming like the perfect ambassador all the time. She’s very real.

And she’s my height, so it’s nice to see other strong, short women.”

A hard-working river, the Colorado: • Provides drinking water for 40 million Americans, • Irrigates 5.5 million acres of cropland, • And drives a $26 billion recreation economy.

But, today, America’s rivers and water supplies are challenged. Growing cities demand more water, changing weather and drought reduce flows for fish, wildlife and recreation.

Efforts are underway to protect and replenish our rivers— and the values they bring to this outdoor industry.

www.RiversatOR.com

“Jeremy Collins! I saw his film four years ago and it was incredibly moving. I think his story of being a father and a climber and the way he reflects on his own life is really humble and artful. ” –Katie Deramer, Mountaineers Books

During OR: Say Cheers to Rivers!

Swing by Henry’s Tavern, buy a glass, choose a beer, and help restore a river. 500 16th St.

“Most likely Yvon Chouinard. I like his business practices and philosophy, so I should probably talk to him about that. But I would probably ask him about fly-fishing.”

–Angel Orozco, Hi-Tec Sports

GIVEAWAY ALLEY

Head over to the hallway near the 600s Meeting Rooms in Venture Out for some epic show swag: ∂ Peak Refuel is giving away a $2,000 Specialized mountain bike. ∂ Knockaround is handing out 300 pairs of sunglasses. ∂ Jetson is raffling off a $1,500 e-bike.

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PHOTOS BY RYAN WICHELNS

Learn what you can do:

–Michelle Hoffman, American Alpine Club

OUTBACK 500 GTX

®

NEWS RETAILER REPORT

Andrea Feucht Barefoot Provisions

BREA, CALIFORNIA No added sugars, artificial ingredients, or fake proteins, “just straight-up real foods,” Feucht said when describing her online paleo foods purveyor, Barefoot Provisions. “We’re a small, sort of a mom-and-pop ecommerce company competing against the big retailers.” Selling everything from gluten-free granola, to chocolate, to MCT (medium-chain triglycerides) oil, to foods to complete your Whole30 diet, Barefoot Provisions is not for the faint of heart (or stomach). “Our demographic is the real hardcore paleo people,” Feucht noted. “They don’t want the treat stuff, they just want the food that’s real.” Barefoot Provisions has recently had a lot of sales in the keto area, selling coconut-based products and unsweetened jerky. “I like the idea that you can sell whole foods to people and they’re willing to spend a little bit extra to get the real ingredients,” Feucht said.

2. GoLite ReGreen Windshell

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“Though I only sell food products, I love the story behind this jacket.

It’s fully recycled and made with unwanted green bottles and no dyes.”

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3. Know Brainer Foods

Ketogenic Instants “They do creamers that are coconut based, and creamers in a nut butter

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form that you squeeze into your coffee. They’re full of flavor with very little sugar, so there’s no sugar crash.”

4. Fourpoints Colorado Trail

Chocolate Peanut energy bar “I love Fourpoints bars. The flavors are amazing. They’re made from whole foods, and they provide lots of slow-burn energy.”

5. Green Goo Dry Skin

“It’s 100-percent natural, made with certified organic herbs and puregrade essential oils. It’s great for eczema; psoriasis; dry, bumpy skin, rashes; and cracked hands or feet.”

PHOTOS BY NICK TK COTE (3); COURTESY (3)

WHAT NEW GEAR ARE YOU MOST EXCITED ABOUT SO FAR? 1. Laird Superfood Creamer “It’s a coffee creamer made from coconut milk powder and sea algae that’s sourced from Iceland.”

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Same amount of awesome.

New convenient size.

We could only find one way to make our award-winning soft coolers even better: offer a smaller, personal size. Come meet our new Unbound Series™ 15 L Cooler Pack and 18 L Cooler Tote.

Visit us at booth #51087-UL to learn more.

Show Standouts NEWS FEATURE

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ITH HUNDREDS OF NEW PRODUCTS hitting the show floor every Outdoor Retailer, making sense of the wave is a daunting task. Yet somehow, magazines and websites like Outside, Gear Junkie, and Gear Institute are able to comb through the pile and pick out the most exciting and promising new pieces of gear within just a few days, dotting the floor with signs proclaiming their chosen products as the “best in show.”

While best-in-show awards represent promise instead of performance, making the picks is still no small feat. The secret to quickly narrowing down all the products at the show to a handful of winners? For some publications, the answer is to do the work before the show. According to Gear Institute’s Tal-ee Roberts, most of the heavy lifting gets done at home: Brand reps submit nominations that the website’s editors can choose from well in advance of Day 1. They might tack on a few late additions for products that they didn’t see beforehand, but by that point, editors and writers can, with at least a little more relaxation, take their time to see what’s here.

Here are the four picks that came out of the gate with the most buzz.

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BLACK DIAMOND CAMALOT C4 GET THOSE LARGER cams out of the way on your rack with BD’s updated Camalot C4s. A 10 percent lighter design (which comes from more cutaways in the lobes) combines with a fancy system of metal loops and small hooks on the stem that keeps the cam compact, so your number 5 racks like a number 4. Gear Institute says, “It’s one of those ‘why didn’t we think of that before?’ scenarios.”

Ready to place it? Just pull the trigger back slightly and the whole thing comes loose, ready to plug into that offwidth. Plus, little upgrades, such as relocated tags on the slings, a wider trigger, and stiffer (on the larger cams) or softer (on the smaller cams) stems, make them more responsive or controllable when they need to be. [$65-$125] 42081-UL

PHOTOS BY COURTESY (3); NICK COTE (GARMIN)

Gear writers sort through a convention center’s worth of new products to pull out those making the best first impressions. BY RYAN WICHELNS

BIG AGNES FLY CREEK HV CARBON WITH DYNEEMA TENT DYNEEMA, THE ULTRALIGHT, super-tough, and mega-expensive material used in packs (like Mountain Hardwear’s new Alpine Light Line) and tents, just might be the fabric of the show. Big Agnes’s updated Fly Creek makes the biggest splash in a genre of tents known for being lightweight but with dubious durability. Outside calls it a possible “holy grail of backpacking tents.”

THE FLY CREEK’S nearly see-through, frostedglass-like Dyneema fly and floor makes for a unique look, but the design holds promise as a super-airy (1 pound, 6 ounces for the twoperson model) backpacking tent without sacrificing durability. The tent borrows its architecture, single-pole design, and roomy front vestibule from previous Fly Creek iterations, combining it with the Dyneema to boost durability and strip weight. The fabric is completely rainproof and can be welded, removing the need for seams or seam tape, which boosts durability and waterproofness. [$800-$850] 44004-UL

SEA TO SUMMIT PACK RACKS A ROOF RACK CAPABLE OF CARRYING a kayak that’s instantly removable—and at a steep discount from the price of a full metal rig? That’s the mark Sea to Summit is trying to hit with the new Pack Racks. Pull the 9.8-inch roll (roughly the size of a sleeping pad) out of your glove compartment and inflate the two 420-denier, laminate-coated tubes, then wrap the attached cam straps around your roof and load on your watercraft. The big difference? The $79 price tag comes in at a fraction of the cost of a full roof rack. Plus, the ease of removing them, combined with their smaller packed size, lets you quickly cut down on unnecessary wind drag and noise when you’re not carrying a boat. According to Gear Institute, it’s the perfect middle ground for people who want more than foam blocks but don’t need a full Thule or Yakima setup. [$79] 51007-UL

GARMIN INREACH MINI LITTLE SCREEN, BIG FUNCTIONALITY. Garmin’s micro-sized inReach goes a long way to bridge the gap between pocket-size emergency personal locator beacons that only communicate one way, and larger, two-way satellite communicators packed with features. The new unit will fit in the palm of your hand and weighs a paltry 3.5 ounces, but jams in the essential SOS feature, back-and-forth texting with emergency responders, automatic location tracking, weather updates, and basic GPS functions (which become more than basic when you pair the unit with your phone). Plus, it has a 30-day battery lifespan in power-saving mode. It represents a “new era for satellite communications,” in an ultralight package, according to Outside. [$350] 53025-UL

JULY 25, 2018 DAY 3

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OUTDOOR RETAILER SHOW AREAS

Summer Market 2018

Venture Out

LOCATION: STREET LEVEL, NEXT TO THE BELLCO THEATRE Venture Out is a destination for retailers to discover and explore the modern outdoor trends and better understand how the definition of outdoor is changing. Venture Out is the way the industry is embracing and encouraging these new outdoor consumers. Head to Venture Out to see some of the brands pushing the limits in the outdoor industry.

RANGER STATION @ VENTURE OUT LOCATION: STREET LEVEL, NEXT TO THE BELLCO THEATRE Trends and education are the focus

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at the RANGER Station. Found in the curated space of Venture Out, the RANGER Station will provide daily education, workshops, trend updates, merchandising displays, creative collaboration, and good conversations. It’s all about community.

Did we mention that you can grab a latte and bite to eat while you’re there? It’s time to get educated, fed, and caffeinated.

THE CAMP LOCATION: UPPER LEVEL, BOOTH 56117-UL The Camp provides elevated education on the show floor—from the latest issues stores are facing to industry trends. The Camp will

focus on the stories, products, trends, and people that help drive traffic to retailers, and will provide daily education to inspire fresh ways to think and sell outdoor products year-round.

TREND + DESIGN CENTER LOCATION: LOWER LEVEL, BOOTH 1040-LL The Trend + Design Center is where the design and R&D communities gather to hear what’s next. From trend forecasting to industrial design to materials innovation, the Trend + Design Center anchors the supplier story at Outdoor Retailer

and serves the design audience with compelling education and networking events.

HIGH ALTITUDE DEN LOCATION: UPPER LEVEL, BOOTH 32083-UL Stop by the High Altitude Den for climbing-focused activations, a place to hang, and daily happy hours. Carabiner Coffee will be there serving up hot coffee and good conversations.

PADDLE ZONE LOCATION: UPPER LEVEL, BOOTH 31049-UL Hang out and relax with other paddlesports retailers and brands in the Paddle Zone.

PHOTOS BY (FROM LEFT) COURTESY OUTDOOR RETAILER; LAUREN DANILEK

VENTURE OUT

OUTDOOR RETAILER

TENT CITY LOCATION: SCULPTURE PARK, OUTSIDE OF THE WEST ENTRANCE Tent City is a destination for retailers to compare tents and camping gear side by side, see new innovations, and touch and feel materials with a hands-on approach. If you want to compare peak height, sleeping capacity, or seasonality in person between a Marmot Halo and a Nemo Losi, or just need a hands-on exploration of the industry’s best camping tents all in one place, look no further.

P.S. Don’t miss the food trucks at Tent City!

SOCIAL MEDIA ZONE LOCATION: STREET LEVEL, FOYER OF THE EAST ENTRANCE Social media is one of the easiest and least expensive ways to market your business and share your story with the community. Brand-new to Summer Market is the Social Media Zone—a workspace for retailers and brands to understand the value of social media for their business, learn new tactics, collaborate, and get inspired. With a social media professional on site, the Social Media Zone provides attendees and exhibitors a space to discuss strategy, learn, and share their own experience on social media at Summer Market. #weareOUTDOOR

RETAILER + REP LOUNGE LOCATION: STREET LEVEL, MR111 Need a place to chill or have a quick

MARK YOUR CALENDAR

meeting? Come to the Retailer + Rep Lounge to hang out or access WiFi.

Mother’s Room: A fun, cozy retreat for moms and kids

PRESS ROOM LOCATION: STREET LEVEL, MR113 Working media who are registered to attend the show will find everything they need to file their stories in the Press Room.

CLIF BAR MOTHER’S ROOM LOCATION: STREET LEVEL, MR112 Calling all moms: Head to the Mother’s Room to nurse, pump, or hang out with your little one.

INFO DESK LOCATION: STREET LEVEL, FOYER OF THE EAST ENTRANCE Have a question? We’re here to help.

Just head to the Info Desk and we will answer any questions that you have.

HOUSING DESK LOCATION: STREET LEVEL, NEXT TO REGISTRATION EventSphere, the official housing partner of Outdoor Retailer, will be on site at Summer Market to help with your reservations. Find the Housing Desk next to registration in the East Entrance and be sure to book your housing for Winter Market in November and Snow Show in January.

BAG CHECK LOCATION: STREET LEVEL, MR201 Drop your bags and hit the show floor!

Winter Market 2018 is November 8-11 here in Denver. Moving the show to November means it’s the launch event for the season, where retailers can see the entire range of products available and make informed buying decisions. Learn more at outdoorretailer.com.

JULY 25, 2018 DAY 3

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OUTDOOR RETAILER SHOW MAP

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OUTDOOR RETAILER STAY CONNECTED

MOBILE APP Download the Outdoor Retailer Summer Market mobile app to have all the show information you need in the palm of your hand. In the mobile app, you can access: Floor plan Exhibitor list Events Education schedule Product gallery Walking map Local info And more!

Search “Outdoor Retailer” in your app store and get access to everything you need to make the most of the show.

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SHOW PLANNER The Show Planner is an online platform for retail buyers, importers/distributors, designers, nonprofits, independent reps, and working media to help in the show planning process. Within the Show Planner you can find these great tools: Exhibitor list Interactive floor plan Education and events schedule Matchmaking Mobile app information Tools for communicating with exhibitors, requesting appointments, and viewing products All you need to do is log in to your Show Planner and start planning your show!

MATCHMAKING The matchmaking tool is part of the Show Planner, and it brings exhibitors and retail buyers, importers/distributors, designers, nonprofits, independent reps, and working media together before the show starts. Search for exhibitors based on product category, location, new to the show, and other filters. Attendees can get in touch with exhibitors for more information or request an in-booth appointment during the show.

Log in to your Show Planner and explore the exhibitors and products you’ll find at Outdoor Retailer Summer Market.

Stay live at the show with this hashtag:

#ORShow

WHERE MODERN STYLES MEET OUTDOOR EXPRESSION J U LY 2 3 - 2 6 , 2 0 1 8

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C O LO R A D O C O N V E N T I O N C E N T E R

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DENVER, CO

Venture Out is a destination for retailers to discover and explore the modern outdoor trend and better understand how the definition of outdoor is changing. Venture Out is the way the industry is embracing and encouraging new outdoor consumers as well as helping incubate brands and influencing the direction of how existing brands approach this market.

EXHIBITING BRANDS ABK COMPANY

HOWLER BROTHERS

OPINEL

SENDERO PROVISIONS CO.

TENKARA USA

ALTERNATIVE APPAREL

XTRATUF

PARKS PROJECT

FELLER

TENTREE

ARBOR

ROVR PRODUCTS

PEAK DESIGN

SHWOOD EYEWEAR

THE NORMAL BRAND

BEDROCK SANDALS

INDOSOLE

PENDLETON WOOLEN MILLS

GREEN GOO BY SIERRA SAGE

THREE STONES CLOTHING

BELMONT BLANKET

KATHERINE HOMES

PICTURE ORGANIC

SLOWTIDE

TOPO DESIGNS

LANDER

LE BENT

DOVETAIL WORKWEAR

SOCKSMITH DESIGN

VIVOBAREFOOT LTD.

BIGTRUCK®

FLOWFOLD

PURA VIDA BRACELETS

SPEAQUA SOUND CO.

VOLCOM

BRONWEN JEWELRY

LOTUS AND LUNA

LEMS SHOES

PURIST

VUORI

BROOKS ENGLAND

MERIDIAN LINE

RECOVER BRANDS

SUNSKI

WANDRD

COAL HEADWEAR

MIIR HOLDINGS

RMU OUTDOORS

VISSLA

WILD TRIBUTE

THE LANDMARK PROJECT

MIZU

ROAMERS

IRON AND RESIN

WILDSAM FIELD GUIDES

FISHER + BAKER

MIZZEN + MAIN

RUMPL

VSSL

WOLF AND GRIZZLY

FULL WINDSOR

MOLLUSK

RUSTY

S’WELL BOTTLE

Z SUPPLY

GOLITE BRANDS

MULE

SANUK

SYNERGY ORGANIC CLOTHING

List as of 6/28/18

GOOD TO-GO

NANGA

SAOLA SHOES

TAILOR VINTAGE

HARI MARI

NOMADIX

SEEA

TENKARA ROD CO.

WWW.OUTDOORRETAILER.COM/VENTUREOUT

SM18_Venture Out Ad-Daily.indd 1

6/29/18 4:58 PM

SHOW PLANNER

15 WAYS TO CRUSH IT TODAY

As your meeting calendar starts to open up, spread your interests to all corners of the show floor.

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PHOTO BY ISTOCKPHOTO.COM

THE HOMESTRETCH

Use this key to find the events best for your schedule.

1

B Brands

R Reps

D Designers

M Media

R Retailers

[EDUCATION]

IT’S WOMEN’S DAY Attend one of these seminars to see

[ SKILLS]

GET OUTSIDE YOUR BRAND BUBBLE

Look into what your direct competition is up to and use the information to strategize about your niche in the marketplace and steer your brand into less crowded waters. It’s not espionage if they just show you the stuff!

2 [LIFE SKILLS]

Fight the Night 2 Hangover.

This one’s always the doozy.

Water is your friend.

how women are taking center stage across the industry.

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FOR ALL WOMEN: FROM BACKCOUNTRY TO BOARDROOM 7-9 a.m. Embassy Suites Downtown Denver

Listen to a handful of speakers talk about how to accelerate inclusion and equality at all levels of the industry , hosted by Camber Outdoors.

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THE AGE OF WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS, KICKSTARTER, AND BUILDING A BRAND Think outdoor products for women aren’t so terrific? You aren’t alone, and you might do good business by trying to do better.

5

WHEN WOMEN LEAD

1:30-2:30 p.m. The Camp (Booth UL-56117)

A panel of high-powered pros discuss how to merge purpose and profit in business, diversify the images of women in industry advertisements and marketing materials, and how new, womenowned brands can compete with established giants.

JULY 25, 2018 DAY 3

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SHOW PLANNER

EAT LIKE A SWEDE 9 a.m. Booth 37031-UL

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Enjoy your morning the Swedish way with coffee, rolls, and conversation with Fjällräven. Proceeds support The Conservation Alliance.

I12NCLUSIVITY LUNCHEON p.m. Commons at Champa

Break bread with others interested in diversity and inclusion and listen to presentations by REI diversity, equity, and inclusion leaders. Invitations are required, but see if you can snag one from kenji@kenjiconsults.com.

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[EDUCATION]

BACKCOUNTRY GOURMET: WILDERNESS AND HIGH MOUNTAIN FOOD REIMAGINED 12-1:30 p.m. The Camp (Booth 56117-UL)

Join pro backcountry chef Kieran Creevy for a hands-on cooking demo.

9 [EVENT]

EVEREST WITHOUT EFFORT 2:30 p.m. Booth 20466-SL

This virtual ascent is the easiest way to reach Everest’s Base Camp (17,598 feet), with stops at iconic checkpoints along the way via the Google Earth Wall. Enter to win a YETI cooler!

10 Get out to Tent City If heat and busyness (and business) have kept you from exploring the green acres of tent city, consider this your personal invite. It’s located next to the food trucks on the street level.

PHOTOS BY ISTOCK.COM

[FOOD]

6

8

B Brands

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D Designers

M Media

R Retailers

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[EDUCATION]

DIFFERENTIATE, DON'T ALIENATE: CONTENT STRATEGY FOR THE NEW OUTDOOR ERA 2-3 p.m. Embassy Suites Downtown Denver

Today's challenge: How do you connect and engage with a new, wider audience, while staying on the up and up with core supporters? A pro from Nemo Design explores how to stay ahead of the curve and in the good graces of your customers—no matter how new or established they are.

R Reps

SALSA THROWDOWN 4 p.m. Booth 51019-UL

Sample salsas and camp food hacks with Mountain Standard and Backpacker's Pantry, then vote on your favorite for a chance to win a prize.

12 [EDUCATION]

AMAZON MARKETING—GET IT OR GO HOME 2:30-3:30 p.m. The Camp (Booth 56117-UL)

Amazon’s platform and lingo got your head in a twist? Come to this session to cut through the clutter and learn a winning ecommerce strategy.

13 [EVENT]

PURIST COLLECTIVE HAPPY HOUR 3:30 p.m. Booth VO114-SL

Enjoy a whisky cocktail and learn about Purist’s nonprofit partner p:ear, a homeless youth mentoring project based in Portland, Oregon. ORSM marks the launch of the Purist Collective, a program that partners with community-based organizations to generate social and environmental change.

15 [EVENT]

NIGHT OF STOKE 6:30 p.m. Bellco Theatre

Remember what we said about keeping your stoke high on Day 3? 5Point Film Festival has got you covered in the post-show hours with its firstedition adventure films and Q&As with filmakers and athletes on how to turn your passion into a movie.

JULY 25, 2018 DAY 3

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OUTDOOR RETAILER GUIDE TO DENVER

Do Denver Like a Local

TRANSPORTATION You can take the train to and from the airport to downtown Denver.

The Denver train stop is called Union Station, and the train costs $9 each way. The free 16th Street Mall bus (near Union Station) runs close to many downtown hotels.

The Cherry Creek Bike Path winds throughout the city, along the Convention Center, all the way up to the Demo Experience—without all of those pesky stop lights cars have to deal with. Grab a B-cycle (shared bike) from strategically located stations throughout the city. Other options include the light rail for longer distances and pedicabs for shorter ones. Pro tip: When navigating in Denver, the mountains are always west.

FOOD AND DRINK Denver is foodie heaven, with every type of cuisine you could possibly imagine. But book reservations, because restaurants fill up fast.

Beer? Denver boasts 72 breweries, so you won’t go thirsty. Finally, Civic Center EATS, a 15-minute walk from the Convention Center, is where 25 to 30 food trucks hang out Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays in Civic Center Park from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

TOP 5 FOR DRINKS

Great Divide Brewing Company is a very accomplished local brewery offering tastes of their own brews, growlers to go, and food truck options at both Denver locations.

Avanti Food and Beverage is a bilevel shipping container with a great selection of beer, wine, and specialty cocktails with a variety of vendors (pizza, sushi, and more), plus a

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beautiful rooftop bar with a lot of seating overlooking the city.

Falling Rock Tap House has more than 75 delicious beers on tap from around the world in a relaxed setting with couches, booths, pool tables, and dartboards.

Mercantile is a new American eatery with an extensive wine library, artisanal market, and barista bar.

Stranahan’s Colorado Whiskey is an award-winning small-batch distillery with rotating food trucks.

TOP 6 FOR FOOD

Steuben’s serves classic regional American favorites and cocktails with a buzzing, retro-style vibe.

Marco’s Coal Fired Pizzeria serves Neapolitan pizzas handmade from imported Italian ingredients in rustic brick digs with a patio.

Ace Eat Serve is a high-energy hot spot in an old garage with Pan-Asian chow, cocktails, and table tennis, plus a juice bar.

Biker Jim’s serves distinctive dogs (rattlesnake, reindeer), toppings, and microbrews with a biker vibe, and has late weekend hours.

Cherry Cricket makes some of Denver’s favorite burgers.

Pho on 6th serves pho, noodles, rice plates, and drinks amid carved wood, lanterns, and Buddha statues.

TOP 7 QUICK FOOD AND DRINK SPOTS

All these are within a 10-minute walk from the convention center.

Freshcraft is a beer geek bar, equally known for amazing food.

Menya Noodle Bar serves deliciously authentic Japanese cuisine that’s not easily forgotten.

Rioja has locally sourced, imaginative Mediterranean dishes and wines in a high-energy dining room.

CRU Food and Wine Bar is a relaxed, Napa-style wine bar chain serving New American fare, stonefired pizzas, and cheese plates. bd’s Mongolian Grill is a casual chain offering create-your-own stirfry bowls, plus a salad bar and an all-you-can-eat option.

Yard House is a high-end sports

bar chain with a huge menu of New American fare and “The World’s Largest Selection of Draft Beer.”

La Loma is a family-run kitchen known for traditional Mexican meals and margaritas, in an “upscale-rustic atmosphere.”

ELEVATION Probably the most important thing to know about being in Denver is that you need to drink a lot of water while you’re here. Because drinking water at 5,280 feet is the best way to avoid those annoying little headaches, muscle aches, and amplified hangovers from altitude sickness.

Also, wear sunscreen. The sun is likely closer than what you’re used to.

COLORADO CONVENTION CENTER Anytime you’re lost inside, just look for the 40-foot-tall blue bear.

If you want to step away from the convention center for a meeting, here are some suggestions.

TOP 4 (OFF-LOCATION) MEETING SPOTS

Denver Bicycle Café serves craft beers, gourmet roasted coffee, and has daily happy hours and outdoor seating.

ILLUSTRATION BY JOE FUSCO / HED HI MEDIA

THIS IS MORE THAN a “Visitors’ Guide to Denver.” Whether you’re a first-timer or have lived in Denver your entire life, here’s a side of the city only a handful of people knew about— until now. These “Top” lists were crafted by a local expert and are all within a 10-minute drive of the Colorado Convention Center. Just a heads up: If you apply what you’ve learned, you will likely be mistaken for a local and asked for directions.

Crema Coffee House has a chill, hipster vibe, great coffee, and “eclectic noshes.”

Little Man Ice Cream is a milk jugshaped shop (open till midnight) scooping unique flavors of homemade ice cream.

Huckleberry Roasters is a local independent roastery and cafe selling espresso and light bites in a hip, minimalist space.

THE MILE HIGH CITY Yes, weed is legal. And there are plenty of local dispensaries, but keep in mind you can’t legally smoke it in public. A couple of other

helpful tips: Non-Colorado residents can’t buy more than 7 grams at a time, and transporting any amount across state lines is illegal.

FRESH AIR After being inside all day, it’s nice to step out to get some fresh air.

TOP 5 WAYS TO GET FRESH AIR IN DENVER

Cherry Creek Trail is a 40-milelong, picturesque concrete trail that runs through the heart of Denver. It goes by the convention center and the Demo Experience, connecting most of the Denver area.

16th Street Mall is a mile-long outdoor mall with great peoplewatching, plus a variety of shops and restaurants. A free bus runs along the mall from Union Station to within two blocks of the Colorado Convention Center.

Larimer Square is within walking distance from the convention center. This memorable historic district is where Denver was founded, and has independent shops, bars, and restaurants.

Sloan’s Lake is a great spot in the city for fishing and boating (motor and non-motorized). Humanpowered vessel permits can be

purchased online at Denver Parks and Recreation. The lake also has a trail for walking, jogging, skipping, and cycling. Pro tip: Swimming in most of Denver’s lakes is not recommended or legal.

Denver Botanic Gardens is an inspired 24 acres that illustrate an ever-widening diversity of plants from all corners of the world. This peaceful oasis is well worth the $12.50 price of entry.

Congratulations, you now have a master’s degree in Denver! Now go explore … with plenty of water and sunscreen.

JULY 25, 2018 DAY 3

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Q&A

5 Questions for…

Elísabet Elfa Arnarsdóttir

Designer, Fjällräven

sew the pieces back together in the shape I wanted. When I got a little bit better at it, I started going to the fabric store to buy fabric in order to make my own designs.

2. HOW DID THE ABISKO TREKKING TIGHTS COME TOGETHER? At Fjällräven, we are privileged with a long development time for our technical products. I started working on the tights in 2014, and we launched them in 2017. We changed them quite a bit from the beginning to the end and did a lot of prototype testing—somewhere near 10 prototypes, maybe even more. We changed the fabrics, and then wanted to make them more trekking-oriented, so we added pockets. We tested them with people in the office as well as our professional test team.

PHOTOSBY PHOTO BYPAUL TK WENNERHOLM

Elísabet Elfa Arnarsdóttir grew up in Iceland. Playing outside and exploring the country’s vast wilderness was part of everyday life—and so was wearing functional outdoor clothing that had zero style. So Arnarsdottir made her own.

Now, she’s making clothes for the world. As a product designer in Sweden for Fjällräven, she created the wildly popular Abisko Trekking Tights that debuted last year, sold out almost immediately, and won a BACKPACKER Editors’ Choice Award as well as accolades from gear reviewers throughout the industry.

The tights were inspired by the frustration many women have always had with leggings: They’re too comfortable to ditch, but too flimsy to last.

1. HOW DID YOU GET INTO DESIGN? I fell in love with the outdoors when I was a young Girl Scout in Iceland during the late ‘90s and early 2000s. In Iceland, the Scouts are coed, and we were a big group of young boys and girls that could not get enough of the outdoors. The Scouts had a cabin in the mountains that we had access to, and we were there almost every weekend. [But] I felt that the outdoor clothing available to women wasn’t very flattering.

Even though some of the apparel was functional and comfortable to wear, the cuts were quite square and oversized, and not the way I wanted to look, especially as a young teenager who wanted to impress the boys a bit, too! In Iceland, every child learns how to sew at school, and it was always one of my favorite classes. My solution was to cut apart the hand-me-downs passed on to me, and even new things I bought from known outdoor brands, and

3. HOW DO YOU KNOW WHEN A PRODUCT IS READY? I think it’s a gut feeling. As a designer, I sometimes feel it’s never ready as I always see some small way to make it better. I think a good way of looking at it is that a product is ready when all parties on the team are pretty much satisfied.

Even though I am the designer of the product, I’m never alone and I couldn’t do it without my team— we all play an equal role. With the tights I felt like, “We’re ready.

Let’s go.” With other products, it feels like, “Ah! Just five more minutes! Please!” It differs from product to product.

4. WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE PIECE YOU’VE WORKED ON? The Abisko Trekking Tights, for sure. They have a really special place in my heart. They are the first big product I worked on, and a bit unique in the market. They were a dream product for a designer to make. After the tights, I think it would be the Keb Down Jacket we made for Fall/Winter 2018. It was a new challenge for me. We

set out to make the best jacket in the most responsible way possible.

We used ethical down (Fjällräven Down Promise) and recycled materials, incorporated a repairable construction for durability, and included a repair kit in the jacket.

I love the type of products where the sky is the limit, as well as the products that you learn a lot from as you go through the creative and development process.

5. FJÄLLRÄVEN IS ALMOST ENTIRELY PFC FREE, AND IN GENERAL MANY EUROPEAN COUNTRIES ARE AHEAD OF AMERICAN BRANDS IN TERMS OF SUSTAINABLE DESIGN AND MANUFACTURING. WHY DO YOU THINK THIS IS? Even though sustainability isn’t written into a lot of people’s titles at Fjällräven, everyone works on it to some degree. I think Sweden is one of the leading nations when it comes to sustainability. It has been ingrained in the way of life and education to see nature as a finite resource that we have to take care of, and that it is our responsibility as a community. The Swedes always have a mentality of wanting to do better.

I think a lot of the things that are considered “sustainability-focused” in other parts of the world are not called that here. You don’t consider them to be “sustainable,” because the sustainable way is the norm.

Lastly, having a sewing machine at home is common. Fixing your garments and making sure that they’ll last a little bit longer is also something that is normal. I think that is such a beautiful thing. The most sustainable product is the one that you can have for a long time and use as many times as possible.

And when it reaches the end of its life for you, you can pass it along for someone else to wear. Today, when I buy clothing, I ask myself, “Will you wear this garment 30 times or more?” If the answer is no, then I don’t buy it.

–Kassondra Cloos

JULY 25, 2018 DAY 3

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Q&A

5 Questions for…

John Hickenlooper Colorado Governor

Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper is the kind of guy who will stand up in front of a room of outdoor industry professionals, realize he’s overdressed, pause to take off his tie, and then keep speaking as if nothing happened. Before he was governor, before he and three friends opened Denver’s first brewpub (Wynkoop Brewery, which is still going strong), he was a geologist spending summers in Yellowstone National Park. That early connection to the great outdoors informed his decisions as a politician, and has come full circle: He received Outdoor Industry Association’s “Friend of the Industry Award” this spring for investing in Colorado’s recreation economy and creating a state office for outdoor recreation and the nation’s first Public Lands Day. 1. HOW HAVE YOU SEEN THE INDUSTRY EVOLVE DURING YOUR TIME AS GOVERNOR? HOW HAVE YOU SEEN ITS INFLUENCE CHANGE? I still have the JanSport tent I bought in 1975. I’ve still got my old Kelty pack, my The North Face parka, all the stuff I used in the ‘70s doing geology. Back then—and even today— outdoor recreation prided itself on innovation and functionality. It never got very involved in anything outside of occasional letters of support for the wilderness. As the country has

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become more divided and there are some loud voices suggesting that we don’t need all the public land we have, I think the outdoor industry, in really the last six or eight years, has started to organize itself into a nonpartisan voice in support of public lands, and clean air and water.

2. AS YOU’VE WORKED CLOSELY WITH THE OUTDOOR INDUSTRY, YOU’VE ALSO WORKED CLOSELY WITH OIL AND GAS AND OPENLY DEFENDED FRACKING. HOW DO YOU RECONCILE THESE TWO PARTNERSHIPS?

3. DENVER AND THE STATE OF COLORADO HAVE POURED A LOT OF TIME AND MONEY INTO BRINGING OUTDOOR RETAILER HERE. HOW IS THE STATE’S ROI LOOKING SO FAR? I’ve spent a big part of the last seven years trying to figure out how to get more jobs and more small businesses into the rural parts of the state. Well, if outdoor recreation isn’t a good prescription for getting jobs into rural communities, I don’t know what is. Many outdoor recreation companies are small manufacturers and craftspeople.

They generally don’t want to be in big cities. If we can give them highspeed internet in communities maybe an hour or even two or three hours away from Denver, they’re happy. So, when [Outdoor Retailer] first announced they were going to leave Utah, I thought it was too good to be true for Colorado. Denver previously had other conventions lined up, with [groups that] spend much more money than outdoor recreation does at Outdoor Retailer, but they’re not as good for the longterm future of Colorado. I’ve talked to a lot of community groups along

the Front Range to make sure they understand the potential these conventions have to make Colorado better and more successful.

4. DO YOU HAVE ANY PLANS FOR LONG-TERM INVOLVEMENT WITH THE OUTDOOR INDUSTRY ONCE YOUR TERM AS GOVERNOR IS UP? I think I’ll always be involved with outdoor recreation. I’m a believer.

I may be leaving in six months, but we’re laying out a 10-year plan. [We were asking,] how do we integrate all these trails on different types of lands—private property, state land, and federal land? There’s so much to do, and I think it’s a really exciting time to be engaged in outdoor recreation in any capacity.

We haven’t quite figured out exactly what I’m going to be when I grow up, so we didn’t pencil my name in in a formal way anywhere. We have large, significant philanthropists in Colorado, and we want to get them involved in building these networks of trails while you can still get access to the land before certain key parcels are sold. I think I’ll always be engaged in that kind of work.

5. THERE HAVE BEEN A LOT OF RUMORS: ARE YOU PLANNING TO RUN FOR PRESIDENT IN 2020?

We’re looking at it. That’s as far as I’ll go. I’m a small-business person and I’m a lifetime Democrat, but I also believe that we have to work with Republicans and independents and that that’s the way we’re really going to get things done: getting everybody seated at the same table, everybody working together. I don’t know if the country is quite ready for that level of collaborative intensity.

My wife and I are going to go spend a week out of state sitting on a lake where nobody knows who we are.

We’re going to try to really come up with the good parts and the bad parts. By the end of July we should have an idea of whether we’re going to begin to push this envelope.

–Kassondra Cloos

PHOTO BY EVAN SEMÓN PHOTOGRAPHY

Natural gas has been, and will continue to be, an important transitional fuel. Even as we add dramatic amounts of wind and solar power, we’re probably going to need natural gas for a significant period of time. In most cases, the places where we get natural gas in Colorado—and our team has really fought hard to try to make sure that this stays true—are places where they’ve been drilling for many years, where the infrastructure is already in place. That’s where they’re getting their highest productivity.

They’re using new techniques like horizontal drilling. Until we get to the point where we have fuel cells and we transition to a completely clean energy future, to be able to get more natural gas inexpensively and without polluting the air is a valuable portion of our energy solution.

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Come visit our booth #5019-LL at Outdoor Retailer July 23–28, 2018

COOL TO THE TOUCH DRIES UP TO 50% FASTER * SUPERIOR COMFORT, SOFT HAND, AND SILKY DRAPE

*Based on third-party lab testing of fabrics containing Avra™ performance fibers against the fabrics of the best-selling baselayer garments of 2015. © 2018 Eastman Chemical Company. Eastman brands referenced herein are trademarks of Eastman or one of its subsidiaries. The ® symbol denotes registered trademark status in the U.S.; marks may also be registered internationally.

EastmanAvra.com

MF-7078 6/18

Q&A

5 Questions for…

Kate Paine

You might remember Paul Hawken, author of Drawdown: The Most Comprehensive Plan Ever Proposed to Reverse Global Warming, from Outdoor Industry Association’s breakfast at the show in January. He warned us against making global warming into an unapproachable threat, and stunned the crowd by saying that family planning and girls’ education, combined, made women the single biggest solution. Since then, staff at NEMO have read his book and started off on a Drawdowninspired plan to make their employees think about the environmental impact of each and every one of their choices. We asked Kate Paine, one of the masterminds behind the initiative, what the brand hopes to learn—and what they can teach us, too.

1. HOW DID THIS PROJECT COME TO BE? Drawdown really struck a chord for us because we feel that climate change is the most dire thing that

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we're all contending with at this time. We’ve really been looking for a way to make a difference, and not just from a marketing perspective— we don’t want to greenwash. When

you’re a small company like us that wants to do something big, it helps to have a road map, and that’s what this book felt like. It gave us a ranked list of where we should be focusing to make the biggest impact.

their actions and make conscious decisions to reduce their impact. If I change a few lightbulbs in my home, that’s a small decision. But if I decide to go with a different supplier with a more sustainable supply chain, that’s huge.

2. HOW ARE YOU GETTING EMPLOYEES INVOLVED? We picked five major contributors to greenhouse gas emissions and we’re creating challenges to raise awareness of our carbon footprint on our own team and with other nearby businesses. We started off with a zero-waste happy hour with plant-based food, and right now we’re working on a food challenge— we want everyone to try being vegan for at least a day. Food production creates more greenhouse gases than you’d think and, therefore, it contributes to rising temperatures.

One day, we did a “zero radius” challenge where we asked the office to eat food grown as close to home as possible for a whole day, such as veggies from local farms and eggs from chickens in employees’ backyards. We ended up raising a lot of questions—like, does coffee “count?” That takes your radius way out there.

4. ARE YOU GETTING CUSTOMERS INVOLVED? Yes. I’m working on a video, and once it’s finished I’m going to share it on social media and invite people to follow our journey. We might ask them to share their favorite vegan recipes, or how they use compost. We’re having fun right now brainstorming what those things will be. We’ll probably do a bit of paid social media advertising, but honestly, the consumer-facing message isn’t the biggest objective.

It’s about what [the initiative] is already doing to our organization.

We’re giving people who are passionate about sustainability a chance to act on that.

3. WHAT DO YOU HOPE THE LONG-TERM IMPACT WILL BE? For the individuals in the company, there are certain pieces of this that are going to be a flash in the pan.

People are going to eat vegan for a day, and then they may never do that again. But there are certain pieces that are going to be longer-lasting changes. Such as, if we’re able to get solar panels on our building and composting at our office. I hope we’ll have a mix of some long-term changes that have some actual impact alongside those shorterterm flashes in the pan. Overall, I want awareness. I want our team to be part of the conversation on how to reverse global warming. I want our employees to think about

5. ASIDE FROM BEING THE RIGHT THING TO DO, IS AN INITIATIVE TO DECREASE YOUR CARBON FOOTPRINT GOOD FOR BUSINESS, TOO? I think it absolutely can be.

Businesses can lead with their values, and it’s not just about making sure the consumer sees you, thinks you’re great, and then wants to buy your stuff. It’s also about all the hidden benefits of making your business a great place to work, and having high morale on your team.

When employees respect and are proud of the place they work, they want to work there. That means less employee turnover, less time dealing with problems in the company, and more efficiency from your enthusiastic employees, who then create better relationships with suppliers and other companies. The business impact of generally being focused on values more than just focused on making the next dollar is huge over the long term.

–Kassondra Cloos

PHOTO BY WILLIAM KRAMER

VP of Marketing, NEMO Equipment

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NEWEXHIBITORS MEET THE NEW KIDS ON THE FLOOR

1. Kinetik 1

Climbing Products BOOTH: 32080-UL

Kinetik Climbing Products solves the single biggest problem facing the expansion of the sport—the impact of climbers. Whether in the gym or at the crag, unintended chalk debris is putting a strain on the places climbers play. Kinetik, a softgoods company founded by a group of friends in the hidden rock fields of Southern Illinois in 2002, made the world’s first spill-proof chalk bag. The KiloJoule 3.0 ($38) unzips from a taco shape into a pot that doesn’t tip, spill, or waste loose chalk. The vinyl shell keeps water and moisture at bay while it’s zipped up, even when it sits on the soggy ground. It also features two standard brush-size holders and dual clip points for extra storage.

Kinetik also makes bouldering pads and packs that are simple and extremely functional. Based in Boulder, Colorado, Kinetik manufactures all products in the U.S., and specifically in Colorado.

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2. iKamper BOOTH: 24124-SL

PHOTOS BY COURTESY

Founded in South Korea in 2012, iKamper makes the Skycamp Roof Top Tent ($3,600), which the brand claims is the most successful crowdfunded tent ever.

The hard-shell rooftop tent sets up in 60 seconds and sleeps up to four people.

Add-ons include outer and inner storage shelves, shoe rack, movie stand, inner insulation tent, extra canopy poles, anti-theft bracket locks, and limitededition skins. The Skycamp won the 2018 Red Dot Design Award, the international product design prize from Germany. Now on preorder, the EatOut kitchen-in-a-box is a storage rack that folds out into a dining table and surface with two gas stoves, and then folds back up to store all your cooking utensils.

Descriptions are provided by the manufacturers and edited for clarity and space.

JULY 25, 2018 DAY 3

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NEW EXHIBITORS

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3. AKASO Tech BOOTH: 31138-UL AKASO Tech builds action cameras and adventure gear, including ski goggles, helmets, snorkeling masks, and more. The most popular camera model is the EK7000, ranked the best-selling underwater action camera on Amazon, with more than 6,000 customer reviews. More than 200,000 units were sold in 2017. AKASO is also the distributor of the established footwear brand Hanagal in North America. Hanagal makes tactical, hunting, and backpack backpacking boots with nifty craftsmanship and top-notch materials like Vibram and Gore-Tex.

4. Partnership for the

National Trails System BOOTH: 20385-SL

Want to learn more about the National Trails System? Want to take part in one of the nation’s biggest celebrations in 2018? Stop by the Partnership for the National Trails System’s booth to learn more about the 50th Anniversary of the National Trails System Act. Since 1997, the nonprofit has connected member organization and federal agency partners to further the protection, completion, and stewardship of the 30 national scenic and historic trails within the system. At the show, swing by the photo booth, pick up some trail swag, and learn more.

PHOTOS BY COURTESY

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5. Vines Islandwear BOOTH: 44163-UL Founded in St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands—with a sister office in Nashville, Tennessee—Vines Islandwear presents an action-oriented, fashionable island twist on handmade sandals with an expanding line of comfortable, attractive, feminine, and fun outdoor and lifestyle apparel for women. Vines focuses on safe, quality, and eco-friendly materials so that fans can trust both the products and the team that made them. Crafted from carefully selected materials personally sourced from and produced in North America by owners Liz Ylitalo and Michelle Pappas, Vines’ vegan sandals feature recycled tire rubber soles with a light coconut scent infusion, a dangling Vines charm, memory foam heel comfort, highquality cording and braiding, and more.

6. Techstyles Sportswear BOOTH: 24209-SL Techstyles Sportswear crafts fresh and imaginative clothing for men, women, and children wanting to capture the spirit of adventure. The San Franciscobased company, founded by a husband-and-wife team, employs a team of creative fashion designers and talented graphic artists to create hoodies and pullovers, shirts, and accessories for destination retailers selling contemporary clothing and beer brands. A hallmark of Techstyles is its caring customer service team members, who respond to design requests within a day and ship within three to five days. Oh, and Techstyles also makes cool UV-resistant stickers.

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7. Watuko Bamboo

Headgear BOOTH: 53145-UL 7

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Watuko Bamboo Headgear was founded in 2011 by Jocelyn Wendelborg. Now operating from a 5,000-square-foot facility in Canada, the brand hand-sews headwear out of Bamboo fabric. The first product was the multi-function tube, a remake of an existing design, but with a new type of fabric that the brand claims feels like silk against your skin. Products include headbands, tubes, and toques for men, women, and kids.

8. Kinross With a deep commitment to a supply chain that uses resources responsibly, treats people with respect, and does no harm to the environment, Kinross designs pieces that are ethically made from some of the finest natural fibers.

Featuring luxury essentials in cashmere and cotton blends, Kinross is showcasing its Women’s Resort 2018 collection with effortless casual pullovers, aprèsyoga cardigans, and must-have travel accessories. Kinross is also launching its first Men’s Resort 2018 collection including luxury cashmere, cotton, and linencotton knit blends. The men’s collection includes novelty polos and lightweight crews to throw on for a brisk morning hike, as well as comfortable hoodies and classic sweatshirts to wear by the campfire.

PHOTOS BY COURTESY

BOOTH: 49089-UL

INSULATION WITH LOFTIER ASPIRATIONS. Introducing PFC-Free DownTek Powered by 37.5® Technology - The insulating properties of down - The water repellency of DownTek - The temperature regulating power of 37.5® Technology Yet another new standard in insulation brought to you by DownTek. BROUGH T TO YOU BY

Visit us in Meeting Room 206 - July 23rd-25th

NEW EXHIBITORS

9. HoodieLoc

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BOOTH: 21238-SL When the wind picks up, keep hoods from blowing off with HoodieLoc, a formfitting metal band that can be inserted into the drawstring area of any hood.

Cover your head, not your eyes, by wearing it like a headband. Keep out the wind and elements, and keep in body warmth, while still enjoying the outdoors.

HoodieLoc is available to retailers as a single unit and also as a multi-pack of three. As a single unit, HoodieLoc is also equipped with a six-lumen magnetic flashlight. The LED flashlight is the perfect way to participate safely in afterdark activities. It attaches through hood fabric by magnet to provide hands-free illumination.

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10. No Dirty Water BOOTH: 31154-UL What happens when water and air are not pure, safe, and available? Each day, 2 billion people struggle without access to clean water. No Dirty Water’s water purification system can purify 2,880 gallons of water per day. The system weighs 7.2 pounds and uses just 1 amp of energy, all through a natural purification process that is 3,125 times faster than chlorine. Additionally, No Dirty Water has partnered with Flex Watches together to give away a Flex Watch every hour of the show on all four days to raise dirty water awareness. No Dirty Water also donates 5 percent of pretax profits to support global water initiatives.

creora® highclo™ super chlorine resistant spandex for lasting fit and shape retention.

Outdoor Retailer Show 23-26 July 2018

Booth : #27-LL

For more information on creora® spandex contact

Mike Simko

creora® is registered trade mark of the Hyosung Corporation for it s brand of premium spandex.

E-mail: Mike.Simko@us.hyosung.com Tel: 908-510-5035

FIRST AT IT. STILL AT IT. 20 YEARS OF ECO-FRIENDLY PERFORMANCE

We keep 300,000 metric tons of rubber out of landfills every

RECYCLED

RUBBER

year—recycling it into every OrthoLite® insole. We’ve been doing it since we made our very first product, and we’ve done it for the billions we’ve made ever since. The only thing as good as OrthoLite® is OrthoLite®.

www.ortholite.com

ORTHO 18-48 OR Daily-3_Recycled Rubber_fp_mech_061218.indd 1

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GEARTRENDS HIKING FOOTWEAR

SNUG AND STEADY

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Hiking footwear gets decked out with proprietary components, race car rubber, and laceless cinching systems. BY KRISTA KARLSON

Ankle Huggers

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The popularity of sock-like construction in running shoes has prompted hiking boot manufacturers to get on board, according to Tabatha Bendezu, footwear buyer at Kittery Trading Post in Kittery, Maine. More brands are unveiling hiking footwear with a stretchy knit ankle that keeps feet snug, often paired with a nontraditional lacing system like bungees or drawstrings.

“This allows for quick lacing and a tighter fit than a standard lace system,” she says.

Bringing it Home

A few years ago, brands like Vibram and Gore-Tex dominated the footwear market. But Chris Ransom, footwear buyer at Mast General Store in Banner Elk, North Carolina, says more brands are moving toward proprietary outsoles and waterproof/breathable uppers. “In-house, you can control the design process from start to finish,” he says. This means less fiddling to make the shoe’s components work together, as well as lower costs. “It makes good sense to use your own products,” he says.

Rubber to Road

PHOTOS PHOTOS

BY COURTESY

BY COURTESY

If you think your car and your hiking boots have nothing in common, think again. Rubber outsoles from tire manufacturers like Continental and Michelin are increasingly popular, promising to grip the trail with the same trusted stickiness of their tires. “Their tires last a long time, so if they put a piece of rubber on a hiking boot, they think it will be a long-lasting rubber,” says Michael Cronin, shoe department manager at Ramsey Outdoor in Ramsey, New Jersey.

1. The Merrell Rove Mid ($200) has a knit upper that extends all the way to the ankle, and a Boa lacing system for one-handed, dialed-in fit. #44105-UL

ALL PRICES ARE MANUFACTURER’S SUGGESTED RETAIL PRICE (MSRP).

2. adidas Outdoor uses a Continental tire outsole and stretchy, water-repellant knit upper in its Terrex Free Hiker ($200). #42069-UL

JULY 25, 2018 DAY 3

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3. The KEEN AXIS EVO Mid ($160) features a proprietary ALL-TERRAIN rubber outsole and quick-dry EVOFIT polyester knit upper, along with a socklike fit at the ankle. #46081-UL 4. Oboz uses nearly all its own components in the Cirque Low Waterproof ($145), which has a grippy rubber outsole and a B-DRY synthetic waterproof upper. #54381-UL 5. The Mammut Saentis Knit Low ($179) gets its stick from a Michelin rubber sole made specifically for the brand. The sock-fit design provides snug comfort at the ankle. #36023-UL

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Pure You. Designed without compromise.

Pure Possibility.

Venture Out 114 puristcollective.com

GEAR TRENDS TRAIL RUNNING FOOTWEAR

DISTANCE DREAMING

Trail running shoes get dialed-in drop and extra support as customers train for their next ultrarun or thru-hike. BY KRISTA KARLSON

Cross Fit

With backpacking gear getting lighter than ever, many backpackers carrying less than 30 pounds are trading their light hiking boots for trail runners, according to Brendan Madigan, owner of Alpenglow Sports in Tahoe City, California. “Customers see that they can drop the weight of their footwear and maintain a great level of support,” he says. Infused EVA or dual-density polyurethane midsoles with TPU stabilizers and rock plates make ultralight trail running shoes appetizing for customers who might never run a mile in them.

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Dropping Out

The fanfare around minimalist trail runners has subsided, according to Rob Singer, footwear buyer at Rock/Creek Outfitters in Chattanooga, Tennessee. “Zero-drop has settled down to 4- to 6-millimeter drop,” he says. This still gives runners the feeling of being barefoot without the steep learning curve of having to change their form in a zero-drop shoe. “People want a more natural stance when they’re running, and a 4- to 6-millimeter drop is the best of all worlds,” he says.

Building a Quiver

1. The Hoka One One Speedgoat 3 ($140) has an oversized EVA midsole and TPU overlay to keep feet comfy and secure on even the longest runs. #53089-UL

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2. The Vasque Velocity AT ($120) has a proprietary EVA midsole with extra compression resistance for long-distance support and weighs in at just 1 pound, 5 ounces for the pair. #44041-UL

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PHOTOS BY COURTESY

As trail running becomes increasingly popular, customers are buying multiple pairs of shoes to enhance their training regimen.

“The race distances have broadened so that now one shoe doesn’t always cut it for training,” says Melissa McNell, footwear buyer at Outdoor Gear Exchange in Burlington, Vermont. By buying both an all-terrain shoe for long distances and a more technical shoe for training in particularly wet or difficult conditions, customers can dial in their performance.

GEAR TRENDS TRAIL RUNNING FOOTWEAR

3. The SCARPA Spin Ultra ($150) has a dual-density EVA midsole that’s supportive enough for backpacking, and a 6mm drop to make trail runners happy. #37071-UL 4. The Salomon Speedcross 5 ($130) has lugs that are perfect for wet, technical terrain and sits lightly on the scale at less than 1 pound, 8 ounces per pair. #44242-UL

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5. A 6mm drop gives the La Sportiva Bushido ($130) a natural feel, while the EVA rock guard in the forefoot protects feet from harsh ground. #36039-UL

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PHOTOS BY COURTESY

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SPORT

Wick DryÂŽ moisture management to keep feet dry and comfortable

Designed to raise your game, our statement-making sport socks combine high-performance fibers and innovative technical elements to stay cool and fight fatigue during the toughest workouts.

COME SEE FOR YOURSELF

BOOTH #42098-UL

Ribbed ankle for added support

URfitTM System provides memory-knit construction and spandex compression zones

Strategic padding at heel, toe, and ankle for a balance of comfort, flexibility, and air circulation

1 543 STRIDE CREW

Mesh panels at top of foot and ankle for flexibility and ventilation

FOXSOX.COM | 800-247-1815 | PROUDLY AMERICAN MADE SINCE 1900

GEAR TRENDS CLIMBING FOOTWEAR

THE SHOE FITS

New materials and smarter design make climbing shoes tougher and more comfortable than ever. BY CAROLYN WEBBER

No Pain, Lots of Gain

Malcom Daly, gear guru at Neptune Mountaineering in Boulder, Colorado, says he does everything he can to convince people they don’t need to be in pain when they put on their climbing shoes anymore. Finally, he’s starting to see a shift: Construction, fit, and design have improved to make shoes feel better, and there are more options for different foot shapes, he says. “People can find a comfortable shoe that is [also] high performance.”

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The Softer Side

One reason for all those gains in comfort: new materials on the upper part of the shoe. Mike Donohue, co-owner of Outdoor Gear Exchange in Burlington, Vermont, says that he’s seeing more woven materials rather than leather, which increase breathability and comfort because there’s no breaking-in period. Companies are also experimenting with knitted materials that hug the foot for the perfect fit and cinching straps that keep the shoe snug in place.

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Tough Toes

With the rise of climbing gyms nationwide, Brandon Vice, buyer for Rock/Creek Outfitters in Chattanooga, Tennessee, knows exactly what shoes to recommend to beginners who just bought their first gym pass: one with a durable toe. “When they rake their feet up the wall, they blow out the toes fast,” he says. Companies are building up the rubber on the soles to make sure that newcomers lacking technique don’t destroy the toes too quickly.

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2. The semi-split sole in the Oasi LV from Tenaya ($165) adds sensitivity and flexibility to the high-performing shoe. Straps on the upper and lower part of the shoe allow climbers to customize the fit for comfort. #34095-UL 3. The wholesale-only Session Air from Red Chili ($TBD) has a double toe edge to increase

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durability and a non-marking sole, making it a perfect rental shoe for gyms. #35095-UL 4. The Arpia ($165) from SCARPA is slightly downturned for performance, but it features a padded and stretchy tongue for comfort. The Z-pulley closure makes for quick and easy size adjustments. #37071-UL 5. Five Ten balances comfort and performance in its new Aleon ($190). It has a downturned sole for hooking holds and a flexible, breathable, and form-fitting knit that hugs the foot. #42069-UL

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PHOTOS BY COURTESY

1. Mad Rock’s Haywire ($125) feels as good as it looks. The Flo Knit material on the upper portion is breathable, and the molded toebox wraps around the toes for comfort. #37072-UL

A new Teflon for a new world. ®

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© 2018 The Chemours Company FC, LLC. Teflon EcoElite™ and any associated logos are trademarks or copyrights of The Chemours Company FC, LLC. Chemours™ and the Chemours Logo are trademarks of The Chemours Company.

GEAR TRENDS LIFESTYLE FOOTWEAR

WALKING ON SUNSHINE

Lifestyle footwear rises to meet the needs of extreme athletes and eco-conscious customers alike. BY KRISTA KARLSON

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Kick Back

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With the rise of ultrarunning, more customers are looking for recovery shoes. “People want to put something on that gives their feet a bit of a break,” says Brian Mildenstein, owner of Fin and Feather in Iowa City, Iowa. Ultra-absorbent midsoles lend a pillowy feel, and many are lightweight enough to use as camp shoes.

“I was skeptical when we got the first shipment, but turns out I was wrong,” says Mildenstein. They may not be the prettiest things on the shelf, he says, but they sure are the comfiest.

Eco Ethos

The outdoor industry isn’t shy about its stance on conservation, and neither are consumers. Sara Abernathy, buyer at Townsend Bertram & Company in Carrboro, North Carolina, says customers want more eco-friendly footwear made from hemp, cork, or recycled materials. “Our customers prefer more natural [materials] certainly for the smaller [carbon] footprint, but more [to avoid] the chemicals from manufacturing processes and the effect they have on our oceans and waterways,” she says. Look for recycled knits or hemp in the upper, and cork and algae biomass in the midsole.

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On the Down Low

Low profile is the name of the game for trips around town. “Customers want something that’s snug to their feet but isn’t constricting,” says Hayley Stephenson, a sales associate at EVO in Seattle.

Seamless, stretchy uppers create a custom fit that hugs feet in place, offering the feel of a shoe like Toms slip-ons but with the added support and comfort of an EVA midsole.

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2. The Astral Hemp Baker ($90) pairs odor-resistant hemp canvas with the brand’s G Rubber outsole, which sticks to slick surfaces. #36018-UL 3. The SAOLA Cannon Knit ($99) is made with an 80-percent recycled PET upper,

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a combination cork and algae biomass midsole, and an algae biomass outsole. #VO438-SL 4. The OOFOS OOlala Geo ($65) gives feet a cushy ride thanks to closed-cell foam in the midsole that absorbs 37 percent more impact than EVA. #51162-UL 5. The Five Ten Access Knit ($130) is made with a seamless knit upper and an EVA insole with high rubber content for a cozy, cushioned stride. #42069-UL

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PHOTOS BY COURTESY

1. Hoka One One adds to its lineup the Ora Recovery Shoe ($80), which has a Meta-Rocker EVA midsole that rides like a rocking chair. #57089-UL

cotton does

Want to turn the tide on ocean pollution? Take a deeper look at cotton. Unlike synthetic fabrics that leave toxic microplastics in our oceans and waterways , 1 cotton microfibers are natural and biodegradable. 2 Cotton is a high performing fiber with none of the plastic pollution — being an ocean-friendly fiber just comes naturally.

1: Accumulation of Microplastic on Shorelines Woldwide: Sources and Sinks. Mark Anthony Browne, et al. Environmental Science & Technology 2011 45 (21), 9175-9179. DOI: 10.1021/es201811s 2: THE GENERATION AND AQUATIC BIODEGRADATION OF MICROFIBERES PRODUCED FROM LAUNDERING FABRICS. Zambrano, M., et al. NC State University, Raleigh, NC, USA. Cotton Incorporated, Cary, NC, USA * 76% in waste water after 250 days with continued degradation projected.

visit us at booth 53095 ul. i

AMERICA’S COTTON PRODUCERS AND IMPORTERS Service Marks/Trademarks of Cotton Incorporated. © 2018 Cotton Incorporated.

GEAR TRENDS SOCKS

DOWN TO THERE

Socks get shorter, brighter, and safer from biting bugs. BY MT ELLIOTT PORTABLE LIGHTS AMERICAN TRADE ORGANIZATION

Brands Committed to Integrity with Products You Can Trust

The Summer Sock

Hands-down the most popular trend we heard from retailers this season: the wool micro sock. Exactly what “micro” means varies by brand, but generally it hits somewhere around the ankle. Casual and trail running socks tend to scoop below the ankle bone, while hiking socks cover it to prevent chafing.

“This year the micro crew has been big—that funny, in-between height that’s not a crew, not a quarter,” says Amanda Lane, buyer and co-owner of The Hike Shack in Flagstaff, Arizona. And wool’s rap as a hot, itchy material is fading as customers discover its temperature-regulating, wicking qualities. “Wool is still driving the market, even in Arizona,” she says. “It usually takes some convincing, but once explained, they run with it—and come back for more.”

Brighten Up

Even crew lengths provide an opportunity to show some flair, and several brands are trying to attract shoppers who want a little personality in their hiking or everyday socks. “The thing we see response to is a sock with an extra splash of color or art-focused, thematic pattern to it, certainly amongst casual socks,” says Chris Sussman, floor manager at Outdoor Gear Exchange in Burlington, Vermont. “For us, it’s often something northeast or Vermont-focused.”

Ticked Off

The usual spring warnings about Lyme disease and other tick-borne illnesses took on new significance after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention this year issued a report about exploding disease rates and supported the use of fabrics treated with permethrin to repel ticks. Several brands already use permethrin-based Insect Shield in their apparel and socks (effective, as ticks usually start low and crawl up the leg), but the official nod from the government may have more customers seeking them out for extra bug protection.

“The CDC study has generated a smattering of fresh inquiries,” says Janine Robertson, a spokeswoman for Insect Shield. “However, the study just posted in May, so it’s too soon to determine the full scope of the impact.”

Each of the above brands is committed to test its portable lighting products to the highest flashlight standard, ANSI/PLATO FL 1.

2. Darn Tough brings the wicking and noslip features used in its ski and run socks to its latest cycling sock, the Stage Micro Crew Ultra-Light ($19). #49007-UL

For more information on the FL 1 Light Standard and the industry trade organization PLATO, go to plato-usa.org.

3. Wigwam’s Arbor NXT Quarter-Crew ($15) is a lightweight hiker, just high enough to protect the ankles, with abrasion-resistant fibers in the heel and toe and a mesh instep to air out feet. #51081-UL

© 2018 Portable Lights American Trade Organization

4. Featuring bright, complex nature scenes by artist Jonas Claesson, the

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Women’s Curated Surf Lineup Crew ($20) by Smartwool is an ultralight wool-nylon sock shaped to fit women’s feet with a narrowed heel and the brand’s wear-resistant construction in the toe. #46117-UL 5. Running sock heights are trending micro, like the Lorpen T3 Running Mini ($12). A mix of hydrophobic and nylon yarns provide wicking, support, and durability. #44066-UL 6. Farm to Feet’s Ararat ($16) everyday quarter crew socks feature a pattern of channels that let the upper get plenty of air. The light construction in the arch creates micro-channels for ventilation while still offering some compression. #53117-UL

PHOTOS BY COURTESY

1. GoLite’s RePreve Insect Shield Crew Sock ($18) is made with recycled polyester fibers and treated with Insect Shield to ward off ticks and mosquitoes. #VO110-SL

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JULY 25, 2018 DAY 3

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A Unique Garment Technology from TORAY That Combines

Form-Fitting Stretch Fabric with Innovative Stretch Insulation From a global leader in cutting-edge fiber and textile technologies comes 3DeFX+ ®.

Toray’s latest innovation combines proprietary insulation made from multiple types of coil-shaped fibers, now with 40% recycled content, and an array of stretch fabrics. It provides flexibility and warmth and allows for freedom of movement like never before.

3DeFX+ ® is a next-generation “package solution,” created by Toray and offering fully integrated garment production for the world’s top brands.

Cutting-Edge Stretch Fabric

3D Stretch Insulation

Stretch Sewing Method

Toray’s innovatively designed fabric can be used in all kinds of applications.

It can be customized to suit the design and concept of various types of clothing, without losing its functionality.

Multiple types of spiral-shaped fibers are intertwined to achieve higher stretchability and volume than conventional padding.

Thanks to the large amounts of air trapped inside, it is extremely lightweight and compact, with high heat retention.

Made using 40% recycled fibers, this insulation is engineered with sustainability in mind.

Special stitching maximizes the performance of the insulation and fabric.

Try 3DeFX+ ® at the Toray booth #MR301.

For more information, please visit 3defx-plus.com 3DeFX+ ® is a registered trademark of Toray International, Inc. All rights reserved.

THEGALLERY HOT NEW PRODUCTS AT THE SHOW

1

1. Therm-a-Rest’s all-new Argo Blanket with Wolf Print offers “creature” comforts at camp. Versatile and ultrasoft, the Argo adds warmth to any adventure with eraLoft Insulation—a lightweight, compressible synthetic fill. Added features include a built-in pocket for packing and drawcords that cinch around your feet for added warmth. [$67] #44031-UL

2. As part of Kelty’s new Get Your

Shit Together (GYST) collection of organization bags, the Original G makes it easy to compartmentalize, store, and transport necessities to and from the campsite or a concert. Features include a durable, 300-denier polyester fabric on the top and sides and 1200-denier polyester on the bottom for added durability, webbing shoulder straps and side handles for convenient carrying, and a steel wire frame that completely collapses to stow the bag away. [$40] #42031-UL

3. EDITORS’ PICK Built to go the

distance with comfort and durability, Granite Gear’s new Blaze 60-liter multiday backpack features an all-new Air Current frame with a 45-pound load rating and specific adjustment points to lock in your exact torso size. The bag is made with a Granite Gear-custom 210-denier Robic nylon ripstop fabric in high-impact and high-abrasion areas to make it as durable as possible.

The pack includes a removable lid compartment with DWR-treated zipper that converts to an optional chest pack to carry on your front; large fabric side pockets with reinforced bottom panels; a tall, stretch-woven front pocket; and a hidden zipper that acts as a secondary access point to the main compartment. [$270] #39069-UL

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PHOTOS BY COURTESY

EDITORS’ PICK

3 Descriptions are provided by the manufacturers and edited for clarity and space.

ALL PRICES ARE MANUFACTURER’S SUGGESTED RETAIL PRICE (MSRP).

BOOTH NUMBERS ARE CURRENT AS OF JULY 1, 2018.

JULY 25, 2018 DAY 3

63

NEW PRODUCT GALLERY 1. Designed as a technical touring life vest,

Kokatat’s new Neptune PFD is rugged and durable, while the articulated Gaia PVC-free foam provides a perfect fit and comfort for sea kayakers. Featuring five fixed pockets (including pockets for a VHF radio and folding knife) and covered in high-tenacity ripstop nylon, the front-entry Neptune comes with reflective accents on the shoulders and back. The vest is hydration compatible and includes attachment points for rescue knives and strobes. [$165] #33047-UL

2. EDITORS’ PICK Waterproof performance,

high-quality fabric, appealing modern design, and stellar price come together in the Outdoor Research Apollo Jacket and Pant, offering feature-packed performance at an approachable, entry-level cost.

Outdoor Research invested extensive time in developing the 2.5-layer, 70-denier ripstop nylon Ventia waterproof fabric to hit higher performance benchmarks than what’s currently offered in the sub-$100 category. [$99] #42023-UL

1

3. The Empower is Gerber’s newest

automatic knife, a daily workhorse that wields lightning-quick deployment and safety-focused locking mechanisms.

Offering reliable control and a tactile handfeel, the Armored Grip handle scales are photo-chemically etched to provide a confident grip. A false-edge spear point blade delivers utility and piercing capability, ideal for survival situations and daily chores alike. [$125] #51030-UL

4. The Dana Tight is made in Carve Designs’ new Aqua Terra fabric, the brand’s most compressive and supportive fabric in a double-knit recycled polyester. The stretchy fabric is durable with excellent recovery, allowing you to move freely during active pursuits both in and out of the water. Additionally, the tights dry quickly, are wind-resistant and offer UPF50+ sun protection so you can stay outside longer. [$92] #49054-UL

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THE DAILY | SUMMER MARKET

PHOTOS BY COURTESY

EDITORS’ PICK

61% OF

OUTDOOR COMPANIES

HAVE ONE OR MORE EMPLOYEES

FOCUSING PRIMARILY ON

SUSTAINABILITY JOIN THE SUSTAINABLE SUPPLY CHAIN MOVEMENT START BY DOWNLOADING THE OIA STATE OF SUSTAINABILITY REPORT:

outdoorindustry.org/jointhemovement

OIA membership funds meaningful change in sustainability, public policy and increasing outdoor participation.

GET INVOLVED AT:

outdoorindustry.org/membership

NEW PRODUCT GALLERY 1

EDITORS’ PICK

3

PHOTOS BY COURTESY

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4

1. EDITORS’ PICK The Big Agnes SLX Tent Floor Pad is a superlight (2 pounds, 9 ounces) double sleeping pad designed to fit perfectly within the footprint of Big Agnes’s two-person backpacking tents like the Copper Spur. The SLX Floor Pad provides unmatched comfort by eliminating gaps between two pads and any risk of rolling onto the ground.

The lightweight and durable construction is ideal for both car camping and backpacking. [$300] #44004-UL

3. Garmont’s G-Radikal boot is

2. Lightweight and compact, the

4. The Black Diamond Zone is a two-strap Velcro climbing shoe that combines the award-winning comfort and breathability of Black Diamond’s Momentum shoes with the high-performance last of the Shadows. The Zone’s knit upper provides stretch where you need it, support where it matters, and exceptional breathability. The shoe’s agressive, downturned last makes the Zone adept at pulling hard on steep rock or plastic. [$140] #42081-UL

UST TekFire Charge Fuel-Free Lighter allows for quick and easy firestarting and features an emergency power bank to charge your phone and other mobile devices on the go. Windproof, flameless, and electronic, it requires no butane fuel or adjustments for altitude.

The included ParaTinder Utility Cord wrist lanyard can be unwound for about 3 feet of allpurpose paracord with an added single tinder thread. [$40] #49058-UL

a versatile all-mountain boot perfectly suited for a multiday adventure on rock and glacier.

The boot features a contoured erGo last and G-Wrap fit system that together wrap the foot precisely. The Double Damper shock absorbers offer impact protection and the upper is made from tough Lenzi Putek fabric and a Gore-Tex Performance Comfort waterproof/breathable membrane. [$400] #46131-UL

to go further Katadyn® Gravity BeFree™ 3.0L Water Filtration System™ No Pumping or Squeezing Gravity Powered water filter

Shake to Clean in the field No Backflushing necessary

Fast! Filters up to 2 liters/min Removes bacteria & protozoa

0.1 micron EZ-Clean Membrane™

L e a r n mo r e a b o u t t h e B e F r e e at Booth # 5 1 0 3 1 - U L

NEW PRODUCT GALLERY

1

EDITORS’ PICK

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PHOTOS BY COURTESY

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Join Us. From boardroom to backcountry, climbing big walls and corporate ladders, running marathons and companies, we’re creating stronger, more sustainable active-outdoor industries.

CamberOutdoors.org PHOTO © DAN HOLZ | OSPREY

1. EDITORS’ PICK Originally

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designed more than 35 years ago, Mountainsmith’s Mountain Shade Tipi is back for more adventurers. For lightweight backpacking excursions, go with a fast-fly setup at less than 4 pounds, and have a roomy, storm-resistant shelter.

When heading into more bug-infested backcountry destinations, add in the included bug nest. [$250] #44080-UL

2. Sea to Summit further

redefines lightweight sleeping comfort with the EtherLight XT Air Mat. A development of the original Air Sprung Cell construction, this 4-inch-thick, super-lightweight mattress uses air pockets created by looped TPU baffles that connect the top and bottom layers. The Air Sprung Cells remain the heart of this stable concept. The 30/40-denier nylon fabric is quiet and grippy for slip-free sleep. And your Aeros Pillow stays put, too, thanks to the integrated Pillow Lock system. [$179] #51007-UL

PERFECT FIT EVERY TIME! Booth

22212-SL (Street level) Featuring:

Belts • Luggage • Bags • Gloves • Travel Accessories and more

3. The Vasque Breeze Lite

LT is a dramatically lighter successor to the Breeze III, featuring Vibram Megagrip for sure footing across varying surfaces. The LT also features cutting-edge Vibram Lightbase technology, saving 25 percent in outsole weight. A synthetic upper results in an athletic, responsive ride that’s purposebuilt for efficient trail miles. [$150-$170] #44041-UL

4. Salewa redefines layers for alpine climbing with the new Agner Durastretch Dry jacket. Engineered with nextgeneration, rock-resistant Durastretch softshell fabric, the Agner Durastretch Dry jacket works as a baselayer, midlayer, wind shell, and even a light rain protection jacket. On the inside, it’s lightly brushed to provide protective warmth when temperatures drop or while belaying. The dense double-woven construction keeps the wind out, and together with the DWR finish, can withstand occasional light rainfall. [$350] #36115-UL

NEW PRODUCT GALLERY

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PHOTOS BY COURTESY

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1. Nesting together for easy transport and storage, The Eureka! Camp Cafe brews quality coffee for the whole crew quickly and cleans up in a snap. The 2.5-liter boiling kettle features patented Flux Ring technology to increase efficiency and boil water twice as fast as a standard kettle.

The 12-cup coffee carafe and #4 pour-over filter makes everyone coffee first thing and fast. [$100] #44117-UL 2. OOFOS’s women’s OOmg Boot and Bootie are new extensions of the OOmg series for colder weather. The boot is designed with OOFoam impactabsorbing recovery technology that is scientifically proven to reduce stress on your body.

Both shoes are DWR treated and feature a lightweight, yet durable, quilted upper.

The OOmg Boot has versatile style as well: You can roll it up or down to create your own unique look, and they are both easily packable for the gym, work, or travel. [$180 - $200] #51162-UL

IF YOU WANT TO WIN MY VOTE… DON’T THREATEN AMERICA’S NATIONAL MONUMENTS

See what else the growing number of outdoor voters are saying about how to Win in the West.

Winning the West is a nonpartisan campaign to make policymakers and elected leaders aware of the power of voters who actively participate in the outdoors and bring that passion with them to the ballot box, whether they are Democrats, Republicans or independents.

LEARN MORE AND LEND YOUR VOICE: WinningTheWest2018.org

3. The Klymit Sky Bivy is a full-featured hammock tent designed for all weather conditions. The system includes the Klymit Lay Flat Hammock and Sky Shelter.

The hammock features a spreader pole to create an even surface. Adjustable dual foot straps allow you to alter the position of the hammock vertically and horizontally. Mild weather conditions do not require guylines or stakes. Four aluminum stakes and tensionlock guylines are included for severe weather conditions. [$250] #49068-UL 4. Osprey’s Rook and Renn

packs provide an exceptional opportunity for backpackers to experience the benefits of carrying an Osprey pack at a compelling price point. Osprey’s new AirSpeed suspension and harness provides excellent ventilation and makes it easier than ever to dial in fit. Additional features include an integrated rain cover, zippered sleeping bag compartment, and just the right amount of organization. [$155 $165] #42060-UL

NEW PRODUCT GALLERY 3 EDITORS’ PICK

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PHOTOS BY COURTESY

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Tested & Proven

“

As a recovering Lyme disease patient, and mother of

two based in the beautiful, but tick-rich state of Maine, I do everything I can to protect our family from ticks.

I’m comforted knowing that Insect Shield technology is protecting us always while we enjoy the outdoors.

Tested. Proven. Mother approved.

”

- Heather Hurst

Founder & President, Project Lyme

Look for Insect Shield products from these trusted brands

1. The Rab Neutrino 400 is a lightweight (28 ounces), minimalist, 20° F, down-filled sleeping bag, designed for lightweight adventures where warmth-to-weight is a prime concern. Utilizing an innovative new chamber design allowing more efficient usage of down, Rab’s new Neutrino 400 has increased the warmth rating of the bag, while saving weight. [$400] #36072-UL

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2. EDITORS’ PICK The first climbing helmet featuring the patented MIPS technology, the Mammut Wall Rider MIPS offers maximum safety and protection from impacts caused by tumbling rocks or falls. When the Wall Rider MIPS helmet is subjected to an angled impact, the low friction layer allows the helmet to slide relative to the head so a portion of the energies acting on the head are redirected and absorbed thanks to the large low-friction layer, rather than being transferred to the brain. [$180] #36023-UL

®

GoAid

TM

The shirts we’re most proud of are the ones we give away.

Visit us at Venture Out

www.golite.com

Launching Spring ‘19

3. OtterBox introduces its first

rugged carry solution with the Yampa dry duffel bags. Available in three sizes (35-, 70- and 105-liters), these rugged bags are fully waterproof. A fold-over harness system allows for both backpack-carry and duffelcarry—with the straps tucking out of the way when not needed.

Ultralow density, half-inch thick foam protects the bag contents from impact, while keeping it light as a feather to carry on any adventure. [$250 - $350] #39061-UL

4. Teva’s men’s-only Hurricane Sock introduces the next level of socks with sandals. With a knitted, sock-like upper with a tighter weave near the toe for protection and relaxed weave in the vamp for breathability, the Hurricane Sock is great for multiple terrains, both dry and wet. An easy hook-andloop closure allows for the perfect fit while the jacquard heel webbing detail adds an authentic touch of Teva heritage. [$120] #53081-UL

NEW PRODUCT GALLERY

3 2

Good insurance shouldn’t gouge you Partner with the industry experts to protect your business, your product, your passion.

Let’s talk! Visit us at booth 44001-UL

www.outdoorsportsins.com • osi@horizonagency.com • 1-800-491-2858

PHOTOS BY COURTESY

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1. The Mountain Khakis Skyline

3. Patagonia’s new mountain

2. Step into maritime history with Optic Nerve’s ’s new Bristol. The shiny black color gives you a sleek look and an adjustable rubber nose bridge and rubber ear tips maintain a secure fit while you sail away. All Hydroglare styles feature hydrophobic lenses with an advanced hard coat that protects against corrosive saltwater and make the lenses fingerprint free. The lenses are made from a polycarbonate material, making them tough yet lightweight. [$59] #42057-UL

4. Newly redesigned for spring 2019, the Vibram V-Trail is perfect for runners looking for a technical, off-road, minimalist shoe. The V-Trail incorporates a Vibram Megagrip sole with 3D Cocoon mesh embedded for protection against rocks and other debris. The anti-absorbent upper material boasts better drainage in wet conditions.

Welded overlays protect the toes. [$120] #49119-UL

Short is perfect for exploring a little faster than your typical hiking pace. Featuring 100 percent nylon with mechanical stretch, the Skyline provides consistent ventilation through built-in mesh venting on the legs and a mesh liner short. No need to bypass cooling-off in the mountain lake, as the DWR quick-dry fabric means the Skyline will be dry before you are, plus UPF 50+ protection guards you from the sun. [$70] #49014-UL

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bike-specific Endless Ride Liner Bibs offer plenty of storage so you can bring everything you need for a big day without hauling a heavy pack. Built with airy stretch fabric with power mesh panels and an open mesh panel at the lower back, they allow plenty of airflow during hot climbs. An engineered 3D Italian chamois keeps you comfortable in the saddle, while soft silicone leg grips eliminate slip and chafe and keep the chamois in place. [$129] #37105-UL

More ways than ever to get

SAFE DRINKING WATER.

YS 5 WA HE ET S U TO TRAW LIFES X: FLE

1 AS A STRAW

2 WITH SOFT-TOUCH BOTTLE

3

4

5

WITH PLASTIC BOTTLE

WITH LIFESTRAW MISSION

WITH HYDRATION BLADDER

ONE FILTER. 5 WAYS. LifeStraw Flex removes 99.999999% of bacteria, 99.999% of parasites and microplastics. It also exceeds NSF 42 standards for chlorine reduction and NSF 53 standards for lead and heavy metal reduction.

Visit us in booth 51069-UL Distributed by Eartheasy

Y E A R S

PUBLIC RELATIONS

HERO SHOT

Mess with the Best

UCO Ware’s Four Piece Mess Kit makes cleanup a snap.

PHOTO BY LOUISA ALBANESE. TEXT BY LEAH QIU

This should probably be called the Un-Mess Kit. Made to toss around in your pack, UCO Ware’s kit has a curved bowl, so you can scoop up every last bite, and a rubberized lid that attaches snugly, so you can get back on the trail with no leaks. After a long weekend, this kit is tough enough for the dishwasher and microwave. [$15] #46061-UL

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HERO SHOT

Back to the Future

It’s not dèjá vu. This Gore-Tex Proequipped hardshell sure looks like something out of the ’90s, and that’s exactly the idea: Mountain Hardwear celebrates its 25th anniversary this year, and it’s updating this classic jacket with a contemporary and ecofriendly spin. Both the shell nylon and the backing are made from recycled materials, creating the rare cohesion of style, heritage, and technical chops. [$650] #44055-UL

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THE DAILY | SUMMER MARKET

PHOTO BY LOUISA ALBANESE. TEXT BY LEAH QIU

Mountain Hardwear opens the vault with its Exposure/2.

P R EV I EW T H E S P R I N G 2 01 9 V I O L E T M A R S H C O L L EC T I O N

AT BOOTH #44129-UL

Timberland and are trademarks of TBL Licensing LLC. © TBL Licensing LLC. All rights reserved. NAW

HERO SHOT

All Bottled Up

EcoVessel’s Aspen keeps the lid on hot or cold bevvies.

PHOTO BY LOUISA ALBANESE. TEXT BY LEAH QIU

Copper—and an insulated lid—are the secret ingredients that make EcoVessel’s sleek new Aspen bottle a wizard at thermodynamics. It keeps cold water cold for 100 hours and hot drinks hot for 20. Elegant, thoughtful details abound: Internal lid threading lets you open and close with one and a half turns, a silicone base ensures soft landings without the dents, and the glass-smooth rim makes for easy sipping and cleaning. [$27-32] #39019-UL

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THE DAILY | SUMMER MARKET

@THESHOW

DIG INTO OUR HIGHLIGHTS OF THE SHOW’S EVENTS, EDUCATION, AND MORE

Events JULY 25 Sea to Summit Product Sale to Support Leave No Trace 9 a.m.

51007-UL

Sea to Summit is selling two products to support Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics. The Pro Hammock with Suspension Straps and Tree Protectors is a lightweight, durable, and compact hammock with a super simple setup.

The Kitchen Sink 5L is an excellent compact and durable addition to your backpack or camp kit. It also makes a great dog bowl. Show Prices: Pro Hammock Single $40/ Pro Hammock Double $50/Kitchen Sink 5L $10.

Products will be available every day, throughout the show, while stocks last.

Pack It Out for Public Lands Fundraiser 9 a.m.

39080-UL

Stop by the Adventure Medical Kits booth any time during show hours to support the American Hiking Society’s advocacy work and pick up some crucial outdoor preparedness gear for half price. Choose from the compact Mountain Series Hiker Medical Kit ($12.50), the firestarting Survive Outdoors Longer Mag Striker ($6), and the bugdefending Ben’s InvisiNet Xtra ($6.50).

Fjällräven Fika to Benefit The Conservation Alliance 9 a.m.

37031-UL

Enjoy a break the Swedish way with coffee, rolls, and light conversation. $5 for coffee & pastry to benefit The Conservation Alliance.

Headsweats Giveaway 9 a.m.

46098-UL

Don’t miss an opportunity to win 50 free Headsweats hats or shirts of your choosing! If you’re a vendor or buyer, swing by the Headsweats booth throughout the week, scan your badge, and enter to win! Three winners will randomly be chosen at the end of the show.

Popticals Kayak Giveaway 9 a.m.

39142-UL

Yes, we are really giving away The Popticals Kayak!

Lean, green, and built for adventure, this oneof-a-kind kayak is the ultimate way to “Pack Small and Live Big” on the water. Enter to win at the Popticals booth.

Smartwool Summer Gear Sale for Big City Mountaineers 9 a.m.

46117-UL

Purchase Smartwool product at a great price and help support the youth of Big City Mountaineers at the same time! Net proceeds from the sale of select men’s and women’s S18 apparel and socks will be donated to BCM. Cash only.

Buy a Crazy Creek Chair, Support Leave No Trace 9 a.m.

53007-UL

Help protect the outdoors with your purchase of an Original or Hex 2.0 Crazy Creek Chair for $20.

Proceeds benefit the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics. LNT teaches and inspires people to enjoy the outdoors responsibly. So, take a seat while doing something good for our natural lands.

“Mountain Dress Code” Wardrobe Upgrade at Mountain Khakis Booth 9 a.m.

49014-UL Get outfitted in the Mountain Khakis booth.

MK apparel will be available for purchase in their booth on Wednesday and Thursday, days 3 & 4 of the show. Yep, there’s even a dressing room.

Get there early, while it lasts. Benefits MK Fund partner, Catawba Lands Conservancy.

Energizer Flashlight to Benefit American Hiking Society 9 a.m.

39143-UL

Get a free flashlight with a $10 donation to American Hiking Society.

Princeton Tec Vizz Headlamp Sale 9 a.m.

49025 UL

Princeton Tec will be selling a limited number of discounted Vizz headlamps. All proceeds from the sale will go to Big City Mountaineers, which instills critical life skills in under-resourced youth through transformative wilderness mentoring experiences.

Sock Sale for Rivers of Recovery 9 a.m.

24157-SL

Native Planet is selling socks during the show with the proceeds going to Rivers of Recovery, which specializes in the rehabilitation of combat veterans suffering with PTSD, minor traumatic brain injury (mTBI), stress, anxiety, and depression.

Their program combines outdoor recreational activities with instruction on the self-treatment of symptoms of stress, depression, and anxiety, empowering veterans to live a life that is no longer restricted by psychological or physical disabilities.

Osprey Pack Sale to Benefit American

Hiking Society 9 a.m.

42060-UL

Osprey is selling its completely redesigned Spring ‘19 Skarab and Skimmer hike hydration packs for $40 with all proceeds being donated to American Hiking Society. Pack sales start Day 1 and will continue throughout the show, while supplies last.

Oboz Flips Out for The Conservation Alliance!

9 a.m.

54381-UL

Just $20 buys you a pair of Oboz flip flops—and all proceeds benefit The Conservation Alliance. All day, while supplies last.

Win a Revolutionary Heated Jacket 9 a.m.

27110-SL

We will be giving away one of our incredible heated jackets every day at ORSM.

Plant a tree!

9 a.m.

54281-UL

Get a free sapling to plant and make the earth a bit healthier. Just visit Oboz’s booth and try on a pair of shoes or boots. While supplies last.

Pajama Party! Chill Angel Temperature Balancing Sleepwear Sale to Benefit the Humane Society 9 a.m.

24183-SL

Luxury Merino Wool pajamas on sale for 50 percent off, while supplies last. Proceeds to benefit the Humane Society.

Hand-Branded Camp Mugs & Webbing Belts 9 a.m.

49014-UL

Swing by the Mountain Khakis booth for your

hand-branded Ugly Mugz camp mug & hand-branded, customfit MK webbing belt. $10 donation per item benefits MK Fund partner, Catawba Lands Conservancy. While supplies last.

Aftershokz Headphones product sale 9 a.m.

39149-UL

Head to the AfterShokz booth and pick up the Trekz Titanium headphones for $50 (MSRP: $99.95) or the Trekz Air headphones for $75 (MSRP: $149.95).

Kobayashi/Grabber Sale to Benefit The Conservation Alliance 9 a.m.

51000-UL

Grabber is selling its Cooling Magic Cool Personal Cooling Towel to benefit The Conservation Alliance.

Nuun Hydration Sale to Benefit The Conservation Alliance 9 a.m.

300019-UL

Nuun is selling its Conservation Alliance Nuun Hydration 4-Pack all day, every day during the show, with all proceeds to benefit The Conservation Alliance.

Ruffwear Gear Sale to Benefit The Conservation Alliance 9 a.m.

33027-UL

Ruffwear sells its Aira Blanket and Lunker

Floating Throw Toy to benefit The Conservation Alliance.

Live Art with Sarah Virginia Uhl 9 a.m.

37066-UL

Renowned artist, adventurer, and activist Sarah Virginia Uhl is creating her art live! Her pieces are for sale with all proceeds going to American Whitewater.

Celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act and help protect our wild waterways!

BOCO Gear Sale to Benefit The Conservation Alliance 9 a.m.

53031-UL

BOCO Gear will sell its limited edition Technical Trucker Hats to benefit The Conservation Alliance.

Clif Bar Breakfast to Benefit The Conservation Alliance 9 a.m.

42080-UL

Clif Bar will offer attendees its Energy Granola Breakfast + Bowl for $5 donation.

Eagles Nest Outfitters Hammock Sale to Benefit The Conservation Alliance 9 a.m.

49035-UL

Eagles Nest Outfitters sells its ENO DoubleNest Hammock and Suspension Strap Combo to benefit The Conservation Alliance.

Be an outdoor industry insider Stop by the SNEWS booth (42105-UL) for a chance to meet the editors and snag some sweet gear all four days of the show. All you have to do is sign up for the SNEWSletter.

JULY 25, 2018 DAY 3

83

EVENTS

GU Energy Labs Sale to Benefit The Conservation Alliance 9 a.m.

42000-UL

Purchase a box of Campfire S’mores Gels or a box of Mixed Stroopwafels for $15!

100 percent of sales will be donated to the Conservation Alliance.

KEEN Kona Flip Sale to Benefit The Conservation Alliance 9 a.m.

46081-UL

KEEN is selling its Kona Flips for women and men to benefit The Conservation Alliance.

Sierra Designs Sale to Benefit The Conservation Alliance 9 a.m.

42031-UL

Sierra Designs is selling its Summit Sack Day Pack with proceeds to benefit The Conservation Alliance.

Outdoor Research Trucker Cap Sale to Benefit The Conservation Alliance 9 a.m.

42023-UL

Outdoor Research will sell its Alpenglow and Towers Trucker Cap to benefit The Conservation Alliance.

Sea to Summit Product Sale to Support the Himalayan Stove Project 9 a.m.

51007-UL

Sea to Summit is selling its collapsible, compact X- Kettle to support the Himalayan Stove Project.

The X-Kettle is a tiny addition to your camp cook kit, collapsing to just 1 3/8 inches. With a 1-liter safe boiling capacity it’s ideal for any compact camp kitchen set. For use on camp stoves only.

Show price: X-Kettle $20.

Product will be available every day, throughout the show, while stocks last.

Toad&Co Sale to Benefit The

Conservation Alliance 9 a.m.

39022-UL

Toad&Co is selling assorted men’s and women’s styles to benefit The Conservation Alliance.

Muck Coffee Hour 9 a.m.

49152-UL

Join us for a free sample of Kuju coffee and check out what’s new for Spring 2019!

LifeSaver FilterTilter Challenge 9 a.m.

53146-UL

Test your skills and play our supersized FILTERTILTER challenge! Tilt the filter to get all the balls to go as far as they can through our system. Each day the person with the fastest time will win a LifeSaver Liberty bottle for purifying water on the go.

Sierra Designs Flex Summit Sale for Conservation Alliance

9 a.m.

42031-UL Come by the Exxel Outdoors booth anytime during the show to purchase a Sierra Designs Flex Summit sack for just $25. This versatile and lightweight option is perfect for dayhikes, travel, and quick summit treks. All proceeds will benefit The Conservation Alliance, which works to protect and restore America’s wild places.

UCO Taste of Seattle Coffee Pour-Over 9 a.m.

46061-UL

Stop by for a free java jolt on your way in with a cup of fresh Seattle brew.

The first 100 people each morning will also receive a free, reusable UCO Ware Bamboo coffee cup.

Recycle Your Nutrition Trash at the GU Booth for a Chance to Win 1 of 3 GU Saddlebags 9 a.m.

42000-UL

As a proud partner

of TerraCycle, we’re collecting sports nutrition trash to be recycled at their facilities and kept out of landfills. Those who drop of their trash with us will be entered to win one of three GU Saddlebags, made from GU packaging.

Under the Stars

Kelty’s LimitedEdition Bestie Blanket Sale is Back!

Benefiting Big City Mountaineers

9 a.m.

VO244-SL

9 a.m.

42031-UL

Come by the Kelty booth and pick up your limited-edition logo tapestry Bestie Blanket for lounging around the campfire with a bestie or summer fling. $20 purchase benefits Big City Mountaineers. Available while supplies last.

Instant Morning Buzz 9 a.m.

33133-UL

$1 tea and coffee from Cusa Tea every morning.

All proceeds go to Access Fund. Attendees can pro deal boxes of tea for $5 a box all day.

9 a.m.

46080-UL

Visit the OluKai booth to talk story & learn the art of celestial navigation.

Bronwen Jewelry product sale

Visit the Bronwen Jewelry booth throughout the show to pick up a Camber Outdoors piece for $68. A portion of the proceeds will support Camber Outdoors.

Dansko Collectible Pins 10 a.m.

46142-UL

Are you wearing your Dansko shoes at OR? Show us your Dansko LOVE, and we’ll show you LOVE back with a collectible pin! While supplies last.

Vibram Sole Factor 10 a.m.

Outside, corner of 14th and Welton

The Vibram Sole Factor

EVENTS

van will be parked outside of the convention center on the corner of Welton and 14th during OR. All proceeds will support The Conservation Alliance.

Drop off a pair of rubbersoled shoes for a resole!

Spin To Win Xero Shoes 10 a.m.

51113-UL

Win a pair of Xero Shoes or more than a dozen other discounts and prizes.

Smartwool Sock Sale for Big City Mountaineers 10 a.m.

46117-UL

We’re selling Smartwool PhD Outdoor Crew socks, while quantities last, with all proceeds going to Big City Mountaineers.

GU Stroopwafels & Kicking Horse Coffee 10 a.m.

42000-UL

Start your day at the GU booth for a Stroopwafel and a cup of Kicking Horse Coffee!

The Shmooz

11 a.m.

Le Meridien Hotel (Grove Ballroom), 1475 California Street, Denver, CO Come meet some of the industry’s best employers at The Shmooz, Malakye .com’s one-of-a-kind career fair and networking event. This FREE event will be held on Wednesday, July 25th, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Le Meridien Hotel, 1475 California Street, Denver, CO. Participating employers include The North Face, JanSport, KEEN, Arc’teryx, Active Fashion Group, Specialized Bikes, Optic Nerve, Ascent 360, Otter Products, Avid4 Adventure, Truewerk, and more. This is a mustattend event for anyone seeking employment in the outdoor industry!

MiiR x Corvus Coffee Cold Brew 12 p.m.

VO330-SL

Enjoy nitro cold brew on tap from Denver’s Corvus Coffee Roasters in an ORSM18 limited-edition

MiiR cup! Learn about our customization program and our new giving projects!

Inclusivity Luncheon at OR

12 p.m.

Commons at Champa This luncheon happens each OR show and gathers those interested in and experienced in issues of diversity and inclusion in organizations and industries. Past presenters have been CEOs, subject experts, and state-level directors of OREC Offices. This year features REI DEI leaders.

Invitation required so reach out ahead to kenji@ kenjiconsults.com.

MiiR Cold Brew Happy Hour with Corvus Coffee Roaster 1 p.m.

Venture Out

Enjoy nitro cold brew from Corvus Coffee Roasters in a MiiR cup to take home with you! Learn more about our CustoMiiR program and scoop an afternoon pick-me-up.

See More: A Virtual Reality Experience to Mt. Everest Base Camp 1 p.m.

39099-UL

Slip on a pair of VR Goggles and get transported to the heights of the Himalayas! Join world explorer and Nikwax Ambassador Milosz Pierwola to experience immersive footage from his expedition documenting the impact of HimalayanStoveProject .org.

Book Signing with Jennifer Pharr Davis 1:30 p.m.

39087-UL

Stop by Sawyer Product’s booth for a book signing event with Jennifer Pharr Davis’ new book, “The Pursuit of Endurance.”

The first 25 people get a signed book and a Sawyer Picaridin sample!

Dave Canterbury Present Navigation Basics 2 p.m.

46061-UL

New York Times bestselling author and survival expert Dave Canterbury will discuss backcountry navigation techniques, from the basics of using a compass to more advanced methods that can be done without a map. Signed copies of his books will be available.

MPOWERD and Heroclip Product Sale 2 p.m.

54135-UL

Stop by for screaming deals on the MPOWERD Luci light and Heroclip, sold as a package for $30 (MSRP $60)!

TOAKS Giveaway and Sale 2 p.m.

44158-UL

TOAKS Titanium cookware will raffle off products at 2 p.m. on Days 2 & 3 (free raffle tickets available 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.) and sell their Titanium Spork for $5 to benefit the Oregon Desert Trail. Visit for your chance to win and learn how the Oregon

Desert Trail is making a difference for our public lands.

SOLE Active Footbed $20 Cash Sale 2 p.m.

46105-UL

On Days 2 & 3 of Outdoor Retailer, SOLE will be selling its tried and true Active Footbed for $20 cash. Proven effective, this footbed features SOLE’s signature shape for everyday comfort.

With SOLE’s trusted customizable support, the addition of Polygiene odor control technology, Softec cushioning, and a moisture-wicking top sheet, this footbed provides comfort for adventure-ready feet.

Trek to Everest Base Camp with Google’s Earth Wall 2:30 p.m.

Access Fund/Leave No Trace Booth, Lobby, below the Blue Bear

This virtual ascent is the easiest way to reach Everest Base Camp (17,598 feet), with stops at iconic checkpoints

CANADA’S BOOT

EFFORTLESS STYLE THE KODIAK ® SPRING 2019 COLLECTION PREMIUM LEATHERS AND STYLISH DESIGNS

COME VISIT US AT BOOTH #49111-UL For more information, please contact Brent Babbs (Brent_Babbs@vfc.com) KODIAKBOOTS.COM

EVENTS

along the way via the Google Earth Wall. Keep your beers as cold as the alpine in the killer YETI cooler you could win in the daily raffle!

Getting “Dirty” with Stanley and Dirty Gourmet 3 p.m.

39105-UL

Camp cooking demo and book signing at the Stanley booth with the authors of “Dirty Gourmet.” $10 suggested donation supports The Mountaineers.

ENO DoubleNest Hammock Sale to Benefit The Conservation Alliance 3 p.m.

Booth 49035-UL

ENO will be selling DoubleNest Hammock and Suspension Strap Combos for $40 (retail $100) to benefit the Conservation Alliance. While supplies last.

LifeStraw Bottle Sale to Benefit The Conservation

Alliance

3 p.m.

51069-UL LifeStraw is selling its Special Edition Go Bottles to benefit The Conservation Alliance.

Deuter Backpack Sale 3 p.m.

37055-UL

Come try on a Deuter Speed Lite backpack to carry all your gear without adding excess weight.

This versatile pack will quickly become your favorite to do it all. $40.

Every day at 3 p.m. While supplies last.

Ortovox Backpack Sale 3 p.m.

37055-UL

Come snag an ORTOVOX Traverse pack to keep you technical and radical in the mountains. $40.

Every day at 3 p.m., while supplies last.

KEEN Happy Hour 3 p.m.

46081-UL

Come join KEEN for a

happy hour that gives back on Days 1, 2, and 3 of Outdoor Retailer. Our daily happy hour will start at 3 p.m. and will consist of a pint sale of which 10 percent of the proceeds will go to the nonprofit organization American Whitewater.

Purist Collective Launch Happy Hour 3:30 p.m.

VO114SL (Venture Out 114)

Join us to celebrate the launch of the Purist Collective! Learn about Purist’s inaugural nonprofit partner, p:ear, a homeless youth mentoring project based in Portland, OR and receive a 10-ounce Purist bottle with a whiskey cocktail for a $10 donation, while supplies last. At ORSM, the company is launching the Purist Collective, a program that partners with communitybased organizations to generate awareness and empower social and environmental change through amplification, resource sharing, and

collaboration. Purist believes in the power of possibilities.

Outdoor Game Tournaments & Happy Hour 4 p.m.

49104-UL

Stop by our booth for a chance to win exciting prizes including sets of premium outdoor games designed to last for generations to come.

Limited space available.

Register early at our booth to secure your spot.

Eureka! Happy Hour 4 p.m.

44117-UL

Good beer and good food: Swing by and try Good To-Go’s CHICKEN GUMBO with shrimp, chicken, okra, and rice.

SOLE Daily Raffle Drawing + BIG Prize Giveaway 4 p.m.

46105-UL

Stop by the SOLE booth every day at 4 p.m. for your chance to win a BIG prize giveaway. Prizes

will include a Fitbit. Enter to win by dropping your name at the SOLE booth.

Hope to see you there and good luck!

Salsa Contest & Camp Food Hack 4 p.m.

Backpackers Pantry OR Event Booth

Free beers provided by Epic Brewing Co. and MS salsas and camp food hacks available for tasting. BP staff will prepare tasting samples, and MS staff will help serve beers and interact with crowd. Attendees can sample food and vote for their favorite with name/ email to enter to win a prize.

Sierra Nevada Fundraiser Happy Hour for Camber Outdoors at YETI Coolers Booth

Colster Beer Insulator for $10 with a free Sierra Nevada beer. MSRP $24.99

Sherpa Yatra Pack Sale | Funds Donated to Big City Mountaineers 4 p.m.

36097-UL

Launching to the public in August, a limited supply of Sherpa’s new Yatra Everyday Pack will be available for sale at the Outdoor Retailer Sherpa Adventure Gear booth.

The entirety of the funds received from each pack sale will go directly to Big City Mountaineers.

Additionally, five packs sold at the show will randomly include a code good for $300 worth of Sherpa gear on sherpaadventuregear .com.

4 p.m.

42129-UL

OGB Happy Hour for Outdoor Recreation!

Sierra Nevada and YETI Coolers are partnering up to raise funds for Camber Outdoors. Head to the YETI Coolers booth at 4 p.m. and pick up a Rambler

12 brands from the Outdoor Gear Builders of Western North Carolina invite you to join them

4 p.m.

VO10-SL

JOIN OUR SUSTAINABILIT Y MOVEMENT To find out more, go to prana.com/sustainability

Performance Leather Footwear Gloves Tech www.pittards.com

Booth 30089-UL

EVENTS

for a happy hour that’s all about raising money for outdoor recreation in WNC! $5 will get you some delicious Sierra Nevada brews poured into your own Recover Brands Stainless Steel Pint— and maybe a high-five or two. Plus did we mention giveaways?! Hosted by Recover Brands, ENO, Farm2Feet, Blue Ridge Chair Works, Bellyak, Watershed Drybags, American Backcountry, Misty Mountain, Astral, Rightline Gear, Sylvan Sport + Mount Inspiration Apparel.

Mug-It! Giveaway 4 p.m.

42055-UL

PHOTOS BY NICK COTE

Add a handle to your pint, tumbler, or bottle! Grab a free Mug-It on your way to booth happy hours.

Limited quantity, so get yours while you can!

Headsweats 20th Anniversary Happy Hour 4 p.m.

46098-UL

Celebrate Headsweats’ 20th Anniversary

with a cold one while supporting Challenged Athletes Foundation. $10 donation gets you a pint glass and limitededition 20th anniversary Performance Trucker Hat or Performance Tee. Free pint glass refills at Headsweats’ Happy Hour Monday to Wednesday

Product Giveaway 4 p.m.

24183-SL

Chill Angel will be giving away one luxury sleepwear item to a qualified retailer once a day for the first three days. Stop by and drop your business card in the hat for the drawing.

Drawing at 4 p.m. Need not be present to win.

TekFire PRO FuelFree Lighter Sale 4 p.m.

49058-UL

UST will be selling the TekFire Pro Fuel-Free Lighter for $15. (MSRP $25). All profits benefit The Nature Conservancy.

Stop by at 4 p.m. each day (while supplies last).

Costa’s Untangled Happy Hour 4 p.m.

33031-UL

Help celebrate the launch of Costa’s Untangled Collection, a line of sunglasses made from recycled fishing nets in partnership with Bureo, with great beer, conversation, and a live art installation with Ethan Estess who will be making discarded ocean net art for happy hour attendees.

$10 Knife Promotion 4 p.m.

44005-UL

Purchase the 715 Ascend folding knife for $10 ($60 MSRP)! The Ascend is a USA-made, lockback knife with an aluminum handle.

Proceeds benefit the North Idaho Centennial Trail. Limit 1 per person, while supplies last.

Nau Daily Happy Hour Events 4:30 p.m.

46040-UL

Throughout the show, tag Nau on Snapchat or Instagram (@nauclothing)

using our Geofilter and #WereOutsiders hashtag.

On Wednesday, two winners will be drawn at random to receive a $500 gift card + Nau accessories! Then come by to eat, drink, shop, and mingle at Nau’s booth.

From 4:30-6:30 p.m. on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, there will be exclusive discounts on select men’s and women’s styles from Nau, and 100% of proceeds go to Conservation Alliance.

Additional events include: Wednesday: Winners announced for “We’re Outsiders” contest + additional raffle prizes

Nau Apparel Sale to Benefit The Conservation Alliance 4:30 p.m.

46040-UL

Nau sells assorted men’s and women’s styles to benefit The Conservation Alliance.

Daily Happy Hour and Outdoor Games Tournament 4:30 p.m.

49104-UL

Join us daily for beer and some friendly competition. Unwind and exchange stories during our Happy Hour Outdoor Games Tournaments. Play games like Bean Bag Toss, Bocce Ball, and Ladder Toss for a chance to win your own premium game set. Space is limited, sign up early to secure your spot!

OR Party with One Eleven Watches & Topo Designs

9 p.m.

The Ramble Hotel Celebrate your love for the outdoors and boogie down with A. J. LeGrand and Denver’s own DJ Imperfect. Experience the new bar at The Ramble Hotel with worldrenowned Death & Co. cocktails and brews from 10 Barrel Brewing Company from 9 p.m. until the dance floor shuts down!

SOME THINGS STAY HOT

LONGER Master

For the pro’s pro, the toughest of the tough and those who demand the very best, our Master Series offers unrivaled durability and thermal retention.

REDISCOVER STANLEY AT BOOTH 39105-UPPER LEVEL. www.stanley-pmi.com ©2018 Stanley ® – A brand of PMI. Seattle, WA, USA 98121

@THESHOW

DIG INTO OUR HIGHLIGHTS OF THE SHOW’S LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES

Education JULY 25 10-11 AM

The Age of Women Entrepreneurs, Kickstarter, and Building a Brand

Trend + Design Center (Booth 1040-LL) Stepping into building your own company can be a daunting task,, but embracing your fears and taking risks is what being an entrepreneur is about.

More and more female-led companies are on the rise, and the only way we are going to see real innovation in women’s products is to create these visions for ourselves. Each phase of turning your ideas into a reality is like being on a roller coaster, and there is learning along every twist and turn with ups and downs. With so many available opportunities, crowdfunding resources like Kickstarter and Indiegogo, and network support, the challenge becomes less daunting and tremendously fulfilling.

10-11AM

Marketing and Brand Enforcement on Social Media

PHOTOS BY NICK COTE

Embassy Suites Downtown Denver

Social media present challenges for brand owners to encourage consumer engagement while also enforcing intellectual property rights. Challenges include shutting down imposter accounts, dealing with the rapid spread of harmful information, avoiding a social media backlash, and complying with FTC guidelines on endorsements and testimonials.

The presentation will discuss balancing the opportunities for customer engagement with the obligation to police trademark rights online.

10-11 AM

The Future of Paddlesports Retail is Now

The Camp (Booth 56117-UL) Join Rapid Media and an expert industry panel addressing key issues facing paddlesport retailers today and tomorrow.

What do the new tariffs mean to you? A thin slice of whitewater kayaking comeback. How to accessorize for fishy profits.

Demo day delight: how to turn try it into buy it.

Where have all the good staff gone, and why millennials want to run your shop. Better together: How brands, retailers, schools, athletes, instructors, and events can better work together to grow paddlesports.

11AM-12PM

The Tides Are Changing

The RANGER Station (Booth VO358-SL) We’re drowning in plastic. From microplastics to single-use bags and straws, more than 18 billion pounds of unrecycled plastic ends up in the ocean each year. Join us as we talk shop about how this staggering statistic impacts the health of our environment. We’ll provide tips and resources for battling our obsession with plastic as we hear from brands and organizations working towards educating and empowering people to beat plastic pollution.

the Age of Amazon with Colorado State University

11 AM-12 PM

This presentation will address various factors, including consumer needs and preferences, competition, sustainability, and technology, that may influence outdoor retailers’ decisions about what products and brands to carry as well as effective practices for merchandise inventory control, merchandise placement and presentation, and merchandise pricing.

Strategies for maximizing sales and profits in the age of electronic and omnichannel retailing also will be discussed.

Trend + Design Center (Booth 1040-LL)

The Camp (Booth 56117-UL)

Responsible Materials Focus: Cotton’s Environmental Progress

Join Dr. Jesse Daystar, chief sustainability officer from Cotton Incorporated, for a discussion regarding U.S. cotton’s reduced environmental impact and establishment of national-level goals for continued improvement, and learn about collaborative research work being done by Cotton Incorporated to explore cotton’s biodegradability advantage over synthetic fibers in soil and water environments.

12-1:30 PM

ical issues. Learn about the importance of listening through social media, navigating potential public relations issues, and how to become empowered in your role as a leader in the outdoors to take action and engage your community. The outdoor industry can be a driver for change. Your brand can lead the charge.

Stand for something and make an impact. Join us in standing up as proud advocates for good.

Dirty Gourmet Cooking Demo

The Camp (Booth 56117-UL) Join Dirty Gourmet for a backcountry cooking demo.

12-1:30 PM

OIA Industry Lunch: Navigating Brand Advocacy in Today’s Environment Embassy Suites Downtown Denver

Does your brand stand for something, or nothing at all? Come for the free lunch, and stay to learn from the industry’s most successful advocates about aligning your brand values with important community and polit-

1:30-2:30 PM

Cell Phone Cases to Insulated Coolers: Crazy or Genius?

Trend + Design Center (Booth 1040-LL)

Finding inspiration in the right places to design

Mai-Yan from Dirty Gourmet prepares chilaquiles at The Camp.

11AM-12 PM

Traceability in Textiles: An Industry Insight Booth MR302-SL

Supplier best practices and the coming age of transparency: It’s no longer optional. Get information on trends and practical tools and discuss the transformation in the industry. Presented by: bluesign

11 AM-12 PM

University Series: Merchandise Management in

JULY 25, 2018 DAY 3

89

EDUCATION

something meaningful and differentiate in a flooding market segment.

Jon Rayeski, senior industrial designer with Otter Products shares his story of tight deadlines, choosing manufacturing for design, and diversifying a brand to create an awardwinning product that a 900-pound grizzly bear couldn’t break into.

1:30-2:30 PM

When Women Lead

What does it look like when women’s voices and perspectives are at the forefront of our industry? When Women Lead brings together female industry leaders to discuss the issues that resonate with our community the most. Join us for a conversation out how we can merge profit and purpose in business to help us achieve our goals of diversity and inclusion. Don’t let the title of the panel confuse you — these topics are just as relevant to men as they are women, and everyone is invited to attend.

Timothy Egan speaks at the Conservation Alliance Breakfast on Day 2.

FUEL-FREE LIGHTERS

Built to Ride

No fuel, no flame, works in all weather and at all altitudes, perfect for travel.

TEKFIRE PRO FUEL-FREE LIGHTER

™

™

TEKFIRE CHARGE FUEL-FREE LIGHTER

www.ustbrands.com

PARATINDER WRIST LANYARD

Thule Hydration Packs

™

INCLUDED WITH ALL TEKFIRE FUEL- FREE LIGHTERS

POWER BANK

TEKFIRE LED FUEL-FREE LIGHTER ™

Applying years of biking expertise, Thule introduces three lines of Hydration Packs to help you get the most out of any ride. Stop by Booth #39115-UL to check out the full collections.

LED LIGHT

Thule UpTake

Thule Vital

Thule Rail

booth 49058

PHOTOS BY NICK COTE

The Camp (Booth 56117-UL)

EDUCATION

The session is moderated by Jen Gurecki, CEO of Coalition Snow and Amanda Goad, strategic director & founder of Bold Brew; and panelists include Victoria Payne from Mountain Khakis, Pema ChamatsangSherpa from Sherpa Adventure Gear, Becky Marcelliano from Deuter, Aisha Weinhold from No Man’s Land Film Festival, and Shelma Jun from the Women’s Climbing Festival.

2-3 PM

Differentiate, Don’t Alienate: Content Strategy for the New Outdoor Era Embassy Suites Downtown Denver

This business was built on an awesome outdoorworshipping community—and that community is growing fast. Who wouldn’t want in on a lifestyle that celebrates freedom and fun? But rapid progress presents new challenges for retailers.

How can they connect and engage with a wider audience and not alienate their core supporters?

Join Nemo Design’s pro content strategist Harriet Riley to learn how the veteran agency helps brands bob and weave in an everchanging climate. About Harriet: A creative strategic thinker with a preternatural instinct, Harriet Riley crafts savvy plans to bring ideas to life in the digital realm. As content strategist at Nemo Design, her approach isn’t just throwing another ad in people’s feed. She seeks to ignite conversations and create more possibilities for people to engage.

If you give consumers a path and reason, they’ll come on their own terms for the long term.

2-3 PM

Consumer Insights Around Sustainability

2-3:30 PM

Trailblazers: Women’s Leadership in the Outdoor Industry Embassy Suites Denver Downtown

Join Outdoor Industry Association and a panel of women leaders from across the spectrum of the outdoor industry for a conversation about some of the challenges women face in a male-dominated industry and how we can develop more women as leaders and advocates.

2:30-3:30 PM

Activated Cooling Textile Technology – Intelligent Thermoregulation Activated by High Skin Temperature

Booth MR302-SL

Trend + Design Center (Booth 1040-LL)

Come learn from bluesign how consumers have changed their views and expectations as they relate to sustainability.

We will look at a diverse set of industries, explore trends, and think about the future during this session.

Clothes provide shelter and protection, but also compromise our bodies’ ability to regulate our temperature. During sports, the body quickly overheats. This seminar gives an overview of available thermal regulation technologies, with a spe-

cial focus on the dynamic cooling technology HeiQ Smart Temp. HeiQ Smart Temp is a family of innovative textile technologies that react to body heat, empowering clothes to regulate body temperature just like a second skin and activating cooling when the wearer gets hot.

juicy nuggets that will make you a digital marketing whiz. Maybe you are not on Amazon or don’t care—well, come anyway because Scott will share how you can leverage Amazon’s insane first-party data to drive traffic to your site and more.

2:30-3:30 PM

3:30-4:30 PM

Amazon Marketing: Get It or Go Home!

The Camp (Booth 56117-UL)

Once again, we try to cut through all the nonsense and business buzzwords and get to the bare bones of the pay-per-click keyword digital boondoggle you must understand to compete on Amazon and off. Scott will explain in terms we all can understand what to avoid, what to focus on, and how it can help sell more stuff.

Amazon overwhelms us with too many acronyms that all sound the same and throws fancy advertising lingo like “funnels” at everyone nonstop. We are going to break it down so you can save time, stop stressing, and have the

Trends in Solar Power in the Outdoor Industry Trend + Design Center (Booth 1040-LL)

Solar power is reshaping how today’s connected society recreates. A new breed of portable, affordable regenerative products are expanding consumer experiences and expectations when it comes to time outdoors.

This session discusses trends in solar products, as well as impacts on related gear. A variety of solar products will be shown, along with an explanation of what distinguishes the devices and the markets they serve.

3:30-4:30 PM

Culture Nudge: Transforming Intent into Impact to Protect Public Lands The RANGER Station (Booth VO358-SL)

The outdoor community’s inextricable link to public lands is now top of mind, but how do we turn intention to do good into real impact and conservation for the long run? This panel, moderated by The Wilderness Society, will unpack the cultural changes we need to reinforce the policy and politics of change.

Filmmakers, storytellers, brands, and policy nerds join to discuss how we are changing the culture of activism within our community. Say after the panel for happy hour.

4:30-6:00 PM

The Wilderness Society Happy Hour The RANGER Station (Booth VO358-SL)

Join us for happy hour with the Wilderness Society after the Culture Nudge panel.

CMYK

WE KNOW OUTDOORS

If you’re reading this now,

you should be reading SNEWS every day, the most respected source of outdoor industry news since 1984. web icon

COMING SOON: Boost your sales with our new Retail College training courses* » Designed for retailers, taught by retailers » Learn the techniques, skills, tips and tricks, needed to close sales by some of the industry’s most successful salespeople » Course is free to qualified specialty outdoor shops and all their employees » Includes video,CMYK infographics, quizzes, checklists, and interactive exercises » For new employees and seasoned veterans of the sales floor… something for everyone! *Courses are free to qualified outdoor specialty shops and all their employees.

snews “ “

Industry Leaders Depend on SNEWS W

A must read every morning.

It’s the best place to keep an eye on the daily pulse of the Eoutdoor K N industry.

OW O U Allen, TDO –Wes owner, Sunlight Sports

“ SNEWS_ORAd.indd 1

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Finally a sports and outdoors news source that covers lifestyle, trends, and gear while being cutting edge and relevant in today’s mobile landscape. –Eric Henderson, owner, Meteorite PR

“

At the heart of everything SNEWS does is a desire to find the truth, fun, and hard facts that drive the business and personality of the outdoor industry. It’s compelling content that I read every day. –Doug Schnitzspahn, editor-in-chief, Elevation Outdoors Thoughtful, honest writing and reporting that arms my team with knowledge that helps us grow.”

–Betsy Bertram, marketing manager, Townsend Bertram & Co.

snewsnet.com/boost-your-sales-footwear

“

I trust SNEWS. No other media brand is tapped into the outdoor space like them. –Dave Petri, VP of marketing, Farm to Feet

FIND US AT BOOTH 42105-UL

Join us at snewsnet.com

7/18/18 12:42 PM

Blue Freedom Portable

NEW! Ver

sion 2 .0

The world’s smallest hydropower plant for the backpack.

Recharge electronics in the backcountry. www.blue-freedom.com WSI-Sales, LLC

(978) 371-7173

Booth 57061-UL info@wsi-sales.com

Product

Zone Featuring the freshest

gear on the market today.

Here is a sneak peek at what’s new and what’s coming from leading industry companies

Carhartt Full Swing® Steel Cargo Pant and Jacket Workwear For Those Who Are All Business For two decades, the legendary collaboration between Carhartt® and CORDURA® has

delivered designs that are versatile, functional, comfortable and above all, durable. And, the

“next level” Carhartt Full Swing® Steel Cargo Pant will be the newest crew member you’ll want on the job. Made with extra rugged stretch CORDURA® fabric for lasting

durable performance, ease of movement

and give where it’s needed, these pants are engineered to work with you, so you can kneel, bend, crouch and move from one

project to the next with support and comfort. Paired

with the Full Swing® Steel Jacket, you’ll feel the free flow from your head to your toes. Work durable, Live Durable™ with the latest Carhartt® apparel featuring CORDURA® fabric.

Available Fall 2018.

Experience the collection in person!

CORDURA® brand booth #54037-UL and Carhartt® booth #46007-UL.

©2018 INVISTA. CORDURA® is a trademark of INVISTA for durable fabric. All other marks referenced herein are property of their respective owners.

Finally… a Weatherproof Lightweight Hammock Shelter

Protect Your Skin and Protect the Reef!

The NEW Crazy Pod™

NEW RETAIL DISPLAY! Unique Retractable Rain Fly System

Oxybenzone, Paraben and Octinoxate Free!

Visit us at booth #44068-UL • www.coralisles.com

See Us at Booth 53007-UL

NEW!! REVOLUTIONARY!!

2-in-1 TENTS

Special Advertising Section

(US PATENT 9,777,508 & OTHERS PENDING) Model: Trail 43

Operating Range 34°F - 94°F

intelligent engineering

3P Green Base

4P Yellow Base

monspeakix.com Illinois, USA

Untitled-5 1

5/31/18 10:36 AM

I’m freezing.

Wish your vest was unisex.

MASTHEAD

I’m burning up.

SUMMER MARKET 2018

snewsnet.com

outdoorretailer.com

EDITORIAL

SHOW STAFF

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

VICE PRESIDENT, GROUP SHOW DIRECTOR

khostetter@aimmedia.com

marisa.nicholson@outdoorretailer.com

Kristin Hostetter EXECUTIVE EDITOR

Casey Lyons

DEPUTY EDITOR

Marisa Nicholson SALES DIRECTOR

Krista Dill

krista.dill@outdoorretailer.com

Elisabeth Kwak-Hefferan

SENIOR ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE

ASSISTANT EDITOR

paul.dillman@outdoorretailer.com

aarvesen@aimmedia.com

PUBLISHER, OUTDOOR RETAILER MAGAZINE/THE DAILY SENIOR ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE, OUTDOOR RETAILER

Amelia Arvesen CONTRIBUTORS

Eugene Buchanan, Corey Buhay, Kassondra Cloos, Courtney Holden, Krista Karlson, Carolyn Webber, Ryan Wichelns EDITORIAL INTERNS

Leah Qiu, Christian Zander

Paul Dillman

Ryan Johnson

ryan.johnson@outdoorretailer.com ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE

Dave Nielson

dave.nielson@outdoorretailer.com ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE

Robert O’Quinn

robert.oquinn@outdoorretailer.com

DESIGN & PHOTOGRAPHY ART DIRECTOR

Mike Leister DEPUTY ART DIRECTOR

Claire Eckstrom

ASSOCIATE ART DIRECTOR

Giovanni Corrado Leone LEAD PHOTOGRAPHER

Louisa Albanese PHOTOGRAPHER

ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE

Adam Kingston

adam.kingston@outdoorretailer.com SENIOR MARKETING DIRECTOR

Jennifer Holcomb

jennifer.holcomb@outdoorretailer.com MARKETING DIRECTOR

Sarah Langston

sarah.langston@outdoorretailer.com MARKETING COMMUNICATIONS SPECIALIST

Natalie Generalovich

Nick Cote

natalie.generalovich@outdoorretailer.com

ART INTERN

MARKETING MANAGER

Grace Schmidt

Collaborate Naturally

Maxwell Frost

maxwell.frost@outdoorretailer.com

PRODUCTION GROUP PRODUCTION DIRECTOR

Barb Van Sickle

PREPRESS MANAGER

Joy Kelley

AD COORDINATOR

Caitlin O’Connor

SALES SNEWS SALES MANAGER

Susie von Mettenheim

303-253- 6441 SvonMettenheim@aimmedia.com

SENIOR ART DIRECTOR

Raymond Kang

raymond.kang@outdoorretailer.com GRAPHIC DESIGNER

Get outside of business-as-usual product design, development, and distribution. Behind every visionary product idea is collaboration.

Marisa Lowey-Ball

marisa.lowey-ball@outdoorretailer.com PRODUCTION/TRAFFIC MANAGER

Laurie Stiglitz

laurie.stiglitz@outdoorretailer.com BRAND DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR

Larry Harrison

larry.harrison@outdoorretailer.com

Fuse content and conversation in a digital workspace, naturally, seamlessly, and forever on a wall monitor, laptop, or mobile device—from anywhere. Eliminate frustration and delays from hunting for information, switching applications, miscues, and miscommunication.

Bluescape. It’s work’s most forward thinking.

You’ll never look back.

RETAIL RELATIONS MANAGER

Joe Bustos

joe.bustos@outdoorretailer.com RETAIL RELATIONS MANAGER

Chris Sears

Copyright 2018 © Cruz Bay Publishing, Inc.

PRESIDENT & CEO

Andrew W. Clurman SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT, CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER & TREASURER

chris.sears@outdoorretailer.com SENIOR OPERATIONS DIRECTOR

Cathy Griffith

cathy.griffith@emeraldexpo.com OPERATIONS DIRECTOR

Julie Freedman

Michael Henry

julie.freedman@outdoorretailer.com

CHIEF INNOVATION OFFICER

OPERATIONS MANAGER

MANAGING DIRECTOR

nicole.tessier@outdoorretailer.com

Jonathan Dorn

Sharon Houghton VICE PRESIDENT, AUDIENCE DEVELOPMENT

Thomas Masterson

VICE PRESIDENT, PEOPLE AND PLACES

JoAnn Thomas AIM BOARD CHAIR

Efrem Zimbalist III

Nicole Tessier

OPERATIONS MANAGER/DEMO

See A Demo at Our Outdoor Retailer Booth #29131-SL

Kirsten Khoury

kirsten.khoury@outdoorretailer.com REGISTRATION OPERATIONS MANAGER

Kristen Novick

kristen.novick@emeraldexpo.com

Daily Happy Hour 3-6 PM Daily Coffee Hour 8-10 AM

REGISTRATION OPERATIONS COORDINATOR

Kylie Sanders

kylie.sanders@emeraldexpo.com EVENTS OPERATIONS COORDINATOR

Nicole Cho

nicole.cho@outdoorretailer.com SPONSORSHIPS OPERATIONS COORDINATOR

Bri Vianco

bri.vianco@outdoorretailer.com BILLING MANAGER

Sara Luckey

sara.luckey@outdoorretailer.com

JULY 25, 2018 DAY 3

bluescape.com 95

© 2018 Bluescape. All rights reserved.

BEST OF BOOTH

SUMMER MARKET

Adult Jungle Gym

Slackers’s booth challenges show-goers to a battle of strength and agility.

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1. Ninjas in training 2. The booth is modeled after the hit show’s obstacle courses, minus the pools. 3. Pro American Ninja Warrior Austin Gray shows us how it’s done.

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THE DAILY | SUMMER MARKET

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PHOTOS BY NICK COTE

AVEN’T BURNED OFF your hotel breakfast by walking miles around the show floor? Head over to Slackers’s booth (42142-UL) and work up a sweat trying your hand on the elaborate jungle gym based on American Ninja Warrior competitions. The booth sets a new—and difficult—standard for interactivity.

Get a pump swinging from hold to hold on three skyline-traversing highlines. Climb a miniature rock wall, swing on a skateboard suspended from the rafters, dive through a hoop, and climb a twisting rope ladder, testing your strength, endurance, and agility on the brand’s backyard swing sets for adults.

“There are so many great athletes in this room,” said b4Adventure President Ed O’Brien, referring to a convention center jam-packed with rock climbers and ultrarunners. “So what’s a better way to engage the product that to let them use it?” And that plan has paid off. According to Jonny Stevens, the brand’s ecommerce manager, the booth stays busy, especially around happy hours, when a beer or two is all the tired show-goer needs to start swinging around. “There’s always a line,” he said.

According to Stevens, being able to let customers put the brand’s products to the test right there is a unique benefit. GPS units won’t get a fix indoors and mountain bikes can only go so far riding around inside, but with a little metal scaffolding, Slackers can set up its full range of products for people to demo, even in a relatively small spot.

The ground is covered in crash pads, so excuses for not giving it a try are limited.

At least until an actual American Ninja Warrior—former competitor Austin Gray— shows up to school everyone, that is. Gray will be on-site all day Wednesday, working through the obstacle course and hitting the big red buzzer at the end, stopping the clock.

Slackers encourages anyone who’s up for it to try to beat his time—and maybe start their own Ninja Warrior career.

AR

AT I V E

CTIC

X I NI TI

FO

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INTRODUCING

KÅNKEN ART

NATURE IS WAITING FOR YOU. Deeply rooted in the core of our values, you will find nature and sustainability. After 24 years of supporting arctic fox research into the threatened population, we proudly present the Arctic Fox Initiative to support additional projects. Each of these diverse projects will have one thing in common: they will put nature first so it can be enjoyed for generations to come.

We are committing to this new initiative with our first print offering in one of our favorite products, the Kanken, through Kanken Art. Each design has been inspired by nature to create unique daypacks, with 100% climate compensation, as always. Let’s give back to nature. It’s everything. And without it we would be nothing.

fjallraven.us

AR

AT I V E

CTIC

X I NI TI

FO

∫∫

INTRODUCING

KÅNKEN ART

NATURE IS WAITING FOR YOU. Deeply rooted in the core of our values, you will find nature and sustainability. After 24 years of supporting arctic fox research into the threatened population, we proudly present the Arctic Fox Initiative to support additional projects. Each of these diverse projects will have one thing in common: they will put nature first so it can be enjoyed for generations to come.

We are committing to this new initiative with our first print offering in one of our favorite products, the Kanken, through Kanken Art. Each design has been inspired by nature to create unique daypacks, with 100% climate compensation, as always. Let’s give back to nature. It’s everything. And without it we would be nothing.

fjallraven.us