Report from the 2nd ALPS OUTDOOR SUMMIT! Part 1
Written by yans
Well, it's been a while since we last posted about Outdoor Gearzine, right? We're going to start reporting on outdoor events little by little, but with a new look
The first event to mark the resumption of the event will be the second Alps Outdoor Summit (hereinafter referred to as the Alps Summit), which was held recently at the Yamabiko Dome in Matsumoto, Nagano
I arrived at the venue just before the opening at 10am. In fact, on my way to Matsumoto, I arrived early to also explore the shops in the area. It will be a while before I can show you what happened there, but I hope you will look forward to it
On my way from the parking lot towards the main entrance, I saw some exhibitors outside, so I thought I'd take a look around inside before visiting them, but it took quite a bit of time just to be inside, and it started raining heavily in the afternoon, so unfortunately I wasn't able to see them
I visited on the fourth day, which was press day, so I completed the procedures at the reception desk
Now let's enter the venue!
As soon as you enter, you will be greeted by an area/brand map directly in front of you
As I was looking at the map, I saw Mizuno, the owner of Itomizu, right next to me!
From the visit report
I also visited the store the day before to say hello. It was a really nice space and store
I walked around the booths with Mizuno for a bit, and then went off on my own
First, I'll take a quick walk around the area to check things out
The popular lightweight mountain tent, Yarl 1/2, is also on display at the Zain Arts booth!
The layout was roughly the same as the first event, with large booths located near the center of the venue and small booths on the outer perimeter
There was also a booth selling official Alps Summit merchandise
To the right of the entrance to the venue is a stage used for talk sessions and other events
Now, let's move on to individual topics... And now it's time for the opening ceremony, so let's take a look at that first
First one
The Alps Summit opened with a greeting from Junichi Murata, Representative Director of ALPS OUTDOOR SUMMIT General Incorporated Association
Next up is Mayor of Shiojiri, Takashi Momose
The opening address was completed with a speech from Matsumoto City Deputy Mayor Shin Miyanomoto. I thought it was great that outdoor events are well coordinated with local governments
So, once again, I'll be visiting individual booths, but unfortunately I wasn't able to cover everything due to various time constraints. I would have loved to introduce everything, but unfortunately that wasn't possible. So please bear with me as this will be a biased, partial introduction. Let's start from here
I sneakily attacked him from behind (lol)
We would like to thank Plylet for our visit report vol.2!
From Visit Report vol.2
Gunma, which was introduced in Vol. 2, is well known for its mountain stoles made using Kazetsuori If you're wondering what Kazetsuori is, be sure to check out our travelogue.
And the special gas can cover in the center of the image!
By the way, the person in the picture is Mr. Kobayashi from Trek Vogel, who I will also be introducing in a future travelogue. I met him at the venue and we spent a little time together
This gas can cover was created in collaboration between PRIRET and Kiryu hat manufacturer Composition. It is a cover that shows the craftsmanship of a hat maker, who sews flat woven linen braid into shape using a braid sewing machine. This gas can cover can be used for glamping or as room decor
It is currently on sale as a made-to-order product
There were also plenty of special bargain items available only at the event
Next to them in the same booth was a brand called Light Heart Gear, which I had also never seen before
It was my first time seeing it so I asked for an explanation
One of our brand mottos is "Products for hikers, by hikers." We are committed to being unique. If our products are not unique in design, use, functionality, or materials, and do not bring anything new to the market, we would rather not participate in that market. We also do contract sewing under the name Excelsior Sewing. This allows us to advertise that everything is made in the USA, and we manufacture a variety of products for other companies
So Lightheart Gear is an ultralight backpacking gear manufacturer based in North Carolina. Among their products, this one caught my eye.
a hoodie pack cover . I personally own a similar Mystery Ranch product, but it's for large packs and isn't very versatile, but this one seems like it could be used for a variety of sizes, so I was interested in it.
Well, actually, this product is sold by... Tanaka Shoten!
From Visit Report Vol.1
Yes, this time, there was a double booth with Plylet and Light Heart Gear, and Tanaka Shoten was also showing off for the first time. Tanaka Shoten's presence was quite subdued, so some people may not have noticed. We can't take our eyes off the future developments of these two!
Next up is Zero Gram, who is celebrating the 10th anniversary of their Japanese debut
When you think of Zero Gram, you probably think of tents such as the El Chalten series
As you can see in the first image, the lineup has recently become quite extensive, including backpacks, clothing, and mountain boots
Among them, the one that caught my eye was the recently updated cooker case series
The previous model was a cooker case that was designed to fit the standard square Zero Gram cooker, but this new model features a heat-retaining internal structure and no seams, making it a multi-purpose cooker that can also be used as a bucket. Taking advantage of this structure, it also allows for cooking without using fire. For more details, see the official Zero Gram product description. Heat packs themselves are not included
Zero Gram Column
As for tents, I was interested in the Thru-Hiker 1P Zero Bone. This chic color seems to be a Japan-only color. High-performance tents weighing less than 1kg are becoming the norm these days, and I can see the evolution of the times
Haglofs also helped us out at the Outdoor Geargin offline event
The clothing lineup is also impressive!
Don't underestimate a well-made backpack
Related pages
I learned a lot from Mr. Kasai of Haglofs at the offline event. He is also the manager of the recently opened Haglofs Harajuku store. The Harajuku store does not exclusively stock Haglofs products, but also carries a lineup of great products that can be used in the mountains. I'm interested in those, so I'll definitely be visiting
Now, during the individual visits, other events are ongoing, so at this time we will be holding a mountain hut discussion
Yarigatake Sanso and Eishiro Matsuzawa from Hakuba Sanso. Last time, the sound could only reach the area near the stage, but this time, the sound was improved and the sound during the session could be heard throughout the venue, which was a great thing.
Currently, Zane Arts is very popular for his mountain tent yar
I wanted to talk to CEO Kosugi about various things, including Yarl 1/2, but the timing just didn't work out so we weren't able to talk this time, so I'll have to postpone that for another time
Related pages
This time, the store was different from the previous one in that it had a camping theme, and the items were selected with Oita Mountain in mind. I think that this was in line with the Alps Summit's catchphrase, "Thank you to the mountains."
It may be overlooked by many people these days, but I personally think this bottle is a masterpiece and a great value
It's simply called the Double Wall Bottle 500, the lid is made of titanium, the body is stainless steel, it weighs 195g, costs less than 3,000 yen excluding tax, and looks beautiful, no matter how you look at it. Before I started working as a writer, I had the opportunity to hear an explanation of this bottle from President Kosugi, and it was clear to me that he hadn't compromised on the details. His explanation of the diameter of the drinking spout was very interesting
Next up is a familiar name in outdoor gear magazine!
This is Rab
Speaking of Rab! And there are two of them too. It seems like the quality and excellence of Rab's products is finally starting to be recognized, as they're getting good reviews from all over. The talk event featuring Rab, which was previously held at Outdoor Gearzine, was also well-received
Among them, one that caught my eye and looked quite good was the latest mid-layer for women, the Evolute Hoody Wmns.
The outer fabric is Motiv ™ Aero single jersey, and the lining is PrimaLofte® Evolve, which has excellent moisture-wicking and quick-drying properties , trapping warm air and providing a good balance of heat retention and moisture-wicking properties.
I thought it was very Rab-like that they pursued the warmth of animal fur for the fluffy fleece part
The sleeping mat is also popular because it has the perfect combination of performance, light weight, and affordable price!
Next up is 9kei, the company well-known for their flip-flap table series. As you can see from the unfolding table on the right, it folds up compactly, and all the parts are connected with thin cords, so they won't come apart and you can avoid losing parts in case of an accident. Even within the same model, there are various sizes depending on the type
There is a round version of the Flip-Flip Table, but this is the new oval type. It has a softer, gentler feel than the regular round one, so if you were looking for a round one, you might be tempted to try this one
The legs on the back are also made as one piece, so it can be folded up and stored away!
By the way, if you recognize this shape, you're a gear enthusiast. That's right, it's the manufacturer of the Shinogi Chabudai from "Ryo." No wonder it has an atmosphere that makes you feel like you've seen it somewhere before
This is also a great idea, one leg is left to a gas canister to make it lighter! It comes in two sizes and is a great product for those who are satisfied with this
This can be attached to a solid peg type to turn it into a mosquito repellent holder! 9kei's items are full of brilliant ideas and gimmicks that show the craftsmanship
This has gotten longer than I expected, so I'll continue with the second part here!
We hope you will continue to enjoy our Alps Summit reports
The second part is here
yans
My love for gears has led me to write for Gearzine. I'm a hardcore gear enthusiast who loves modifying and building things, and I also love outdoor events. I'd like to focus on brand exploration and shop reviews
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