A glimpse into the future of outdoor gear from the world's two major outdoor exhibitions [ISPO & Outdoor Retailer 2021 Winter]

Friday, February 19, 2021

Julbo , earlybird skis , Greyp , IGNIK , ORTOVOX , Advenate , ODLO , HAGLOFS , SAMAYA , MAMMUT , CEBE , Salewa , Elan , Outdoor Retailer , Out Of , ISPO

Written by Yasushi Hisatomi

"ISPO" and "Outdoor Retailer" are the two major outdoor equipment exhibitions in Europe and North America

Since the start of this site, we have visited the exhibitions almost every year, and when we couldn't make it, we have used the internet to check exhibition information. Not only do we get a real feel for the global outdoor scene there, including everything from popular items from famous brands to new faces with innovative ideas, even items that aren't available in Japan, but we also get the exciting experience of hearing directly from the manufacturers and feeling the passion that goes into their products. There's no doubt that outdoor exhibitions like this are important events for people involved in the outdoor industry all over the world

Unfortunately, this year both events were held online, meaning I wasn't able to actually attend in person. I also checked the online exhibits, but it seemed like the number of participating brands had also drastically decreased. I wanted to say I was completely disheartened, but even though they were online, I was still able to encounter many fascinating new products that shone with innovative ideas and superior technology, and I was once again reminded of the passion and strength of the global outdoor industry, which continues to move forward despite the headwinds

So this time, I took a peek at two online exhibitions and picked out some new products that really caught my eye (they are aimed at the European and North American markets only, so it's unclear whether they will be available in Japan), and I'll introduce them to you with a brief explanation

table of contents

ISPO & Outdoor Retailer 2021 Winter Featured Items
Summary: Next time: Outdoor Lifestyle Edition

ISPO & Outdoor Retailer 2021 Winter Featured Items

Ortovox Diract Voice

This year's ISPO Product of the Year award goes to the latest beacon from Ortovox, a comprehensive outdoor manufacturer based in Switzerland that specializes in snow sports. What's most new is the "voice guidance" support function in search mode, which allows for faster and more accurate action at the scene of an avalanche accident, where every second counts. Its compact size and sophisticated, easy-to-use switches are also great features.
Image: ISPO.COM

Advenate MyONE

This semi-custom outer jacket from Advenate, a German outdoor brand, is a long-awaited product that has never existed before. You can freely choose not only the color and pattern, but also whether or not to have pockets, the length, and whether you want a slim or loose fit. The fabric is made from thick Schoeller, which is waterproof, windproof, and breathable, and is Bluesign certified, using eco-friendly materials from Europe.
Image: adventate.com

CEBE VERSATILE HELMET

The latest helmet from CEBE, a French snow sports gear brand, features an Ultra Vent system that lifts the front to ensure optimal airflow at all times. This is extremely helpful as it allows for comfortable airflow around the head even when hiking uphill, eliminating the need to take the helmet off and on from your backpack every time. What's more, it's certified for safety for both skiing and mountaineering (EN1077 & EN12492). This is something to look forward to!
Image: ISPO.COM

earlybird skis CHICKADEE

This year continues to be filled with new products that are conscious of eco-friendliness and sustainability. This touring ski, with a classic camber and tip and tail rocker combination and a center width of 90 mm, may look ordinary at first glance, but it is actually manufactured using sustainable raw materials and is 100% carbon neutral. Made from environmentally friendly bio-based or recycled raw materials and ski wax that does not contain harmful fluorine, it is the world's first circular economy ski.
Image: earlybirdskis.com

Elan Voyager

These are exactly what they look like: "foldable all-mountain skis." I've seen small manufacturers make these kinds of folding skis a few times before, but the fact that they're being made by a prestigious ski brand with a tradition of ski manufacturing spanning over 70 years is a new step. With these, you don't need a special rack in your car and can just throw them in without any worries, and the structure is smart, they're easy to set up, and their performance as skis is reliable, so I can't help but hope that they'll be used in more and more backcountry ski variations in the future.
Image: elanskis.com

Out Of Electra

Out Of, a new goggle manufacturer founded in Italy, is a very interesting brand that focuses on creating goggles with cutting-edge technology and high quality down to the smallest details. The ISPO GOLD-winning model "Electra" is the first battery-free electronic goggle in history, with the ability to electronically control the brightness of the lenses according to the ambient brightness. Not only is the technology innovative, but the high-quality Zeiss brand lenses, which naturally offer premium performance such as 100% UV protection, anti-fog treatment, and multi-layer mirror coating, also seem reliable in practical terms.
Image: out-of.com

Mammut Climbax

Mammut always unveils many ambitious new products at this exhibition, but what particularly caught our eye this time was a wristband-type climbing tracker worn on both arms. When combined with a smartphone app, it is said to be able to record and analyze climbing data. The Mammut Climbax wristband records elevation, hand use, climbing time, rest times, and more. Other details are still shrouded in mystery, but with this year being what would have been the Olympic debut, and with sport climbing and the number of climbing enthusiasts around the world expected to explode, it is only natural that they would release gear to help people enjoy this activity more deeply.
Image: www.mountainblog.eu

Haglofs Nordic Expedition Down Jacket

The flagship down jacket model "Nordic Expedition Down Jacket" released by Haglofs, an outdoor brand based in Sweden, has been awarded Product of the Year for its unique technology in several respects. Designed to provide maximum functionality and comfort even in extremely cold conditions, this outerwear uses an innovative insulation that combines platinum graphene insulation, a promising new insulating material, with goose down. With a completely waterproof structure that eliminates cold spots, excellent moisture management, and a safety strap for belaying, its high level of functionality that ensures safety and comfort in the harsh Arctic mountainous regions will appeal to gear enthusiasts.
Image: ISPO.COM

Salewa Ortles Couloir Boots

For some reason, SALEWA isn't particularly well-known in Japan, but they're known for their cutting-edge technology and quality. This year's ISPO GOLD winner, SALEWA, has released a new mountain boot for high-tech mountaineering and ice climbing, weighing just 725 grams. As the name, likely derived from the high mountain of Mount Ortles in the Italian Alps, suggests, it was designed with the tough, technical terrain of the Eastern Alps in mind. The lightweight, durable carbon frame with hinged joints is designed to provide both rigidity and flexibility, providing excellent stability during both walking and climbing. Equipped with a waterproof membrane, a warm inner boot, and outer gaiters, these boots are perfect for winter mountaineering. Honestly, we have high hopes for them

Samaya ASSAUT2 ULTRA

Ever since I first encountered this new French alpine tent manufacturer at ISPO two years ago, I've always had my eye on their new products. Their simple single-wall dome tent, made with carbon poles and two layers of Dyneema® fabric, weighs just 980 grams. And yet, it meets high specs of 20,000 mm water resistance and 40,000 g/m2/24h breathability, providing the ultimate in comfort in the harsh alpine conditions. Personally, I'm only concerned about the durability of the carbon poles, but as someone who has yet to come across a single-wall tent that truly excels, this is one to keep an eye on.
Image: samaya-equipment.com

Odlo i-Thermic Baselayer

Electric heating products have been steadily improving in recent years in the winter apparel scene. I personally tried out various gear for the first time this season and was amazed at how natural it felt to use and how practical it was. Scandinavian brand Odlo's i-Thermic series, in collaboration with wearable thermal technology clim8®, has been at the forefront of the development of battery-powered heating clothing from an early stage. Newly unveiled this season is a lightweight heating base layer. It fits comfortably against the skin, measures the temperature of the skin and the outside, and provides warmth with heating elements placed on the abdomen and other areas to maintain a comfortable temperature. You won't know until you try it out, but as long as it meets the comfort and sweat-management requirements of a base layer, it will be a very reliable addition to your winter activities.
Image: www.odlo.com

Julbo EVAD-1

Julbo, a long-established French eyewear brand with over 100 years of tradition, continues to embrace new technologies while building on the technology and experience it has cultivated over the years, earning the trust of outdoor enthusiasts worldwide. The new EVAD-1, a product that combines tradition and innovation, is a connected sports glass with a scouter-like integrated head-up display that is sure to be envisioned as the future of eyewear not only in Japan but around the world. Weighing just 35 grams and featuring highly breathable photochromic lenses, the sports glasses display performance data such as pulse rate, speed, and distance within the athlete's field of vision for up to 12 hours. Of course, the measured data can also be recorded on a smartphone app via Bluetooth connection. The future has arrived.
Image: julbo.com

Greyp Bikes

Another genre that continues to quietly and steadily evolve is the e-bike market. While Japan may have been an early adopter of electric mamachari bikes, the world seems to be rapidly moving ahead when it comes to the hobby-oriented genre. The Greyp be summed up as the world's first fully connected e-mountain bike. In addition to its sophisticated looks, it features a built-in 4G SIM card for constant internet connectivity. With front and rear video cameras, built-in GPS, an accelerometer, and a barometer, and Bluetooth connectivity, it's truly like a smartphone in the guise of a mountain bike. It also features a clever feature that allows remote camera control and viewing to prevent theft. The battery is the best part: under normal conditions, it's said to be able to travel around 100 kilometers on a single charge. It's impressive in many ways. Winner of the Outdoor Retailer Innovation Awards.
Image: greyp.com

IGNIK HEATED SLEEPING BAG LINER

To be honest, I personally didn't need a sleeping bag liner (inner sheet) until now, but I might want to try this electrically heated liner. IGNIK, founded by a former executive at an outdoor brand with the aim of creating more sustainable heating and insulation products, is aiming to be a game changer in the sleeping bag industry with this new electronically heated sleeping bag liner. The heating element, made of highly conductive carbon fiber embedded in the fabric, is an industry first, and uses patent-pending Radiant Carbon Strand (RCS) technology (highly durable, waterproof, and machine washable). It can also be powered by a mobile battery, which is a nice touch. The polyester fabric is Bluesign-certified and 100% recycled, so of course the utmost consideration has been given to the environment.
Image: ignik.com

Summary: Next time: Outdoor Lifestyle Edition

We have carefully selected the best items from the range we are able to share with you. Next time, we will introduce the mountain, camping, and lifestyle outdoor gear you have been waiting for!