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I can't wait until next year! Summary of the latest gears that interest you at Outdoor Retailer Winter Market 2017

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Written by Yasushi Hisatomi

The annual Outdoor Retailer Winter Market report. Unfortunately, on-site interviews were not suitable this winter, so this time I'll try to inflate my fantasies about the latest outdoor gear for the 2017-2018 season, as far as I can tell from the outfield.

"Outdoor Retailer (OR)" is the largest outdoor goods fair in the United States (for retailers and presses) held twice every summer and winter in Salt Lake City, the capital of Utah, USA. This is a huge event where more than 1,000 large and small outdoor manufacturers from around the world gather together and new products are unveiled in anticipation of the next season. In addition to the main venue in downtown, the event will be divided into a demonstration venue where you can easily try on and test drive products from various brands in suburban fields, and this year's demonstration venue will be featured on YouTube.

So, below, we'll be introducing some of the items announced this time that are popular and you'll be thinking, "This is!" Please note that the product information announced is for the North American market, so whether these will be released in Japan and whether they will be released in Japan, as well as the release date and price are completely undecided, so please take that into consideration.

Apparel edition

Mountain Hardwear StretchDown DS Hooded Jacket

MHW itself has been in the lineup for stretchy down jackets since last year. However, the traditional atmosphere didn't really bother me, but this one, the next model, is obviously fascinating at a glance. The unique baffle is crimped without seams, and by creating a discontinuous baffle, it has made it more stretchable than ever, breathable, and has also improved heat retention compared to a typical down jacket. Of course, it's down so it's very compact. I want to see the actual product soon.

Outdoor Research Alpenice Hooded Jacket

The new outdoor research project, which is actively involved in new materials every year, is a high-performance insulation jacket that uses the evolution of the "Ventilated" padding material "Polartec Alpha Direct," which has become a hot topic recently. The biggest feature is that the surface is brushed to maximize heat retention and breathability without applying a lining. Furthermore, the high-density "Pertex Microlight" placed on the outer material ensures windproof and water repellent, as well as strength and durability. The upper arms, shoulders and hood are combined with a unique waterproof and breathable fabric, making it suitable for both outerwear and mid-later. *Reference image is number 6 in the electronic catalogue below.

ARC'TERYX Alpha IS

Every year, Arcteryx presents new ideas that everyone will be surprised by, and once again, they are troubled by ideas that make us think "Oh no." A new jacket (for belays?) Apparently, this jacket is a so-called padded jacket that combines synthetic fiber insulation as an inner layer and the GORE-TEX outer layer shell. It is said that by combining two layers together, it achieved a 18% weight reduction. However, based on the conventional wisdom so far, wouldn't it be hot when you think about it normally? I think so, but it seems that it improves breathability and sweat-removing ability by combining it with Arc's unique high-breathable insulation, the CORELOFT Continuous. Or is it for belaying so sweat removal secondary? I can't say anything until I actually watch it, but I'm only looking forward to it now, as it's Arc'teryx, which doesn't know what to compromise. I hope that the prices will be kept down too!

THE NORTH FACE W SUMMIT L3 VENTRIX HOODIE

The Summit Series, a high-end model from TNF, USA, is hard to take your eyes off every year because there are many products that are designed and functional, but this middle layer uses the stretchable insulation material "Ventrix" and is said to have a dynamic ventilation insulation function that is designed to release sweat and excess heat during stretching. The shoulder area is mapped with thick, resistant to wear and a slim silhouette that is easy to move in, making it possible to withstand intense activities in the cold season.

Montane Icarus / Phoenix (PrimaLoft Insulation Thermoplume)

The competition for high-performance insulation materials over the past few years has not stopped, and Primaloft, one of the world's top brands, has announced another groundbreaking new material, ThermoPlume, next season. An insulation jacket using this one has been released by British outdoor brand Montain. This material has a revolutionary fluffy structure that is so similar to down that it can be blown away with a breath, while it is a typical synthetic fiber padding that is sewn into the fabric in a sheet-like shape. In other words, the advantages of synthetic fibers, "the heat retention does not decrease even when wet and can be easily washed" and "bulky, lightweight, and packable" down are finally realized. The other thing is how effective it is. In any case, the boundary between down and synthetic fiber will continue to disappear from now on, and it is truly moving to think that one day there will come when there was a time when I was worried about such things.

Reference: Introduction footage of PrimaLoft Insulation Thermoplume (English)

Gear Edition

Crescent Moon EVA All-Foam Snowshoe

The most talked about at the event today is a playful new snowshoes that have been born after seven years of a young Colorado-based outdoor gadget maker! Basically, the outsole combines EVA foam with different combinations, like running shoes, with a foot shape that is wide and long enough to provide buoyancy, and a rebound structure that helps you walk smoothly. And most of all, it's overwhelmingly lightweight. Normal snowshoes have a structure that allows them to move their heels up and down with their toes as a fulcrum, but this shoe appears to be a type with a fixed heel. Despite this, when you look at the video, it is clear at a glance that it seems incredibly easy to walk in. Of course, it is not suitable for harsh terrain, but it is extremely comfortable for a fun walk through snowy fields with little undulations. It's not going well, but this may be the new activity called "snowshoeing."

 

Garmin fenix5

In fact, it was announced at CES (Consumer Electronics Show) before the OR, but the most surprising surprise at the new year is definitely the topic. Garmin's flagship model, fenix, has undergone a vivid shift from a manufacturer of automotive and outdoor GPS equipment to the fitness, multi-sports and smartwatch fields, has evolved after two years of gaps. The previous model 3 had a wide range of features that were more than enough, but now it has been a major upgrade, with map functions, communication functions, smartphone integration functions, heart rate measurements now become standard, and battery life has also increased. What's more exciting is that the design has become even more refined. It doesn't look strange to wear it on a regular basis. Models that support Japan maps are good! !

Salomon S/Lab X-Alp Boot

The popularity of backcountry skiing is real. Motivating models from major ski brands have been appearing one after another, even as they would expect from touring ski boots (mountain ski shoes). it looks similar to prockline , which was released by Arcteryx this year However, this model is said to be more emphasising on rigidity and stability when sliding down. As a result, the weight is slightly heavier than the Arc model. The brands of siblings from the same Amea Sports Group are similar in concept, but they are competing in each other's areas of expertise. In any case, I'm a bad guy at skiing, so this is it!

Yaktrax Summit

The newcomer of the spiked crampons (chain crampons?), which is known for being easy and easy to use on winter low mountains, not worth using 12-prong crampons, as well as frozen roads, is a model with a Boa closure that is fixed by wire and dial operation. The momentum of Boa closures, which have started with snowboard boots, has been remarkable over the past few years, but it seems like they have finally come this far. Previously, chain spikes were pulled by pulling elastic elastic, but they can be fastened quickly, easily, and safely by simply putting them on and turning the dial, so you're sure to buy them. However, I am always amazed at the greed of overseas people who are always looking for better gear in the hopes of being better.

SUPERFEET 3D PRINTED INSOLES AND DIGITAL FIT

Is the time finally here that you can easily customize your insoles? SuperFet, a leading insole brand designed based on the theory behind podiatric medicine, has partnered with HP and SafeSize to develop a system in which anyone can easily 3D scan their feet at retail stores and order the insole tailored to the feet. There are several stores in Japan that can carry custom products, but with this system, you can scan and recommend the best shoes (but there are only a limited number of types) or order an insole that suits the shape of the foot on the panel. This is a system that I would never hope for, for a perfect fit. It would be a no-no if this were to be linked to the shoe database of all manufacturers to recommend it.

goTenna Mesh

Hurricane Sandy struck the United States in 2012 and destroyed communications facilities. Gadget lovers may have heard of goTenna, a wireless communications device developed in 2014 by a Brooklyn startup that allows you to send and receive text messages and location information even outside the area of ​​a carrier. In short, this device allows users who have paired goTenna to send and receive text messages and share GPS location data, even if they are unable to reach their internet connection or are miles away from the other party.

The Achilles heel in previous generation models was that the signal could be blocked by large physical obstacles and thus it would not work well around mountains, valleys or skyscrapers. This Mesh overcomes this, and the base technology remains the same, allowing devices to relay and create mesh networks, allowing them to dramatically increase the communication distance. It's much easier to use than a transceiver for communicating with friends in places where radio waves are not reachable, and if multiple teams work together to relay networks from deep in the mountains to the city, I think it would be good for disaster prevention if it is always functioning in mountain areas with many climbers.

However, it seems that it cannot be used at this time in Japan, where the frequency bands of the radio waves used do not fit. disappointing.

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