"Trail Open Air Demo 5" and "Off The Grid 2019" Report (Part 2) - A Summary of the Hottest Outdoor Gear of 2019

Wednesday, April 10, 2019

SALMING , THE NORTH FACE , Zerogram , Teton Bros. , Sunday Afternoons , Salomon , MAXI , PaaGoWORKS , Amok , milestone , LOCUS GEAR , Gossamer Gear , TECNICA , UltrAspire

Written by Yasushi Hisatomi

Following on from last time, we will be introducing some of the noteworthy gear we came across at Trail Open Air Demo 5 and Off The Grid 2019, which were held in Tokyo on April 6th and 7th

table of contents

SALMING Trail T5
Salomon Advanced Skin 5/12
ZEROGRAM INYO TIPI Tent
The North Face Ampezzo
UltrAspire EPIC XT
Teton Bros. Tsurugi Lite JKT with Aqua Breath
TECNICA ORIGIN
milestone MS-G1
Sunday Afternoons Vantage Point Trucker Cap

#2: Hottest brands and items for 2019 found at Off The Grid 2019

SALMING Trail T5

Salming, a Swedish sports brand not well known in Japan, has long focused on running shoes, and this trail running shoe won a gold medal at last year's ISPO. Featuring a Vibram Megagrip outsole, this versatile shoe is suitable for all distances, from short to long. Its stylish design is also quite impressive

Salomon Advanced Skin 5/12

Salomon's latest running backpack, the ADVANCED SKIN, is lightweight, stretchy, and features the trusty SensiFit™ technology for an unbeatable fit. While the S/LAB series is well-known for its racing lineup, there's been talk this season of the ADVANCED SKIN possibly being even better than the S/LAB series

ZEROGRAM INYO TIPI Tent

ZEROGRAM, the company that's always excited to create ultra-lightweight, highly convenient tents and gear, has released a new shelter. This easy-to-set-up, highly livable conical one-pole tent + inner tent set is constructed with the brand's proven materials: a lightweight, durable nylon outer layer and a condensation-resistant monofilament inner layer. Designed for comfortable mountain trips with 2-4 people, it weighs a respectable 750g without the inner layer

The North Face Ampezzo

The North Face's new trail running shoe this season is the "Ampezzo," designed for long-distance races. As its clear concept of long distances suggests, the shoe features a midsole designed for cushioning, stability, and lightness. The shoe boasts impressive shock absorption thanks to its XTRAFOAM MAX CUSHION technology, which has been gaining popularity over the past two years. The EXTS outsole is also a great option for wet terrain

UltrAspire EPIC XT

This vest-style running pack has been generating a lot of buzz as a prototype was used by Kakiuchi, winner of last year's TJAR (Trans Japan Alps Race), during the race. Its exquisite size of over 25 liters and meticulous back construction provide excellent stability and stability. The placement of the front shoulder pockets is also packed with careful consideration, as you'd expect from a pack designed for tough races. The vest-style pack category is packed with competitors this season, but we're excited to see how well-made this pack is, as it's the favorite

Teton Bros. Tsurugi Lite JKT with Aqua Breath

The lightweight rain shell "Tsurugi Lite JKT," characterized by its diagonal front zipper, has received a surprising update. While the basic look remains the same, the material has been changed from the previous Polartec Neoshell to a new material, "Aqua Breath®," jointly developed with Toray. While details of this new membrane have not been released, we've heard it is a "highly breathable, waterproof, and breathable material" that is equal to or even better than Neoshell. It's only available in select stores, so this is surely one item not to be missed this season

TECNICA ORIGIN

We had already predicted it after the heat-moldable trekking boots "FORGE" made a shocking debut last season, rewriting the history of mountaineering boots, but we never thought it would come so soon. The ORIGIN is the world's first heat-moldable trail running shoe. Not only can parts of the shoe be heat-moldable to fit any foot, but the details are as impeccable as ever, including an outsole specially designed for trail running, developed in collaboration with Vibram. We can't wait for summer!

milestone MS-G1

Milestone is gaining popularity thanks to its meticulous design and well-balanced design, which are unique to Japanese-made products. Despite its compact size, it produces a sufficient 300 lumens of light. The latest model features a clip that can be rotated vertically or horizontally, making it easy to use as a headlamp, chest lamp, or waist lamp. It's also expected to be extremely useful as a side lamp to accompany your main light!

Sunday Afternoons Vantage Point Trucker Cap

This new cap from Sunday Afternoon, a cap and hat brand offering a wide range of versatile and easy-to-use models for outdoor activities, travel, and more, is a must-have. Its greatest feature is the holes on both sides that allow you to secure your sunglasses. It also boasts many other convenient features for runners, including high breathability and reflectors

#2: Hottest brands and items for 2019 found at Off The Grid 2019

PaaGo WORKS NINJATENT

Finally, a tent from PaaGo WORKS, a Japanese backpack brand! Details are still unknown, but from what I could see on-site, it's a freestanding two-layer tent that can accommodate about two people. With a wide-opening entrance and a vestibule that can be flipped up with trekking poles for increased livability, the tent is simple in its basics and designed for ease of use in every aspect, perfectly incorporating the same concepts as its backpacks

MAXI Titanium Coffee Maker

The lightweight titanium has an appealing texture and design. The titanium cup on the left of the photo can be stacked with the coffee maker, which is also great. All the necessary functions are neatly packed into a simple structure, making it an intriguing piece to own

Gossamer Gear KUMO Black Camo ver.

Among the small-batch UL backpacks that prioritize lightness and minimalism, Gossamer Gear is one of my personal favorites, offering a balance of ease of use, durability, and design that rivals mass-produced brands. The KUMO, a 36-liter backpack I'd been eyeing for its size—just right for day trips and lightweight tent camping—has now been released in a black camo version. I'd just been searching through all the lightweight packs in this size, so I had to buy it right away

AMOK Draumr

This is a new genre of hammock tent developed by the Norwegian design group Amok Equipment. Its patented, innovative design combines sleek setup with the luxury of being both a bed and a chair. Since its debut in 2016, its stability and comfort have been lauded by media and users alike. It's no surprise that it has won awards at international exhibitions. I'd love to spend the whole day lying here on a lazy solo camping trip

LOCUS GEAR Apollo Tyvek Grande

This isn't particularly new, but it looked so "eye-catching" that I just had to snap a photo! This large, conical one-pole shelter from tent manufacturer LOCUS GEAR is admired by ultralight hikers the world over for its high functionality and sexy design. Above all, its minimalist yet functional appearance is irresistible. It's made from a special fabric called Tyvek, which is lightweight, durable, and waterproof/breathable. It's not only functional, but also has a unique texture and color. An optional inner mesh can be installed inside, ensuring comfort