Twice a year, the outdoor industry gathers in Salt Lake City, Utah, at the Outdoor Retailer trade show to display all of the innovative gear and materials set to release in the next year. All of the big names are there — Patagonia, Marmot, The North Face — but there are also a ton of smaller brands working to revolutionize outdoor gear.
At this year’s Summer OR, active insulation was again a big talking point, as was materials innovation as a whole. Polartec leads the charge, but Primaloft and brands’ in-house insulations are not far behind. Stand-up paddleboards continue to be a booming market in the water-sports world, with even kayak brands throwing their hat in the ring. Rock climbing safety was another trend, with a handful of brands releasing anti-panic belay devices designed to keep climbers safe — especially beginners.
Below are highlights from the show, from the best new materials to a knife with a ball-bearing folding mechanism. While some of this gear is available now, most will be launching this spring. So keep an eye out for these innovations at your local outdoors store starting in February 2017.
Additional contribution by Jeremy Berger.
Outdoor Research Ascendent Jacket
A Next-Generation Jacket: Outdoor Research’s Ascendent jacket is a game changer when it comes to active insulation. It utilizes Polartec Alpha Direct insulation, which has no liner. The insulation sits directly on whatever you’re wearing underneath the jacket. The outer shell is constructed from breathable and stretchy Pertex that is also highly water resistant.
