The 2009 Summer Outdoor Retailer show is underway in Salt Lake City, Utah today. If you’re not familiar with OR, it is the twice yearly convention where all of the outdoor gear manufacturers gather to show off all the great new stuff they’re going to use to drain our wallets. Over the course of the next few days, you can expect to see a host of online reports that show off the latest trends in the gear industry and some hot new products that will be making it on to store shelves later this year.
You’ll find a number of reports coming from the floor of the show, but a few that I recommend you keep an eye on include TrailSpace.com, which always has a nice dedicated OR feed with first looks at the product lines. The Outside Blog is also on the scene, and already have some initial thoughts posted on a few products, such as the Vapor 15, the world’s lightest 15-degree sleeping bag, which comes from Sierra Designs and weighs just 30oz! And of course, the Gear Junkie is at OR and already sending back dispatches as part of his Daily Dose column. First up for the GJ is a look at the second generation SPOT Messengers due out later this year.
Expect lots more announcements over the next few days. Press releases will be flying and there will be plenty of good reports of new gadgets, gizmos, and gear. I’ll try to spotlight some of the bigger announcements, but I suspect we’ll mostly be seeing a continuation of the trend toward “green” gear that is environmentally sound.
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Thanks for the heads-up about the v2 Spot Messenger. I really liked having the device with me in Nepal, but the slight redesign will be a welcome improvement.
If for no other reason than the fact that the "911" button is covered now. Yes, it isn't terribly easy to press the button by accident, but let me tell you–every local who I interacted with while on the trail wanted to check out my Spot Messenger…and press the buttons without knowing what they were. The bright orange color of the device led to a lot of "what the hell is this thing" fondling. The Sherpa people love gadgets.
Now, if only I could have made my way to the show this summer…
Jon
http://www.therestofeverest.com
Hey Jon,
It sounds like the improvements to the second gen SPOT are all nice, evolutionary moves. It's smaller, has a better satellite radio, and has improved functionality in just about every other way. It seems like they've listened to all the critics and made good choices in the redesign.
I'm bumming that I"m not at OR either. I was suppose to be there, but the Australia trip put an end to that. I was also hoping to get a glimpse of the new SPOT at Primal Quest, but I'm told that they won't have any available yet there either. I guess I'll have to wait until the Fall to see if I can get my hands on one.
We definitely have to coordinate an OR trip sometime. Seems like a natural fit. 🙂
I hear you.
We really should have gone to the show but I decided a vacation to the cottage in Maine was more important to me. We leave Saturday!
Still, maybe we should plan on attending the next one. We could split a room! Ben Clark, Josh Butson and The Other Jon Miller were at the show Monday-Wednesday and were able to stir up some sponsorship interests for their yearly expeditions.
It's just such a great networking opportunity.
Jon
http://www.therestofeverest.com