Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Outdoors

Winter Stoke: Outdoor Retailer 2015

By

Every six months, the outdoor industry descends on Salt Lake City. For a few days of product tests and demos, major players and emerging brands alike pass along their stoke on top secret gear projects that will be launching soon. We were lucky enough to join in the on-snow madness at Alta Ski Resort before the show, and navigated to maze of the show floor to curate a list of the best new gear that will be hitting retailers this fall. Read on for the best of Outdoor Retailer, and join in the impatient waiting and drooling over new technology with us.

GORE-TEX C-KNIT

For us, the biggest story is the new technology launching from industry titan, GORE-TEX. The new C-KNIT is a significant improvement in the fabric backer used in the 3-layer GORE-TEX membrane. This backer is different weave and material than the previous iterations, and is lighter and more durable than previous GORE fabrics. The result? Manufacturers are able to use softer fabrics and still live up to the GORE always dry guarantee. Look for new C-KNIT pieces to appear in the fall lines of some of our favorite high end outdoor brands.

Recommended Videos

Dynafit Chugach Skis

We got on the Chugach skis from Dynafit during an exclusive ski day with some of their best pro riders and product designers before the show started. We skied until the last chair and would have snuck our pair of Chugach’s home if it had been possible. Departing from Dynafit’s ski-mountaineering race heritage, the Chugach and it’s stiffer cousin, the Hokkaido, excelled in everything from ripping groomed turns to sussing out a few hidden powder stashes in the trees and chutes. If you’re looking to own one ski that can do it all, you’d be hard pressed to find one that compares.

Related

Atomic Backland Carbon Boots

The Backland series is Atomic’s first foray into true alpine touring boots. The tech-binding compatible soles and easy-to-use walk mode make these boots lightweight and comfortable on the ascent. What really sold us though, is the carbon reinforced upper that provides extremely fast power transfer, giving you performance like a much heavier resort boot.

Mountain Hardwear Hellgate Jacket

We’ve been believers in Mountain Hardwear’s proprietary Dry.Q Elite line of serious mountaineering and trekking jackets and pants for a few seasons now. The all new Hellgate Jacket takes the lessons learned from serious alpine climbers and puts them in a fully featured backcountry ski jacket. By combining a 3-layer membrane with air permeable face fabric, the Hellgate is not just a bomb shelter when the snow starts falling, but breathes like a second skin when you are pushing uphill fast.

Forsake Lockout Boot

We first discovered Forsake last winter on our never ending quest to find truly waterproof apres ski boots. Their new Lockout continues the comfort and style that they are known for, and adds in some nice design touches born from a new partnership with Woolrich. Look for them this fall.

Super.Natural Voyage Collection

Our previous experiences with Super.Natural have included some serious winter trail time in their innovative base layers. We were pleasantly surprised to get a sneak peak at their Voyage Collection of lifestyle and outerwear pieces that will launch later this year. Combining technical fabrics with soft merino wool, the new jackets and shirts will be perfect for any outdoor endeavor. If you can’t wait until August to get your hands on some, they’ve got a full fitness line available now that is second to none.

Biolite Nanogrid

Biolite is known for their innovative stoves that provide not just heat and a cooking base, but can power your favorite gadgets. This spring they are moving into the lighting category with a lantern and battery system dubbed the Nanogrid. Not only will it pump out 600 lumens of light around camp, but the main body will charge your phone, GoPro, or iPad with a little extra juice for that perfect flyfishing picture or an evening movie in the tent.

Helly Hansen Norvis LS

Night running in the winter can be a cold, and sometimes dangerous affair. Helly Hansen‘s new Norvis tops and pants will change all that. Reflective material is sewn into the chest and back in a brushstroke pattern, only lighting up with it is illuminated by oncoming headlights or streetlamps. The effect is jarring enough to keep drivers aware of you in the dark, but completely invisible during the day.

Marker Kingpin Binding

The Kingpin has been on the market with a small, select number of retailers since early in the ski season and is already making waves in the industry. Featuring a tech-style toe piece, it is perfect for dawn patrol ski touring when you want to get in some human powered vertical. The DIN style heel piece will give you a little extra peice of mind when you lock it down to send that 20-footer on the way back to the car. Just make sure you’ve got a ski buddy who can get photo proof of your skills in the powder.

Salomon Mountain Lab Helmet

The new Mountain Collection from Salomon features products from the snow up to help you travel in the winter. We loved the new lightweight skis and apparel, but the standout product was the Mountain Lab Helmet. It is the first helmet on the market to be certified both for skiing and rock climbing. The fact that it’s one of the lightest helmets we’ve ever tested, and has a removable (and washable) merino lining are perfect touches.

Editors’ Recommendations

Austin Parker
Austin Parker
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Austin Parker is a former contributor at The Manual Parker is a powder skier and sport climber and is no stranger hauling…
Microspikes vs. crampons: Understanding the right gear for icy trails
Ice, ice, maybe? When to use microspikes vs crampons
microspikes vs crampons inspire toud nnafqaychci unsplash

When winter hiking, one of the most essential pieces of gear will be your footwear. The right hiking boot can carry you comfortably for miles, but there are many cases where normal hiking boot lugs won't give you the traction you need. These cases become even more apparent during the wintertime when you're liable to slip on ice and dislocate your shoulder like one of my unfortunate family members — the nearest hospital was over two hours away. Microspikes and crampons can significantly reduce the risk of hospital visits while out in the winter wonderland, but how do you know which ones to pack? In this guide, we'll discuss microspikes vs crampons and how to stay safe.
Microspikes vs crampons: what's the difference?

Adventuring with microspikes
Microspikes are a flexible, rubber harness that goes over your hiking boot. The rubber is attached to several small chains that go underneath your foot, connecting multiple plates of short spikes to the bottom of your shoe. Think of it like the footwear version of tire chains. The microspikes themselves are generally a fourth of an inch to a half of an inch long, made of hardened steel. Short but sharp, these spikes are perfect for gripping packed snow and ice that might otherwise send you to the E.R.
Adventuring with crampons
Crampons are the spiked-collar version of microspikes. They have a similar rubber harness, but they will likely have additional rigid metal frames with longer spikes. The length ranging from three-fourths of an inch to even an astounding one and a half inches can look pretty intimidating once you have them strapped properly. Personally, I would resist the urge to practice karate kicks.
Choosing microspikes vs crampons
Microspikes are best for light snow, packed snow, and icy hiking trails. Ideal for winter hiking or trail running, these will serve you well on flat or moderate slopes. I love microspikes because they're lighter and less intimidating than crampons. They tend to be easier to put on and pull off, and even better, they're comfortable during long hikes.

Read more
How does Jones Shralpinist Outerwear handle subzero conditions?
Jones Shralpinist Outerwear tested in Vermont
Jones Shralpinist kit

It happens every winter in Stowe, Vermont. In mid to late January, deep winter sets in, bringing subzero temperatures and air like invisible ice. Overnight wind chills can reach -50 degrees, and the Green Mountains are covered in an alpine freeze. With each step, there’s a crunch of ice and snow, and the surroundings are almost silent as everyone tries to survive, let alone enjoy the snow globe setting.

But around 5:45 a.m. in late January, that’s just what I’m doing as I begin the drive to Stowe Mountain Resort. My car’s information display reads 9 degrees, and weather reports indicate a -21-degree wind chill on the mountain. Soon, I’ll be skinning up the Nosedive trail, a slow burn of roughly 2,000 vertical feet covering just over a mile. The wind will howl, and my quads will burn, and it’ll take focus and strain to make it up. I’ll be battling the cold, but also heat, as the climb takes me into my threshold heart rate and warmth builds inside. I’ll need gear suited for the task. 

Read more
From apps to local tips: How to find the best hiking trails near you
Finding the perfect hiking trail isn't as hard as you think!
Group hiking with friends

When visiting new places, I'm always on the lookout for great hiking trails. If you're outdoorsy like me, the quality of the hike matters just as much as the surrounding town and social life. The good thing is that no matter where you are, chances are there's a hiking trail nearby. Whether you're moving someplace new or just visiting for a few hours, here's how to find hiking trails near you.
There's an app for that!

There's an app for everything these days, and that's not an understatement! As more and more people flock to the outdoors, developers have created lots of hiking and camping-related apps that can help connect you to the world around you. While you could go to Google Maps and search "hiking trails near me," one of my favorite apps for finding trails is AllTrails. AllTrails isn't just good for hikers, though! You can find mountain biking, running, backpacking, horseback riding trails, and more.

Read more