The new Dot Matrix technical rain shell from The North Face uses FuseForm technology.
The Bora2 Mid (front) from Arc'Teryx features a removable Gore-Tex liner.
5.10's Cat Burglar approach shoe features Stealth rubber and a cork insole.
A new wetsuit design from Kokatat features zipper technology that makes it 100 percent waterproof.
A cross-section of Gore-Tex Surround technology: A Gore-Tex booty encloses the insole. The spacer underneath vents moisture for improved breathability.
Columbia's SolarCamo fabric shows a cloud pattern when exposed to heat (say, when fishing on salt flats) and returns to solid blue indoors.
The Tensegrity two-person tent from Sierra Designs.
Klean Kanteen introduces growler-sized bottles that keep beer carbonated.
Astral presented the Aquanaut water-to-trail shoes, with Cordura nylon uppers and G15 Rubber outsoles with siping for extra traction.
Eagle Creek's new travel backpacks include a detachable daypack and a duffel cover to zip it into for checked baggage.
Forsake Co makes performance sneakers. The Clyde will be available in Fall 2014.
SmartWool expanded its lifestyle line of merino wool styles.
The Chaco Evo 3 (left) combines features of a water sandal with a trail shoe.
The latest S-Lab backpack from Salomon allows runners to access the interior without detaching the waistbelt.
Black Diamond's Pipe Dream 45 holds rock climbing gear inside and unfolds to a sofa-like crag chair.
Thule introduced a line of technical packs at the trade show.
The Salewa Speed Ascent includes Vibram Rollingait Technology for a rockered sole.
A sneak peek from last week’s Outdoor Retailer trade show in Salt Lake City.
Materials
Gore-Tex Surround technology makes outdoor shoes both waterproof and breathable—easy enough to pull off in a jacket, but tough to execute in a shoe. Until now. An inner booty with the Gore membrane keeps moisture out, while a unique midsole “spacer” channels moisture out through one-way vents in the outsole. / For spring 2015, The North Face weaves different materials together to create hybridized fabric. The upcoming Dot Matrix technical rain shell features durable nylon shoulders and lightweight polyester flanks—all cut from a single piece of material to reduce weighty, failure-prone seams. / At the trade show, brands like La Sportiva introduced apparel treated with Polygiene, a silver and salt formula that acts as a natural antimicrobial agent to reduce odor.
Footwear
Arc’Teryx enters the footwear realm with a rugged line that features separate liner and shell construction to improve fit and durability—it’s a design inspired by mountaineering boots. / For 2015, Salewa uses the Vibram Rollingait System to give its Speed Ascent approach shoe a rockered sole. The design felt fluid and easy on a Wasatch scramble. / The new Salomon S-Lab X Alp Carbon GTX incorporates a carbon frame that flexes like a running shoe on open trail but stiffens for edging in variable terrain. A waterproof upper and built-in gaiter extends the season for fast-and-light alpine ascents. / Elsewhere, look for a trend of unprecedented water to trail versatility in Spring 2015 styles from Chaco and Astral.
Apparel
Technical flannels are a given at outdoor industry events. We expect SmartWool’s expanded merino lifestyle line of rugby shirts and dresses to change that. / Put on an Outdoor Research accessory with ActiveIce next summer, and you’ll feel a cooling sensation when sweat activates xylitol in the fabric. / Black Diamond experiments with insulation in the Hot Forge Hybrid Hoody, which uses a down blend in the core and synthetic PrimaLoft in the sleeves, shoulders, and hood.
Gear
Smith Optics brings their AeroCore technology to the Overtake helmet for road cyclists. The Koroyd honeycomb boosts protection without decreasing ventilation or adding weight. / Sleeping outside gets easier next year: Pick from NEMO’s car camping appropriate Wagontop Tent, with a 78-inch standing height and sleeping room for four; a tent from the Big Agnes mtnGLO line, which builds LED lights into roof seams; or the Sierra Designs Tensegrity two-person tent. It weighs in at two pounds, two ounces and offers 17 square feet of space. —Olivia Dwyer
