A recap of top stories for the week of July 24 – 30, 2016.
1) Outdoor Retailer ‘Best In Show’ Gear For 2017
The best new products for the outdoors in 2017? Look no further than our ‘best in show’ award picks from the Outdoor Retailer Summer Market trade show, held in Utah last week.
2) First Look: Under Armour ‘Legit’ Trail Shoe
Athletic giant Under Armour moves closer to the outdoors core with a 2017 trail-running shoe. We got a first review of the Horizon FKT.
3) 21-Year-Old Sets Highpoint Speed Record
Maddie Miller, a 21-year-old mountaineer, set a new record by reaching each of the 50 ‘highpoints’ in the United States in less than 42 days with the help of legendary climber Melissa Arnot.
4) Vail Taking Over? Commits To Whistler Purchase
Already a juggernaut in the ski industry, Vail Resorts has committed to buy Whistler-Blackcomb, the largest single ski resort in North America.
5) ‘Packing It Out’ Update: 1,499 Miles, 620lbs Of Trash
The packing it out crew is closing in on Oregon, ‘so close we can almost smell it!’ But a side trip to Mount Whitney, trash collection, and a engagements have shrunk the time to close in on the finish the trail before the chill of winter.
6) Complex Knit: First Look At Polartec Delta ‘Cooling’ Fabric
Sweat is the body’s “radiator,” and this evaporative cooling process makes hiking, running, and biking possible even on the hottest of days. What if your clothing could enhance that natural process?
7) Introducing The GearJunkie Readers’ Choice Award
For nearly a decade, we’ve recognized innovative new products with our ‘Best In Show’ award. This year, you dear readers have a say.
8) Canyoneering Utah’s Capitol Reef
Utah’s canyons are mountains in reverse, with huge vertical relief carved into millennia-old rock. Exploring Capitol Reef with a guide opens eyes to a rarely seen perspective on a harsh and beautiful world.
9) Fish Tale: The Teeming Waters Of Cosmoledo
Crystal clear waters, fish as big as your torso, and an adventure the spans land, sea, and air – all in a day’s work on the Cosmoledo Atoll.
10) ‘Save Water, Drink Beer.’ Brewery Takes Water-Conservation Stance
Tour an Oregon craft brewery to learn how the company saves ‘every drop of water possible’ to keep its namesake river healthy.
10) Rideshare The Mississippi? Check-Out Kayaks Coming Soon
Move over bike-shares, public kayak sharing could be the wave of the future.
11) LIFT Turns Most Bikes Into ‘Cargo Bikes’
The LIFT cargo box add-on attaches to many bikes in less than a minute and allows the rider to haul up to 150 pounds of gear or groceries.
12) World’s Best Tiny (Mega-Bright) Flashlight Under $30
This tiny light kicks out up to 130 lumens, can run for six hours on a charge, and it fits on a keychain.
13) Review: Niner’s New Rocket, the RKT 9 RDO
The RKT9RDO is ‘strong and confidence inspiring,’ said our reviewer. If you need a bike you can race, marathon, and also step up to ride aggressive trails, this is a solid option.
14) Emerging Gear: Outdoor Products This Week
Self-following drones to neoprene-free wetsuits, this is our weekly look at emerging products from the world of outdoor gear design.
15) First Look: Tent Line From Therm-a-Rest For 2017
We got a first review last month of the ‘palace’-like Tranquility tents, which come in four- and six-person builds.
16) Bargain Hunter? Welcome To ‘REI Garage’
REI Outlet is no more. Welcome to REI Garage, which offers new, high-quality products at discounted prices.
17) KUIU: Hunting Brand Makes Top-Tier Tents, Packs, Bags
The KUIU Super Down sleeping bag and Storm Start four season tent are designed with backcountry hunters in mind, but the high quality products will serve cold-weather campers well on any adventure.
18) ‘Wearable Sleeping Bag’ Is 30 Outfits In One
Turn your sleeping bag into a dress, or a sweater, or 28 other garments with this head-scratching invention.
19) Squirrel Steals GoPro, Makes Great POV Video
Ever wonder what it looks like to run from branch to branch and tree to tree? Well, here’s your answer.
20) Epic Job: Meet A High-Voltage Line Inspector
Timothy Phillips is a high-tension wire inspector who spends his days high above the ground working on electrified power lines.
