From tents to knives, sleeping bags, running shoes, and more, brands congregate to launch products at the OR show (official name: Outdoor Retailer Summer Market 2018). Our team spent the week in Denver evaluating hundreds of products at the event to find the best to-be-released gear for summer 2019.
Sea to Summit Pack Racks
Take more gear on your adventures with less hassle. Sea to Summit’s Pack Racks offer a packable, removable, and simple-to-install alternative to traditional automobile roof racks. Inflate the dual Pack Racks tubes using the included stuff sack, run the straps inside the car (underneath the doors), and presto: roof racks installed. The 420-denier nylon TPU racks are compatible with most vehicles, hold about 120 pounds, and pack down to the size of a football. Pack Racks launch spring 2019 and will retail for $100.
Motorized Inflatable Fishing SUP
This inflatable standup paddleboard comes with an outboard motor, and it looks spectacularly fun for anglers. The Bote Rover Aero provides a solid standing or sitting platform for fishing. Paddle it as a normal SUP around quiet bays and lakes. But when it’s time to zip a couple miles to a new fishing hole, put the 6-horsepower hammer down and get underway. Bote launched a similar, rigid Rover last year, but the inflatable version gives people a version that’ll fit in the trunk of a sedan. And compared to a bass boat, it’s downright cheap at $3,000, including a motor and paddle.
Big Agnes Bikepacking Tent
Big Agnes reimagined one of its most popular tents to give bikepackers an exciting new option. The Big Agnes Copper 2 Bikepack has shorter pole segments than its backpacking counterpart. Thus, with a special compression sack, it’ll fit under the handlebars of a mountain bike, road bike, or gravel grinder. It adds a helmet pocket to seal the deal, hitting the market in spring 2019 for $470.
Vibram Inverse Collection
Vibram next year will introduce its first rubber that doesn’t go on your feet. Called the Inverse Collection, the grippy rubber will be used on products like the Arbor Skateboard, pictured here. The Inverse collection will land on skateboards, surfboards, and probably more in spring 2019. The brand claims it provides better grip when wet than standard grip tape on skateboards — so much better that it’ll work on surfboards too.
Princeton Tec Snap
One light, many uses. The Princeton Tec Snap quickly and easily transitions from bike to head to campsite. With a very simple mounting platform, the light clicks in and out of housings that mount it on a bike or headlamp. A third housing lets it hang from a carabiner for use as a lantern. The made-in-the-USA product will cost just $40, run for up to 130 hours on a single set of batteries, and kick out up to 200 lumens.
Gerber ComplEAT
Open up more camp-meal possibilities with Gerber’s ComplEAT culinary multitool. With eight nesting mess functions and a sub-2-ounce, pack-friendly design, the ComplEAT offers an aluminum fork, spoon, and silicon spatula. Flip the spatula around and connect it to the fork for camp tongs. Plus, the kit includes a handheld multitool with bottle opener, veggie peeler, serrated package opener, and can opener. The multitool fits into the underside of the fork or spoon to prop it up out of the dirt. Launches in spring 2019 for $25.
NEMO Rocket 2P Tent
Two people, two doors, and only 22 ounces, the NEMO Rocket aims to be the lightest two-person tent on the market. The New Hampshire-based brand accomplishes this with a unique, internal T-pole structure. Coming up from the center of the tent, the T-poles provide near-vertical walls on either side and much more space inside than our editors expected from a lightweight tent. Guyed-out carbon stays at each corner add more room at the head and foot of the shelter, while 7- and 10-denier ripstop make up the canopy and floor, respectively. Look for it in spring 2019 for $450.
Mammut Wall Rider MIPS Helmet
Meet the world’s first MIPS-equipped climbing helmet. What the cycling and snow-sports worlds embraced years ago, now the climbing community can share as well with Mammut’s Wall Rider helmet. The Wall Rider incorporates the patented MIPS system to help absorb rotational energy caused by tumbling rocks and falls. Using a low-friction layer, it allows the outer shell to slide relative to the wearer’s head, helping prevent roational-force brain injury. The Wall Rider MIPS launches spring 2019 for $180.
Benchmade Puukko
Benchmade took a classic Scandinavian design and made it better with the Puukko. Thanks to its use of CPM-3V steel, this is one of the toughest knives on the market. Benchmade tried to break one with a hydraulic press in testing, but after crushing it with more than 900 pounds per square inch over an edge, the blade just popped back to nearly its original shape. With a nice palm swell, utilitarian drop-point blade, and gorgeous leather sheath, this knife will be a dream for everything from camp kitchens to bushcrafting. Get one for $145 in spring 2019.
SiOnyx Aurora Nightvision Action Camera
See more — and record more — at night like never before. The SiOnyx Aurora is the “world’s first waterproof, high-definition, color action camera with true day/night imaging.” In short, this sub-8-ounce camera captures a remarkable amount of color and detail in the pitch-dark. Look through it to see in the dark, and even record what you see. We tried it and saw first-hand how much acuity the Aurora offers. It has a rechargeable battery with two hours of continuous runtime, Wi-Fi connectivity, GPS, accelerometer, and compass. It has a 1-inch sensor — the secret to the brand’s night-vision prowess. Preorder now for $799.
Patagonia-Danner Wading Boot
Buy these once and never buy another pair of wading boots. That’s a concept we can get behind. Patagonia and Danner teamed up to produce four models of wading boots that are meant to be resoled, maintained, and cobbled for the life of an angler. They are incredibly expensive at $500-550, but as the saying goes, buy once, cry once. Then, go fishing … forever.
Rocky Mountain Underground MTB Pack
The small Breckenridge, Colo., brand Rocky Mountain Underground just dialed one of the coolest mountain bike packs we’ve seen. It has a long list of superlative features, but a few highlights: First, it has a dedicated ski-carry so you can bike to the slopes. Second, it has a yoke built into the top to carry your bike on those “hike-a-bike” sections. Third, the hip strap is removable and functions as a beautiful minimalist utility belt for shorter rides. Add tool pockets, back protection, and a dedicated beer holder, and we’re stoked. Get one in the spring for $139.
Yakima Truck Rack
There are plenty of pickup bed racks on the market. But the OutPost HD from Yakima might be the easiest to put on and take off. For those who want a burly overlanding setup on the weekends but an open bed during the work week, this is the option. Unlike others, you can also run a Tonneau cover while it’s installed. Simply unlock it and lift it off as a single unit. Stow in your garage with rooftop tent and jerry cans still attached. The aluminum construction delivers a 500-pound on-road carrying capacity and is Yakima Off-Road Rated up to 300 pounds. It hits the market spring 2019 for $470.
Peak Designs Travel Bag
Loads of features and a minimalist design come together in Peak Designs 45L Travel Bag. Built to be an equal fit for travelers, commuters, and photographers alike, the Travel Bag has both dedicated and modular storage options, anti-deterrent zippers and construction, weatherproof shell, multiple carry options, and expandable/compressible design. Plus, electronics, toiletries, footwear, and other add-ons allow users to customize the bag to their needs. It’s available on Kickstarter now with discounts on its $300 retail price.
Therm-a-Rest NeoAir UberLite Mattress
Hike and sleep easier with the lightest insulated air mattress on the market — according to Therm-a-Rest. The NeoAir UberLite packs down small enough to fit in your pocket and weighs in at 8.8 ounces (regular length) and deploys to a 2.5-inch-thick insulated mattress. The NeoAir UberLite launches spring 2019 in small, regular, and large, for $140, $180, and $210, respectively.
Tepui HyBox
Two products in one, the Tepui HyBox is both a rooftop tent and a gear box. Sleep in it as an elevated tent. Or, if you don’t plan to camp in it, zip off the fabric and mesh tent walls and remove the mattress. It can then open as a clamshell and carry your skis, luggage, bows, or any other large items. The $2,800 tent/gear carrier hits the market in the fall.
