The budding Switchback trade show held its second annual standalone event in New Orleans last week, and while it’s a far cry from the heyday of Outdoor Retailer — around 200 brands versus more than 1,000 — the gear on display was cutting-edge.
Overall, the show was a concentrated convergence of top brands previewing 2027 gear — from running and hiking, to camping, biking, climbing, and even some noteworthy lifestyle products. In addition to next year’s launches, there were some in-line products from brands I hadn’t seen before.
Here’s a rundown of the very best on display at the Switchback Spring product showcase.
Teva’s First Road Running Sandal: Avenroad
You’d be excused for questioning a running sandal in the top spot among the gear I’m excited about. But I’d wager you haven’t actually run in Teva’s category-disrupting line of running sandals — and I understand. I was highly skeptical until my third or fourth run in the brand’s debut Aventrail sandal. But color me a convert; running sandals have mostly ruined me on running shoes.
For maximum agility, sports, and sprinting, shoes remain unrivaled. But for a good old-fashioned jog (anything over a couple of miles), running sandals have proven more comfortable than shoes, without sacrificing the necessary support and energy return.
And for 2027, road runners can catch the fever too. The Avenroad sandals are the brand’s first road-specific running sandal, with a lug-less proprietary Spider Rubber outsole, lightweight, springy midsole, and stretchy Dyneema-blend straps that are twice as secure as standard Velcro.
Look for the Avenroad in spring 2027 for $155.
Fjällräven Ultralight Hiking: Keb Lätt 55 Pack and GTX Jacket
I don’t typically associate Fjällräven with ultralight endeavors — rustic, fashionable, and classic gear, yes. But in spring 2027, the Swedish brand will release two products that prove it can go toe-to-toe with the technical crowd.
First up, the Keb Lätt 55 is an ultralight (37.7 ounces) iteration of the brand’s existing wood-frame hiking pack. Last year, the brand piqued our interest with the then-lightest wood-frame backpack ever made: the Kajka X-Lätt 45.
The Keb Lätt 55 adds 10 L of volume and still manages to shave 4 ounces off the total weight. It has a recycled 100D outer, a roll-top closure, removable compression straps, and a removable aluminum back stay to max out weight savings.
On top of that, the Keb Lätt GTX jacket stands as one of the absolute lightest 3-layer GORE-TEX shells on the market. At a scant 6 ounces, this waterproof layer could be big for ultralight enthusiasts.
Opinel Outdoor Collection
One of the more interesting new product launches came from Opinel. The Outdoor Collection includes three environment-specific blades: The No. 8 Horizon focuses on hiking and backcountry use, the Néo 7 Alpine targets high-alpine objectives, and the No. 9 Ocean is meant for maritime use.
They all sport Opinel’s stainless steel, although the No. 9 Ocean carries an added PVD coating for resisting salty sea spray. Each knife has unique design elements for its intended use.
The No. 8 Horizon has a reinforced fiberglass handle and an emergency whistle. The Néo 7 Alpine is Opinel’s lightest knife ever and has a cork handle for cold-weather grip with gloves, a ¼-inch bit holder, a serrated blade with a blunt tip for cutting rope and scraping ice, and a proprietary slip-joint–style lockup.
And the No. 9 Ocean is a decidedly different approach altogether. In addition to the anti-corrosion coating, this blade is partially serrated to address varied tasks, and a folding marlin spike aims to make tough, wet knots easier to undo.
The collection went live this month for $40-60. Read more about the Opinel Outdoor Collection.
Therm-a-Rest Trailmix Sleeping Pad
Improvements and updates were the name of the game for Cascade Designs, parent company of Therm-a-Rest and MSR, among others. On the sleep side, Therm-a-Rest builds on last year’s highly regarded NeoLoft pad with the more svelte and lower-priced Trailmix — a 3-inch–thick, 4.5R rectangular pad with the brand’s cozy, stretch-knit fabric.
At $150 for a regular that weighs 1 pound, 6 ounces, it’s not redefining the category, but it looks like a versatile, comfortable sleeping pad, suitable for backpacking or frontcountry camping.
MSR Freelite Stash
Another update from Cascade Designs, the MSR Freelite streamlines two product categories that probably shouldn’t have been separate in the first place. In the last few years, bikepacking tents earned high praise for a variety of reasons, but chief among them was a pole design that allowed the packed tent to fit between standard drop-bar handlebars.
For all intents and purposes, these tents were just slightly modified backpacking tents, so MSR merged them. The Freelite Stash is a bikepacking- and backpacking-friendly tent — 1 pound, 14 ounces for a one-person, semi-freestanding, packs down for bikepacking — with a special pole architecture.
In short, MSR shortened all the pole segments, allowing the structure to cut weight and pack smaller, while making the architecture stronger in the process.
Launching spring 2027 in 1p, 2p, and 3p ($440, $500, $570).
Salewa Wildfire 3
Every year, at every show, there’s an explosion of new footwear. It can be tough to really parse out what the next big thing will be, but Salewa’s upcoming Wildfire 3 is tied to a major trend in the outdoors: via ferrata.
A technical, crossover approach shoe, the Wildfire looks like a highly capable scrambler — Kevlar cables that work with the laces to secure the whole foot, durable upper, and sticky rubber — with an edging plate for exposed via ferrata routes.
Look for the Wildfire 3 to drop in spring 2027 for $179.
UYN Kymra Collection
Though Italian brand UYN’s (pronounced “win”) Kymra run collection debuted this spring, this was my first chance to learn about what makes it different. It sure looks like the performance tech apparel that dominates the market, but UYN’s focus is on an entirely bio-based textile lineup. And I don’t mean merino wool, cotton, or hemp; UYN’s fabrics are designed to wick, stretch, and breathe like top-tier synthetics.
The Kymra collection employs corn-, castor seed–, and wood pulp–based fabrics that don’t look or feel like typical natural or synthetic fibers. The collection is available now in men’s and women’s sizing and cuts — we’ll have it all in testing soon.
Altra Lone Peak 10
Altra has achieved emeritus status, but the brand does not appear to be resting on its laurels. It’s evolved from a zero-drop–only brand to adding a drop segment, modifying its wide toe box last, and iterating across road and trail. While Altra will update its technical Mont Blanc, I’m more interested in the tenth iteration of the brand’s bestselling Lone Peak.
The Lone Peak 10 still uses the brand’s proprietary MaxTrac rubber, but it’s a new compound that’s designed to be more durable and offer better grip. The lug placement has been updated, along with an updated TPU rock plate that’s forked to offer a better ride. Finally, the collar and tongue have been retooled for more flexibility and greater comfort over long miles.
Look for it to launch in January for $150.
Sherpa Is Back!
For all intents and purposes, Sherpa Adventure Gear is completely new, across the board. At the same time, it’s going back to what’s old — new ownership has reconnected with the founder to reboot the brand according to what built it in the first place.
And it’s visible. In the last few years, Sherpa took on a more subdued, Westernized appearance. Now, the splashy, vibrant colors of Nepal touch every single piece. The brand’s mission of outfitting customers for everything from Kathmandu to Base Camp gives rise to uniquely stylish activewear with enough versatility for light adventures (and loads of travel).
Notably, the brand is again working with its original manufacturers, and every item sold provides a day of school for a child in Nepal. New styles have launched, but stay tuned for a more comprehensive reboot of the brand’s gear.
