The typically massive outdoor industry trade show looked and felt different than ever before. But that didn’t deter a few brands from hitting it big with standout Best in Show gear.
Three levels scaled down to just one. Aisles went from shoulder-to-shoulder, to generously spaced. And the gangway of household outdoor bigwigs gave way to unfamiliar upstarts hawking everything from sterilizing wipes to pool toys.
Perhaps most notably, the sheer number of retailers, brands, and media went from the tens of thousands down to — at least by looks alone — just a few thousand, if that. Despite outward appearances, the show still packed some seriously cool gear.
And what’s more, Outdoor Retailer went from a hectic melee of bustling meetings and appointments to a more relaxed, grateful reunion among colleagues — at least, those who opted to travel and visit the show.
And the limited number of brands meant a lot of productivity for those who attended. In fact, longtime GearJunkie editor in chief (and Colorado’s “Resident Badass“) Sean McCoy called it “among the best ORs I’ve been to,” citing focused work in a smaller, more intimate tradeshow.
Whether you were impressed or disappointed, there was gear to be seen. And after two full days combing the truncated aisles, we found what we think was the best collection of innovative outdoor gear on display. Enjoy!
Outdoor Retailer Summer Market Best in Show
Dometic ‘Go Collection’ Hydration Jug+Water Faucet
![Dometic Go Collection hydration jug water faucet Dometic Go Collection hydration jug water faucet](https://s3.amazonaws.com/images.gearjunkie.com/uploads/2021/08/Dometic-HYD-WF-HYDRATION-WATER-FAUCET__on-HYD-J11-HYDRATION-WATER-JUG-11L_.jpg)
Part jug, part faucet, Dometic’s two-piece HYD-WF (short for “hydration water faucet”) stole the show in terms of innovation. Though both pieces are sold separately and can operate independently, they’re designed to work in tandem.
The HYD-J11 11L jug can squeeze in just about 12 L and has two openings: one large 4-inch orifice for quick filling and dispensing, and a smaller 63mm opening — the industry standard “Nalgene” size. This means you can seamlessly connect many common water filtration devices directly from the source to the jug without the worry of cross-contamination.
The jug also has a molded hand grip on the bottom to aid pouring and a CPC quick-connect port (more on that below). What’s more, two of these jugs can fit into a standard 20L jerrycan holder on overland vehicles, so you could actually carry 22-24 L.
But the faucet (HYD-WF) is where things get really interesting. You can connect the faucet with an included magnetic base that has a sticky side to adhere to a camp table, RV countertop, or the jug itself.
Connect the faucet directly to the jug with included tube via the quick-connect port — then simply tap the top of the faucet (no button to depress) to begin dispensing water.
The faucet has a flow rate of 1 L per minute, and it will automatically stop dispensing after 1 L. Plus, the faucet has a built-in LED light that illuminates while water is running, so you can see your hands, toothbrush, or dirty dishes in the dark.
The Dometic HYD-J11 jug will retail for $70, and the faucet (HYD-WF) will sell for $100. Both items in the Go Collection launch in February 2022.
Ignik FireCan
![FireCan lifestyle Ignink FireCan propane firepit](https://s3.amazonaws.com/images.gearjunkie.com/uploads/2021/07/FireCan-lifestyle-e1627486787193.jpg)
Little Kamper Refillable Camp Propane Tanks
Küat Piston Pro X Hitch Bike Rack
![küat’s piston pro x hitch bike rack küat’s piston pro x hitch bike rack](https://s3.amazonaws.com/images.gearjunkie.com/uploads/2021/08/kuats-piston-pro-x-hitch-bike-rack.jpg)