Out of doors Market Alliance — higher often known as “OMA” — has rapidly grow to be a staple outside sports activities gear tradeshow. Tucked in an unassuming constructing on the outskirts of Denver, OMA homes many just-released and soon-to-launch merchandise for media eyes solely.
It’s not a complete listing of each outside model, but it surely contains a number of heavy hitters like Mountain Hardwear, Cascade Designs, Osprey, Black Diamond, La Sportiva, Arc’teryx, and lots of extra. This week, 4 GearJunkie editors took 2 days of back-to-back conferences to get a peek on the hottest new gear coming to market this fall and into subsequent spring.
We awarded 5 Greatest in Present merchandise but in addition noticed a handful of honorable mentions that you simply don’t need to miss. Have a look!
Out of doors Market Alliance: Greatest in Present
Therm-a-Relaxation ‘Increase’ Sleeping Bag
Therm-a-Relaxation had rather a lot to point out us this summer season (see the sleeping pad under), however the Increase sleeping bag stood out for its revolutionary design and intelligent method to giving extra to essentially the most frequent backpackers and campers.
The Increase sleeping bag successfully supplies two temperature rankings in a single bag, due to a middle panel that, when zipped closed, modifications a 20-degree bag right into a 10-degree bag. We’ve seen loads of approaches to regulating sleeping bag temps — NEMO’s Thermo Gills and Exped’s flippable MegaSleep sleeping baggage — however Therm-a-Relaxation gave its personal spin with one thing additional.
Unzip the WarmZip middle panel, and the sleeping bag appears practically like a rectangle bag, and its temp score is excessive (20 levels). It is because the expanded middle chamber disperses down extra broadly, permitting warmth to flee extra readily. Zip it closed, and two issues occur: the insulation thickens within the center, and the bag snugs into a real mummy. This leads to a bag with a 10-degree hotter EN score.
The Increase makes use of 650-fill, RDS-certified hydrophobic down, a 100% recycled nylon shell, and PFAS-free DWR. It is going to be out there in brief, large, common, and lengthy sizes.
The Increase additionally sports activities zippable arm holes and a zippered footbox, so you possibly can vent the bag or add extra vary of movement. The Increase 650 Sleeping Bag will launch in January 2025 in 32F/0C and 20F/-6C choices.
Osprey PhotoLid
Osprey admits that it has obtained requests for pictures gear for years — and now it’s bought one thing to point out! The brand new line, which Osprey introduced in July, encompasses a Chest Rig and different equipment, however the standout winner was the PhotoLid.
When you have a backpack with a detachable lid (mind), you possibly can connect the PhotoLid as a replacement. Osprey notes this may work with any mannequin Osprey backpack and possibly others with detachable lids, relying on the attachment factors.
The PhotoLid has protected, modular compartments in your digicam physique, lenses, and equipment. While you take away it from the pack, it additionally converts to a hip pack. It’s made with 100% PFAS-free recycled polyester and nylon and is Bluesign-certified.
We love the idea as a result of it permits photographers to hold their digicam gear in a comparatively easy-to-access compartment with a minor modification to their packs. In contrast to most cubes, there’s no have to open the pack physique to entry the digicam. Plus, it really works with lots of the backpacks that people already personal.
This method does imply that no matter you normally cache within the lid must discover a new house, however the performance and design of the PhotoLid are tremendous spectacular. To this point, the PhotoLid will are available in one 5L dimension and one shade (black). The autumn 2024 Picture line is out there now on-line.
Thule Revert Vertical Bike Rack
We’ve seen vertical bike racks with assisted decreasing dampers, and we’ve seen bike racks with assisted lifting struts, however we’ve by no means seen a vertical bike rack that does each.
The Thule Revert is the Swedish model’s first vertical hitch-mounted bike rack, and it may maintain 4 or six bikes. However the actual magic is the massive lever within the center. When the rack is upright and locked, press the lever, and the rack (and bikes) slowly tilt again. Press the lever once more when the rack is down, and the rack slowly lifts itself again up into the upright, locked place.
Simpler entry and loading, particularly with as much as 6 bikes, means much less time finagling within the parking zone, and extra time driving trails.
Vasque Enterprise GTX
“The one shoe you’ll have to hike your complete Pacific Crest Path.” Daring phrases caught our consideration when Vasque shared its most enjoyable product. The Vasque Enterprise GTX packs a bunch of shoe tech into a contemporary, sharp-looking design. Whereas some tech components and elements will be present in different sneakers (even choose different sneakers we noticed at OMA), Vasque packs all of them into one.
All of them contribute to a single shoe that the model claims ought to be capable of maintain as much as the whole thing of the PCT. That’s an enormous declare, as the two,653-mile path tends to destroy footwear alongside the best way. Vasque representatives admitted the shoe has but to finish the route, however the mountaineering sneakers look extremely sturdy, and we hope to see how they maintain up quickly.
The shoe’s elements embody Vasque’s personal Vbound supercritical nitrogen-injected foam within the midsole, with 30% TPEE and 10% sugarcane. The higher is a customized TPU-coated mesh, a spandex sock-like collar, a 100% recycled lining, and GORE-TEX Invisible Match Waterproofing.
The Litebase Megagrip outsole additionally caught our eye: it’s a brand new tread from Vibram with super-angular and different-sized lugs to offer grip and traction in all instructions. Although it’s a detailed cousin of the Megagrip, it appears nothing prefer it. There’s additionally some adjustability within the lacing system, in addition to a heel counter and padding on the again of the shoe.
The ultimate weight for the lads’s pair is 12.9 ounces, and the ladies’s pair will weigh 11.7 ounces. The Vasque Enterprise launches in spring 2025 (TBD) and can retail for $220 MSRP.
This shoe’s best declare is sturdiness, and it looks like it ought to maintain up higher than most. Search for a GearJunkie evaluation quickly.
Mountain Hardwear Storm Whisperer
The Mountain Hardwear Ghost Whisperer is a benchmark-setting light-weight puffy jacket. Nevertheless it’s by no means been out there as a water-proof insulated jacket, till now.
Coming in early September 2024 and weighing simply 1 pound, 2.5 ounces, the Storm Whisperer makes use of 800-fill RDS-certified down protected by a light-weight Pertex Defend waterproof shell to offer a super-light, packable jacket that goals to do all of it.
Extremely breathable but insulating, the Storm Whisperer is loaded with particulars like pit zips and zippered hand pockets. That is one do-it-all layer that goals to vanish in your pack till you want it. Then, it ought to maintain you heat, dry, and protected against each rain and chilly.
Honorable Mentions: A Take a look at Extra Future Gear
Therm-a-Relaxation Loft Sleeping Pad
Therm-a-Relaxation designed the NeoLoft sleeping pad to be essentially the most snug backpacking air pad ever. At first, a few of our editors have been skeptical — however in the long run, consolation paired with a powerful packed dimension and R-value is precisely what this pad achieves.
The pad has a light-weight and environment friendly inside construction, a whopping 4.7-inch pad peak, and a stretch knit floor to assist distribute weight comfortably. It weighs 25 ounces (common dimension) and has an R-value of 4.7.
Black Diamond Resolution Hoody
Few jackets within the outside business can pull off the right, extremely sought-after steadiness of light-weight, packability, and heat.
Black Diamond’s newest jacket would possibly obtain that. It has sheeted PrimaLoft Lively Insulation (versus blown-in, like down fill). Sheeting makes the insulation much less prone to clump or shift when stuffed down small.
Talking of, the jacket (which will even are available in a vest and hoody model) packs down into its hand pocket and weighs simply 330 g. The Resolution is supposed to be a sensible, efficiency layer that’s absolutely artificial, mild, and sturdy. It’s topped off with a PVC-free DWR end for additional weatherproofing and stretchy elastic cuffs.
Whereas technically a spring 2025 product, the Resolution will begin to be launched this August.
La Sportiva Prodigio Professional
This is likely to be the craziest spring 2025 path working shoe I noticed at OMA that I wasn’t anticipating. The La Sportiva Prodigio Professional is essentially the most cushioned and responsive path working shoe the model has made. It packs the Italian model’s design ethos, a nitrogen-infused TPU foam, and a wholesome quantity of rocker to answer uneven terrain into a really mild package deal.
La Sportiva even calls it a “supershoe for the mountains.” Along with the springy and depraved mild Prodigio Professional, a Prodigio Hike mid-rise shoe model will even be added to the road. The Prodigio Professional has an MSRP of $195 and weighs 8.9 ounces for the lads’s mannequin.
Different notable sneakers we noticed at La Sportiva have been the Aequilibrium Hike and Aequilibrium Trek — much less chunky and stiff than the OG Aequilibrium mountaineering boot whereas nonetheless retaining technical chops — that will even hit the market in spring 2025.
