Outdoor Retailer Winter Market 2013 Round-Up!

Over the weekend the 2013 Outdoor Retailer Winter Market came to a close, putting an end to the bi-annual gear fest where the latest and greatest equipment is unveiled to the public. Most of the gear that was shown there won't be available until late in the year, but it gives us a sneak peek at what will be appearing on store shelves in the months ahead. Some of our online friends posted good gear round-ups and shared their thoughts on the best new products that will be competing for our hard-earned cash in the semi-near future. Here's a look at what you can expect.

The Gear Junkie is always a great source of information from any of the OR shows and this Winter Market is no exception. As usual, he's posted his picks for the Best In Show, spotlighting his favorite products that were on display there. Amongst the gear items garnering this distinction were a light-weight, space age tent from Easton Mountain Products that features an out of this world price tag of $2000. That's just the tip of the gear-iceberg if you will however, as GJ also gives the nod to a helmet from C-Preme that comes with a built-in action camera, new waterproof backpacks from Mountain Hardwear that incorporate the company's proprietary OutDry fabrics and new ultralight base layers from Brooks Running. The Gear Junkie has plenty of other items on his list as well and if you're a gear junkie in your own right, you'll probably want to check out the full article.

Outside Online also shares some sneak-peeks at gear from the show, offering up their picks for the best new products on hand as well. Some of those items include the new Utility Vest from Dakine which is for the backcountry skier who doesn't want to wear a backpack on his or her excursions. They also liked the new on-mountain communications system from Backcountry Access (BCA) that is designed to keep skiers in constant contact when traveling in potentially dangerous areas. Outside was also impressed with a new water bottle from Vapur that incorporates a filter right into the nozzle. It looks like a fantastic option for drinking safe and clean water in the backcountry, especially for those who like to go as light as possible.


Finally, Trailspace always does a good job of keeping us informed of the latest gear from the show and this year is no exception. Their OR Winter Market coverage is conveniently located on a single page, giving us quick access to all of their previews and notes. That page features photo galleries, videos and plenty of other information on some of the excellent gear that was on display, including new insulated boots from Vasque and new snowshoes from a variety of companies including Tubbs, Easton and more.

If you're in the market for any kind of new gear, particularly for cold weather adventures, you'll want to give these articles a look. With the Winter OR now behind us, I'm already looking ahead to the Summer show in August. I plan to once again be on hand for that event, sharing my own thoughts on the best gear on display there.