Ski season isn’t over, but the end is nigh. (Seasonally, of course. Also, existentially. If the world gets another few bad winters, the ski resort economy in some countries will be in serious trouble. Doubt us? Check this collection of abandoned lifts and dirt slopes.)
So it’s time to think ahead. To hiking. Or at least what gear was misplaced, or irreparably damaged, or just worn out last year. Also, what needs to be added or upgraded, because…as we noted a few weeks ago…a lot of the new stuff is better, lighter, cooler. And the heart wants what the heart wants.
To that end, let’s consider entries from a couple of recent “best of” lists from what are possibly reputable sources.
For openers, if you haven’t heard of North Face’s new Futurelight waterproof technology, check out this review from Quartz. Is it possible to make too much out of a fabric innovation? Sure. But if you spent much time hiking or biking or doing anything active before Gore-Tex, you know that fabrics can make a huge difference. (In addition to an introduction to the new technology, the review also provides a brief history of the ancient human quest to remain dry while standing out in a driving rain.) Wired also reported on the technology last fall, when it was introduced.
Next, here’s an overview of the latest Outdoor Retailer Show 2020 from Men’s Journal. Many of these products look like they’re designed for car-camping, which is fine, but that makes them generally too bulky to lug around on your back. And some of the gear (in the linked article and companion pieces) is just too expensive. (Someone is going to have to make a very convincing case to get me to drop $319 for Snowpeak’s Takibi Fireplace and Grill.) Still, it’s interesting to see where the industry is going. And we all do some car-camping…and on those nights, who doesn’t want the “MacBook Air” of two-burner camp stoves.
We’re old and old-school, so we pay attention to the OG gearheads at Popular Mechanics. Their review of the Retailer Show focused on six new products, all of them pretty cool. Because we would love to eliminate microplastics from our water (and our fish, and birds, and selves), we like the look of Polartec’s Power Air fleece, which—the company claims—holds up as an insulator while shedding just 20 percent of what its competitors release into the wild. Polartec says this year’s model is lighter and has more recycled material than last year’s debut version.
This is a little off-topic…it’s not camping or hiking gear…but because we’re not done skiing for this season, we were particularly interested in Popular Mechanics opinion of Atomic’s Connected app. To be clear, if you just want to click into your skis and enjoy a mindless joyride down a sweet groomer, go ahead and don’t spend $450-$1,000 on this. But if you want to get better—or at least analyze your performance because you are the type who nerds out on data regardless of what it pertains to—this might be your ticket. The simplest description is that the system (yes, it’s more than just an app) links a set of sensors in your boot liner to a small control unit on your cuff to, ultimately, your phone. The app then captures your balance, edge control and G-forces, which it uses to coach you on ways to improve. It also offers the inevitable share-with-your-friends. The system is native on a couple of boots ($1,000) or can be purchased as an add-on for your current pair ($449).
Next, let’s revisit GearJunkie’s review of new products from last summer. Of note: if you haven’t moved to sleeping under a down quilt, you might check out Rab’s heat reflective mummy bag. The description makes it sound like something from a NASA skunkworks: “The bag’s material is made in a room filled only with inert argon gas. Thin fibers are coated with titanium, and when woven into the fabric, the bag reflects body heat back to the sleeper. The result is a higher warmth-to-weight ratio, with the Mythic Ultra 180, a 32-degree bag, weighing 400 g. The Mythic Ultra 360 20-degree weighs 606 g.” (Sic-hundred-six grams is 1.37 pounds. You are welcome.) Cost: $550 and $650, respectively.
After all this chit-chat about stuff to stuff in your pack, take a final minute to read GearJunkie’s summary of ways to lighten your load, whether you’re hiking from Mexico to Canada or around your local state park. Yes, the post is sponsored by the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) but the information is no less useful for that. Nothing revolutionary here, just a quick reminder of what to consider in selecting your tent, bag, food, pack, and shoes. (A pound on your feet is worth five on your back!) Good to keep in mind and we support any article that recommends using a garbage bag for any purpose.
Image: The North Face Flight Futurelight Running Jacket, courtesy of The North Face
