OR DAILY 2018 _ SUMMER MARKET DAY4 by Active Interest Media

4 DAY

J U LY 2 6 , 2 01 8

S U M M E R M A R K E T 2 0 1 8

NEWS CONFLUENCE

PEOPLE POLE GUY

EVENTS OUT IN STYLE

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8 OREC officials sign historic accords for outdoor recreation.

DAC’s Jake Lah has been driving leaps in tent design for 30 years.

Don’t miss these last-day sales, giveaways, and booth happenings.

Outside the Box

MORE GEAR! The latest in paddling, packs & climbing Page 49

How bold thinking is fueling change across the industry Todd Spaletto, group president, Wolverine Worldwide

Sara Ellis, fabrics division products specialist, W.L. Gore & Associates

Laurie Hoody, director of business development, Gear Coop

The official publication of:

SS19 COLLECTION

VIEW THE NEW SPRING SUMMER 2019 COLLECTION AT BOOTH 52152-UL To book an appointment please contact: E: usa.showroom@â&#x2C6;&#x2020;oules.com T: 917-675-7254 Joulesusa.com

CONTENTS

Day 4 SUMMER MARKET 2018

Show goers bring intensity to everything they do—even a pickup game of roller derby.

NEWS

22 Innovation Station

10A New Focus

This year, Outdoor Retailer Winter Market shifts to November, setting the stage for truly cutting-edge products to shine—and for retailers to get a jump on the latest gear trends.

THE DAILY | SUMMER MARKET

VF Corporation’s CEO, Steve Rendle, outlined the company’s push to put principle over profit at the Camber Outdoors Thought Leader Keynote. Plus: The North Face’s big-name speaker series.

“WE WANT TO SEE THE FACE OF AMERICA ON THE [APPALACHIAN] TRAIL.”

—SUZANNE DIXON, PRESIDENT AND CEO, APPALACHIAN TRAIL CONSERVANCY PAGE 40

GEAR

63 New Product Gallery

Still looking for the next big thing? Check out a wireless charger, lightweight camp skillet, fast-acting gravity water filter, and more products on these pages first, then go see them in person on the show floor.

PHOTO BY NICK COTE

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CONTENTS 54

Day 4 SUMMER MARKET 2018

56 NEWS

Brands react to Hawaii’s ban on sunblock ingredients that damage coral reefs.

Maximize your last day with tips for every type of attendee.

Gotta-Have Gear

One retailer’s favorite new picks from the show floor.

Lunch and Learn

OIA dropped knowledge every day of the show.

Diversity Follow-up

Your thoughts on making the industry more inclusive.

SCENE

The Happiest Hour OR gets down at 4 p.m.

Ready to Roll

Hit up a few more of the city’s top spots before you go.

GEAR

Packs

The latest packs prioritize ventilation, custom features, and storage options.

Kayaks & Canoes

Anglers, rec boaters, and ultralighters drive the watercraft scene.

SUPs

Paddlesport Accessories

SHOW PLANNER

Improved paddles and easycarry bags make a good day on the water even better.

Get a close look at these special spots.

Rookies get safety gear and short ropes; old pros snap up lightweight hardware.

Show Areas

Show Map

THE DAILY | SUMMER MARKET

Mile-High Guide

It’s all about inflatables and versatile, affordable boards.

A self-boiling bottle, scenic sock, and an überlight tent.

Roller derby: ‘Nuff said.

Hero Shots

OR Like a Pro

Navigate the Colorado Convention Center.

Climbing

Best of Booth

Our winner went big—like, bulldozer big—to stand out.

PHOTOS BY COURTESY

Chemical Crisis

The laws of gravity don’t apply to everyone.

TAILORED FOR CHANGE We’ve rescued 84.7 million plastic bottles from landfills and transformed them into high performance insulation. Because we believe when something is made for the outdoors, it should also be good for the outdoors. That’s why we’re continuously striving to lessen our impact on the earth. To date, we have produced three insulation technologies made of 100% post-consumer recycled content, striking the perfect balance between performance and sustainability. Each one elevated. Neither sacrificed. It’s our commitment to being Relentlessly Responsible. Join us to make change at booth #56006.

NEWS

WHAT’S HAPPENING OUT THERE With the signing of the Confluence Accords, the OREC movement makes another leap forward.

Reaching an Accord

Representatives from eight states come together to sign off on shared political principles. BY COREY BUHAY

PHOTOSBY PHOTO BYNICK TK COTE

F THE OUTDOOR INDUSTRY had a constitution, the Confluence Accords would be it. After seven months of collective effort, representatives from the eight states with offices of outdoor recreation gathered on the roof of Le Meridian Hotel yesterday to sign the accords, which outline priorities for advancing the interests of the outdoor industry. “The Confluence Accords will serve as a lasting cornerstone for our growing political voice and a road map for states on the journey to create their own outdoor recreation offices and their journey to become signatories of these accords,” said Luis Benitez, director of the office of outdoor recreation in Colorado. The document is the result of a series of meetings among delegations from each of the eight states, which culminated at the Confluence Summit in North Carolina earlier this year. The accords outline shared best-practice principles in four categories: conservation and stewardship, education and workforce training, economic development, and the intersection between public health and wellness

and the outdoor industry. Representatives from Wyoming, Utah, Colorado, Montana, Vermont, North Carolina, Oregon, and Washington are all signatories. From the creation of new outdoor recreation offices, to the Outdoor Industry Association’s new Vote the Outdoors campaign, to the Access Fund’s Climb the Hill lobbying event in D.C., it’s no secret that the outdoor industry has been ramping up its political might in recent years. Still, the Confluence Accords represent a significant milestone, and a turning point for outdoor industry’s commitment to unity on matters of public policy. “I think we are in a political environment where bipartisan issues are rarer and rarer, and it seems like you have to fight to keep something bipartisan,” said Jon Snyder, representing Washington. “But what you see here, and what’s different, is that you’ve got eight states on every part of the political spectrum in this country coming together. This is a fight to keep outdoor recreation bipartisan.” The agreement is the first of its kind—the first time any industry of this size has come together

across state lines to officially sign off on principles for moving forward in a unified fashion. And that unity extends not just across states, but also across industries within them. “Many of our delegates [to the Confluence Summits] were from the health sector; business, obviously; public safety; and other nontraditional fields that really show how the outdoor industry wraps around so many important things in the fabric of our nation,” said Domenic Bravo, representing Wyoming. The delegations from each of the eight states are scheduled to meet at the Confluence Summit in January, where four more states (Kansas, Michigan, Arkansas, and Maryland) plan to sign onto the accords. Signatories hope to hold summits twice annually for the foreseeable future to work together on issues facing the outdoor industry. “For the longest time, we in the outdoor industry were seen as the seasonal, part-time kids who don’t really give back or contribute to the community,” Benitez said after the event. Through the accords, he and the other signatories hope to change that image once and for all, and to prove the professionalism and credibility of the outdoor recreation industry. “When you think of other economies of a scale close to ours—think the auto industry, for example—they all have a deep political presence in D.C. and across the country,” Benitez said. “[Through the accords], we’re defining our political voice.”

JULY 26, 2018 DAY 4

NEWS

At the Camber Breakfast, VF Corporation’s CEO laid out a new plan to put business ethics on the same level as performance. BY RYAN WICHELNS From left: Deanne Buck of Camber Outdoors, Steve Rendle of VF Corp., and Rue Mapp of Outdoor Afro

“P

URPOSE-LED” WAS THE TERM of the day at Wednesday morning’s Camber Outdoor Thought Leader Keynote at the McNichols Civic Center Building, when the VF Corporation's CEO Steve Rendle detailed the company’s plans to redefine the conglomerate’s internal mission. “What’s that common thread that’s allowed VF to grow over the last 119 years? It’s the willingness to evolve,” Rendle said before launching into an overview of a year-plus effort on the part of the company to elevate an inclusive, environmental, and integritybased purpose to the same level of importance as the brands’ performance and profits. Rendle is latching on to a trend that’s gaining traction across the outdoor industry, as companies boost their environmental activism and advocacy. Brands like Patagonia and VF’s subsidiary The North Face have taken leading roles in pioneering purposeminded business, but VF hopes to expand it both internally and across the industry. “We power movements of sustainable and active lifestyles for the betterment of people and the planet,” Rendle said, unveiling a new internal purpose statement for VF that codified broadly the company’s personal and environmental goals. Rendle called it the “why” of VF’s corporate strategy, a piece that had been missing from the “how” and “what.”

THE DAILY | SUMMER MARKET

Frequently, Wednesday morning’s conversation returned to Camber Outdoors co-founder and Lifetime Achievement Award-winner Ann Krcik, who passed away in February. Rendle spoke fondly of Krcik, a prominent voice and employee at The North Face, attributing the conscience of VF’s latest initiative to her. “Much of what our journey is about, her fingerprints are all over,” he said. “She always challenged me to be a more thoughtful, more purposeled leader.” Rue Mapp, the founder and CEO of Outdoor Afro, who briefly spoke prior to Rendle, also praised Krcik. “She was my mentor, and I realized she was a lot of people’s mentors,” Mapp said. Rendle outlined VF’s goals as increasing diversity in leadership, expanding employee empowerment and interaction with the company’s goals, and growing transparency in its business. “We’re aligning our 70,000 associates against a common vision,” Rendle said, “And that’s where real success comes from.” Returning to Krcik, Rendle asked everyone in the room to reflect on what they stand for, attributing the idea to something his friend would regularly contemplate. Rendle encouraged other brands and industry leaders to adopt the same purpose-minded business practices the VF is initiating and, as was often the case, follow in Krcik’s footsteps.

MOUNTAIN STRONG

The North Face speaker series celebrates outdoor achievement. There are many faces of adventure. Tuesday afternoon, Outdoor Afro leaders Chaya Harris and Leandra Taylor detailed their recent summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro as part of the first all-black American expedition team, on a panel led by journalist James Edward Mills. Harris and Taylor discussed how their love for the outdoors was seen as somewhat weird when they were growing up, and how powerful it was to summit Africa’s tallest mountain. It felt like coming home, in a way, they said. “I get chills every time I think about it,” Taylor said. “I didn’t realize how culturally homesick I was until I reached the motherland.” Other panels held at The North Face Booth included “Woman on Top: Enabling Female Expedition Leaders,” “Off the Wall—The Hidden Benefits of Climbing,” and “Climbing and Cultural Exchange.” “As a leader in the industry, it’s important to us to create safe spaces for people to have conversations,” said Tom Herbst, global VP of marketing for The North Face. The speaker series was intended to highlight new perspectives. During the Q&A portion of the Kilimanjaro panel, one audience member asked about some of the terms we often use in mountaineering, such as saying someone has “conquered” a mountain. “We didn’t use the words ‘conquer’ or ‘conquest’ in the whole operation,” Harris said, acknowledging that many people often find such terms to be offensive, particularly if their ancestors’ homelands were colonized. “We were there to learn with the mountain,” even when they faced bad weather. When the clouds broke, they felt the mountain was on their side. “What I got most from that mountain was the power within,” Taylor said. –Kassondra Cloos

PHOTOS BY JOHN EVANS; COURTESY

Principle over Profits

Osprey Mira 32 L with Hydraulics 2.5 L

GEAR CHECK | HIKING HYDRATION

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NEWS

Protect Skin and Reef

Brands react to a ban on certain reef-damanging chemicals in sunscreen. BY KASSONDRA CLOOS

THE CHANGE MAKERS Craghoppers booth transforms into a nonprofit hub

The Craghoppers booth is normally chock-full of technical adventure travel apparel, but it looks quite different at this show. The UK-based company is planning a brand relaunch with an expanded presence at the November Winter Market, and they’re using their space at this show to showcase some worthy nonprofit groups. “As a sign of our commitment to the outdoor industry and the nonprofits who do amazing work within it, we’ve decided to open up our summer booth to allow nonprofit partners the chance to tell their story and garner more attention for their cause,” said Dennis Randall, Craghoppers’s new president. After sourcing nominations from community leaders like Flash Foxy founder Shelma Jun, ecologist Charles Post, pho-

THE DAILY | SUMMER MARKET

certification in 2016 to indicate whether a product has one of 11 components known to be harmful to reefs and/or humans, but not a single sunscreen formula that has applied for certification has passed. Even natural mineral sunscreens that don’t have these ingredients in their formulas are contaminated with traces of oxybenzone and other chemicals on the “HEL List” that leech from plastic packaging, holding containers, or mixing drums in factories. Brands that have failed the certification test are working to isolate points of contamination and, in some cases, going back to the old-fashioned ways of storing and mixing ingredients, Downs said. Michelle Curry, a salve maker for Green Goo, said the brand mixes its “Solar Goo” sunscreen—and all its other products—by hand at their Lyons, Colorado, facility. Green Goo has not had Solar Goo tested by the Haereticucs lab, but the brand said it sources ingredients as sustainably as possible, and

keeps its sunscreen formula simple. Its ingredient list is just seven components: organic coconut oil; calendula flowers; sunflower oil; shea butter; nonnano, uncoated zinc oxide; beeswax; and non-GMO vitamin E. “It protects you from the sun and feeds your skin at the same time,” Curry said. “You could eat every single one of our products and be just fine.” As research evolves, sunscreen makers like Aloe Up have responded accordingly to remove less desirable ingredients from their formulas, said Paul Krueger, national sales representative for Aloe Up. The brand advertises its products as reef-friendly and biodegradable, though it does contain small amounts of avobenzone and octocrylene. “Retailers need to pay attention to the ingredients on the back of the products they’re selling, so they can help customers understand the issue,” said Caroline Duell, founder of Safe Sunscreen Council.

Skip the Slather

The Haereticus Environmental Lab has identified these 13 components, known as the “HEL List,” as harmful to reefs: ∫ Microplastic spheres or beads ∫ Nanoparticles, including zinc oxide and titanium dioxide (look

tographer Chris Burkhard, and representatives of Outdoor Industry Association, a collection of organizations went through a review and outreach process until four nonprofits were selected to use the space.

HIKE IT BABY The future of the outdoors is dependent on raising the next generation of outdoorists, and Hike It Baby has undertaken a mission of inspiring families and youth to get out there. Since its founding in 2013, Hike It Baby has grown to more than 300 branches, serving 180,000 families, with more than 2,000 monthly hikes.

NATIVE WOMEN’S WILDERNESS Native Women’s Wilderness is a Colorado-based organization focused on uplifting the voices of indigenous women through empowerment, education, and the use of social media as a platform to achieve all of the above. Founder Jaylyn Gough is part of an all-woman indigenous team planning to hike Nuumu Poyo Trail, an ancestral trade route commonly

instead for “nonnano” formulas) ∫ Oxybenzone ∫ Octinoxate ∫ 4-methylbenzylidene

camphor ∫ Octocrylene ∫ Para-aminobenzoic acid (PABA) ∫ Methyl Paraben

know as the John Muir Trail, this August.

RAINFOREST CONNECTION Rainforest Connection (RFCx) is a platform that creates real-time acoustic monitoring systems for those seeking an

∫ Eythl Paraben ∫ Propyl Paraben ∫ Butyl Paraben ∫ Benzyl Paraben ∫ Triclosan

end to illegal deforestation. What exactly does that look like, and how does technology help end tree poaching? Stop by to find out.

UTAH DINE BIKEYAH A staple in Utah’s outdoor advocacy community, Utah Dine Bikeyah is a powerful force for protecting Bears Ears and spreading education on indigenous land. As the fight for Bears Ears and Utah’s sacred public lands continues, UDB is leading the community in charging forward. Local Denver artist Latasha Dunston has brought the booth to life through a series of four chalkboards highlighting each organization’s mission (see left), and their unified purpose of doing good in the outdoor space. Stop by the booth, grab a cuppa, get to know these nonprofits, and join them in their quest to make the outdoors a better place. —Katie Boue

PHOTO BY LOUISA ALBANESE (SOLAR GOO), NICK COTE (ART)

VER SINCE HAWAII BANNED sunscreens with coral reef-damaging chemicals earlier this summer, there’s been a new focus on allnatural alternatives. On the show floor this week, you’ll see quite a few brands with “reef-safe,” “reef-friendly,” and “oxybenzone-free” labels on product bottles, including Joshua Tree, All Good, Green Goo, and Bare Republic, among others. Oxybenzone has gotten a lot of negative press lately because of Hawaii’s ban on sunscreens that use it as the active ingredient (the ban takes effect in 2021). It’s been shown to bleach reefs, and it can be absorbed into your body through your skin, potentially causing health problems. Along with a few other common sunscreen chemicals, oxybenzone is a known endocrine disrupter, said Dr. Craig Downs, executive director of the Haereticus Environmental Laboratory. That means it can mess with your hormone production. Research has also shown that it can cause birth defects, he said. It’s key to note, however that there’s no official or universal definition of what “reef-safe” means. Downs’s lab created a “Protect Land and Sea”

SCENE

CAPTURING THE SHOW’S KEY MOMENTS

Beyond the Floor

Axes, accordions, and aprés: Show-goers took to the roofs, bars, and happy hours to celebrate the end of another great day.

THE DAILY | SUMMER MARKET

1. The Daily photographer Louisa Albanese is definitely not thinking about work as she chucks axes at the wall at Dagger for a Helly Hansen party. Definitely not. 2. Hej hej. The Swedes elevated the party to the roof of the Denver Athletic Club at Fjällräven’s event. 3. Mama’s got a squeeze box: Doris Schwarz of Austrian Connection pumps jams out of Deuter’s booth. 4. Chaco and Topo Designs court an HR incident with their shipping container pool at Taxi. 5. Taylor Rae croons out from Tepui level at a happy hour event. 6. This line at the Filson party is for hot dogs, believe it or not.

PHOTOS BY LOUISA TK ALBANESE (4); NICK OTE (2)

JULY 26, 2018 DAY 4

SCENE

Rise and Shine

The same old cold cereal? Not for this crowd. Attendees fueled up on hot, tasty eats at brand breakfast events across the show floor. 1

THE DAILY | SUMMER MARKET

1. Rob Marcello of Eureka!/ Jetboil preps pour-over coffee for all the caffeine snobs in attendance. 2. Blue-plate special: Michele Leifer (right) and Soraya Smith of Backpacker’s Pantry whip up eggs and pancakes in true diner style. 3. Flapjacks, hot cakes, pancakes: Whatever you call ‘em, these Backpacker’s Pantry treats are always tasty. 4. Chow for a cause: CLIF Bar dished out yogurt and granola to benefit The Conservation Association.

PHOTOS BY NICK COTE

NEWS

Question of the

Day

What’s your most embarrassing OR moment? Colorado, OR’s new home, is the headwaters of the Colorado River. A hard-working river, the Colorado:

“I was texting someone without looking up, and I just followed some guy into the men’s restroom.”

• Provides drinking water for 40 million Americans, • Irrigates 5.5 million acres of cropland, • And drives a $26 billion recreation economy. But, today, America’s rivers and water supplies are challenged. Growing cities demand more water, changing weather and drought reduce flows for fish, wildlife and recreation.

–Beth Ahrend, store manager and purchaser for Pulse Running & Fitness Shop

Efforts are underway to protect and replenish our rivers— and the values they bring to this outdoor industry.

www.RiversatOR.com During OR: Say Cheers to Rivers! Swing by Henry’s Tavern, buy a glass, choose a beer, and help restore a river. 500 16th St.

“1999 was my first show. I had a booth made of gridwall put together with zip ties, and the whole thing fell down.” –Tom Sherburne, owner of Shred Ready Helmets

“Forgetting peoples’ names and trying to look at their badge surreptitiously. You recognize faces and are happy to see them, but can’t quite remember their name.” –Lia Colabello, owner of Plastic Pollution Solutions and Costa Kick Plastic cause ambassador

THE DAILY | SUMMER MARKET

PHOTOS BY COURTNEY HOLDEN

Learn what you can do:

“I had food poisoning. We’d driven back from a camping trip, and had some questionable stuff in the cooler. I decided to go for it. Bad idea. I don’t know if it was visible on the outside, but on the inside I was struggling.” –Cort Muller, independent photographer

ELEVATE AERO FZ MID

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NEWS RETAILER REPORT

Sarah Schuster Founder, Clearwater Outdoor

LAKE GENEVA AND DELAFIELD, WISCONSIN Sarah Schuster goes a step beyond the “specialty outdoor retail” classification for her two shops. She prefers “specialty outdoor lifestyle,” stressing the last word to make it clear that gear is not the focus. With an eye toward Midwesterners enjoying summer days by the lake, tourists passing through, and leisurely paddlers, Clearwater Outdoor focuses on the marriage of function and fashion. The trail-to-town (or beach-to-bar) mentality is a priority, Schuster says, as she looks for items and apparel that can easily pull double duty. “We want things that you can wear all day long and you still look good for anything,” she says. Schuster admits that the endeavor, which she started in 2015 and eventually resulted in two retail locations and three rental kiosks, was done on a whim. “My husband dared me to write a business plan and we were open three months later,” she said. But the boutiquey water-centric shop has had success catching up to its fast-moving customer base. “I like to go to other stores and other industries,” says Schuster, who has a habit of visiting national park visitor centers to see what those tourists are buying, in an effort to bring the same type of items into her shop. “Sometimes people just want a cool hat and a chair.”

WHAT NEW GEAR ARE YOU MOST EXCITED ABOUT SO FAR? 1. Vuori Cruz Boardshort “I’ve liked these for a while, but they updated them, and now they have a huge range of colors and options. They’re gorgeous!” [$68] # VO321

2. Jetson Scooters

Phantom Jet Cart “I was doing loops in this thing. The price is reasonable, it’s new and different, and frankly, some of our customers have huge driveways, so I thought it would be super fun.” [$249] #23218-SL

3 20

THE DAILY | SUMMER MARKET

3. Gorilly Goods Supernola Dragonfruit Lemon Zest “It’s paleo and gluten free, has great packaging, a super taste, and I

was excited to learn they’re from Wisconsin. It’s actually my lunch today.” [$3] # 21335-SL

4. OneWild Earrings

“They’re made of leather so they’re super-lightweight. They’re like air! And they donate back to women’s and children’s groups, which is really cool.” [$20] # 24148-SL

5. Charlotte’s Web Hemp Products Oils, Balm, Drinking Oils, Pills, Pet product “I’m really excited to be on the forward motion of that industry in our state. Not to mention, it’s such a struggle understanding the new laws, and they were really clear about just saying, ‘Yes, it’s legal in Wisconsin.’” [$75-$189] # 22238-SL

PHOTOS BY NICK TK COTE (3); COURTESY (3)

Love a park, and it will love you back. We are big fans of parks. Huge fans, actually. They make us healthier, happier, and more fulfilled. Parks for All is our way of saying thank you and giving something back to the green spaces we all love. Visit us at booth #51087-UL to learn more â&#x20AC;&#x201C; and see how you can get involved.

SEE YOU IN NOVEMBER! The new OR show schedule should pay big dividends to both brands and retailers. BY COURTNEY HOLDEN

OR THE FIRST TIME in Outdoor Retailer Show history, the industry will rally together in November for a chance to discover new products before committing dollars. And Show Director Marisa Nicholson is excited. “Retailers will be able to see product in the way that the industry wants it to be presented—at the very beginning of the cycle as opposed to toward the latter end of it,” she says. Nicholson explains that considerable thought went into the decision to move the trade show. Using the expertise of a third-party vendor, the organization conducted 100 one-on-one interviews with brands and retailers. They then sent surveys to thousands more industry participants to confirm the initial findings. The results were clear: Date changes were needed. Research participants wanted the national shows at the beginning of the buying cycles—June for summer, November for winter outdoor, and January for snowsports. At the same time, the opportunity arose to unite the outdoor and snowsports industries by acquiring the Snow Show. Moving the show dates is expected to provide sweeping benefits to everyone in our industry. Brands and retailers will have a chance to debut and discover products at the beginning of the sales season. And because retailers will have already heard brand stories and seen new products, reps will be more efficient when selling on the road. All of these perks will ladder up to making the buying process more efficient, and one significant change will be less product in discount channels. “Brands won’t be making bad forecasting decisions or creating product that ultimately retailers won’t support and that will need to go through discount channels,” Nicholson says. “Retailers are benefitting from having less product in discount channels competing with them and preventing consumers from coming in and buying products from their stores.” With two other significant recent changes—Outdoor Retailer acquiring the SIA Snow Show and the transition to Denver—Nicholson understands why some brands and retailers have had questions about which show is best for them. She believes that brands launching their product in the fall should have a presence at the November show, but adds that “if they’re interested in getting in front of some of those ski resorts and snow retailers, they may want to do a presence in January.” For retailers, November serves as an opportunity to see product when it launches. They can also return in January to wrap up and find products to round-out their offerings. Overall, Nicholson has seen a positive response to the change. An opportunity for brands to book space for the November show since last January has allowed Outdoor Retailer to complete 60 percent of the Winter Market floor plan early. Here at Summer Market, retailers have been able to pre-register for the November show by simply by scanning their badge during check-in, streamlining the process. Need another reason to come back in November? “This is where our community comes together,” Nicholson says.

THE DAILY | SUMMER MARKET

RETHINKING THE CYCLE One brand leader explains what he anticipates will be the net gain of a November show. TODAY’S OUTDOOR CONSUMER IS CHANGING. They are less focused on price-point pieces and more interested in the story behind their new gear and apparel. Todd Spaletto, group president for Wolverine Worldwide, says that endusers are looking for “purposeful products,” items that they can share on social media. From a brand perspective, these are the cornerstone products, new innovations, and limited-run collaborations. “In all cases, it’s a more comprehensive story that resonates with a consumer—maybe functionally on how they might use that [product], but also emotionally with some of the shared values that might be expressed in that product,” Spaletto says. Moving the show to November allows our industry to better tell these stories. Brands generally have their sales meetings and conferences in October and November. There, products and strategies align as the pieces and products that will define the brand for that season are unveiled. In the past there was then a 60 to 90-day lull, during which reps would hit the road, debuting the products to retailers at regional shows and in store backrooms before the January show. “Getting together as a community and talking about our shared values like diversity, sustainability, and participation—that’s always made this a strong show, whether it’s in November or January. I don’t think that should ever go away,” Spaletto says. The date change shifts that cycle. Now, the energy of brand sales meetings will provide a launch point into the November trade show. Brands will have a chance to explain their biggest seasonal stories directly to retailers before orders are placed. “Here’s our chance as a brand to show you what the big deal is,” Spaletto says. “Having that moment is not only purposeful and fills a void, but it drives back toward that trend of consumers looking for more [of a product story.]” Spaletto believes that reps will also benefit, since they will enter the selling season after retailers have had an industry overview. “This November show presents a great opportunity for brands to step into that focused product storytelling and innovation,” he says. “It allows retailers to connect with brands directly at the headquarters level and, through the most clear version, [hear] how they envision launching that product prior to meeting with their reps, and going through the lines.”

Todd Spaletto, group president, Wolverine Worldwide

PHOTOS BY LOUISA ALBANESE

NEWS FEATURE

WHAT’S NEXT W.L. Gore & Associates shows its softer side with a new line focused on comfort and performance. WHEN YOUR BRAND NAME has practically become a generic term for technical waterproof/breathable technology, where do you go to expand? If you’re W.L. Gore & Associates, you set your sights on a less hardcore, comfort-focused slice of the market—without losing the techy benefits you’re already known for. That’s where Gore’s latest line comes in. This fall, Gore-Tex expands its materials offerings beyond its original Black Diamond brand (not to be confused with the Black Diamond company). With the GoreTex Infinium brand extension launch, identified by a white diamond logo, the company will explore avenues into comfort with performance benefits. “We’re bringing versatile comfort to the market, while never losing sight of our materials heritage and the science behind it,” says Sarah Ellis, fabrics division product specialist. In softgoods, you’ll see it in Gore-Tex Infinium Soft Lined and Insulated Garments with Persistent Beading Performance. This technology features long-lasting water resistance with a construction that eliminates the need for a face fabric, which enhances breathability. “Brand partners will be bringing the product to market either in insulated form or a softlined-shell form,” Ellis says. “The lifestyle aesthetic is great for consumers who want function, but don’t

IT’S A DATE! Why one retailer thinks the new show cycle will help her bring what’s “new, exciting, and cool” to her customers. LAURIE HOODY

DIRECTOR OF BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT FOR GEAR COOP IN COSTA MESA, CALIFORNIA WHAT WAS YOUR INITIAL REACTION TO THE SHOW MOVING TO NOVEMBER? Honestly, as a retailer, I thought, “Well, it’s about time!” We are excited to see a broader range of vendors before their preseason deadlines. HOW DOES THE DATE CHANGE IMPACT YOU AS A RETAILER? Unfortunately, Outdoor Retailer has become less relevant to retailers over the past several years as brands continue to push up their preseason deadlines earlier. The November show is an opportunity for the largest industry show in the country to realign itself with the buying cycle. WHAT IMPACT WILL THIS HAVE ON YOUR CONSUMERS? Perhaps it is too soon to know; however, I do imagine that consumers will potentially receive increased exposure to new and upcom-

want to compromise on style.” The Gore-Tex Infinium Stretch Gloves are windproof, warm, highly breathable, and touchscreen compatible, plus they’re constructed with a single seam. “Most glove constructions have to have multiple seams, and that can be uncomfortable at certain points,” Ellis says. “It’s really about the dexterity and versatile comfort.” And in footwear, Gore’s new Thermium technology places a thin layer of insulation over a shoe’s toebox to keep feet warm outside without making them overheat when inside. The low-profile insulation lends warmth without affecting shoe style. “A lot of companies put insulation in the whole shoe, but we learned through our comfort science studies that if you put it in just the toebox, it will provide the same level of warmth and comfort that the user will need,” Ellis says. “We’re exploring taking it into other end uses beyond women’s boots.” The Infinium brand extension officially debuts at the November show. And that earlier show date simply provides an opportunity to reinforce new product lines earlier in the buying season, the brand notes. “As Gore-Tex is an ingredient brand built on the spirit of innovation, creativity, and customer relationships, we are excited to have another opportunity to help our customers learn about our different technologies, so they can develop new products that will best meet consumer needs,” says Sandy Parajon, trade show coordinator for W.L. Gore & Associates Fabrics Division. Sara Ellis, fabrics division products specialist, W.L. Gore & Associates

ing brands and/or products sooner, since buyers will now be seeing these brands and products earlier in the buying season, when they are more likely to have discretionary open-to-buy (OTB) funds available. WHAT WOULD YOU TELL A FELLOW RETAILER WHO’S ON THE FENCE ABOUT ATTENDING THE NOVEMBER SHOW? WHY SHOULD THEY GO? Go, just go! This is the largest industry show in the country. This is our chance as retailers to see not only our existing vendor partners, but also attend terrific education seminars and explore what’s new in technologies, products, and brands. We owe it to our consumers to be on the forefront of what’s new, exciting, and cool in the industry. WHY DO YOU THINK IT’S IMPORTANT TO GO TO BOTH THE NOVEMBER AND THE JANUARY SHOW? As a retailer that has always attended both OR and Snowsports Industries America Show, I know the exposure to snow brands in Jan January is critical for our business. Beyond snow brand presence in January, we are all curious and intrigued to see how else the shows will differentiate themselves. This is a really exciting move for Outdoor sup Retailer, and we’re looking forward to supporting this shift.

Know Your Shows

Here’s what sets the three OR events apart. Outdoor Retailer Winter Market (November) ∂ Launch of the winter outdoor season ∂ Timed to influence buying decisions ∂ Aims to connect retailers and brands early ∂ Sets the stage for innovation, trends, and sourcing

Outdoor Retailer Snow Show (January) ∂ Showcases product influencing the whole mountain experience ∂ Peak of the snowsports buying season ∂ Snow and outdoor under one roof ∂ Focus on elevated education and industry engagement

Outdoor Retailer Summer Market (June) ∂ Launch of the summer outdoor season ∂ Timed to influence buying decisions ∂ Aims to connect retailers and brands early ∂ Serves as the epicenter of the outdoor community

How to Register At the show, go to the Info Desk at the front entrance and have your Summer Market badge scanned. Otherwise, go to outdoorretailer.com/register.

Questions? If you are a retailer or rep, contact Outdoor Retailer’s Retail Relations team: Larry Harrison, larry.harrison@ outdoorretailer.com Joe Bustos, joe.bustos@ outdoorretailer.com Chris Sears, chris.sears@ outdoorretailer.com If you are a brand, contact your account executive or Krista Dill, krista.dill@ outdoorretailer.com.

Laurie Hoody

JULY 26, 2018 DAY 4

OUTDOOR RETAILER SHOW AREAS

Summer Market 2018

Venture Out

LOCATION: STREET LEVEL, NEXT TO THE BELLCO THEATRE Venture Out is a destination for retailers to discover and explore the modern outdoor trends and better understand how the definition of outdoor is changing. Venture Out is the way the industry is embracing and encouraging these new outdoor consumers. Head to Venture Out to see some of the brands pushing the limits in the outdoor industry.

RANGER STATION @ VENTURE OUT LOCATION: STREET LEVEL, NEXT TO THE BELLCO THEATRE Trends and education are the focus

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at the RANGER Station. Found in the curated space of Venture Out, the RANGER Station will provide daily education, workshops, trend updates, merchandising displays, creative collaboration, and good conversations. It’s all about community. Did we mention that you can grab a latte and bite to eat while you’re there? It’s time to get educated, fed, and caffeinated.

THE CAMP LOCATION: UPPER LEVEL, BOOTH 56117-UL The Camp provides elevated education on the show floor—from the latest issues stores are facing to industry trends. The Camp will

focus on the stories, products, trends, and people that help drive traffic to retailers, and will provide daily education to inspire fresh ways to think and sell outdoor products year-round.

TREND + DESIGN CENTER LOCATION: LOWER LEVEL, BOOTH 1040-LL The Trend + Design Center is where the design and R&D communities gather to hear what’s next. From trend forecasting to industrial design to materials innovation, the Trend + Design Center anchors the supplier story at Outdoor Retailer

and serves the design audience with compelling education and networking events.

HIGH ALTITUDE DEN LOCATION: UPPER LEVEL, BOOTH 32083-UL Stop by the High Altitude Den for climbing-focused activations, a place to hang, and daily happy hours. Carabiner Coffee will be there serving up hot coffee and good conversations.

PADDLE ZONE LOCATION: UPPER LEVEL, BOOTH 31049-UL Hang out and relax with other paddlesports retailers and brands in the Paddle Zone.

PHOTOS BY (FROM LEFT) COURTESY OUTDOOR RETAILER; LAUREN DANILEK

VENTURE OUT

OUTDOOR RETAILER

TENT CITY LOCATION: SCULPTURE PARK, OUTSIDE OF THE WEST ENTRANCE Tent City is a destination for retailers to compare tents and camping gear side by side, see new innovations, and touch and feel materials with a hands-on approach. If you want to compare peak height, sleeping capacity, or seasonality in person between a Marmot Halo and a Nemo Losi, or just need a hands-on exploration of the industry’s best camping tents all in one place, look no further. P.S. Don’t miss the food trucks at Tent City!

SOCIAL MEDIA ZONE LOCATION: STREET LEVEL, FOYER OF THE EAST ENTRANCE Social media is one of the easiest and least expensive ways to market your business and share your story with the community. Brand-new to Summer Market is the Social Media Zone—a workspace for retailers and brands to understand the value of social media for their business, learn new tactics, collaborate, and get inspired. With a social media professional on site, the Social Media Zone provides attendees and exhibitors a space to discuss strategy, learn, and share their own experience on social media at Summer Market. #weareOUTDOOR

RETAILER + REP LOUNGE LOCATION: STREET LEVEL, MR111 Need a place to chill or have a quick

MARK YOUR CALENDAR

meeting? Come to the Retailer + Rep Lounge to hang out or access WiFi.

Mother’s Room: A fun, cozy retreat for moms and kids

PRESS ROOM LOCATION: STREET LEVEL, MR113 Working media who are registered to attend the show will find everything they need to file their stories in the Press Room.

CLIF BAR MOTHER’S ROOM LOCATION: STREET LEVEL, MR112 Calling all moms: Head to the Mother’s Room to nurse, pump, or hang out with your little one.

INFO DESK LOCATION: STREET LEVEL, FOYER OF THE EAST ENTRANCE Have a question? We’re here to help. Just head to the Info Desk and we will answer any questions that you have.

HOUSING DESK LOCATION: STREET LEVEL, NEXT TO REGISTRATION EventSphere, the official housing partner of Outdoor Retailer, will be on site at Summer Market to help with your reservations. Find the Housing Desk next to registration in the East Entrance and be sure to book your housing for Winter Market in November and Snow Show in January.

BAG CHECK LOCATION: STREET LEVEL, MR201 Drop your bags and hit the show floor!

Winter Market 2018 is November 8-11 here in Denver. Moving the show to November means it’s the launch event for the season, where retailers can see the entire range of products available and make informed buying decisions. Learn more at outdoorretailer.com.

JULY 26, 2018 DAY 4

OUTDOOR RETAILER SHOW MAP

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OUTDOOR RETAILER STAY CONNECTED

MOBILE APP Download the Outdoor Retailer Summer Market mobile app to have all the show information you need in the palm of your hand. In the mobile app, you can access: Floor plan Exhibitor list Events Education schedule Product gallery Walking map Local info And more! Search “Outdoor Retailer” in your app store and get access to everything you need to make the most of the show.

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SHOW PLANNER The Show Planner is an online platform for retail buyers, importers/distributors, designers, nonprofits, independent reps, and working media to help in the show planning process. Within the Show Planner you can find these great tools: Exhibitor list Interactive floor plan Education and events schedule Matchmaking Mobile app information Tools for communicating with exhibitors, requesting appointments, and viewing products All you need to do is log in to your Show Planner and start planning your show!

MATCHMAKING The matchmaking tool is part of the Show Planner, and it brings exhibitors and retail buyers, importers/distributors, designers, nonprofits, independent reps, and working media together before the show starts. Search for exhibitors based on product category, location, new to the show, and other filters. Attendees can get in touch with exhibitors for more information or request an in-booth appointment during the show. Log in to your Show Planner and explore the exhibitors and products you’ll find at Outdoor Retailer Summer Market.

Stay live at the show with this hashtag:

#ORShow

THANKS TO OUR 2018 SPONSORS J U LY 2 3 - 2 6 , 2 0 1 8

C O LO R A D O C O N V E N T I O N C E N T E R , D E N V E R , C O

TITLE SPONSOR

PLATINUM SPONSORS

GOLD SPONSORS

SILVER SPONSORS SPONSORS AS OF 6/29/18

SHOW PLANNER

15 WAYS TO CRUSH IT TODAY

You may think most of your business is behind you, but cruise the floor on day four to leave with new leads, stronger relationships, and plenty of goodies for the crew back home.

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PHOTOS BY (FROM LEFT) ISTOCKPHOTO.COM; OUTDOOR RETAILER

THE VICTORY LAP

Use this key to find the events best for your schedule.

B Brands

R Reps

D Designers

M Media

R Retailers

3 [SKILLS]

THE REAL YOU

With the fastest-paced part of the show behind you, today’s the day to be loosey-goosey. Shoot the breeze during meetings, and leave lots of time in your schedule for unexpected stop-and-chats.

LAST DAY THE RIGHT WAY Got some time on your hands? Slice and dice the full list of exhibitors to find exactly what you’re after. Sort by: Show specials State Country Press releases Product category (accessories, New products footwear, hardgoods, softgoods, Videos and other) Raw materials Market segment (climbing, Venture Out lifestyle, paddle, etc.) New

4 [EVENT]

COFFEE HOUR 9 a.m. Booth 49152-UL

Enjoy free samples of Kuju coffee and get a sneak peek at what’s coming in Muck’s spring 2019 line.

Wander around

Sure, you’ve zigzagged the show floor countless times while appointment hopping, but did you really take a minute to stop and let your eyes guide you? Wander the aisles in a customer mind-set, and we promise you’ll turn up something you otherwise would’ve missed.

5 [SKILLS]

DON’T GO HOME EMPTY HANDED

You just spent a week surveying the finest gear in the outdoors marketplace. Don’t forget to tap into last-day sales to bring home some swag for friends, coworkers, or yourself.

JULY 26, 2018 DAY 4

SHOW PLANNER

[SALE]

SMARTWOOL SALE FOR BIG CITY MOUNTAINEERS

[EVENT]

THE FILTER-TILTER CHALLENGE 9 a.m. Booth 53146-UL

Test your speed in the supersized FILTER-TILTER challenge, where the fastest time wins a LifeSaver Liberty bottle.

BOOTH 46117-UL Purchase discounted Smartwool products and help support the youth of Big City Mountaineers, a program that guides underresourced young people through transformative wilderness mentoring experiences. Cash only.

[ FREEBIES]

MAKE THE WORLD A LITTLE GREENER BOOTH 54381-UL

Bring your green thumb and get a free sapling when you visit the Oboz booth to try on a pair of kicks.

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[STRATEGY]

DON’T BAIL EARLY

The sound of ripping tape guns doesn’t attract retailers, we promise. With more than 1,200 brands, it takes retailers several days to see them all. Day 4 is a great time to roam and discover something new. So stick around: You never know what connections you might make.

10 [EVENT]

HANG A HAMMOCK 3 p.m. Booth 49035-UL

ENO will be selling DoubleNest Hammock and Suspension Strap Combos for $40 (retail $100) to benefit the Conservation Alliance. Supplies are limited.

B Brands

R Reps

D Designers

M Media

R Retailers

[EVENT]

HOLSTER THAT HAPPY HOUR PINT 3 p.m. Booth 42055-UL

Swing by Seattle Sports to snag a Mug-It quick-attach silicone handle for your pint, tumbler, or bottle on your way over to happy hour!

GET YOUR BLUE BEAR SELFIE

If you held off this long, it’s time. Cozy up to the iconic bruin to make your Insta-minions hella jealous.

12 [EVENT]

LET THE GAMES BEGIN! 3 p.m. 46040-UL

Join Tenalach to enter the Outdoor Games tournament and play bean bag toss, bocce ball, and ladder toss for a chance to win your own premium game set while enjoying beer and good company. Space is limited.

13 Take a photo of your PHOTOS BY ISTOCK.COM

last business card.

If you networked like a champ, your supply is probably getting low. Take a photo and offer to email or text it to any folks you meet today.

[STRATEGY]

GET READY FOR NOVEMBER

Winter Market is moving to November to better coincide with buying cycles. Contact your rep to secure your place when the show returns to Denver this fall.

JULY 26, 2018 DAY 4

OUTDOOR RETAILER GUIDE TO DENVER

Do Denver Like a Local

TRANSPORTATION You can take the train to and from the airport to downtown Denver. The Denver train stop is called Union Station, and the train costs $9 each way. The free 16th Street Mall bus (near Union Station) runs close to many downtown hotels. The Cherry Creek Bike Path winds throughout the city, along the Convention Center, all the way up to the Demo Experience—without all of those pesky stop lights cars have to deal with. Grab a B-cycle (shared bike) from strategically located stations throughout the city. Other options include the light rail for longer distances and pedicabs for shorter ones. Pro tip: When navigating in Denver, the mountains are always west.

FOOD AND DRINK Denver is foodie heaven, with every type of cuisine you could possibly imagine. But book reservations, because restaurants fill up fast. Beer? Denver boasts 72 breweries, so you won’t go thirsty. Finally, Civic Center EATS, a 15-minute walk from the Convention Center, is where 25 to 30 food trucks hang out Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays in Civic Center Park from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

TOP 5 FOR DRINKS

Great Divide Brewing Company is a very accomplished local brewery offering tastes of their own brews, growlers to go, and food truck options at both Denver locations. Avanti Food and Beverage is a bilevel shipping container with a great selection of beer, wine, and specialty cocktails with a variety of vendors (pizza, sushi, and more), plus a

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beautiful rooftop bar with a lot of seating overlooking the city. Falling Rock Tap House has more than 75 delicious beers on tap from around the world in a relaxed setting with couches, booths, pool tables, and dartboards. Mercantile is a new American eatery with an extensive wine library, artisanal market, and barista bar. Stranahan’s Colorado Whiskey is an award-winning small-batch distillery with rotating food trucks.

TOP 6 FOR FOOD

Steuben’s serves classic regional American favorites and cocktails with a buzzing, retro-style vibe. Marco’s Coal Fired Pizzeria serves Neapolitan pizzas handmade from imported Italian ingredients in rustic brick digs with a patio. Ace Eat Serve is a high-energy hot spot in an old garage with Pan-Asian chow, cocktails, and table tennis, plus a juice bar. Biker Jim’s serves distinctive dogs (rattlesnake, reindeer), toppings, and microbrews with a biker vibe, and has late weekend hours. Cherry Cricket makes some of Denver’s favorite burgers. Pho on 6th serves pho, noodles, rice plates, and drinks amid carved wood, lanterns, and Buddha statues.

TOP 7 QUICK FOOD AND DRINK SPOTS

All these are within a 10-minute walk from the convention center. Freshcraft is a beer geek bar, equally known for amazing food. Menya Noodle Bar serves deliciously authentic Japanese cuisine that’s not easily forgotten. Rioja has locally sourced, imaginative Mediterranean dishes and wines in a high-energy dining room. CRU Food and Wine Bar is a relaxed, Napa-style wine bar chain serving New American fare, stonefired pizzas, and cheese plates. bd’s Mongolian Grill is a casual chain offering create-your-own stirfry bowls, plus a salad bar and an all-you-can-eat option. Yard House is a high-end sports

bar chain with a huge menu of New American fare and “The World’s Largest Selection of Draft Beer.” La Loma is a family-run kitchen known for traditional Mexican meals and margaritas, in an “upscale-rustic atmosphere.”

ELEVATION Probably the most important thing to know about being in Denver is that you need to drink a lot of water while you’re here. Because drinking water at 5,280 feet is the best way to avoid those annoying little headaches, muscle aches, and amplified hangovers from altitude sickness.

Also, wear sunscreen. The sun is likely closer than what you’re used to.

COLORADO CONVENTION CENTER Anytime you’re lost inside, just look for the 40-foot-tall blue bear. If you want to step away from the convention center for a meeting, here are some suggestions.

TOP 4 (OFF-LOCATION) MEETING SPOTS

Denver Bicycle Café serves craft beers, gourmet roasted coffee, and has daily happy hours and outdoor seating.

ILLUSTRATION BY JOE FUSCO / HED HI MEDIA

THIS IS MORE THAN a “Visitors’ Guide to Denver.” Whether you’re a first-timer or have lived in Denver your entire life, here’s a side of the city only a handful of people knew about— until now. These “Top” lists were crafted by a local expert and are all within a 10-minute drive of the Colorado Convention Center. Just a heads up: If you apply what you’ve learned, you will likely be mistaken for a local and asked for directions.

Crema Coffee House has a chill, hipster vibe, great coffee, and “eclectic noshes.” Little Man Ice Cream is a milk jugshaped shop (open till midnight) scooping unique flavors of homemade ice cream. Huckleberry Roasters is a local independent roastery and cafe selling espresso and light bites in a hip, minimalist space.

THE MILE HIGH CITY Yes, weed is legal. And there are plenty of local dispensaries, but keep in mind you can’t legally smoke it in public. A couple of other

helpful tips: Non-Colorado residents can’t buy more than 7 grams at a time, and transporting any amount across state lines is illegal.

FRESH AIR After being inside all day, it’s nice to step out to get some fresh air.

TOP 5 WAYS TO GET FRESH AIR IN DENVER

Cherry Creek Trail is a 40-milelong, picturesque concrete trail that runs through the heart of Denver. It goes by the convention center and the Demo Experience, connecting most of the Denver area.

16th Street Mall is a mile-long outdoor mall with great peoplewatching, plus a variety of shops and restaurants. A free bus runs along the mall from Union Station to within two blocks of the Colorado Convention Center. Larimer Square is within walking distance from the convention center. This memorable historic district is where Denver was founded, and has independent shops, bars, and restaurants. Sloan’s Lake is a great spot in the city for fishing and boating (motor and non-motorized). Humanpowered vessel permits can be

purchased online at Denver Parks and Recreation. The lake also has a trail for walking, jogging, skipping, and cycling. Pro tip: Swimming in most of Denver’s lakes is not recommended or legal. Denver Botanic Gardens is an inspired 24 acres that illustrate an ever-widening diversity of plants from all corners of the world. This peaceful oasis is well worth the $12.50 price of entry. Congratulations, you now have a master’s degree in Denver! Now go explore … with plenty of water and sunscreen.

JULY 26, 2018 DAY 4

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Q&A

5 Questions for…

Susan Wood

Marketer/consultant; former Marketing Manager, The Trailhead We had about 1,000 people show up, mostly from the Front Range. It was a great weekend to come out and try new things, and we wanted to help people of all skill levels experience the Rocky Mountains in the fall. Buena Vista is a pretty seasonal mountain town. The majority of our money is made in the summer months, when tourism is really high because of the Arkansas River running right through town. Whitewater rafting and summer hiking are huge for us. We don’t have as much going on in the fall and winter. We figured we could host this and help local business owners, and benefit the town of Buena Vista itself, all while helping people experience new adventures. Even local residents haven’t tried all there is to offer here. You don’t always jump into your backyard to try something if you don’t know how to do it.

PHOTO BY ANNA SEES PHOTOGRAPHY

Buena Vista’s The Trailhead is smack in the heart of Colorado Fourteener country—a short drive from 15 of the monster peaks. But for all the outdoor recreation in the area, the shop’s marketing manager, Susan Wood, and other businesses felt the town still lacked opportunity for the entire outdoor community to come together. So last year, The Trailhead and Colorado Off-Road Enterprise (CORE) teamed up to host the first annual 14erFest, a festival for enthusiasts of all kinds. We asked Wood (now a marketer/consultant) what drives small-town success and how communities benefit when business is good. 1. HOW DID YOU COME UP WITH 14ERFEST? A group of about a dozen of us from different businesses around town really wanted to start a fall festival. No one was doing anything for both motorized and non-motorized groups together. Separately, there are a lot of running festivals, and mountain festivals that are all about singletrack, and huge off-roading festivals. The two main entities that brought it to life were CORE and The Trailhead. We wanted a platform for these two groups to come together. We thought it would

inspire collaboration to keep more trails open and start a dialogue between the two different groups, so a variety of trail users could work on stewardship and education issues together. We had folks really into off-roading try fly-fishing for the first time, and trail runners go on rock-crawling rides. Even for people who didn’t want to leave their sector, they would come back at the end of the day and talk with hikers, trail runners, and off-roaders.

2. WHAT DOES AN EVENT LIKE THIS BRING TO THE COMMUNITY?

3. LIKE MANY RETAILERS THESE DAYS, THE TRAILHEAD HAS A RESTAURANT INSIDE. HAS IT BROUGHT MORE CUSTOMERS INTO THE STORE? Yes. There’s a shared space with the Simple Eatery, which is kind of like a local version of Panera, but better. You can grab a beer or frozen yogurt while you shop. We really love sharing our customers with each other. All the time, people come to ask for help planning a hike, and then they get breakfast or a cup of coffee. Or, they come in for food, and then wander around the store. Sometimes customers will come back around dinnertime to tell us how much fun they had—all covered in mud—and say they realized they needed a new pair of hiking boots while they were out on the trail. It’s such a fun place to come hang out with everybody. 4. WITH SEEMINGLY INFINITE ONLINE RESOURCES FOR TRAIL BETA, WHAT'S THE ROLE OF A COMMUNITY GEAR SHOP THESE DAYS? You know, it’s funny—a lot of

people think that because the world has changed so much, we’re seeing fewer and fewer people come into the shop looking for help with trails. But what I love so much about working with The Trailhead is that one of the things that we spend the most time on is sitting there with a map and talking with people. People will come into the shop because they want to know the best place to park. Or, where’s a good spot on the trail to stop for lunch? What are our favorite places? A lot of our staff at The Trailhead are former guides, so there’s a lot of firsthand information to offer and it’s so fun to share what we know. Buena Vista is an awesome mountain town, and people who work at The Trailhead love the outdoors. You can just see that when you talk to them, when you come into the shop to ask for advice. You can’t get that online.

5. BUENA VISTA IS A TOWN WITH A STRONG LOCAL OUTDOOR CULTURE AS WELL AS COUNTLESS TOURISTS COMING IN FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD. HOW DOES A GEAR SHOP CATER TO BOTH OF THOSE TYPES OF CUSTOMERS? It is interesting. When I worked in the shop, sometimes we’d put something on display and I’d be like, “None of the girls who are local are ever going to wear that.” But we’d give it a shot. I think you can cater to both. You can have materials geared toward visitors like maps and safety information about hiking Fourteeners, which locals don’t really need. But here, most locals work with tourists in their jobs, too, so they understand the need to target visitors. We have such good relationships with each other because the community is so tight and we look out for each other. When the running shop closed in town, for example, we started carrying more trail running shoes so the community wouldn’t have to go elsewhere to find them. –Kassondra Cloos

JULY 26, 2018 DAY 4

Q&A

5 Questions for…

Jake Lah

Founder and Owner, Dongah Aluminum Co.

Jake Lah comes from a family of outdoor innovators. Long before he founded a company that would take tent poles—and naturally, tents themselves—to the next level, his mother was the first person to bring the Girl Scouts to South Korea. He has always shared his parents’ love for the outdoors, but he fell into the industry somewhat accidentally. Now, 30 years later, his company, Dongah Aluminum Co. (you probably know it as DAC), is exhibiting at Outdoor Retailer for the first time, in hopes of providing better services to customers and raising awareness of the brand. “It will also provide retailers with the chance to better understand an important component behind the architectural design of many of the tents they sell,” Lah says. 1. HOW DID YOU GET INTO THE OUTDOOR INDUSTRY? When I was a little boy, I did both Boy and Girl Scout camping. Sleeping in tents, looking at the stars, and listening to rain drops on the fly of the tent became part of my life. But it was not my intention to get into the outdoor industry when I started DAC in 1988. After my MBA, I gravitated toward engineering and manufacturing, and I saw limitless possibilities in high-strength aluminum. Tent poles turned out

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to be one of the major applications. And we quickly realized that brands needed support in how to best integrate these new materials into their tent architecture. That’s when I started to take a more active role in making specific engineering recommendations and working collaboratively with customers on developing new tents. Part of my job has been to “push and lead” customers beyond their comfort zone in designing and improving their products.

3. WHAT MAKES DAC A UNIQUE PLACE TO WORK? During my early childhood, I was always exposed to trees and flowers. When I studied in the U.S., I made my apartment into a greenhouse. When choosing to become a manufacturer, it was important to me to look beyond traditional concrete and paved roads around the factory. So I started to plant small apple trees in the garden. In the early days, customers would visit and not only talk about the technology; they would also talk about “an oasis among gray industrial complexes.” Two years ago, the City of Incheon named our facility “the most beautiful factory in Incheon” and published a book about DAC. Do the trees and the music and the arts help productivity? I don’t know, but it is important to me that DAC be a place where employees feel good about what they do and where they work. 4. WHAT IS YOUR GREEN ANODIZATION PROCESS, AND HOW IS IT MORE SUSTAINABLE THAN MORE TRADITIONAL METHODS? The production of aluminum traditionally requires the use of harsh chemicals to remove the

oxidation film built up during the initial heat-treatment process. I was not satisfied with this situation. After eight years of extensive research and many trials, DAC developed a new cleaning method we called Green Anodization. It significantly reduces the amount of sulfuric acid, nitric acid, and phosphoric acid in the manufacturing process. As a result, last year we were able to eliminate more than 233,000 pounds of those chemicals from production. More than half of our poles utilize Green Anodization. We’re working toward 100 percent—we need to build new machinery to support the various sizes and shapes of our products in order to get there. I’m very proud of the progress we’ve made, but clearly there is more to do.

5. YOU’VE BEEN IN THE BUSINESS 30 YEARS. WHAT’S THE BIGGEST INNOVATION YOU’VE SEEN IN TENTS? That’s a very difficult question! First, new tent pole alloys have been game changing, and allowed for innovation in car camping tents and ultralight tents alike. Second, Featherlite poles, which we introduced in 1999, became the standard for backpacking tents. They evolved into our even lighter Featherlite NSL and NFL poles, which contributed to the ultralight tent trend; that necessitated lighter fabrics, too. As tent architecture has evolved, we’ve also needed new components to connect and support tent poles, which I call “toys.” They’re an integral part of the shelter structure now. One tent in particular also stands out as revolutionary: the Hercules, by Sierra Designs. It was 1998 and the first time a customer asked me to develop a new tent without design restrictions. Sally McCoy, who was then president of Sierra Designs, had only one criterion: It needed to withstand a 100 mph wind. Hercules became the first tent to reach that milestone. –Kassondra Cloos

PHOTO BY COURTESY

2. YOU HAVE A STATE-OF-THE-ART WIND TUNNEL AT YOUR FACTORY IN SEOUL. HOW DO YOU USE THAT DATA TO INFORM BETTER TENT DESIGN? The first wind test was in 1994 at the factory garden with a team that normally produced special effects for movies. We wanted to better understand why “stand-up-height” family tents normally collapsed in winds between 10 and 15 meters/ second (22 to 34 mph). We tested them many times in many places, but data was inconsistent and it cost $10,000 per day to rent the facilities. So, we decided to build our own wind tunnel. At the DAC Windlab, we test a customer’s first prototype tent, locate where improvements are needed, fix them, and test again—as much as we need to.

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MF-7081 6/18

Q&A

5 Questions for…

Suzanne Dixon

President and CEO, Appalachian Trail Conservancy

Suzanne Dixon was no stranger to the nitty-gritty of conservation work when she took the helm at the Appalachian Trail Conservancy last November: She’d spent the previous 20 years fighting for the national parks in various roles at the National Parks Conservation Association. Further back, she grew up hiking, camping, and rock climbing in her native Ireland before moving to the States in the late ‘90s. An invitation to testify before Congress about preservation issues at Texas’s Fort Davis National Historic Site inspired her to become a U.S. citizen in 2009. “I have a deep connection to the outdoors here— every state is so different,” Dixon says. Here, she talks about the economic impact of having the AT in your backyard, dealing with thru-hiker crowds, and how she plans to inspire the next generation of AT stewards. 1. HOW IS RUNNING THE ATC DIFFERENT FROM THE CONSERVATION WORK YOU’VE DONE IN THE PAST? This organization manages a greenway that protects more than 250,000 acres across 14 states, and hundreds of threatened or endangered species. We maintain

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2,190-plus miles of trail. My day-today is ensuring that natural beauty and cultural heritage is protected for the next generation and beyond. What the ATC does is unique: We look at it as educating, protecting, and also empowering. We’ve had 45,000 visitors stopping into our

2. YOU’RE IN THE PILOT STAGES OF A STUDY ON THE ECONOMIC IMPACT OF THE AT ON LOCAL COMMUNITIES. TELL US MORE ABOUT THE PROJECT? From the perspective of a hiker, you need to refuel, recharge your batteries, maybe get a night in a local hotel. Maybe you damaged your boot, or have a need for clothing. You’re coming into these communities on the trail. Many communities recognize the value of the AT, but may lack the capacity to really quantify the impact of recreation-based tourism. We’re hoping that the ATC and its partners can develop an approach and tools for these assessments. We’re in the middle of setting up two pilot sites: Harlem Valley in New York and Kittatinny Ridge in PennsylvaniaNew Jersey. We’re doing trail user surveys, finding out who’s coming, and [determining] who we want to come here. My hope is that we can mobilize communities to help the ATC protect and preserve the trail, while they’re also benefitting from the economic impact. 3. YOU’VE SAID ONE OF YOUR MAJOR GOALS IS TO INSPIRE MORE YOUNG PEOPLE TO GET INVOLVED WITH THE AT. HOW ARE YOU DOING THAT? The trail winds its way through changing landscapes, both urban and rural, where populations reflect the country’s changing demographics. But the majority of people who visit do not reflect that diversity. The future of the AT depends on the people who make up the population, and we want to see the face of America on the trail itself. We’ve formed a Next Generation Advisory Council,

and one member helped plan and execute a National Trails Day event that brought together dozens of young workers. In 2016, we invited a group of inner-city Chicago youth to work with one of our trail crews. There are great groups out there we’ve partnered with, like Latino Outdoors, Outdoor Afro, and the Student Conservation Association. We’ve been talking about having youth ambassadors on the trail.

4. PUBLIC LANDS, INCLUDING THE AT, HAVE ATTRACTED RECORD VISITATION OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS. HOW ARE YOU MANAGING THE CROWDING ISSUES THAT POPULARITY BRINGS? We started ATCamp, a voluntary overnight registration system. It’s an online tool that enables users to calculate camping space—you can see recent usage, and choose [to camp in] less crowded areas. It has been phenomenal: This past year alone, 4,100 people registered. Another key component is sharing Leave No Trace info. And working with our partners, like Baxter State Park and Great Smoky Mountains National Park, to help visitors prepare. We’re also replacing usercreated campsites with attractive sites on more durable areas. 5. THIS YEAR MARKS THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE NATIONAL SCENIC TRAILS SYSTEM. WHAT ARE THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES YOU SEE FOR THE AT IN THE NEXT 50 YEARS? I wonder about incompatible commercial development. You’ve got major industrial projects that affect wildlife and habitat. One of the big issues is protecting the broader landscape. How do we work with Congressional members and leverage the Land and Water Conservation Fund to protect the AT? How do we create that everexpanding community and engage the next generation, amplifying their voices? The next generation can really lead a national movement. –Elisabeth Kwak-Hefferan

PHOTO BY APPALACHIAN TRAIL CONSERVANCY

visitor centers annually. We have Ridge Runners who engaged 50,000 visitors on outdoor ethics in 2017. We’ve trained more than 500 educators in Leave No Trace. And we do this in partnership with 31 trail clubs and 6,000 volunteers who donated 240,000 hours in 2017.

Winter Sports Market

January 22-24

Outdoor Retailer Snow Show

January 25-28

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July 23-26

Grassroots Connect

November 4-7

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FUTURE S H OW DAT E S

Winter Sports Market Outdoor Retailer Snow Show

January 27-29 January 30-February 1

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June 17-20

Grassroots Connect

November 1-4

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November 5-8

C O LO R A D O C O N V E N T I O N C E N T E R

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January 26-28

DENVER, CO

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January 29-31

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June 22-25

Grassroots Connect

November 5-8

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November 9-12

January 24-26

Outdoor Retailer Snow Show

January 27-29 June 14-17

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November 11-14

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January 23-25

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June 10-13 November 7-10 November 11-14

6/1/18 9:32 AM

NEWEXHIBITORS MEET THE NEW KIDS ON THE FLOOR

1. Katherine

Homes BOOTH: VO14-SL

Katherine Homes was created from a desire to protect the planet and bring attention to endangered species and wild lands through affordable and functional artwork. All designs on T-shirts, tanks, patches, and leggings are painted by Katherine Homes, who goes by KT, using watercolor on wood to relay a message: Explore, connect, protect. Connection is key. KT’s background work with environmental organizations focused on climate change, waste management education, and the relationship between public and environmental health, which has been a catalyst to building her company. In May 2017, KT brought her vision to market. As a 1 Percent for the Planet member, Katherine Homes is committed to working with organizations to generate more awareness around these issues. She focuses on working with suppliers who, at the very least, abide by environmental regulations, and at the very most, go way beyond that. The T-shirt supplier in India provides job training and dignified work to women, who would otherwise not have these opportunities. KT’s booth is created from boxes that are made from postconsumer and post-industrial content—they are also 100 percent recyclable and biodegradable and made in the U.S.

2. Endurance

Brands BOOTH: 21261-SL

PHOTOS BY COURTESY

Endurance Brands is a global manufacturer of men’s and women’s fitness accessories that combine form and function with fashion, from yoga mats to weights to massage rollers. Joey Saide began his career 15 years ago in the clothing and retail industry. He saw a void in the fitness accessories industry that needed to be addressed and used his expertise in fashion to bridge the gap and allow customers to feel good and look good while working out.

Descriptions are provided by the manufacturers and edited for clarity and space.

JULY 26, 2018 DAY 4

3. SINNER BOOTH: 24141-SL

4. Knog BOOTH: 27146-SL Founded in 2002 in Melbourne, Australia, Knog is an outdoor accessories brand— think tech gear you can turn on, clip on, or run with. For 15 years, Knog has been making cycling products (mainly lights), but they’re ready to branch out. The designers have come up with a modular ecosystem of electronics called PWR. The collection’s speakers, headlamps, lanterns, bike lights, and flashlights all have interchangeable batteries called the PWR Bank, which power one another. The brand claims its headlamp—The Bandicoot — raised more than any other headlamp on Kickstarter. Knog is built on the philosophy of seeking out products that are boring, inconvenient, and ugly, and rethinking how they function, look, and feel. Swing by the booth and meet Knog’s CEO and founder, Hugo Davidson. He’s Australian, so if nothing else, you’ll be entertained, mate.

PHOTOS BY COURTESY

Since 1996, SINNER has represented innovation, quality, performance, and style— first as an eyewear company with sport sunglasses and today as an international lifestyle and sports brand, distributed in 24 countries worldwide. The SINNER products are developed in cooperation with world-class athletes and distinguished artists incorporating innovative technologies and the latest trends and styles into the products. The result is a complete collection that protects users from the elements. There is a SINNER in all of us, whether we like it or not.

5. Hypard-AdTec Footwear BOOTH: 57069-UL In business since 1982, Hypard owns joint venture factories in China, so production is fast and efficient, plus the brand warehouses shoes across all categories for quick infills for customers. Work, hiking, and hunting boots are the brandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s core, but for summer 2019, Hypard has added to the water shoe line with stylish and sophisticated models, from aqua socks, to drainage shoes under the RocSocs brand, to wader, paddle, and surf shoes under the AquaTecs brand.

6. 8K Flexwarm

BOOTH: 27110-SL

8K Flexwarm is a unique heating technology that is so thin, it can be printed and layered directly onto fabric, which means the collection is ultra-lightweight and durable without the need for additional bulky insulation and without compromising warmth retention. The brand has designed a range of heated apparel that lets wearers perfect their body temperature through their smartphones, delivering temperatures of up to 122 degrees in just 6 minutes. The jacket launched in the UK in October and a few weeks later, the product video was picked up by some of the biggest social media video publishers in the world, such as Buzzfeed and UniLad. This created a huge amount of exposure for the brand, with more than 70 million views, 200,000 shares, and 1 million visitors to the brandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s website in six weeks. As a result, 8K Flexwarm completely sold out of stock within weeks, with 70 percent of all sales coming from the U.S. Due to the launch campaign success, 8K Flexwarm is significantly expanding its collection of heated jackets and vests for men and women with new designs, enhanced fabrics, and sizes, and a collection of limited-edition, bold new color options at the show.

7. SCHAMPA BOOTH: 21343-SL

Twenty years ago, Founder Andy Myers sold out of his first product—dickies, or face masks that extend into a shoulder cover and are worn by mountain bike racers—at his first event, the Arizona Bike Week. At every event after that, Myers had to bring along a sewing machine to keep up with demand. Dickies are made of fleece and meant to fit under any type of helmet. Other products include tubes, face masks, balaclavas, headwear, baselayers, and thermals. Adding to the collection of Stretch Headwear, Myers is releasing the first Stretch Visor and Stretch Cap, fitted to the forehead and made for running, golfing, biking, and other sports.

8. Student Conservation

Association

PHOTOS BY COURTESY

BOOTH: 20387-SL Student Conservation Association’s mission is to build the next generation of conservation leaders and inspire lifelong stewardship of the environment and communities by engaging young people in hands-on service to the land. The association, which has headquarters in Arlington, Virginia, lists leadership positions for youth, from environmental education interns to community outreach interns. More than 80,000 alums have served since its founding in 1957.

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NEW EXHIBITORS

9. Jams World

BOOTH: 31123-UL Based in Honolulu, Hawaii, Jams World makes colorful resort wear and lifestyle clothes. The brand started in 1964 when Dave Rochlen, living in Santa Monica, California, couldn’t find the right surf shorts. Inspired by a LIFE Magazine article featuring Russian tourists wearing pajamas and bathing in the Black Sea, he asked his wife, Keanuenue, to hem a pair to the knee and sew up the fly. She sewed together the first bright, baggy pair at the kitchen table and they sold them at Surf Line Hawaii shop and out of the trunk of a car at Makaha Beach. Throughout the ensuing decades, the brand has taken on many iterations. Today, Dave Rochlen’s son carries on the legacy.

10. BodyVine BOOTH: 21256-SL The image of a vine wrapped around the trunk of a tree is representative of the way the BodyVine’s Power-band taping technology applies to the human body on targeted muscles and tendons for advanced compression and support. The vine-like power band compression tapings of BodyVine use thin and flexible, but strong, elastomeric materials. In combination with the knowledge of biomechanics, and the theory of sports tapings, BodyVine creates several kinds of techniques that can be applied to garments and braces to compress and support specific body parts. The result is a reduction of unnecessary vibration and disruption of target tendons and muscles, and promotion of blood circulation more precisely and effectively. The wearer can reduce the fatigue experienced from work or exercise, enhance physical performance, and minimize the risk of injury.

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6/12/18 11:13 AM

GEARTRENDS PACKS

HAVE IT YOUR WAY

Customizable features, extra storage, and ventilation mark this season. BY CAROLYN WEBBER

Build Your Own Pack

Everybody wants lightweight, durability, and versatility in a pack— but which qualities take priority vary from person to person. Jaala Freeman, lead visual merchandiser for Great Outdoor Provisions in Raleigh, North Carolina, says companies are letting customers be their own designers by using strong, slightly heavier materials but adding removable hipbelts, top lids, and straps. “It gives you the chance to customize your bag and how you’re going to use it,” she says. Many are also switching to roll-top lids to reduce weight and accommodate different-sized loads.

Pockets, Please

Joe Lacuesta, a buyer at Outdoor World Sporting Goods in Watsonville, California, knows how much people love their pockets. As packs move toward streamlined designs, he said that customers still want external pockets that they can access while walking. Pockets on pack bodies and hipbelts are increasing in size to allow enough room for cell phones and cameras, but are often mesh to keep the weight down.

Keep Your Cool

Shocker: Most people don’t enjoy wearing a pack that makes their back drip with sweat. Heidi Madsen, salesperson at Fin and Feather in Iowa City, Iowa, says that more people are considering ventilation when they make their selection. “They’re wondering how wet their back is going to get,” she says. So companies are increasingly using suspension systems with mesh trampoline backs to catch their eye.

PHOTOS BY COURTESY

1. Sweaty hikers, rejoice. Gregory updated its Miwok/ Maya ($120; 24L) with a new suspension system that moves with the body, and an open-air backpanel that reduces back contact and increases airflow. A stretch mesh pocket means there’s no need to stop to grab a snack. #36081-UL

ALL PRICES ARE MANUFACTURER’S SUGGESTED RETAIL PRICE (MSRP).

2. Fjällräven’s Bergtagen ($240; 38L) lets you pick and choose what you want. The frame (made from sustainably sourced birch wood), top lid, and hipbelt are all removable. The top lid also has two zippered pockets for easy storage. #37031-UL

JULY 26, 2018 DAY 4

GEAR TRENDS PACKS

3. Bring on the downpour: The fully waterproof Panga Backpack ($300; 28L) from YETI can handle it. The removable chest straps and waist belt give a few carrying options for hiking, fishing, and paddling, while an interior sleeve and mesh pocket add easy-access storage. #42129-UL

4. The Apex Wall ($159; 32L) from Salewa was made to be breathable. The mountaineeringspecific bag reduces contact area to the body with a built-in microventilation system, which features thermoregulated gaps between the back paneling and spinal column that keep air moving. #36115-UL 5. Breathability and adjustability are key traits of the Zyp ($170, 48L) from Kelty. A new suspension system with fewer contact points means less heat and more air on the back. Plus, Keltyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s PerfectFIT system makes for on-the-go adjustability for all shapes and sizes. #42031-UL

PHOTOS BY COURTESY

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GEAR TRENDS KAYAKS & CANOES

USER FRIENDLY

The season’s focus is on anglers, multiday trippers, and families. BY EUGENE BUCHANAN

Need for Speed

In the whitewater world, manufacturers are heeding extreme racers’ wishes and designing hulls built for speed—a feature that has carried over to the mainstream market. “We’ve been doing well with capable river runners, which people like to take on multiday river trips,” says Tony Miely of Durango, Colorado’s 4 Corners Riversports. “People like the speed and ability to carry gear.”

Fish Frenzy

Anglers are driving a wave of kayak sales, particularly in the handsfree propulsion category: systems that let users pedal instead of paddle. “Pedal models across the board are selling great—especially for anglers,” says Tom Rolls of Michigan retailer Summit Sports. “It’s the next frontier in kayak fishing.” Stability is also key for this group. “Boats continue to get bigger and more stable,” says Rolls, “especially as the trend to stand up and fish gains traction.” Manufacturers are experimenting with hull shapes and “chines” (edges below the waterline) to ensure customers stay high and dry.

Weight No More

Weight-watching is alive and well in watersports. “We’re seeing more interest in ABS (thermoformed plastic) boats because they’re pretty and light,” says Darren Bush of Madison, Wisconsin’s Rutabaga. “People don’t want to lug a lot of weight around.”

Rec Rules

1. Dagger’s new Phantom whitewater kayak ($1,249) is a fast, downriver boat optimized for performance and speed in rough water. Increased (and centralized) volume keeps paddlers high and dry, while a revamped rocker and crisp rails balance tracking and maneuverability. #34023-UL

THE DAILY | SUMMER MARKET

2. It’s a bird, it’s a plane it’s . . . Star’s Rival Fishing iSOT ($995; distributed by NRS). The inflatable sit-on-top fishing kayak with self-draining deck is uber-stable: A 6-inch drop-stitch construction and 9-inch, 1,000-denier polyester side tubes let anglers stand or sit atop a suspended mesh seat. #34031-UL

3. Mad River unveils its benchmark, Jim Henry-designed Explorer 16 canoe ($2,899), with a twist: It comes in new, high-tech ABS plastic laminate that reduces craft weight to 77 pounds. The 1,100-pound-capacity canoe is 15 feet, 11 inches long and 35 inches wide (at gunwale), with a center depth of 14.5 inches. #34023-UL

PHOTOS BY COURTESY

Rec kayaks are continuing to keep the paddlesports industry afloat. The boats are shorter than sea kayaks but longer than whitewater kayaks, and more stable than both. They often have roomy cockpits, comfy outfitting, and day storage, too—features that are also appealing to the growing family paddling market. “Most of our kayak sales are in the under-12-foot market,” says Andrea Battin of Burlington, Vermont’s Outdoor Gear Exchange.

GEAR TRENDS SUPS 1

SUP BLOWS UP

Today’s shoppers like their boards versatile, affordable, and inflatable. BY EUGENE BUCHANAN

No Debate: Inflate!

More and more landlocked consumers are looking beyond the lake and paddling rivers instead—and that means inflatable boards for everything from surfing river waves to running Class I-II whitewater. “Inflatables are driving the market, especially for river use,” says Peter Van De Carr of Colorado retailer Backdoor Sports. “They bounce off rocks and you can store them easily.” And like the Beatles song, they’re getting better all the time, with manufacturers experimenting with thicknesses, rocker, drop-stich construction, and even the addition of carbon. “Performance is increasing every year,” says Hala Gear’s Peter Hall, who also runs a retail operation in Steamboat Springs, Colorado.

Do-It-All Boards

Forget racing or catching waves: Today’s SUP customer is all about the mellow cruise on a versatile board. “Our customers gravitate toward all-around board shapes that land between planing and displacement hulls,” says Andrea Battin, paddlesports buyer for Burlington, Vermont’s Outdoor Gear Exchange. These boards are designed do everything, from tracking across flats to staying stable in chop. “We’re selling more all-arounders than race boards or surf SUPs,” adds Dan Smith, owner of Florida’s Paddling Paradise.

Price-Point Matters

Consumers want boards that last, but won’t leave a lasting impression on their bank account. “Durability and pricing seem to be drivers,” says Smith. “People want cheaper, but not the Wal-mart route.”

2. The 9-foot Playita ($TBD) is built with Hala’s newly patented DoubleStack Construction, which features two separate layers of two-inch dropstich that create carving rails for surfing.The fish-meets-longboard shape also employs Inflatable Carbon technology for added rigidity. #34044-UL 3. BOTE Boards courts the allaround market with its HD Aero ($1,299), a “one board to serve them all” quiver killer. Combining

THE DAILY | SUMMER MARKET

stability and speed in an 11foot, 6-inch-long, 34-inch-wide package, it’s ready for fishing and outings with the family. #34067-UL 4. Airhead’s 10-foot-long Swell 1032 iSup ($749) is an inflatable jack-of-all-trades, with X-Cross drop stitch (the threads cross over one another inside, aiding rigidity), double sidewalls, and six-inch thickness, all of which combine to leave wobbliness in its wake. #31031-UL 5. Made from Tough-Tec, which fuses a polyethylene skin around a stringerless, EPS foam core, the 11-foot Cross ($699) from BIC Sports is on track to be its bestseller. With a high durabilityto-weight ratio, it’s a tough, lightweight all-arounder at a userfriendly price point. #33044-UL

PHOTOS BY COURTESY

1. The special edition RED 10foot, 6-inch Ride SE MSL SUP ($1,299) comes with a new color scheme for the company’s 10th anniversary. Measuring 4.7 inches thick, with an embossed deck pad for grip, it glides easily on flatwater, with just enough curve for maneuvering. #34055-UL

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GEAR TRENDS PADDLESPORTS ACCESSORIES

TAKE IT EASY

Light weight, adjustability, and comfy carries dominate paddling gear. BY EUGENE BUCHANAN

Fish & Float

More and more manufacturers are adding kayak fishing-specific PFDs to their accessory lines, enhancing comfort and fit but also including amenities for angling like organizational pockets and fold-out platforms. “Kayak fishermen want a PFD that can hold a lot of miscellaneous gear, but isn’t big or bulky,” says Ashleigh Conaway, manager of San Diego’s Aqua Adventures Kayaks & Paddleboards. “They still need mobility to move.” Brands are also designing with stand-up paddleboarders in mind, who prefer smaller waist packs to bulky vests.

Paddle Power

As brands continue to shave weight off watercraft, paddles are keeping pace. “With kayak paddles, it’s all about weight,” says Darren Bush of Madison, Wisconsin’s Rutabaga, adding that carbon models continue to fly off the shelves. “No one ever told me, ‘This paddle’s too light, got a heavier one?’” And it’s not just for high-end consumers. He adds: “Rec boaters deserve light, too.” SUPers, on the other hand, prioritize the ability to change paddle lengths for different conditions or even different users. “Adjustable SUP paddles are our entire market,” says Fred Morrison, buyer for Buena Vista, Colorado, retailer CKS. “Customers like them when they’re buying a board for the family. A couple can share the paddle if they’re different heights and kids can use it, too. And people like different lengths depending on if they’re on flatwater, whitewater, or surfing.”

Easy Does It

1. SealLine’s waterproof Pro Dry Pack ($200, 70L; $250, 120L) comes with a new suspension system for carrying loads on portages and to camp. A fulllength framesheet transfers weight to a padded waist belt, while soft shoulder straps, a breathable backpanel, and lumbar padding make the carry comfy. #44031-UL

THE DAILY | SUMMER MARKET

2. MTI’s Striker ($68) is a valuepriced, fishing-specific paddling vest with cargo pockets for tackle, multiple attachment points, and fleece handwarmers. For fit, large armholes and a deep-V neck provide a chassis that’s snug yet mobile. #32031-UL

PHOTOS BY COURTESY

Lug your bag from water to a faraway camp enough times and you’ll see why high-end carrying systems are becoming commonplace on dry bags. “We sell a lot of high-quality bags like the new NRS Bills Bag and Watershed Westwater, which have great carrying straps,” says CKS’s Morrison. “Duffel-shaped dry bags are also selling well—they’re easier to access and live out of.”

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GEAR TRENDS PADDLESPORTS ACCESSORIES

3. Made from 400-denier ripstop nylon, NRS’s new front-zip Raku Fishing PFD ($160) employs a ventilated, thin-back design for comfort with any paddlecraft seat. It comes with two large front pockets with internal organization for fishing tools and accessories, a rod holder, knife lash tab, and more. #34031-UL 4. The new carbon Hercules paddle ($250, straight; $335, bent) from Adventure Technology keeps its weight down to 2 pounds, 3 ounces (straight model) with a carbon Innegra/Duraweave shaft and blade. It comes with a 30-degree offset and lengths from 185cm to 210cm (custom also available). #34023-UL 5. MTI keeps things light with its 16G Belt Pack ($70), a waist-worn PFD that deploys a CO2 cartridge with the pull of a toggle. New this year: a Rasta colorway. “It’s a nod to our home state, Vermont, just legalizing marijuana,” says co-owner Lili Colby. #32031-UL

PHOTOS BY COURTESY

THE DAILY | SUMMER MARKET

Pushing the boundaries of possibility starts by digging deep, CottonWorks™ is a comprehensive resource that gives textile industry professionals crucial knowledge and training. From webinars to workshops to market & trend analysis, you’ll find the tools and guidance you need to invent the future with cotton.

visit us at booth 53095 ul. i

cotton does

GEAR TRENDS CLIMBING EQUIPMENT

FIRST ASCENTS

Newcomers are shaking up the equipment scene with fresh demands for their gear. BY CAROLYN WEBBER

Indoor Exclusive

PORTABLE LIGHTS AMERICAN TRADE ORGANIZATION

Brands Committed to Integrity with Products You Can Trust

Black Dome Mountain Sports in Asheville, North Carolina, never used to stock gym ropes. Last year, that changed. Ross Prince, buyer, says that they’ve added short, static ropes to the shelves to fill the needs of the exploding number of new climbers flocking to gyms and staying there. “We have more people leading in the gym, and they don’t want to bring a 60- or 70-meter rope in there and only use half of it,” he says.

Safety First

As new climbers take to the walls, brands are working to slash risk as much as possible for their customers. Eric Avery, operations and marketing manager for Gear Express in Salt Lake City, Utah, sees it in the rise of non-mechanized, assisted braking or locking belay devices: Rookies want something simple to use that still backs them up when they need it.

Slimming Down

Alec Behr, store manager of International Mountain Equipment in North Conway, New Hampshire, says that the lightweight trend is catching on. Climbers of all levels are snapping up ultralight camming units, carabiners, and belay devices, regardless of the cost. Behr says people don’t want to feel weighed down on the wall, especially with the increased interest in speed climbing: “Whether it’s psychological or not, you feel like you can climb a little harder.” Harnesses are also using improved lightweight materials like polyethylene blends to reduce bulk while adding comfortable padding for climbers who plan to sit on the wall all day.

For more information on the FL 1 Light Standard and the industry trade organization PLATO, go to plato-usa.org.

2. Tough and lightweight, the Bravo II Quickdraw ($15) from Metolius also has a flared profile to prevent the gate from accidentally opening. #37081-UL 3. Black Diamond is cutting the weight on its camming devices (again) with its Camalot C4 ($65-$125). Lobes are lighter,

THE DAILY | SUMMER MARKET

but still optimized for strength, and slings are updated for easier differentiation between sizes to ensure speed on the wall. #42081-UL 4. Wider webbing on the men’s Mars/women’s Venus harness ($55) from Mad Rock holds your weight without digging in and maintains a low weight of 1 pound. #37072-UL 5. Edelrid’s GigaJul ($50) lets climbers choose between a standard and assisted braking tuber with the slide of a small piece. The hybrid construction of aluminum and steel makes it strong yet light at 100 grams. #35095-UL

PHOTOS BY COURTESY

Each of the above brands is committed to test its portable lighting products to the highest flashlight standard, ANSI/PLATO FL 1.

1. The 9.9 Gym Classic Rope ($160; 50m) from Mammut was made with intense gym leading in mind. The yarns are better incorporated into the sheath, making it durable as well as smooth and easy to handle. Different-colored rope ends make alternating sides a piece of cake. #36023-UL

JULY 26, 2018 DAY 4

A Unique Garment Technology from TORAY That Combines

Form-Fitting Stretch Fabric with Innovative Stretch Insulation From a global leader in cutting-edge fiber and textile technologies comes 3DeFX+ ®. Toray’s latest innovation combines proprietary insulation made from multiple types of coil-shaped fibers, now with 40% recycled content, and an array of stretch fabrics. It provides flexibility and warmth and allows for freedom of movement like never before. 3DeFX+ ® is a next-generation “package solution,” created by Toray and offering fully integrated garment production for the world’s top brands.

Cutting-Edge Stretch Fabric

3D Stretch Insulation

Stretch Sewing Method

Toray’s innovatively designed fabric can be used in all kinds of applications. It can be customized to suit the design and concept of various types of clothing, without losing its functionality.

Multiple types of spiral-shaped fibers are intertwined to achieve higher stretchability and volume than conventional padding. Thanks to the large amounts of air trapped inside, it is extremely lightweight and compact, with high heat retention. Made using 40% recycled fibers, this insulation is engineered with sustainability in mind.

Special stitching maximizes the performance of the insulation and fabric.

THEGALLERY HOT NEW PRODUCTS AT THE SHOW

1. The Icebreaker Aelectra Bra is feminine and fashionable, with an embroidered pattern courtesy of Mammut Phase Knit—which combines different materials into a single fabric, resulting in no seams and high stretchability for maximum comfort. The open zones support moisture wicking, and a two-layer construction allows for greater support. [$89] #44116-UL

2. Knitted with Darn Tough’s Light and Luxe yarn, the Fraggle Crew Light lifestyle sock will complement a rustic style under the city lights. After the success of modernized stripes in last year’s collection, Darn Tough continues to push the limits with stripes in fashion. Like all Darn Tough products, this sock is 100 percent made in Northfield, Vermont, with an unconditional lifetime guarantee. [$20] #49007-UL 3. Popticals Poptrail sunglasses

are made for adventure travelers. Comfortable, lightweight, and equipped with crystal-clear Carl Zeiss Vision NYDEF nylon lenses, they feature Popticals’ wraparound frame FL2 Micro-Rail System, which separates at the bridge, allowing the lenses to slide parallel and nest on top of each other for compact storage when not being worn. [$189-$199] #39142-UL

PHOTOS BY COURTESY

Descriptions are provided by the manufacturers and edited for clarity and space.

ALL PRICES ARE MANUFACTURER’S SUGGESTED RETAIL PRICE (MSRP). BOOTH NUMBERS ARE CURRENT AS OF JULY 1, 2018.

JULY 26, 2018 DAY 4

NEW PRODUCT GALLERY

1. Designed for indoor climbing and summer cragging, Rabâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Tangent Pant is a lightweight, stretch cotton climbing pant. With knee articulation, reinforced double-layer knee bar patches, and a part-elastic waist, the Tangent Pant allows essential freedom of movement while not compromising on durability. An elastic hem cuff keeps feet clear when making delicate moves. [$75] #36072-UL

2. The all-new Midland T290VP3 twoway radio features 22 GMRS channels, range of up to 28 miles, 121 privacy codes, and includes Midlandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s signature weather alert radio with weather scan, all in a sleek and modern design. This radio automatically locks onto your local weather channel and alerts you to severe weather. [$90] #30064-UL 3. With feature-rich versatility in a

streamlined form, the TKPro is a highperformance, plastic-free thermal bottle from Klean Kanteen. With its integrated double-wall stainless steel cup and 360-degree pour-through design, the TKPro features cuttingedge thermal performance for both hot and cold beverages. Whether sipping hot coffee miles from the nearest road or pouring ice-cold cocktails in the heart of the city, the TKPro is your built-to-last solution. [$40-$50] #37066-UL

4. The LifeProof Squamish XL backpack

features a 3-liter hydration reservoir pocket and a bottom zip pocket for extra gear. The front tie-downs secure skateboards, yoga mats, and other oversized gear while the expandable front pocket holds helmets, balls, and more. The side-access, fleecelined laptop pocket lets you grab your computer without opening the main compartment. Weather-resistant, fleece-lined tech pockets with cord pass-through for headphones and charging cables keep electronics charged and secure, while a discreet side stash pocket is ideal for passports, cash, and sensitive stuff. [$100-$180] #39061-UL

PHOTOS BY COURTESY

THE DAILY | SUMMER MARKET

GALE STRAUB FOUNDER, SHEEXPLORES

JAINEE DIAL CO-FOUNDER, WYLDER GOODS

LINDSEY ELLIOTT CO-FOUNDER, WYLDER GOODS

JOIN OUTDOOR INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION.

JOIN OIA AND BE A FORCE FOR MEANINGFUL CHANGE. The incredible women who lead Wylder Goods and the She Explores podcast are showing the industry what the lives of real outdoorswomen look like through compelling storytelling and an expertly curated online retail shop that supports community and growth. JOIN OIA outdoorindustry.org.

NEW PRODUCT GALLERY

EDITORSâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; PICK

PHOTOS BY COURTESY

1. Egg Scramblers from Mountain Standard and Backpacker’s Pantry are dehydrated meals for camping and travel that are packed with vegetables and spices. Just add water, crack eggs into the mixture, and scramble. Available in three flavors, they use a combination of freeze-dried and dehydrated organic ingredients that have no preservatives or added colors. The spices are nonirradiated, and the ingredients are sourced regionally and domestically. [$5] #51019-UL 2. The three-person Hilleberg

Allak 3 is impressively strong, remarkably light, and fully freestanding. Like Hilleberg’s popular two-person Allak 2, the Allak 3 boasts two entrances and two integrated vestibules, and is part of the all-season Red Label series: tents that prioritize lighter weight, but are plenty strong for challenging backcountry weather conditions that can surprise you yearround. [$1,160] #39007-UL

3. EDITORS’ PICK The

WakaWaka Move 7w wirelessly charges your devices; simply place them on its docking station, no cables needed. USB-C charging capabilities along with a 7,000 mAh battery ensure power and flexibility in a lightweight, compact package. The Move 7w can be charged from WakaWaka’s Solar Panel or from the grid. [$50] #28109-SL

4. Chums continues to expand

its storm series line of storm and waterproof bags with the new Downriver Rolltop Backpack. With 32 liters of storage space, waterproof welded construction, and a roll-top closure system, the Downriver Backpack is a new go-to bag for any water-based multisport adventures. The backpack features an external water bottle holder, tie-down bungee system, external watertight pockets, and leash tabs for extra carrying capabilities. [$175] #44069-UL

Safe drinking water...in water... seconds SteriPEN® Ultra Now part of the Katadyn family Effective

Treats viruses, bacteria & protozoa

Fast! Treats 1L of water in 90 seconds Effective against microorganisms & viruses USB Rechargeable

L e a r n mo r e a b o u t t h e B e F r e e at Booth # 5 1 0 3 1 - U L

NEW PRODUCT GALLERY

PHOTOS BY COURTESY

Join Us. From boardroom to backcountry, climbing big walls and corporate ladders, running marathons and companies, we’re creating stronger, more sustainable active-outdoor industries.

CamberOutdoors.org PHOTO © DAN HOLZ | OSPREY

1. The Mountain Hardwear Crater Lake Long-Sleeve Hoody features UPF 50+ sun protection and a lightweight fabric so you can stick move after move without worry of sun exposure. The smoothas-silk knit wicks moisture and dries quickly, while the full hood keeps your neck and head out of the sun. Arm gussets for chafe-free movement, dropped shoulders for big reaches, and thumb holes are specifically designed for rock climbing. [$60] #44055-UL 2. Lunatec’s new Aquabot Hydration Spray Bottle System combines a kitchen faucet, garden hose, and water bottle into a convenient, easy-to-use hydration pack with stream, shower, and mist patterns. The included insulation suit keeps liquids cold and protects your bottle. Take a shower, clean dishes, drink, mist yourself, or have a water fight. [$45] #53131-UL 3. For explorers who need a

comfy and heavy-duty trekking

pack, Deuter’s new Aircontact series offers an extremely robust option with the reduced weight and comfortable fit of a spring steel frame. A pivoting Active Fit shoulder harness and 3D hipbelt adapt to the wearer, increasing comfort and reducing fatigue. The large front-zippered panel allows quick access to the pack’s contents, and a removable lid converts to a small summit pack. It also includes a detachable rain cover and attachment points for trekking poles and ice axes. [$245$310] #37055-UL

4. The Platypus Big Zip EVO

Reservoir delivers a 50 percent increase in flow rate from the previous model and features a new self-sealing HyFLO bite valve. The drink tube’s quickdisconnect makes it faster to unload and fill, while semi-rigid baffles make it easier to clean and dry. It’s taste-free, and the embedded silver-ions protect clean water from mold and bacteria. [$37-$40] #44031-UL

Booth

22212-SL (Street level)

TRACK-LOCK™ SYSTEM ADJUSTS EVERY ¼" FOR MAXIMUM COMFORT

www.exactfitshop.com

PERFECT FIT EVERY TIME!

Also featuring:

Wallets • Luggage • Bags • Gloves • Travel Accessories and more

NEW PRODUCT GALLERY 1

2 EDITORSâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; PICK

PHOTOS BY COURTESY

1. The all-new Thule WingBar

3. Four-way stretch and high

2. EDITORS’ PICK Jetboil’s

4. The hybrid top and panel

Evo base rack system simplifies installation for the consumer, while offering a safe and secure fit for vehicles of all types. Thule’s new base rack system offers a perfect fit, with load capacities of at least 165 pounds across all fits. By including installation tools like a torque key and click-in parts for attaching the feet to your vehicle, Thule has vastly improved the setup process, leaving you more time to get outdoors. [$399 and up] #39115-UL

IF YOU WANT TO WIN MY VOTE…

UNDERSTAND THAT SOME PUBLIC LANDS ARE TOO SPECIAL TO DRILL See what else the growing number of outdoor voters are saying about how to Win in the West. Winning the West is a nonpartisan campaign to make policymakers and elected leaders aware of the power of voters who actively participate in the outdoors and bring that passion with them to the ballot box, whether they are Democrats, Republicans or independents.

LEARN MORE AND LEND YOUR VOICE: WinningTheWest2018.org

new Summit Skillet packs all the performance and punch of your home cookware into a compact, lightweight, and elegant solution. Made with an eco-friendly, PFOA-free nonstick coating for extra-easy food release and cleanup, the Summit Skillet is constructed from ceramic-coated, durable aluminum with varying wall thickness for fast and even heating. [$40] #44117-UL

nylon content in the Sherpa Adventure Gear Kalapana Hike Tight provides durability to high-abrasion areas thanks to an overlay fabric. The lightweight body fabric is more than 25 percent softer than standard nylon and excels at retaining shape, while fourway stretch, flatlock seams, and moisture-wicking ability boost comfort. Dual side panel pockets zip shut and an interior key pocket is hidden under a wide waistband for a smooth fit. [$80] #36097-UL opening of Mountainsmith’s Mayhem 45 makes this pack ideal for accessibility in tight environments like the local crag, a far-off youth hostel, or packed backcountry huts. Built with Spectra Fiber, the Mayhem delivers maximum strength and abrasion resistance while offering a light and comfortable carry. [$180] #44080-UL

NEW PRODUCT GALLERY

EDITORS’ PICK

PHOTOS BY COURTESY

Tested & Proven

“

As a recovering Lyme disease patient, and mother of

two based in the beautiful, but tick-rich state of Maine, I do everything I can to protect our family from ticks.

I’m comforted knowing that Insect Shield technology is protecting us always while we enjoy the outdoors. Tested. Proven. Mother approved.

”

- Heather Hurst

Founder & President, Project Lyme

Look for Insect Shield products from these trusted brands

1. The Headsweats Teal Sugar Skull Supervisor is constructed using Headsweats performance Eventure fabric. This performance visor is designed with the endurance athlete in mind, keeping the sun and sweat out of eyes on long training runs, mountain hikes, or daily workouts. Printed using a sublimation printing process, the festive Sugar Skull design will brighten up workouts for years to come. [$23] #46098-UL 2. The ESPRO Ultralight Travel

Press is the lightest 16-ounce combination press and hydration bottle of its kind. Made with vacuum-insulated stainless steel, the Ultralight keeps contents hot or cold for hours and allows outdoor enthusiasts and travelers to caffeinate and hydrate anywhere, at any time. The Ultralight is the world’s lightest stainless steel hydration bottle (7.4 ounces for just the bottle and lid) and travel press (9.5 ounces with the rod and filters). [$40] #21341-SL

3. EDITORS’ PICK Compared

to the standard BeFree 3L filter, the new Katadyn Gravity BeFree 3L includes a convenient output hose that lets you quickly fill water bottles and hydration systems. Easily hang the durable and collapsible 3-liter HydraPak reservoir with the integrated bail handle. The filter cleans up to 2 liters per minute and a 42mm, wide-mouth opening makes for easy filling from a lake, stream, or faucet. [$70] #51031-UL

4. Designed for four-season,

all-mountain use, Lowe Alpine’s Altus 42:47 pack features a robust carry system that offers great load support and is comfortable for long periods of time, allowing you to move efficiently through a variety of terrain. Features include a U-shaped front opening system, zip divider in the main compartment, a molded and adjustable backpanel, and wraparound hipbelt. [$180] #36072-UL

Active outdoor gear that’s light on the path and the planet. Visit us at Venture Out

www.golite.com

Launching Spring ‘19

NEW PRODUCT GALLERY

PHOTOS BY COURTESY

Good insurance should leave you feeling protected Partner with the industry experts to protect your business, your product, your passion.

Let’s talk! Visit us at booth 44001-UL

www.outdoorsportsins.com • osi@horizonagency.com • 1-800-491-2858

1. Heroclip is the first-ever hybrid clip that opens to a hook, rotates, and holds whatever, wherever, whenever. It keeps gear tethered, upright, off the ground, and easily accessible—exactly where you want it. The new Heroclip Mini carries over the same durable design to a .7-ounce model and keeps up to 40 pounds of gear tethered and off the ground. [$15-$20] #54135-UL 2. Chaco’s Playa Pro Loop is a flip-flop featuring full-grain saline solution leather uppers with a polyester webbing toe loop. The adjustable toe loop passes through the midsole for a customized fit. These are resole-able and are essentially the classic Z/sandal in flip-flop form. [$100] #1095-UL 3. For Danner’s new men’s

Caprine, the brand took inspiration from hoof patterns of mountain goats to offer optimal traction in urban

settings. The breathable, abrasion-resistant knit and nubuck upper provides the ideal balance of moisture transfer and durability for everyday use in the warmer months. With its understated style and grippy Vibram Caprine Traction outsole with Megagrip technology, the Caprine is built for the most discerning urban explorer. Other features include a cushioned, open-cell OrthoLite footbed and Danner Plyolite rubberized EVA midsole for support. [$150] #44135-UL

4. The new Morakniv Eldris

Limited Edition is a unique collector’s item in an exclusive aubergine colorway. It features a 2.2-inch Swedish stainless steel blade and ground spine that’s compatible with a firestarter, along with a durable polymer handle. Its compact size and safe handling make it a perfect and affordable choice for knife users of all experience levels. [$30]#46061-UL

More ways than ever to get

SAFE DRINKING WATER.

YS 5 WA HE ET S U TO TRAW LIFES X: FLE

1 AS A STRAW

2 WITH SOFT-TOUCH BOTTLE

WITH PLASTIC BOTTLE

WITH LIFESTRAW MISSION

WITH HYDRATION BLADDER

ONE FILTER. 5 WAYS. LifeStraw Flex removes 99.999999% of bacteria, 99.999% of parasites and microplastics. It also exceeds NSF 42 standards for chlorine reduction and NSF 53 standards for lead and heavy metal reduction.

Visit us in booth 51069-UL Distributed by Eartheasy

Y E A R S

Celebrating 25 years of serving outstanding clients, engaging with amazing media and working in the trenches with the best team ever. A heartfelt thank you to all who have enabled us to indulge in our passions.

PUBLIC RELATIONS

HERO SHOT

Foot Where

Farm to Feet’s Cascade Locks put style in every step.

PHOTO BY LOUISA ALBANESE. TEXT BY LEAH QIU

The latest Farm to Feet sock is the Cascade Locks, inspired by the Columbia River Gorge, Oregon, town that’s a popular pit stop along the Pacific Crest Trail. Made of U.S. merino wool with strategic compression to soothe tired feet, the stylish sock also features hexagonal knitting and dense cushioning in the high-impact zones to give you a little massage with each step. [$22.50] #53117-UL

THE DAILY | SUMMER MARKET

HERO SHOT

Ghosting

The Big Agnes Fly Creek HV Carbon with Dyneema is the new low in ultralight.

PHOTO BY LOUISA ALBANESE. TEXT BY LEAH QIU

Forget about breaking the bank: Big Agnes’s updated Fly Creek practically robs the bank as it takes ultralight backpacking tents down to unfathomable new weight lows. At a scant 1 pound, 6 ounces, the two-person HV Carbon takes the already ounceconscious architecture of the Fly Creek and adds a Dyneema fly and floor, cutting weight while boosting durability and proving that superlight doesn’t need to be super-filmsy. [$800-$850] #44004-UL

THE DAILY | SUMMER MARKET

P R EV I EW T H E S P R I N G 2 01 9 B R O O K LY N C O L L EC T I O N Featuring Aerocore™ Energy System

AT BOOTH #44129-UL

HERO SHOT

Swiss Army Bottle If Inspector Gadget carried a travel mug, the rechargeable Cauldryn Fyre V2 would be it. Via a digital control panel, the 16-ounce, vacuum-sealed bottle can boil water and keep your drink at a steady temp all day. It has voice-activated Bluetooth connectivity, and you can add attachments like a blender base for smoothies, a coffee percolator, or a lantern. Two USB ports keep your other electronics charged. [$150] #44090-UL

THE DAILY | SUMMER MARKET

PHOTO BY LOUISA ALBANESE. TEXT BY LEAH QIU

Cauldrynâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Fyre V2 does everything but your taxes.

SCENE

Game Face

Brands and media throw down at Roller City West with Revolution House Media. 1. Look good, feel good; feel good, skate good. Kate “Wreck-n-Check” Ketschek, owner of Revolution House Media and the event’s hostess with the mostest, brings on the intimidation factor with quaintly profane socks and a velvet romper. She first debuted the event at this year’s OR+Snow Show. 2. Derby attendees bring it in to remind themselves that, contrary to what the vicious war cries and next-day bruising suggest, we’re all still friends. 3. Never trust a man in jorts. NEMO’s Kurt “Smack-enberg” Schnackenberg shows off some leg and channels his hockey training with fancy footwork. Not pictured: the guy he’s elbowing out of the way. 4. Kevin “Thunder Boy” Corrigan, digital editor at Climbing Magazine, chews his costume into place. His hair may have impaired his vision, but not his speed. 5. BACKPACKER magazine’s Corey “Bu-slay” Buhay warms up the legs and the grr face before the team gets a technique lesson—and a thorough thrashing—from the Denver Roller Derby professional team.

PHOTOS BY NICK COTE

JULY 26, 2018 DAY 4

@THESHOW

DIG INTO OUR HIGHLIGHTS OF THE SHOW’S EVENTS, EDUCATION, AND MORE

Events JULY 26 Sea to Summit Product Sale to Support Leave No Trace 9 a.m. 51007-UL

Sea to Summit is selling two products to support Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics. The Pro Hammock with Suspension Straps and Tree Protectors is a lightweight, durable, and compact hammock with a super simple setup. The Kitchen Sink 5L is an excellent compact and durable addition to your backpack or camp kit—it also makes a great dog bowl. Show Prices: Pro

Hammock Single $40/ Pro Hammock Double $50/Kitchen Sink 5L $10. Products will be available every day, throughout the show, while stocks last.

Energizer Flashlight to Benefit American Hiking Society 9 a.m. 39143-UL

Get a free flashlight with a $10 donation to American Hiking Society.

Support The Conservation Alliance and Get Your Canine Companion Exclusive Ruffwear Gear 9 a.m. 33027-UL

Ruffwear will be selling the following products with proceeds benefiting The Conservation Alliance: The Aira Blanket ($30) features waterproof fabric repurposed from Ruffwear’s Aira rain jacket on one side, and a soft, recycled fleece on the other. It’s a durable, go-anywhere blanket that you’ll use over and over. The Lunker Toy ($10) is an interactive floating throw toy made from durable, recycled materials. A rope handle makes long-distance throws easy for fetching on water or land. Recycled PLUSfoam core ensures excellent flotation.

Sea to Summit Product Sale to Support the Himalayan Stove Project 9 a.m. 51007-UL

Sea to Summit is selling its collapsible, compact X- Kettle to support the Himalayan Stove Project. The X-Kettle is a tiny addition to your camp cook kit, collapsing to just 1 3/8 inch. With a 1-liter safe boiling capacity, it’s ideal for any compact camp kitchen set. For use on camp stoves only. Show price: X-Kettle $20. Product will be available every day, throughout the show, while stocks last.

Buy a Crazy Creek Chair, Support Leave No Trace 9 a.m. 53007-UL

Help protect the Outdoors with your purchase of an Original or Hex 2.0 Crazy Creek Chair for $20. Proceeds benefit the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics. LNT teaches and inspires people to enjoy the outdoors responsibly. So, take a seat while doing something good for our natural lands.

Sock Sale for Rivers of Recovery 9 a.m. 24157-SL

Native Planet is selling socks during the show with the proceeds going to Rivers of Recovery, which specializes in the rehabilitation of combat veterans suffering with PTSD, minor traumatic brain injury (mTBI), stress, anxiety, and depression. Their program combines outdoor recreational activities with instruction on the self-treatment of symptoms of stress, depression, and anxiety, empowering veterans to live a life that is no longer restricted by psychological or physical disabilities.

Osprey Pack Sale to Benefit American Hiking Society

EVENTS

9 a.m. 42060-UL Osprey is selling their completely redesigned Spring 19 Skarab and Skimmer hike hydration packs for $40 with all proceeds being donated to American Hiking Society. Pack sales start Day 1 and will continue throughout the show, while supplies last.

Plant a Tree! 9 a.m. 54281-UL

Get a free sapling to plant and make the earth a bit healthier. Just visit Oboz’s booth and try on a pair of shoes or boots.

Pajama Party! Chill Angel Temperature Balancing Sleepwear Sale to Benefit the Humane Society 9 a.m. 24183-SL

Luxury Merino Wool pajamas on sale for 50 percent off, while supplies last. Proceeds to benefit the Humane Society.

Live Art with Sarah Virginia Uhl 9 a.m. 37066-UL

Renowned artist, adventurer, and activist Sarah Virginia Uhl is creating her art live! Her pieces are for sale with all proceeds going to American Whitewater. Celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act and help protect our wild waterways!

Princeton Tec Vizz Headlamp Sale 9 a.m. 49025 UL

Princeton Tec will be selling a limited number of discounted Vizz headlamps. All proceeds from the sale will go to Big City Mountaineers, which instills critical life skills in under-resourced youth through transformative wilderness mentoring experiences.

Smartwool Summer Gear Sale for Big City Mountaineers 9 a.m. 46117-UL

Purchase Smartwool product at a great price and help support the youth of Big City Mountaineers at the same time! Net proceeds from the sale of select men’s and women’s S18 apparel and socks will be donated to BCM. Cash only.

BOCO Gear Sale to Benefit The Conservation Alliance 9 a.m. 53031-UL

BOCO Gear will sell its limited-edition Technical Trucker Hats to benefit The Conservation Alliance.

Clif Bar Breakfast to Benefit The Conservation Alliance 9 a.m. 42080-UL

Clif Bar will offer attendees its Energy Granola Breakfast + Bowl for $5 donation.

Eagles Nest Outfitters Hammock Sale to Benefit The Conservation

Alliance

9 a.m. 49035-UL Eagles Nest Outfitters sells its ENO DoubleNest Hammock and Suspension Strap Combo to benefit The Conservation Alliance.

GU Energy Labs Sale to Benefit The Conservation Alliance 9 a.m. 42000-UL

Purchase a box of Campfire S’mores Gels or a box of Mixed Stroopwafels for $15! 100 percent of sales will be donated to the Conservation Alliance.

KEEN Kona Flip Sale 9 a.m. 46081-UL

KEEN is selling its Kona Flips for women and men to benefit The Conservation Alliance.

Sierra Designs Sale to Benefit The Conservation Alliance 9 a.m. 42031-UL

Sierra Designs is selling its Summit Sack Day Pack with proceeds to benefit The Conservation Alliance.

Outdoor Research Trucker Cap Sale to Benefit The Conservation Alliance 9 a.m. 42023-UL

Outdoor Research will sell its Alpenglow and Towers Trucker Cap to benefit The Conservation Alliance.

Oboz Flip Sandals Sale to Benefit The Conservation Alliance 9 a.m. 54381-UL

Oboz is selling its Flip Sandals to benefit The Conservation Alliance.

Kobayashi/Grabber Sale to Benefit The Conservation Alliance 9 a.m. 51000-UL

Grabber is selling its Cooling Magic Cool Personal Cooling Towel to

benefit The Conservation Alliance.

Nuun Hydration Sale to Benefit The Conservation Alliance 9 a.m. 30019-UL

Nuun is selling its Conservation Alliance Nuun Hydration 4-Pack all day, every day during the show, with all proceeds to benefit The Conservation Alliance.

Toad&Co Sale 9 a.m. 39022-UL

Toad&Co is selling assorted men’s and women’s styles to benefit The Conservation Alliance.

Muck Coffee Hour 9 a.m. 49152-UL

Join us for a free sample of Kuju coffee and check out what’s new for Spring 2019!

LifeSaver FilterTilter Challenge

9 a.m. 53146-UL

CANADA’S BOOT

EFFORTLESS STYLE THE KODIAK ® SPRING 2019 COLLECTION PREMIUM LEATHERS AND STYLISH DESIGNS

COME VISIT US AT BOOTH #49111-UL For more information, please contact Brent Babbs (Brent_Babbs@vfc.com) KODIAKBOOTS.COM

EVENTS

Test your skills and play our supersized FILTERTILTER challenge! Tilt the filter to get all the balls to go as far as they can through our system. Each day the person with the fastest time will win a LifeSaver Liberty bottle for purifying water on the go.

Sierra Designs Flex Summit Sale 9 a.m. 42031-UL

Come by the Exxel Outdoors booth anytime during the show to purchase a Sierra Designs Flex Summit sack for just $25. This versatile and lightweight option is perfect for dayhikes, travel, and quick summit treks. All proceeds will benefit The Conservation Alliance, which works to protect and restore America’s wild places.

Bronwen Jewelry product sale 9 a.m. VO244-SL

Visit the Bronwen Jewelry booth throughout the

show to pick up a Camber Outdoors piece for $68. A portion of the proceeds will support Camber Outdoors.

UCO Taste of Seattle Coffee Pour-Over 9 a.m. 46061-UL

Stop by for a free java jolt on your way in with a cup of fresh Seattle brew. The first 100 people each morning will also receive a free, reusable UCO Ware Bamboo coffee cup.

Recycle Your Nutrition Trash at the GU Booth for a Chance to Win 1 of 3 GU Saddlebags 9 a.m. 42000-UL

As a proud partner of TerraCycle, we’re collecting sports nutrition trash to be recycled at their facilities and kept out of landfills. Those who drop off their trash with us will be entered to win 1 of 3 GU Saddlebags, made from GU packaging.

Instant Morning Buzz 9 a.m.

33133-UL $1 tea and coffee from Cusa Tea every morning at their booth from 9 to 11 a.m. All proceeds go to Access Fund. Attendees can pro deal boxes of tea for $5 a box all day.

Pack It Out for Public Lands Fundraiser 9 a.m. 39080-UL

Stop by the Adventure Medical Kits booth (39080-UL) any time during show hours to support the American Hiking Society’s advocacy work and pick up some crucial outdoor preparedness gear for half price. Choose from the compact Mountain Series Hiker Medical Kit ($12.50), the firestarting Survive Outdoors Longer Mag Striker ($6), and the bugdefending Ben’s InvisiNet Xtra ($6.50).

Headsweats Giveaway 9 a.m. 46098-UL

Don’t miss an opportunity to win 50 free Headsweats

hats or shirts of your choosing! If you’re a vendor or buyer, swing by the Headsweats booth throughout the week, scan your badge, and enter to win! Three winners will randomly be chosen at the end of the show.

Anyone can come visit the Croakies booth and enter to win 100 custom Croakies featuring their logo or custom graphic for their retail shop or business. There will be a winner for each day of the OR show.

Popticals Kayak Giveaway

9 a.m. 24183-SL

9 a.m. 39142-UL

Yes, we are really giving away The Popticals Kayak! Lean, green, and built for adventure, this oneof-a-kind kayak is the ultimate way to “Pack Small and Live Big” on the water. Enter to win at the Popticals booth.

Win a Revolutionary Heated Jacket 9 a.m. 27110-SL

Flexwarm 8K will be giving away one of our incredible heated jackets every day at ORSM.

Win Custom Croakies 9 a.m. 44048-UL

Chill Angel Sale

Chill Angel is selling product to benefit the Humane Society starting at 9 a.m. There’s also a drawing for a free garment at 4 p.m.

‘Mountain Dress Code’ Wardrobe Upgrade at Mountain Khakis Booth 9 a.m. 49014-UL

Get outfitted in the Mountain Khakis booth. MK apparel will be available for purchase in their booth on Wednesday and Thursday, Days 3 & 4 of the show. Yep, there’s even a dressing room. Get there early, while it lasts. Benefits MK Fund partner, Catawba Lands Conservancy.

GU Stroopwafels & Kicking Horse Coffee 10 a.m. 42000-UL

Start your day at the GU booth for a Stroopwafel and a cup of Kicking Horse Coffee!

Spin To Win Xero Shoes 10 a.m. 51113-UL

Win a pair of Xero Shoes or more than a dozen other discounts and prizes.

MiiR x Corvus Coffee Cold Brew 12 p.m. VO330-SL

Enjoy nitro cold brew on tap from Denver’s Corvus Coffee Roasters in an ORSM18 limited-edition MiiR cup! Learn about our customization program and our new giving projects!

Deuter Backpack Sale 3 p.m. 37055-UL

Come try on a Deuter Speed Lite backpack to

JOIN OUR SUSTAINABILIT Y MOVEMENT To find out more, go to prana.com/sustainability

Performance Leather Footwear Gloves Tech www.pittards.com

Booth 30089-UL

EVENTS

carry all your gear without adding excess weight. This versatile pack will quickly become your favorite to do it all. $40. While supplies last.

Ortovox Backpack Sale 3 p.m. 37055-UL

Come snag an ORTOVOX Traverse pack to keep you technical and radical in the mountains. $40. While supplies last.

ENO DoubleNest Hammock Sale 3 p.m. Booth 49035-UL

ENO will be selling its DoubleNest Hammock and Suspension Strap Combos for $40 (retail $100) to benefit the Conservation Alliance.

PHOTOS BY NICK COTE

Mug-It! Giveaway 3 p.m. 42055-UL

Add a handle to your pint, tumbler, or bottle! Grab a free Mug-It on your way to booth happy hours. Limited quantity, so get yours while you can!

SOLE Daily Raffle Drawing + BIG Prize Giveaway 3 p.m. 46105-UL

Stop by the SOLE booth every day at 4 p.m. for your chance to win a BIG prize giveaway. Prizes will include a Fitbit. Enter to win by dropping your name at the SOLE booth. Hope to see you there and good luck!

Daily Happy Hour and Outdoor Games Tournament 3 p.m. 49104-UL

Join us daily for beer and some friendly competition. Unwind and exchange stories during our Happy Hour Outdoor Games Tournaments. Play games like Bean Bag Toss, Bocce Ball, and Ladder Toss for a chance to win your own premium game set. Space is limited, sign up early. Climber Nina Williams signs posters at the adidas booth.

SOME THINGS KEEP COOL

LONGER Go

Our slickest line to date, Stanley GO Series with Ceramivac™ combines a smooth ceramic feel with the durability of vacuum insulated stainless steel.

NEWS Brand advocacy panelists talk values at Wednesday’s session.

Lunch and Learn with OIA

Outdoor Industry Association’s midday sessions provided invaluable industry insights on sustainable business, policy, and brand advocacy. BY DEBORAH WILLIAMS

PHOTO BY COURTESY

S THE TITLE SPONSOR and education provider of the Outdoor Retailer trade show, Outdoor Industry Association offers lunch-and-learn panels each day of the show. The topics vary, but are always informed by OIA’s three pillar focus areas: policy, participation, and sustainable business. All three of the lunches this year were past capacity and standing room only. Monday’s lunch, titled “State of Sustainability in the Outdoor Industry,” featured the launch of the industry’s first sustainability benchmarking report, OIA’s attempt to quantify the industry’s collective work in this area, establishing a baseline against which we can measure our collective performance and provide data-driven guidance to prioritize future initiatives. On Tuesday, the lunch topic was “A River Runs

Through It,” and speakers Taylor Hawes with The Nature Conservancy, David Leinweber of Angler’s Covey, Bob Ratcliffe of the National Park Service, Nathan Fey of American Whitewater, and Scott Leopold of Leopold Brothers shared their unique perspectives. Alex Boian, OIA Policy Director, opened the panel by encouraging attendees to remember that when we talk about “America’s Greatest Idea,” we have to talk about public lands and water. Water often gets second billing, but it’s equally important, especially as it pertains to the outdoor recreation economy. As the OIA Recreation Economy report shows, Americans spend more money on kayaking than on major league baseball and football games each year. And a recent poll by Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership points out

that 95 percent of sportsmen and sportswomen say a candidate’s position on land and water will influence their vote. All of the speakers highlighted two overarching issues of concern—water quality and water scarcity—and they shared stories about what they and their partners are doing to address both in order to protect our water resources. A standout anecdote from the session came from Nathan Fey with American Whitewater, which works to protect and restore American waterways by removing dams and restoring habitats to help more people access the rivers. Fey told the story of the Delores River, which runs from the Colorado high country into Utah. Fey said it provides some of the highest-quality river trips in this country, second only to Grand Canyon. At one time, the river saw 3,000 trips a year. Those created an incredible economic impact for the surrounding communities, not to mention the thousands of stewards those trips bred. But when a dam proposal was authorized, more than 50 percent of the whitewater operations lost their business. One of those businesses belonged to panelist Bob Ratcliffe. In the mid-‘90s, the river hosted fewer than 60 trips a year. With aggressive and committed work by American Whitewater and others, the dam was removed and the river was again opened to recreational use. In 2017, 29,000 people paddled the river, bringing with them an incredible economic impact. “Some of the best economies exist around rivers that have been protected and restored,” Fey said. Finally, on Wednesday, the lunch panel focused on brand advocacy and brought insights from REI, Outside magazine, Tahoe Mountain Sports, and KEEN. It used to be that we talked about cause marketing, said OIA’s VP of Marketing and Communications Jennifer Pringle, who opened the session. “But it is no longer enough to just sponsor a cause-related event. Consumers want your brand to stand for something at its core.” The panelists each explained how they do that. REI’s Alex Thompson said that the co-op puts brand strategy, business strategy, and social impact strategy in the same circle in order to have an authentic voice when it comes to issues advocacy. When you do that as a company, and then you hear about bigger societal issues, like how few people are getting outdoors, you have no choice but to lean into that because it so closely ties to your strategies, explained Thompson. Dave Polivy, who owns a single-door retail shop in Tahoe, explained that for his business, developing an authentic brand advocacy voice happened organically. As a member of the community where he owns his retail shop, Polivy got involved with land-use planning efforts. That led to being a community leader on those issues and listening to what the community wanted. Then, he was able to use his shop as a platform for supporting the issues that matter to his community. He has also found that his store gives him the opportunity to bring some of the bigger national issues down to the community level through events that marry traditional service, such as avalanche safety training, with issue advocacy, including climate action.

JULY 26, 2018 DAY 4

NEWS

We Asked, You Answered

On our Day 2 cover, we posed a provocative question about what the outdoor industry can do to take diversity seriously. Here were some of your answers. “Stop thinking about diversity as a racial issue, and start thinking about it as an economic issue. It doesn’t really matter whether it’s a color thing; it’s a haves vs. have-nots issue.”

“Not let white males answer this question!” “Have diverse images now— what is taking so long?”

“There are many issues: These questions speak to the heart of it. Major companies need to step forward and embrace this issue!”

“Support established programs that are doing a great job of expanding the demographic.”

LET'S KEEP TALKING

Answer the question at snewsnet.com/diversity-survey and watch SNEWS for a follow up story.

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“Be diverse— include everyone. Do not exclude anyone.”

This Newsroom Runs on…

Thanks to the many people and brands who helped us out in ways both measurable and immeasurable.

NEWS QUIZ

Do You Speak Millennial? How well do you know the Millennial crowd in the outdoor industry? Drew Simmons, founder and president of Pale Morning Media, has put together a quiz to gauge if you’re as cool as you think you are.

1. What are the Millennials? A A mountain range in New Hampshire with a series of high summits named after reality show “celebrities.” B An influential demographic comprised of more than 80 million Americans born from the mid-1980s to the late 1990s. The group will make up more than 50 percent of the US workforce by 2020, and 75 percent of it by 2030. C The opening band at the Outdoor Industry All-Star Jam. Not bad, but they do look at their phones a lot.

2. Why should you be jealous of outdoor Millennials? A As outdoor enthusiasts, they have come of age in a fully stocked world of beautiful woodcore, early-rise, flat-tail fat skis, avalanche beacons without that shrieking-whisper earphone thing, full-suspension-and-discbraked 29ers and merino wool everything. B As an outdoor industry workforce, Millennials are showing up just as the Outdoor Industry is hitting full stride. The Outdoor Recreation Economy is a rising tide nationally, creating true opportunities and career potential in nearly every category and every geographic market. C As a generation, by sheer virtue of their size and educational opportunities, the leaders of the Millennials will be the best of the best. Smart. Passionate. Talented. Clear eyes, full hearts, can’t lose. D Tinder. E All of the above.

ILLUSTRATIONS BY GIOVANNI CORRADO LEONE

PHOTOS BY LOUISA ALBANESE AND NICK COTE

T’S NOT ALWAYS easy being the official daily of Outdoor Retailer. There are the deadlines, the events, and fitting all that great gear and worthy events in our pages. OK, well, mostly it’s the deadlines. But we persevere, because you deserve a great trade show magazine. However, we couldn’t do it alone. Here’s a list of the things that carried us through from the Demo Experience to Day 4. Melvin IPAs! High Brew Coffee. Spotify. Tommy in IT for hookhook ing us up with the fastest internet in the building. My extremely understanding, pregnant wife. Hats to hide behind. Water. Dresses with pockets. Birkenstocks. Sampling from the Tillamook Jerky booth every time I leave/enter The Daily office. Watching Hans Florine glide around the show floor on a knee scooter. Ibuprofen extra strength. Hot breakfast from Momentum Media PR. La Croix (special shout-out to Pamplemousse flavor). Massimo Alpian from RYGR and Fjällräven, who helped provide a last-minute birthbirth day present for my 2-year-old. Peanut M&M’s. The mother’s room! Specifically, the CLIF Kid Organic Z Fruit snacks. Delicious. For my ... kid, yeah. The pine scent in the bathrooms—just like the airport! Double entrees at the Outsiders Ball. Steady stream of texted pics of my baby at home. Nonplussed bibs guy from Patagonia. Rovr for the Abrams tank of a cooler. The overwhelming coolness of the Cooling Magic Cool Personal Cooling Towel. Giovanni Corrado Leone, our associate art director, who just finished his last show. Bon voyage, Gio! And of course, Quinn the stress-reducing dog, the unofficial mascot of The Daily. We love you all. See you in November!

exhausting. E Burt’s Tiki Lounge is closed. 4. Where do people think outdoor Millennials spend most of their time during Outdoor Retailer? A High fiving each other inside the bespoke, cedar-paneled and citrus-enhanced IPA tasting rooms of Salt Lake City as they compare handcrafted vegan-oil-massaged leather “thank you” belts they’ve received from their artsy rooftop community garden board of directors. B Taking artsy photos of motorcycle campsites casually accessorized with 12-pound plaid wool backpacks and $900 Army tents. C Anywhere they can get a stainless steel keg cup.

A How do you get your mustache to stay like that? B Are you going to hike in those jeans? C If you’re not going to eat that gluten, can I have it?

8. Which of these things do Millennials enjoy asking older generations? Mark all that apply. A What’s a fax? B Do you need help updating your iPhone? C What, exactly, is the situation that calls for zip-off hiking pants?

ANSWERS

5. True or false: 1 A Millennials are the future of the outdoor industry participant base, the future of the outdoor industry workforce and thus the future of the outdoor industry. B Generations have been bitching about the capabilities of next generations since dinosaurs roamed the earth. Or, at least since the 1960s. C Boomers and Gen-Xers are not great at size estimates. Any time a lot of Millennials show up for something like Coachella, they think it’s all of them. D Since when did Outdoor become a real business anyway? Get over yourself. You should be happy to have a job and spend as much time in Utah as you do.

3. Why should you feel sorry for Millennials?

6. What do Millennials like most about the outdoor experience in 2016?

A As outdoor enthusiasts, they’ll find true “firsts” are near impossible to come by. C As the outdoor industry workforce, Millennials are entering a market which has hit a plateau. Competition is fierce for a shared consumer base in an ever-broadening marketplace. Innovation is rare. Gear may never get much better. And the whole “Winter is Coming” thing actually only applies to that HBO series with the dragons. D The acute whiplash from being told your generation is the “savior” and being pegged as a group of “narcissistic underachievers” must be

A Creative and engaging social media content. Memes! Contests! Instagram takeovers by @hikinghipster420! B Beards and plaid. C Summits, descents and the personal challenges overcome in a blue-sky setting. D The opportunity to get away from the Boomers and Slackers.

7. Which of these things do older generations enjoy asking Millennials? Mark all that apply.

2 3 4 5 6 7 8

b e Your call. Again, your call. All true, my friend. I hope it’s C. But it’s probably D. a, b and c. a, b and c.

SCORING 0-2 CORRECT ANSWERS Well, I guess the good news is that despite your loose grasp on generational demographics, you have excellent commitment to reading material. 3-6 CORRECT ANSWERS Meh. Ask your intern to fill you in. 7-8 CORRECT ANSWERS You know your Outdoor Millennial! Drew Simmons (@wickedoutdoorsy) is the founder and president of Pale Morning Media, a strategic public relations and creative communications agency specializing in the outdoor recreation industry. After hours, you can find him in the very Green Mountains of Vermont, hanging out with Millennials playing ultimate, fishing and skiing.

AUGUST 6, 2016 DAY 4

CMYK

WE KNOW OUTDOORS

If you’re reading this now,

you should be reading SNEWS every day, the most respected source of outdoor industry news since 1984. web icon

COMING SOON: Boost your sales with our new Retail College training courses* » Designed for retailers, taught by retailers » Learn the techniques, skills, tips and tricks, needed to close sales by some of the industry’s most successful salespeople » Course is free to qualified specialty outdoor shops and all their employees » Includes video,CMYK infographics, quizzes, checklists, and interactive exercises » For new employees and seasoned veterans of the sales floor… something for everyone! *Courses are free to qualified outdoor specialty shops and all their employees.

snews “ “

Industry Leaders Depend on SNEWS W

A must read every morning. It’s the best place to keep an eye on the daily pulse of the Eoutdoor K N industry. OW O U Allen, TDO –Wes owner, Sunlight Sports

“ SNEWS_ORAd.indd 1

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Finally a sports and outdoors news source that covers lifestyle, trends, and gear while being cutting edge and relevant in today’s mobile landscape. –Eric Henderson, owner, Meteorite PR

“

At the heart of everything SNEWS does is a desire to find the truth, fun, and hard facts that drive the business and personality of the outdoor industry. It’s compelling content that I read every day. –Doug Schnitzspahn, editor-in-chief, Elevation Outdoors Thoughtful, honest writing and reporting that arms my team with knowledge that helps us grow.” –Betsy Bertram, marketing manager, Townsend Bertram & Co.

snewsnet.com/boost-your-sales-footwear

“

I trust SNEWS. No other media brand is tapped into the outdoor space like them. –Dave Petri, VP of marketing, Farm to Feet

FIND US AT BOOTH 42105-UL

Join us at snewsnet.com

7/18/18 12:42 PM

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Product

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Experience the collection in person! CORDURA® brand booth #54037-UL and Carhartt® booth #46007-UL.

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snewsnet.com

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EDITORIAL

SHOW STAFF

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

VICE PRESIDENT, GROUP SHOW DIRECTOR

khostetter@aimmedia.com

marisa.nicholson@outdoorretailer.com

Kristin Hostetter EXECUTIVE EDITOR

Casey Lyons

DEPUTY EDITOR

Marisa Nicholson SALES DIRECTOR

Krista Dill

krista.dill@outdoorretailer.com

Elisabeth Kwak-Hefferan

SENIOR ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE

ASSISTANT EDITOR

paul.dillman@outdoorretailer.com

aarvesen@aimmedia.com

PUBLISHER, OUTDOOR RETAILER MAGAZINE/THE DAILY SENIOR ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE, OUTDOOR RETAILER

Amelia Arvesen CONTRIBUTORS

Eugene Buchanan, Corey Buhay, Kassondra Cloos, Courtney Holden, Krista Karlson, Carolyn Webber, Ryan Wichelns EDITORIAL INTERNS

Leah Qiu, Christian Zander

Paul Dillman

Ryan Johnson

ryan.johnson@outdoorretailer.com ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE

Dave Nielson

dave.nielson@outdoorretailer.com ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE

Robert O’Quinn

robert.oquinn@outdoorretailer.com

DESIGN & PHOTOGRAPHY ART DIRECTOR

Mike Leister DEPUTY ART DIRECTOR

Claire Eckstrom

ASSOCIATE ART DIRECTOR

Giovanni Corrado Leone LEAD PHOTOGRAPHER

Louisa Albanese PHOTOGRAPHER

ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE

Adam Kingston

adam.kingston@outdoorretailer.com SENIOR MARKETING DIRECTOR

Jennifer Holcomb

jennifer.holcomb@outdoorretailer.com MARKETING DIRECTOR

Sarah Langston

sarah.langston@outdoorretailer.com MARKETING COMMUNICATIONS SPECIALIST

Natalie Generalovich

Nick Cote

natalie.generalovich@outdoorretailer.com

ART INTERN

MARKETING MANAGER

Grace Schmidt

Collaborate Naturally

Maxwell Frost

maxwell.frost@outdoorretailer.com

PRODUCTION GROUP PRODUCTION DIRECTOR

Barb Van Sickle

PREPRESS MANAGER

Joy Kelley

AD COORDINATOR

Caitlin O’Connor

SALES SNEWS SALES MANAGER

Susie von Mettenheim

303-253- 6441 SvonMettenheim@aimmedia.com

SENIOR ART DIRECTOR

Raymond Kang

raymond.kang@outdoorretailer.com GRAPHIC DESIGNER

Get outside of business-as-usual product design, development, and distribution. Behind every visionary product idea is collaboration.

Marisa Lowey-Ball

marisa.lowey-ball@outdoorretailer.com PRODUCTION/TRAFFIC MANAGER

Laurie Stiglitz

laurie.stiglitz@outdoorretailer.com BRAND DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR

Larry Harrison

larry.harrison@outdoorretailer.com

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RETAIL RELATIONS MANAGER

Joe Bustos

joe.bustos@outdoorretailer.com RETAIL RELATIONS MANAGER

Chris Sears

PRESIDENT & CEO

Andrew W. Clurman SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT, CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER & TREASURER

chris.sears@outdoorretailer.com SENIOR OPERATIONS DIRECTOR

Cathy Griffith

cathy.griffith@emeraldexpo.com OPERATIONS DIRECTOR

Julie Freedman

Michael Henry

julie.freedman@outdoorretailer.com

CHIEF INNOVATION OFFICER

OPERATIONS MANAGER

MANAGING DIRECTOR

nicole.tessier@outdoorretailer.com

Jonathan Dorn

Sharon Houghton VICE PRESIDENT, AUDIENCE DEVELOPMENT

Thomas Masterson

VICE PRESIDENT, PEOPLE AND PLACES

JoAnn Thomas AIM BOARD CHAIR

Efrem Zimbalist III

Nicole Tessier

OPERATIONS MANAGER/DEMO

See A Demo at Our Outdoor Retailer Booth #29131-SL

Kirsten Khoury

kirsten.khoury@outdoorretailer.com REGISTRATION OPERATIONS MANAGER

Kristen Novick

kristen.novick@emeraldexpo.com

Daily Happy Hour 3-6 PM Daily Coffee Hour 8-10 AM

REGISTRATION OPERATIONS COORDINATOR

Kylie Sanders

kylie.sanders@emeraldexpo.com EVENTS OPERATIONS COORDINATOR

Nicole Cho

nicole.cho@outdoorretailer.com SPONSORSHIPS OPERATIONS COORDINATOR

Bri Vianco

bri.vianco@outdoorretailer.com BILLING MANAGER

Sara Luckey

sara.luckey@outdoorretailer.com

JULY 26, 2018 DAY 4

bluescape.com 95

BEST OF BOOTH

SUMMER MARKET

Have a ‘Campfire Moment’

Tincup Whiskey’s booth gives show-goers a chance to settle down and settle in.

1. This baby blue Sno-Cat serves as the booth centerpiece. 2. A sampler shot comes with its own souvenir shot glass. 3. Weathered tin cups behind the bar lend an old-school vibe.

THE DAILY | SUMMER MARKET

PHOTOS BY NICK COTE

VER HAD A MEETING in the back of a Sno-Cat? Today may be your last chance. A 1953 Tucker Sno-Cat—notably, the same model that Sir Edmund Hillary used to cross Antarctica in 1958—sits comfortably in the Tincup Whiskey booth alongside real pine trees, a makeshift campfire and, of course, a bar. Each afternoon, the brand served up (generous!) whiskey shots, averaging 2,500 happy customers per day. Although last winter’s booth location in the Venture Out section was successful, this summer Tincup moved upstairs and secured a much bigger space. The intention: create a welcoming space where people can gather, no matter what type of badge they’re wearing. That fits in line with the Denverbased brand’s ethos of supporting what it calls “campfire moments,” those times where people sit together without stress, cell phones, or agendas. This idea, and the booth that represents it, is a preview of the brand’s 2019 marketing campaign focused on bringing the distillery tasting room to consumers. Over the next year, Tincup will host events throughout the Mountain West at various ski areas and backcountry locations. Oh, and if you’re curious about how they got the Sno-Cat on the show floor: It was literally the first thing in the entire room. Despite its age, the machine still runs. They just drove it right in.

Keeping it

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