An estimated 200 billion bottles of water are sold around the world annually. Unfortunately, most of these bottles find their into landfills rather than being recycled, calling into question our consumption habits. The good news is that manufacturers of eco-friendly bottles are tackling the unsustainable trend head on with an array of innovative, versatile and fun sustainable options. Following up on our Handheld Hydration Highlights from the Summer 2012 Show, this January we put our team to the task of finding some of their favorite reusable water bottles from this year’s Winter Show.
Video: Drop in with Zack Giffin in Alaska
See what it’s like to drop in on a Haines, AK line from the point of view of Outdoor Research Sidecountry Skiing Ambassador Zack Giffin.
Film by Sweetgrass Productions.
Products of Note: Outdoor Retailer Winter Market 2013
Recently, our editors published their 2013 Outdoor Retailer Winter Market BEST IN SHOW awards featuring the gear our team found to be the most exciting, innovative, and unique of 2013. However, when North America’s largest outdoor trade show boasts 1,000 of the world’s best manufacturers and distributors of outdoor gear and apparel, there are more than just a handful of items that deserve to be mentioned. Now that the snow flurries have settled, our team has taken the time to pour over pages of notes, emails, and PR pieces in an effort to compile a list of additional eye catching highlights from this year’s Winter Outdoor Retailer Show.
The Hi-Tec Hurricane Mid Waterproof Hiking Boot
For 2013, Hi-Tec is ushering in the tropical storm season a little early with the introduction of the Hurricane and Hurricane Mid WP hiking shoes. Many fame the Hurricane as the embodiment of nature’s power or acts of divine wrath. The word “hurricane” itself actually derives from “Hurakan,” a destructive Mayan god. In the same way, think of Hi-Tec’s Waterproof Hurricane as a monster on the trail.
Trending Now: Merrell’s M-Connect Series
Spring is just around the corner. It’s the time of year when an array of color returns to the stark world of white, and the time our exercise regime begins again in earnest. This year, we’ve resolved to get out of the gym and make the most of the outdoors. Running toward the morning sunrise, the sound of our footfalls on the trail–being outside reminds us of what it means to be complete, to be connected. It is also the essence of Merrell M-Connect, a new array of lightweight, minimalist footwear designed to provide a better ‘connection’ to the world around you.
Video: Mountains in Motion – The Canadian Rockies
“Thousands of tired, nerve-shaken, over-civilized people are beginning to find out that going to the mountain is going home; that wildness is necessity; that mountain parks and reservations are useful not only as fountains of timber and irrigating rivers, but as fountains of life.” – John Muir
Mountains in Motion: The Canadian Rockies is an award-winning short film documenting the life of the alpine landscape through time-lapse photography. In an effort to highlight the wildness of these mountain places and how they have inspired explorers of the past, present and future, time-lapse sequences were patiently gathered from exposed summits, by glacial lakes, and under aurora-filled skies.
All told, dim the lights, turn up your speakers, view on the largest screen possible, sit back, relax and enjoy.
Swany Performance Gloves: Steez Gloves and TOAST 3N1 Mitts
While you’ve been busy daydreaming about your next powder session, the design experts at Swany have been working hard to manufacture premium gloves and mittens that bring you the best in quality, warmth and durability. Ready to endure years of hard slashing and mountain abuse, the Steez Glove and TOAST 3N1 Mitts fall in line with Swany’s reputation for gloves that provide durable and dependable protection against the cold.
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‘Best in Show’ Awards: Outdoor Retailer Winter 2013
Twice a year, some of the world’s best outdoor brands gather in Salt Lake City to showcase the latest gear and fashions before they hit the mainstream. For retailers, distributors and manufacturers, as well as members of the media, these Trade Shows are introductions to next season’s gear, new companies and industry trends. Every January, Salt Lake hosts Outdoor Retailer Winter Market, North America’s largest winter lifestyle and sports industry gathering. This year’s event brought together 1,000 manufacturers and distributors, including the likes of Columbia, The North Face, Salomon, Hi-Tec, Vasque Footwear and more.
Over the course of three days, the Gumption Gear team met with small and large manufacturers alike, seeking out the very best Winter Retailer had to offer for our “Best in Show” awards. Following is our list of winners from the 2013 show.
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Run at the Speed of Light: Saucony ViZiPRO HDX Jacket
Whether it’s the cool days of Autumn or the cold evenings of Winter and early Spring, our run sessions offer stunning views and shorter days. That also means less daylight for your training regimen. With a color scheme that’s hard to miss, coupled with LED piping, the ViZiPRO® Orange and ViZiPRO Pink™ line of running jackets from Saucony keeps you visible during workouts in dim light.
Helly Hansen Speed Jacket
“Sunshine is delicious, rain is refreshing, wind braces us up, snow is exhilarating; there is really no such thing as bad weather, only different kinds of good weather.” John Ruskin
Your mind may be willing to endure the climate, but your body may need a little help. When the elements conspire to keep you indoors, you need a running jacket ready and willing to serve as your armor. The Speed Jacket from Helly Hansen is ready to take on the weather and help you chart a course to your destination.