Referring to the Outdoor Retailer Show as just another “trade-show” would be akin to calling Mount Everest just “another mountain”.  With thousands of brands and attendees, the show affectionately known as OR, is the largest convention of its kind. This is the place where industry trends are defined, and the latest cutting-edge products and technologies are on display.

The close of last week’s Outdoor Retailer Summer Market officially marks the end of a 22-year run for Salt Lake City as the host city as the  twice-yearly trade show will now head to Colorado. And so for one last time we made our own pilgrimage to the Salt Palace to scout out the best new gear from the outdoor industry launching in 2018. Our annual “Best in Show” awards represent some of the most unique and innovative new items that will be hitting the shelves later this year.
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Quick glances at storeroom shelves might lead you to believe that American craftsmanship and ingenuity are dwindling commodities, but the truth is, “Made in the USA” is making a big comeback. Companies are bringing operations back from overseas, and consumers are increasingly attuned to the source of what they are buying.

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Picking the right gift for Father’s Day can be a daunting task, and while taking the easy road with a tie or coffee mug is tempting, why not do something special for pops this year? To help take the stress out of this Father’s Day, our team put together a list of outdoor related suggestions that let you say thank you to the guy who first stoked your passion for the great outdoors.

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Music festival season kicks off each spring, bringing tent cities, massive crowds and the sounds of your favorite bands to incredible outdoor settings. Prepare properly and you’re in for the weekend of a lifetime; show up unprepared and your festival experience may quick devolve into a real-life “Lord of the Flies” adaptation. We partnered up with some of our festival minded industry friends to ensure you’ve got a list of gear that will make festival life infinitely better. 
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Your duffel bag is the true unsung hero of your gear. It gets to travel, but it never gets to really come out and play. Even so, it bears the enormous responsibility of taking care of your gear, even when it’s in the hands of not-so-gentle baggage handlers. You can’t trust just any bag with this responsibility, but you can definitely put your trust in the family of duffel bags from Helly Hansen.

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