OUTDOOR RETAILER SUMMER MARKET 2018: Gear of Interest for Lightweight and Ultralight Backpacking— PART 2

By Will Rietveld and Janet Reichl

We have covered Outdoor Retailer for about 13 years now, and it never fails to impress. Yes, it was earlier this year (July), and will be even earlier next year (June).

Most of the interesting gear we find at OR fits in the Lightweight category, but there are some notable Ultralight gems, and some gear can go either way, depending on your perspective.

As always, there are a few standout items, and lots of evolutionary improvements, all making for lighter better gear. What excites us varies a lot, depends on where your interests lie, so I present gear in no particular order; just scroll and read what interests you. Also, so we can get our coverage posted faster, and to avoid an excessively long single article we will post our coverage as a series of shorter articles containing around a dozen items each.

A few notes: (1) gear introduced at this OR will be available in spring 2019, unless noted otherwise, and (2) weights for clothing are for men’s size Medium and shoes are for men’s size 9 and women’s size 7, unless stated otherwise.

We can’t help but compare OR now at the Colorado Convention Center with OR at the Salt Palace in Utah. One big difference is the emphasis on recycling. We saw these barrels everywhere, and its recycling done right – a trash barrel next to a recycling barrel, and clearly explained. Near food courts they also had one for compost. Research has found that the best arrangement is a trash barrel next to a recycling barrel; then people do the right thing. If its one or the other, everything goes into that barrel. Colorado is also a good match for OR because of their value and support for public lands (unlike Utah). Thanks Colorado!

The Balega rep showed us theirBalega Enduro Collection of Performance Socks that features V-Tech arch support and pressure-free grip. It's available in three heights; MSRP is $15 for the crew height. Their Balega Blister Resist socks (not shown) contain 30% mohair, which is goat hair, along with other fibers. According to the rep, the socks get their blister resistor properties from mohair being smooth in one direction and rough in the other direction. MSRP is $18 for the crew.

The Marmot Bantamweight Rain Jacket and Pant, coming February 1, 2019, are claimed to be the lightest full featured rainsuit. The jacket weighs 4.9 ounces and the pant weighs 2.9 ounces, which are good weights for rain garments with features. Features means actual pockets and drawcords. MSRPs are $275 and $225, so start saving now.

A bivy is something mostly used by climbers nowadays, but the new Outdoor Research Interstellar Bivy is a standout that may change minds. The weight is just 19.9 ounces including the Delrin hoop pole, and it’s made of ORs 3-layer AscentShell waterproof-breathable fabric, which has won awards for its breathability. The bivy can actually be worn in camp, with arm exits and the head end serving as a sombrero. It also has a star gazing option with bug protection via a mesh inner panel. MSRP is $275.

It’s been interesting to watch BioLite develop as a company. Their initial product is a wood-fired stove that generates power. Now they have now they've expanded their line to include USB chargers, solar panels and more.. Their new innovative headlamp is called the BioLite Headlamp, which is a straightforward name. The headlamp is basically molded into the soft breathable fabric strap, and features a 900 mah micro USB rechargeable battery, 330 lumens of light on the brightest setting, 4 modes (white flood, white spot, white strobe, red flood), and 75 meters of visibility. It feels like wearing a headband rather than a headlamp. Weight is 2.42 ounces and MSRP is $50.

A big story at this OR is how light weight tents are getting, like under 2 pounds for a 2-person double-wall tent, which is a new milestone.  Big Agnes has a passel of them coming out in spring 2019. The new tents are versions of the Fly Creek, Tiger Wall, and Scout – each one will be available in Regular, Platinum, and Dyneema versions. The tent canopy is lightweight nylon ripstop, 7-denier random ripstop nylon which is 25% stronger than regular ripstop, or Dyneema, respectively. The interiors are very lightweight mesh and 7-denier fabric.

The first is the Fly Creek HV Carbon with Dyneema. The Fly Creek Regular and Platinum have already been out for awhile. The Fly Creek design puts the vestibule at the head end of the double-wall tent. Carbon and Dyneema are the keywords; the poles are carbon fiber and the fly is thin (probably 0.31) Dyneema. The inner tent is mostly mesh plus 7-denier nylon fabric. Trail weight for the 1-person version is 1 pound and cost is $800, and 1 pound 2 ounces for the 2-person version and $850. The tent can be set up fast-fly, which reduces the weight 2 ounces. The thing about buying a Dyneema shelter is it really feels good after the pain of purchase is over.

We recently reported on the Regular Big Agnes Tiger Wall tent, which stands to bump the Copper Spur off its pedestal for a super light tent with two side-entry doors. The Big Agnes Tiger Wall Platinum will be available in 2P and 3P versions weighing 1 pound 15 ounces and 2 pounds 5 ounces, and MSRPs of $550 and $600. At right is a closeup of their 7 denier random ripstop nylon fabric, which is claimed to be 25% stronger. The Big Agnes Tiger Wall Carbon With Dyneema weighs 1 pound 9 ounces for the 1P and 1 pound 14 ounces for the 2P, and costs $1000 and $1200 respectively. The fast-fly setup option reduces weight 3 ounces.

Next is the Scout 2P Platinum and Dyneema. The Scout is a single-wall tent supported with trekking poles. The Regular Scout 2P has been around for awhile, and is a value-priced roomy tent. The Platinum version moves to a 7-denier canopy that reduces weight to 1 pound 1ounce and costs $450. The Dyneema version cuts the trail weight to 11 ounces and costs $700.

Finally is the Big Agnes Onyx Tarp Carbon With Dyneema, which is a minimalist 2-person tarp supported by trekking poles. Trail weight is 8 ounces and cost is $500.

Big Agnes is also introducing a new hoodless 40F sleeping bag called the Pluton UL40 (left), featuring 850 fill-power water-resistant down. Weight is 15 ounces and MSRP is $350. The Notch UL40 (right) is insulated with Primaloft, weighs 1 pound 5 ounces, and costs $190.

Ultimate Directions is introducing their new Hydrolight Clothing Series that feature water bottle pockets and included bottles designed into the garment. The series includes a ¾-length tight (photo) and a short. The design includes two hip height bottle pockets on the backside of the garment, each holding a 300 ml plastic bottle, plus two side slip pockets. MSRP is about $150. The bottles may get in the way of a pack hipbelt, but should combine well with a running vest.

It wasn’t that long ago that Sierra Designs introduced their High Route 1P Double-Wall Tent, but they are already updating it to reduce the weight to under 2 pounds. The roomy 1-plus person trekking pole supported tent now weighs 1 pound 15 ounces. Features include: 15-denier canopy plus mesh and fabric interior, two doors with vestibules, diagonal ridgeline, and one large high vent. Pitching the fly only cuts tent weight to 1 pound 1 ounce. MSRP is $300, which is a good value.

Also coming is the Sierra Designs Nitro Quilt, which will be available in 35F and 20F versions. They feature 800 fill-power DryDown, a 15-denier shell, and unique hand and head pockets that allow one to burrito up. The 35F version weighs 20 ounces and costs $250, and the 20F version weighs 25 ounces and costs $280. Both are good values.