OUTDOOR RETAILER SUMMER MARKET 2018: Gear of Interest for Lightweight and Ultralight Backpacking— PART 3

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 gear preferences.

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, depending on where your interests lie, so we 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.

The Mountain Hardwear Kor PreShell is a very breathable wind shirt made of Pertex Quantum Air fabric. More breathability allows a hiker to wear the wind shirt comfortably over a wider range of conditions within the cool/overcast/windy weather category. This windshirt is featured (hood, full-height front zipper, zippered hand pockets), so it weighs a bit more at 4.9 ounces. MSRP is $130. Another version with a ¾-height front zipper will also be available.

Mountain Hardwear has also redesigned their Ghost Whisperer sleeping bags into a new version under their classic Phantom name. The new MH Phantom 0F, 15F, and 30F Sleeping Bags feature 850 fill-power water-resistant down, an UL 10x10 denier nylon shell with DWR, contoured footbox, and an anti-snag zipper (right). The bags have a “performance fit” meaning they are snug for  weight reduction and higher thermal efficiency. Be sure to try out the fit before you buy.

Here’s a bit of winter gear too good to pass up. The new Merrell Thermo Rogue Insulated Boot features Aerogel insulation, Vibram Arctic Grip outsole, lightweight synthetic fabrics, and a Gore-Tex waterproof-breathable membrane. We don’t have the weight. MSRP is about $220; available October 2018.

Another featured breathable wind shirt is the Patagonia Houdini Air. Breathability is rated at 20 cfm. The special fabric has a grid pattern on the back to keep it off the skin and enhance airflow. Features are one chest pocket and attached hood. Weight is 4.3 ounces and MSRP is $149. Is this the best Houdini ever?

The new Luci Outdoor 2.0 Pro Series Inflatable Lantern and Charger is packable when you consider all it does. Its battery can be charged with a micro USB cable or 14 hours in the sun. A full charge will provide one cell phone charge plus about 2 hours of light. 150 lumens on high. Weight is 5.5 ounces and MSRP is $35.

Luci’s competition, LuminAid, also has a new product called the LuminAid PackLite 2-in-1 Phone Charger and Inflatable Lantern. Theirs will come in two battery sizes: 2000 mah (8.5 ounces, $50) and 4000 mah (9.7 ounces, $70), both rechargeable via a micro USB cable or the sun. The first one will provide one phone charge, and the bigger one will provide two charges. 150 lumens on high. Available now.

Soto makes well-designed backpacking stoves and cookwear. Their new Soto ThermoStack Cook Set Combo consists of a nesting 750 ml cookpot, 400 ml pot, double wall drink cup (the 2 parts can be used separately), pot clamp/tong, insulating cozy, and mesh carry sack. The set weighs 11 ounces and nests into a small size. The mesh carry sack has enough extra room to add a 110 gram fuel canister (photo). The Combo will cost $70.

Steripen is now part of Katadyn. The former Steripen Freedom is now the Steripen Ultralight UV Water Purifier. This new version ditches the pesky LED light on the original that comes on when it’s not wanted, reducing the weight to 2.5 ounces. It recharges with a micro USB cord and is good for 40+ 45 second cycles to purify ½-liter of water per cycle. MSRP has decreased from $99 to $80. The nice thing about purifying with UV is you can treat and drink, no wait time.

The Crazy Creek Crazy Pod is a complete hammock system that weighs 2 pounds 14 ounces, including straps and canopy. It’s waterproof, bugproof, and well ventilated with a mesh panel at each end that can be opened/closed from the inside with a pull cord. MSRP is $289; available January 2019.

Aqua-Mira now has an inline or bottle mounted water filter called the Aqua-Mira Frontier Max Multifunction Filter. Three different types of filter cartridges are available for different situations: a green one for bacteria intended for backcountry use, a red one for travel to protect from all sorts of organisms, and a blue one for removing dissolved chemicals. The system allows the filter element to be switched for different uses. Weight for the inline version is 3.5 ounces and cost is $30; a replacement filter is $20. Flow rate is 800 ml/min and a cartridge purifies about 100 gallons. The inline version comes with connectors so it can be taken out of the system, which is a nice touch.

Another great water filtration prospect is the new 2-ounce Sawyer Micro Squeeze Filter, which will screw onto a beverage bottle or one of Sawyer’s new One Liter Squeeze Pouches that weigh just 0.4 ounce each. The Micro will appear around September 2018 for around $29, and a 3-pack of the Pouches will sell for $15. A nice trick is to roll the pouch to force the water into another container so you can drink freely.

The rechargeable Fenix HM50R Headlamp or LD15 Clip Light puts out 500 lumens of light in high mode. That’s a lot of light for a torch weighing just 2.8 ounces (headlamp, left) or 1.95 ounces (clip light, right), including the battery. As you can see, it’s the same torch with two different mountings. The former sells for $80 and the latter is $72; available now.

How about a 4-inch thick packable inflatable sleeping pad? The new Sea To Summit Etherlite XT Sleeping Pads are pretty darn light considering their dimensions. There well be quite a range of sizes, as well as insulated and uninsulated versions. The lightest is the Regular Uninsulated (R 0.8, left)  at 12 ounces and $160, and the Regular Insulated (R 3.8, right) at 15 ounces and $190. They may be overkill for backpacking but great for base camping and car camping, but some people will disagree with the first part about overkill.

At the Vargo Outdoor booth we found the Vargo No-Fly 2P Tent, a really roomy 2-person hybrid single wall freestanding tent that weighs just 2.6 pounds. It has 34 sq ft of floor space, two side entries with large vestibules, one top vent closable from the inside, flush mounted pole sleeves, and Easton carbon fiber poles. The floor dimensions are 57x86 inches, which is significantly more than most 2P tents, and it has headroom to match. MSRP is $500; available October 2018.

At the Black Diamond booth we found more goodies. Their hoodless unisex Deploy Wind Shell is the one with the YKK Superlight zipper, and the fabric is a new Toray 5-denier with DWR. The zipper is extra deep for easier on/off and good ventilation. Weight is 1.69 ounces and MSRP is $159. The weight is very close to the Montbell Tachyon Jacket @ 1.6 ounces, but the Tachyon has a full-height front zipper. Thus, the Deploy is very close to claiming its the lightest wind shirt on the market.

Also from BD is the Rhythm T, a 96-gram merino wool summer top with lots of stretch due to a new yarn technology. BD claims its the lightest technical T on the market. Its weave and thinness allows it to dry very fast. It will sell for $75.

Finally from BD is the Distance Tent, made of waterproof-breathable fabric and supported with two trekking poles. It has an included bridge at the top that connects the trekking poles. A combo package of the tent plus compatible BD trekking poles is $400 and weighs 2 pounds 4 ounces. A version without the trekking poles, including an adapter for other trekking poles, is 1 pound 7 ounces and $250. The tent has one top vent and a foot vent. A disadvantage of this tent design (no vestibule) is rain falls directly into the tent when the door is opened.

Vibram’s new Litebase Shoe Construction will be introduced in 2019 in a number of shoes from different manufacturers. It’s basically a new midsole compound that significantly lowers the weight of trail shoes, combined with Vibram’s popular Megagrip outsole. It’s claimed to be 50% slimmer, 30% lighter, and the same performance. Note the weight difference between the standard midsole (left) and the Litebase midsole (right).

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.

OUTDOOR RETAILER SUMMER MARKET 2018: Gear of Interest for Lightweight and Ultralight Backpacking— PART 1

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). The Colorado Convention Center in Denver is the new location, and its huge.

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 gear preferences.

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, depending on where your interests lie, so we 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.

Topo Athletic Hydroventure 2 Shoe. Gen 2 for this popular waterproof trail running shoe will come out in January 2019. It will continue to feature an eVent membrane, foot-shape fit (wide toebox and snug heel cup, rock plate, and 25/22 platform with 3 mm drop. Upgrades include an Ortholite footbed, Vibram Megagrip outsole with deeper and wider spaced lugs, and more TPU overlay in wear areas. Weight is 10.2 oz/shoe for men and 8.3 oz/shoe for women; MSRP is $140. When I tested the Hydroventure shoe a couple of years ago, I found it to be nearly indestructible in spite of its very light weight. I had some issues with the thin footbed bunching up, but that should be overcome with the new Ortholite footbed.

A new model coming soon is the Topo Athletic Ultraventure. This brand new model will feature a 3-piece multi-density EVA midsole in place of a rock plate, giving it a soft ride. The Ortholite footbed, enhanced TPU overlay, and Vibram XS Trek outsole are the same as the Terraventure 2. Stack height is 30-25, giving it a 5 mm drop. Weights are 9.1 oz/shoe for women, and 11.2 oz/shoe for men; MSRP is $130. Available from REI in November 2018. I look forward to testing this one for ultralight backpacking.

Finally, from Topo Athletic, is the Terraventure 2, another significant upgrade to a popular lightweight trail shoe. The upgrades include an Ortholite footbed,Vibram XS Trek outsole with wider spaced lugs, and drainage “gills” for water release and faster drying. Stack height is 25-22, giving it a 3 mm drop. Weights are 10.8 oz/shoe for men and 8.2 oz/shoe for women. Available November 2018 for $120. In my recent review of this shoe, I loved its fit, comfort, and traction, but I managed to wear holes in the anterior toebox mesh from sidestepping in steep scree. The enhanced TPU rand and mesh overlays should overcome that issue.

Therm-a-Rest will introduce their Fast and Light collection in spring 2019. The centerpiece is their new Therm-a-Rest NeoAir UberLite Inflatable Sleeping Pad. Just the name suggests that something really good is coming here! Get ready for an 8.8-ounce, 2.5 in thick, R 2.0 full length sleeping pad. The UberLit will come in three sizes: Small, Regular, and Large. The Small measures 20x47 inches and weighs 6 ounces, Regular is 20x72 inches and 8.8 ounces, and Large is 25x77 inches and 12 ounces. When the NeoAir first came out, the size Regular pad weighed 14 ounces, and we considered that ultralight. So TAR raised the bar on their own product and maintains the lead. Fabrics are 30d nylon bottom and 15d top. The NeoAir Uberlight pads use a diamond core matrix with trapped air for insulation. Start saving your money though; prices are $140, $180, and $210 for the Short, Regular, and Large sizes.

Cascade Designs representatives were really excited to show us their new Fast and Light gear collection, and we were excited to see it. They are really getting serious, as the next items will show. The next is their Therm-a-Rest Vesper 32F and 20F Quilts, featuring 900 fill-power down, side baffles for increased warmth retention,  Nikwax water-resistant down, and a SynergyLink system to integrate quilt and sleeping pad . The shell is 10d nylon ripstop with DWR. Weight and MSRP for the 32F quilt is 15 oz and $330 and 19 oz and $380 for the 20F version; long versions will also be available. With these new products from TAR, you will soon be able to purchase a 24 ounce sleeping system (pad and quilt) at your hometown outdoor store.

Prefer a sleeping bag rather than a quilt? No problem. Next up from TAR are the Therm-a-Rest Hyperion 32F and 20F Sleeping Bags. Each will be available in three sizes: Short, Regular, and Long. The bags feature 900 fill-power down, zoned insulation, box baffled construction, Nikwax water repellent down, and a ThermaCapture reflective film for better thermal efficiency. For size Regular the weight is 16 ounces and MSRPs is $370 for the 32F bag, and 20 ounces and $419 for the 20F bag, which is a good value for an ultralight bag.

Finally, from TAR is the Therm-a-Rest Ohm, a 32F semi-rectangular, roomier, hoodless, zipper all-around bag that will open to a blanket or quilt for warmer nights. The Ohm has the same down and baffling as the other bags, weighs 18 oz for size Regular, and will sell for $370.

I like to cover the technologies that make our gear lighter and better, and one good example is the new YKK Super Lightweight Zipper. Currently, the YKK #3 zipper is the lightest we normally see, but an even lighter version of that zipper is in the pipeline. The Super Lightweight version is 40% lighter than the standard #3. The tape is less than 0.1 mm thick, breathable, and see-through, which helps keep ultralight gear ultralight. The first garment to use it is the Black Diamond Deploy Wind Shell, which we will cover later.

Garmin InReach Mini Personal Locater. The original InReach has some attractive features, but it’s a bit heavy at around 6.5 ounces. The Mini gives us what we are looking for – a compact, lightweight version with the same functionality. Key features important to users are its use of the Global Iridium Network, two-way160 character messaging, interactive SOS, and pairing with other Garmin devices. The Mini can message by itself, but it’s easier when paired with a mobile phone. Nowadays, many backpackers carry a mobile phone with them on trips because it’s truly a multi-purpose device. One of my hiking buddies claims he has 17 purposes for his mobile phone on backpacking trips; now he can make that 18. Weight is 4.35 ounces including a carabiner, and MSRP is $349. Another advantage of the InReach is the different subscription options that are offered, so one can choose the best option for her frequency of use. I’m currently a SPOT user, but I am getting tired of their expensive service plan that includes features I don’t use. SPOT does have a 2-way communicator called the SPOT-X coming out, but one friend who has tested it told me that it is “very buggy”.

The Sea To Summit Nano Day Pack is indeed nanoweight at 1 ounce. It’s always handy to throw in an UL day pack for side hikes from camp, and the Nano Day Pack makes that inconsequential. Capacity is 18 liters, it’s made of STSs 15d ultra-sil, and will cost $40.

The Nemo Rocket 2P Single Wall Tent raises the bar for a 2-person lightweight fabric tent. The weight is a mere 22 ounces using the included carbon T-bar ridgepole and center support, or 19 ounces using trekking poles. A notable feature is the tent’s square ends to enhance interior usable space, made possible by Nemo’s clever Self Equalizing Corner System (right). The canopy is 7 denier nylon ripstop and the floor is 10d. Did I mention the Rocket 2P has two doors with vestibules? There is room on each side of the center support pole for a standard 20-inch wide sleeping pad. The center support may be an annoyance, but each sleeper has her own entry, which will help minimize that issue, and the center support disappears if you use trekking poles to support the tent. MSRP is $450, which is significantly less expensive than a Dyneema tent.

We previously reported on and reviewed the Katadyn BeFree Water Filtration Bottles, which were initially available in 0.6 L and 1 L sizes. Now Katadyn is coming out with a 3-liter version called the Katadyn Gravity BeFree 3L. This one comes with a detachable hose and shut off clip, but you can use the flask and filter unit by itself to fill water containers by squeezing the flask. It doesn’t come with a bite valve to use it as a hydration system, but it would be easy to add one. Weight is 3.5 ounces and MSRP is $70.

Highlights from the Outdoor Retailer Winter Market 2018: Interesting and Useful New Gear for Lightweight Backcountry Travel

By Will Rietveld and Janet Reichl

As you probably know by now, Outdoor Retailer has moved to Denver Colorado and this is the first show at the new location. Also the winter OR show has been combined with SIA, which is the snowsports industry trade show, a complementary combination.

We cover the show to find gear of interest for lightweight backcountry travel: backpacking, canoeing, kayaking, biking, skiing, snowshoeing, and mountaineering. Most of the gear we find at OR is in the lightweight category, although we find some ultralight items as well. For gearheads, its just fun to keep up with new gear and technologies that lighten our load and improve our enjoyment of the backcountry.

Lifestraw Flex Water Filtration System. We reported on this last summer but the product was more of a prototype then. The 0.65 liter flask is made of TPU and has a fairly large opening for the filter unit to screw in. Weight is 3.05 ounces for the flask and filter; cost is $35, and it’s available in spring 2018.

Kahtoola Instagaiters. This new line of lightweight gaiters will come out in January 2019. Four styles are: Low (1.7-2 oz, $39), Mid (2.3-2.6 oz, $49), Navigaiter (tall, 6-7 oz, $75), and Levagaiter (tall, 4.4-5 oz, $85). Each has a zipper that angles to the side (water-resistant on the tall gaiters)  and a durable TPU underfoot strap, which is replaceable. The Levagaiter (left one in the right photo) is made of Gore-Tex fabric, making it a very lightweight breathable gaiter. The Navigater has a Gore-Tex fabric upper and durable ballistic nylon lower, so it weighs a bit more. The tall gaiters (in black only) will be available from REI in July 2018.

Tinkle Belle. We have seen various devices for women to pee in the woods, and perhaps this is the best one yet. Its claims to fame are a better fit to the female anatomy, and it moves urine farther away from the body. To use it, you only have to unzip your pants, not take them down, or push your swimsuit aside. Available now at www.thetinkerbelle.com for $25. A case is included and it weighs 1.75 ounces.

 

Outdoor Element Firebiner. This one ounce gadget is a multitool on a carabiner. It’s a carabiner, screwdriver, cord cutter, and fire starter (see right photo for complete list). MSRP is $15 and its available now.

 

Maxsun Canister Stove. How about a 0.95 ounce canister stove? This one coming from Maxsun, a South Korea company, is super light and compact. They are looking for a US distributor and they say it will be available in three months. Stay tuned.

 

Aketta Cricket Protein Products. Keep saying “it’s all in my mind”. We covered chocolate products with cricket protein before, and to be truthful, we couldn’t taste the cricket part. That’s true of Aketta’s granola ($6 for a 5-ounce package), but they also sell pure dried flavored crickets (inset, $4 for a 1-ounce package), which is a little harder to get past the gums. We tried them and found them crunchy and flavorful. They also have pure cricket protein powder ($15 for 4 ounces) which can be added to smoothies and other concoctions. Available now.

 

Ostrim Meat Sticks with Ostrich. The exhibitor, who formerly raised ostriches in Texas, claims that ostrich is the leanest red meat with high protein. They now buy the meat on the open market, and claim to be the largest ostrich meat buyer in the US. Their “meat sticks with ostrich” are beef + ostrich. They also have elk and turkey meat sticks without ostrich. Cost for a 1.5 ounce stick containing 14 grams of protein is $2. Available now.

 

Aftershokx Bone Conduction Headphone. We tried their lightest model, the Trekzair weighing 1.05 ounces/pair, and were impressed with their clarity and volume. They use Bluetooth to pick up music and talk on the phone. MSRP is $179, but they can be found for $149; available now.

Yukon Charlie Elite Snowshoes. The new Elite is their top of the line and is available in three lengths: 21 inches ($199, 3.89 pounds/pair), 25 inches ($199, 4.2 pounds/pair), and 30 inches ($199, 4.8 pounds/pair). They are reasonably lightweight for an aluminum frame snowshoe. The bottomside of the frame is serrated, and there are toe and heel crampons, as well as a heel lifter. Their Northwave Spin binding compresses the boot from the side, not the top, which is more comfortable. There is a pullcord to release the binding. Available around September-October 2018.

Crescent Moon All Foam Snowshoes. These came out in fall 2017 and are a new concept in snowshoes. They are made of different densities of EVA foam (like the midsole in a running shoe or boot), have a hard TPU plastic tread on the bottom, and have a lot of rocker (curvature). They work like a snow tire on snow. Version 2 coming in fall 2018 will add aluminum crampons (right photo) to make them climb better, with no weight gain. The current ones come in only one size (about 25 inches), weigh 3.5 pounds/pair, and sell for $159; available now. 

Big Agnes Tiger Wall UL Tent. Tents keep getting lighter. The Tiger Wall is a two-person, double-wall tent with two doors and two vestibules that weights just 2 pounds 3 ounces and costs $400. A three-person version will weigh 2 pounds 11 ounces and cost $450. Note the floor is wide enough for two standard air mattresses side by side, and headroom is very good in both height and width. The interior is ultralight mesh, with three storage pockets. The floor and fly are 15 denier nylon with a silicone coating on the outside and polyurethane on the inside. This one looks to be a winner; available fall 2018.

Big Agnes AXL Sleeping Pad. We covered this last summer, but the details were not complete then, and it also bears repeating. This is a full size, 3-inch thick air mattress weighing as little as 9.6 ounces. It will be available in two sizes: 20x72x3 uninsulated (9.6 ounces, $140) or insulated (10.6 ounces, $180), and 25x72x3 (13 ounces). They have a wide-opening valve that is compatible with an available inflation bag for fast inflation. Available spring 2018.

Soto Amicus Canister Stove. This new model is not regulated, weighs 2.55 ounces, and costs $40 without an igniter or $45 with an igniter. A regulated version, the Windmaster, weighs 3.15 ounces and costs $75. Both have a convex burner head to resist the effects of wind. They come with two different detachable pot supports. Available now. I am very partial to Soto stoves, and would be willing to carry a little extra weight to have their performance and reliability.

Leatherman Multi-Tool at 35 Years. We were privileged to attend a breakfast to hear the remarkable story of Tim Leatherman and the development of his multi-tool. Tim is a modest and articulate mechanical engineer who recognized the need for a multi-tool while fixing a Fiat in Europe, then spent 8 years developing the tool and struggling to find a market for it. That finally happened in 1983 and the rest is history; the company now has 400 employees and makes 35 models sold around the world. Very inspiring.

Altra Lone Peak 4.0. It wasn’t long ago that we reported on the Lone Peak 3.5 and tested it. The 3.5 was more of an upgrade but the 4.0 will be more of a makeover, in a good way. As before, it will be available in Low and Mid styles, mesh upper or waterproof-breathable upper. The latter will be eVent in the new version, rather than NeoShell. Other major changes are a newly designed TrailClaw tread with new rubber and grip pattern, a new rock plate shaped like a foot with long toes to provide more lateral stability, and a five-layer outsole. The mesh version is dialed in to make it just right for breathability and durability. I was so excited I forgot to get weights and MSRPs, but they should be similar to the current version.

Patagonia Capeline Air Baselayers. Their popular Capeline baselayers will now be available in four versions: Air, Thermal, Midweight, and Lightweight. The new Air version is knitted as one piece, meaning no seams, akin to printing it on a 3-D printer. The women’s version (right) has a bit more texture for more warmth. The yarn is 40% recycled polyethylene and 51% merino wool. We were unable to get the garment weights, but they appear to be very lightweight. A hoody version is $149 and a crew is $129; available now at www.patagonia.com and a little later in retail stores.

Patagonia Micropuff Jackets and Vests. The newest version of the popular Micropuff Jacket will feature Plumafill insulation, which is made from recycled polyethylene bottles. The insulation is in sheet form and the garment is sewn with minimal seams. Versions will be men’s and women’s jackets with or without a hood, and men’s and women’s vests. The hoodie is $299, jacket is $249, and vest is $199; available September 2018.

Western Mountaineering Quilts. Yep, quilts coming from WM. They will feature 7d fabric with an acrylic “kiss coating”, 850+ fill-power down, easy to use cord pad attachment, a wrap-around closure system, and an innovative collar design to seal in heat. The Nanolite has a 38F rating, weighs 11 ounces (12.5 ounces in size Long), and costs $330 ($345 for Long). The Astralite has a 26F rating, weighs 16 ounces (17.5 ounces for size Long), and costs $400 ($415 for Long). They will be available in spring 2018. As you can see, I tried one out and found the 6-foot Regular length a little short for my 6’ height, so I would need the Long. I was impressed with the loft of these bags, so they should be true to their temperature ratings.

Mountain Hardwear Ghost Whisperer Down Pants. A new addition to the Ghost Whisperer line is an ultralight down pant, which will be arriving in fall 2018. They are insulated with 800 fill-power Nikwax hydrophobic down. Weight is 7.8 ounces and MSRP will be $250. The beauty of down pants is they weigh about the same as a baselayer bottom, but provide a lot more insulation.