Summer 2008 Outdoor Retailer Show

As I leave the show, I think about all the great people I've met over the last four days. It's cool to see the hard working people behind the products and companies. Most conversations begin with the standard product pitch and end with a swapping of stories about our outdoor adventures. I love hearing about how fellow parents are introducing their children to the outdoors. At the end of the day (and the Outdoor Retailer Show), we're all after the same goal. Making a living doing what we love.

Coolmax held a press conference this morning at OR to announce the launch of their new EcoTech fabric. This new eco-friendly fabric is made from recycled plastic bottles.

Andrew Skurka(http://www.andrewskurka.com/) spoke after returning from a gear testing trip in Iceland and in California. He said after a 600-700 mile hike the socks held up very well. They were perfect for the cool, wet environment of Iceland. Once the socks got wet, he’d hang them on the back of his pack and they would dry within a few hours.

VICTORIN0X SWISS ARMY makes high quality watches and swiss army tools. They've mixed a USB flash drive into a swiss army knife. You can get a variety of flash memory sizes, and have all the features of a swiss army knife, including a small ball point pen and an LED light. NOMAD makes small journals you can take with you on the road or on the trail. They've introduced a new waterproof journal that's small enough to fit in your daypack or fishing vest. Usually our best ideas come when we're outside, so this a nice product to keep in the back.

Forward-Thinking Trends, Buyer Opportunities and a Celebration of the Outdoors Encompass Bi-Annual Event Aug. 8-Aug. 11

One of the best aspects of the OR show is the focus on the outdoors. It's fun to swap stories about our adventures and the gear we use. I've over hear countless conversations about hiking, camping, skiing and all things outdoors.

INOV 8 has some really cool trail running shoes and hiking boots that are designed around the natural function of the human body's biomechanics. Their footwear for both men and women features a fascia band that mimics the tendons in your foot to help propel you forward.

Controlled chaos during the opening morning of the show. I'm still trying to get my barings on where everything is at. They should provide GPS locations for each booth. There are lots of people wondering around with blank looks holding maps. I was one of them and was still asked for directions! ECO-Friendly is still the big trend in the industry. Many new products and clothing made from recycled or organic materials. The "Green" trend in marketing is a bit overdone, but it's a great movement for the planet as a whole.

HIGH SIERRA, one of the sponsors of the US Ski and Snowboard Teams, launches 5 new products at the Summer OR Market Today. We have a interview this afternoon, here's the latest. Pictures are at the bottom of the page.

BOULDER, Colo. (August 8, 2008) – Slumberjack® introduces a full line of “green” sleeping bags designed specifically for the family camping market. The new line encompasses three mummy bags designed for all members of the family, including mom, dad and the kids. Roughly 80 percent of each bag is made from post consumer
recycled materials, including the shell, liner and insulation.