The Summer Outdoor Retailer Show is filled with gear for play during the summer months. WildSnow’s rabid gearheads prowled the aisles like detector dogs at the airport, sniffing out clever products for the backcountry. Here’s the contraband from day one.
Dynafit’s latest game changer, the levitating Khion Carbon.
Dynafit Khion Carbon: The production model just arrived in the U.S. this week and will be on shelves November 2015. Significantly refined from the pre-production models of last winter. The Khion features:
Alps Foldable Foam Mat weighs a mere 6 oz at full size.
Alps Mountaineering Foldable Foam Mat: Compete in the legendary Colorado backcountry ski race, the Grand Traverse, and you’ll be required to carry a sleeping pad as part of your gear. Alps Foldable Foam Mat will give you the edge. Full size pad weighs in at 6 oz full size and we’re guessing it might even be as light as 4 oz once it’s shaved down to the minimal size required by the Grand Traverse. For wilderness snow camping we often pair a mat with an inflatable pad. The Foldable Foam Mat gives you the insulation barrier with negligible weight gain. $34.99, available now.
Rescue sled by Brooks Range. It’s a nifty item that’s been around a while and worth mentioning.
Brooks Range Rescue Sleds: In backcountry touring, every ounce counts and a rescue sled often gets left behind. Matt Brooks addressed this decades ago and designed the Rescue Sled, a product that launched Brooks Range. Over the years, models have been tweaked to be more versatile. Some models have a tarp that can double as a ground cloth or waterproof cover for camping. Available now.
Bübi water bottle, for cold or hot, multi-functional, safe, versatile.
Bübi water bottle: Seems like there are a million water bottles out there. This one caught our attention because of it’s delightfully squeezable feel and it’s a water bottle with a safety function. It’s so flexible that it can be used as a comfortable hot or cold compress for injuries. Throw it in the fire to heat it up — they say it won’t melt. Available now, 22 oz, $25.
Designed by a surfer, will work for cleaning your mountain gear too.
RinseKit: Showers at most beaches in drought-ridden California have been shut down to conserve water. A surfer developed RinseKit to clean off his board before loading it into the car. It is a portable, pressurized shower/spray system which requires no pumping or batteries. Fill it from a household spigot and it holds pressure for up to a month. The unit holds two gallons of water and you can dial the nozzle to deliver a variety of sprays. We see it as a handy tool to rinse off your mountain bike, drive the snirt from your spring skis or take a quick shower at the trailhead.
While most of the WildSnow backcountry skiing blog posts are best attributed to a single author, some work well as done by the group.
