Winter OR Round-Up: Stanley Adventure eCycle Flask

www.stanley-pmi.com
We honestly didn’t think that Stanley—who’s been making great food and beverage containers since 1913—could improve upon their Classic Flask. But they proved us wrong. This spring, be sure to save a Jackson for their new eCycle Flask.

This eight-ounce container is made from recycled (and recyclable) plastic, and it boasts two lids—an attached bottle-style screw-top, and a large hinge top. The latter open the top wide for a thorough cleaning, so you can use this flask for any variety of drink (mixed or straight, non-alcoholic or otherwise) without worrying about lingering tastes or smells. The dishwasher-safe flask is also leak-proof. Better still, thanks to the wide-mouth opening, you can also use this flask as a makeshift dry box for your various electronic must-haves….

$20

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Winter OR Round-Up: Outdoor Research

Outdoor Research has been in the game for amost three decades, but we’ve really fallen in love with their products over the last few years. (The company was started by a hard-core purist named Ron Gregg, who died in an avalanche in 2003. Dan Nordstrom, of the eponymous retail giant, stepped up to continue the tradition of dependable gear at a fair price.) And, if their booth at Winter Outdoor Retailer is any indication, that love affair should continue well into the fall 2013 season.

Just as their ubiquitous “OR” logo will expand into a stamp design with the full company name, their design aesthetic has evolved in new and promising ways. Thankfully, this move also includes some interesting innovation. Take the Floodlight jacket ($375, pictured), a 800-fill down jacket wrapped in a Pertex Shield+ waterproof-breathable shell, bonding the interior to the exterior for superior performance. This cold-weather warrior leads a variety of ski- and snowboard-specific appear in their fall 2013 line, including the new sidecountry-specific Valhalla hoody ($350) made with stretchy Gore Tex Windstopper with a touch screen-compatible internal pocket, and the Igneo jacket ($299), a freeride-style resort-specific piece, and the new Gore Tex Pro Maximus jacket ($495). (New Gore Tex Pro is redesigned from last-season’s material—and is an estimated 28 percent more breathable with the same stalwart waterproofness). We also loved to see that the new line of performance gloves start at the highly-affordable $55 Riot, which delivers solid warmth for sidecountry and resort skiing performance for a price that doesn’t cause us to gasp.

They’re also expanding their mountain lifestyle line, offering a sane alternative to casual wear for both men and women. The already-popular Feedback Flannel will come out in a variety of new colorways and patterns, and will be accompanied by the vertical-striped Sawtooth shirt ($85) and the men’s Bullwheel and women’s Decibelle jackets ($110, $140 respectively), worker-style soft shell jackets with a DWR water repellant that’s more at home chopping wood or kicking it around town than skinning up in the backcountry.

Prices vary.

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Winter OR Round-Up: Julbo Vermont Mythics Sunglasses

www.julbousa.com
For three generations Julbo has been producing some of the best in mountaineering eyewear, and to celebrate its 15^th anniversary, the family-owned, Euro-based manufacturer will release limited-edition shades modeled after the ones that were originally used to hunt crystals in the Alps back in the late 1800s. The special edition Vermont Mythics will be released, with leather shields, curved and wrapped temples, and all-glass lenses in a wonderfully retro cardboard boxes. This spring Julbo will also launch an online prescription program, offering custom performance eyewear with three lens technologies (the Zebra, Camel, and Falcon) in such models as the Bivouak, Explorer, Dirt, Pipeline, and Zulu, with prices that range from $400 to $600, with a two- to four-week turnaround. Sadly, the coveted Vermont Mythics will not be part of their Rx campaign.

$120

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Winter Outdoor Retailer 2013 in Review

Last Saturday was the final day of the Winter Outdoor Retailer—the mecca for all things in cold-weather outdoor gear. Last year’s event and Summer OR in August 2012 were marked with massive innovation, including new products, new technologies, and advances like waterproof down that could trigger seismic shifts in the way outdoor enthusiasts think buying gear.

This year seemed to be more focused on refining those technology, dialing in the fit and function of the pieces of apparel that use that technology in new and interesting ways. Columbia Sportswear, for example, continues to use its proprietary Out Dry waterproof/breathable laminate and Omni-Heat reflective lining (which bounces the body heat back at you to provide furnace-like warmth), but their fall 2013 product takes a more trim, athletic fit. The Millenium Flash jacket ($330; pictured left) demonstrates this approach, employing internal stretch panels for a more snug fit along with a bevy of winter-friendly features like a removable powder skirt, a helmet-compatible hood, and a media and ski pass pocket. Outdoor Research also follows this trend in fall 2013 with products like the Floodlight jacket ($375), which uses 800-fill insulation in a Gore-Tex shell. Merino wool experts Icebreaker, meanwhile, will modify the fit of their travel-friendly line to be less form-fitting and more relaxed. They’re also continuing to branch out into making hybrid products like soft shell jackets with merino wool lining.

All of which isn’t to say that there wasn’t anything new and shiny. Gore-Tex announced its new Gore Tex Pro waterproof-breathable laminate. Same name, different technology, delivering about 20 percent more breathability and a lot more durability than its predecessor—we’re looking forward to putting those new jackets and gloves to the test. And, perhaps the biggest news of them all, Black Diamond introduced their first apparel line. The SLC-based mountaineering and backcountry ski company has long been one of the industry leaders in terms of innovation and style, and their new jackets, pants, and base layers look to have followed in that tradition. Working with three established textile manufacturers, they’ve unveiled products that use NanoSphere Schoeller, Primaloft, and Polartech. The Access Hybrid Hoody ($249; pictured right) is exemplary: the nylon shell uses 60 grams of Primaloft insulation and Schoeller stretch-woven nylon side panels with mountaineering friendly details like a close-fitting, helmet-compatible hood, two zippered hand pockets, stretch-gusset cuffs, and a drawcord hem, weighing in at just under a fairly feathery 18 ounces.

Other innovations—smart uses of synthetic down by Mountain Hardwear, Arc’Teryx, and The North Face, new bursts of color from Blundstone, GPS and heads-up-display ski goggles from Smith Optics, and new ski boots from K2 and Scarpa—still have us reeling, trying to absorb all the stuff that’ll clog the shelves come fall 2013. So, over the next few weeks, we’ll offer a wrap-up of the stuff that got us excited. Stay tuned…

Prices vary.

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Salomon XT Wings 3 Trail Running Shoes

www.salomon.com, 8.5 ounces
Of all the outdoor sports we cover, running generates the most brand-loyal gear-lovers. Such allegiance—born from literally thousands of footsteps—is understandable, and also informative. One loyal tester has been wearing Salomon shoes while trail running for years, for everything from casual weekend runs to mega-mile outings that make our quads ache with just the thought of it. So when he pronounced that the Salomon XT Wings 3 were his new go-to pair of trail runners, we took notice (and so should you). These burly kicks are far from the minimalist models; the shoes measure in with a 11.5-mm heel-to-toe drop, making these more SUV than sleek convertible, and that’s perfect if you’re prone to rough trails. Triple-density EVA foam in the midsole provides loads of cushion against the bruising terrain (protection that’s amplified by a TPU toe guard and mud guard), while the “Contragrip” outsole clings to all variety of trail, from roots, rocks, and packed dirt to snow and slippery mud. Our tester tore through the fall and winter season in his test pair with hardly a hitch in his step. The uppers are made of quick-drying, breathable mesh, and the thin lacing assures a tight fit without pressure points. We also love the “lace pocket” under the tongue, which secure the excess laces from flopping around. These aren’t fully waterproof; Salomon offers Gore-Tex in other trail runners. But when paired with a thick pair of merino wool socks, we found the XT Wings 3 to be versatile nearly year-round. Some may find the toe box a bit rough right out of the box; one newcomer to trail running found that he bruised part of his big toe after an inaugural outing—though he didn’t feel any discomfort mid-run. But after that first outing, the issue hasn’t been repeated.

$140

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