By Michael Lanza
Osprey Aura 65 AG
Thinking about buying a new backpack, tent, boots, or other outdoor gear or apparel? Last August, I spent a couple of days wandering the floor of The Salt Palace in Salt Lake City—a convention center you could fit a few Wal-Marts inside—at the Outdoor Retailer Show, ogling the best of the new products for hiking and backpacking that will hit stores this winter and spring.
I’ll test and review many of these, but here’s an early peek at the most interesting items I saw (in other words, the stuff I’m most coveting).
Packs
Osprey Aura 65 AG harness
I’m a fan of the Osprey Atmos packs, and for 2015 the pack maker updates the series with a unique, lightweight mesh suspension that wraps around the hips and torso like a sock on your foot. True to its pedigree, the peripheral-wire frame is built for loads of 50 pounds or more. It will come in the men’s Atmos AG 65 ($260, 4 lbs. 6 oz. for medium), and Atmos AG 50 ($230, 4 lbs. in medium), and women’s Aura AG 65 ($260, 4 lbs. 2 oz. in medium), and Aura AG 50 ($230, 3 lbs. 12 oz. in medium). All come in three sizes for a customized fit. [Note: See my review of the Atmos and Aura AG 65, posted after this story.]
Osprey Ace 38
As a father of two young backpackers, I understand the challenge of finding kids’ packs that fit well and are comfortable—especially on smaller, skinny kids age nine to 11. So I’m eager to have my kids test drive the new Osprey Ace 38 ($140, 2 lbs. 6 oz., for ages 10 to 14), Ace 50 ($160, 2 lbs. 15 oz., for ages 11 to 16), and Ace 75 ($180, 3 lbs. 9 oz., for ages 12 to 17). Built with the quality of adult packs, the top-loading Ace tackles the challenge of fitting a wide range of kids’ body sizes— these are adjustable to fit a five-inch range of torso length—and offering a broad range of pack capacities. [Note: See my review of the Osprey Ace kids backpacks, posted after this story.]
Gregory will update its flagship backpacks for big loads, the men’s Baltoro in 85 liter, 75 liter, and 65 liter, and the women’s Deva in 80, 70, and 60 liter ($299 to $349). They’ll feature a new suspension designed to keep the pack balanced on your moving body, with features like adjustable, independently pivoting shoulder harness and hipbelt panels, plus cool features like a weather-proof hipbelt pocket for electronics and a removable, Sidekick internal hydration bladder compartment that pulls double duty as an ultralight daypack. I’ve reviewed the Baltoro 75 (for Backpacker magazine) and it remains in my quiver. If you’re hauling upwards of 50 pounds or more—well, God be with you, but whether She is or not, the Baltoro or Deva will make that journey happier. [Note: See my review of the Baltoro 75 and Deva 70, posted after this story.]
Gregory Stout packs
Gregory will also introduce an affordable, performance pack line, the men’s Stout and women’s Amber, with a suspension based on the new design used in the Baltoro and Deva, priced from $219 to $149. The Stout will come in 75-, 65-, 45-, and 35-liter volumes and the Amber in 70, 60, 44, and 34 liters, and will include the Sidekick pack in the larger models. [Note: See my review of the Gregory Stout 45 for men and women’s Amber 44, posted after this story.]
Insulation
Outdoor Research Deviator Hoody
Various apparel makers are diving into the market head first with insulation designed for high versatility when active outdoors. The Outdoor Research Deviator Hoody ($185, 10 oz., men’s and women’s sizes) is one hybrid jacket that combines Polartec Alpha—a lightweight, synthetic insulation that’s breathable, wicks moisture and dries fast—in the front, sides, and shoulders, with Polartec Power Dry High Efficiency fleece in the back, sleeves, and hood, for much greater breathability and moisture wicking but only enough warmth for being active in cool to cold temperatures. [Note: See my review of the Outdoor Research Deviator Hoody, posted after this story.]
Black Diamond Hot Forge Hybrid Hoody
In a warmer insulation piece, the Black Diamond Hot Forge Hybrid Hoody ($249, 14 oz.) combines PrimaLoft Gold Insulation Down Blend for warmth and minimal weight and bulk, with PrimaLoft Gold Synthetic Insulation for water resistance in exposed areas on the hood, shoulders, and sleeves. The adjustable hood is helmet-compatible, and the jacket packs into an internal mesh pocket that sports a carabiner clip loop.
Shoes and Boots
Arc’teryx Alpha2 FL
Arc’teryx is now making shoes and boots. The Alpha2 FL low-cut ($270, 2 lbs. 2 oz.) and Bora2 Mid ($320, 2 lbs. 8 oz., both weights for U.K. men’s 8.5), in men’s and women’s sizes, has a seamless, one-piece upper made from PU-coated nylon for breathability, fast drying, and abrasion resistance; and a stretchy, removable Gore-Tex liner made from textiles that do not absorb moisture and have minimal seams. The design eliminates the tongue, which reduces pressure and heat build-up on top of the foot, and the removable liner doubles as a camp or hut booty. The EVA midsole is completely wrapped inside the one-piece upper to protect it. The approach-style Vibram outsole is designed for sticking to smooth rock and going up or down dirt or loose scree. You can purchase an optional, insulated liner for winter. The other models in the line include: the Alpha FL ($190, non-Gore-Tex), the Alpha FL GTX ($220), and the Bora GTX ($270), all in men’s and women’s sizes. [Note: See my review of the Arc’teryx Acrux2 FL GTX and Acrux FL shoes, posted after this story.]
La Sportiva Core High GTX
Lowering the weight bar in mid-cut boots, the La Sportiva Core High GTX ($200, 1 lb. 13 oz. US men’s 9) features technology in the upper that wraps the foot in the Gore-Tex membrane—including the sole—to maximize breathability and waterproofing all around. By also unifying the midsole with the upper, the boot delivers a close fit. I’ve had a chance to hike in a sample pair, carrying about 12 pounds on a 19-mile, 13-hour, seven-summit traverse of the Wildcat-Carter-Moriah Range in New Hampshire’s White Mountains on a very hot and humid day, and my feet felt great right to the finish and only got slightly sweaty. [Note: See my review of the La Sportiva Core High GTX, posted after this story.]
Asolo Triumph GV
For dayhiking and backpacking with up to 25 to 30 pounds on your back, the mid-cut Asolo Triumph Gv for men ($230, 2 lbs. 5 oz. men’s 8.5) and women’s Tacoma Gv ($230, 1 lb. 9 oz. women’s 6.5) offer features and performance you’d normally pay upwards of $300 for in a high-end leather boot, but at a lower price and weight. Full-leather uppers and a Gore-Tex membrane deliver full weather protection. But the key ingredient is under the hood: The AsoloFlex lasting board allows Asolo to vary the boot’s stiffness across a range of sizes, giving every pair a comfortable flex pattern and torsional support appropriate for your foot size. These boots look like they strike a nice balance between support and low weight, with an aggressive heel and outsole lug pattern for rugged terrain and excellent construction. [Note: See my review of the Asolo men’s Triumph Gv GTX boots and women’s Tacoma Gv, posted after this story.]
Building off the excellent Zen Pro low-cut shoe introduced this year, the Scarpa Zen Pro Mid GTX ($199, 2 lbs. 4 oz. men’s 9), is an all-mountain boot with the stickiness of an approach shoe and the support and comfort of a high-quality trail boot. All-leather uppers, lacing that extends to the toes like rock-climbing shoes, and a stretchy, Schoeller soft-shell tongue enhance fit and performance. [Note: See my review of the Zen Pro Mid GTX, posted after this story.]
Scarpa R-evolution GTX
The Scarpa R-evolution GTX ($239, 2 lbs. 14 oz. US men’s 9, in men’s and women’s sizes) is built for people who want boots for everything from a 20-mile dayhike to a weeklong backpacking trip. With suede uppers and a stretchy, Schoeller soft-shell tongue for better fit—the latter also improves breathability—a high-density EVA midsole for cushion, and a TPU toe cap for durability, this looks like an excellent, all-around boot that will offer years of top performance. [Note: See my review of the Scarpa R-evolution GTX, posted after this story.]
♦
This blog and website is my full-time job and I rely on the support of readers. If you like what you see here, please help me continue producing The Big Outside by making a donation using the Support button at the top of the left sidebar or below. Thank you for your support.
♦
Tents
Sierra Designs Tensegrity 2 FL
The Sierra Designs Tensegrity tents use a minimalist, non-freestanding design to attack the conundrum of how to maximize space and minimize weight—two goals usually at odds with one another. Pitching with two trekking poles and one included tent pole, plus seven tent stakes, the Tensegrity Elite tents use ultralight, silicone-treated 20D nylon ripstop to keep weight down while delivering durability. They have huge side doors and forgo traditional vestibules, replacing those with a long, wide awning that can be extended straight out, angled to the ground, or rolled up for stargazing. Models include the Tensegrity 1 Elite ($400, 1lb, 10oz; 17.1 sq. ft.), Tensegrity 2 Elite ($490, 2lb, 2oz; 29.3 sq. ft.), Tensegrity 1 FL ($320, 1lb, 15oz; 17.1 sq. ft.), and Tensegrity 2 FL ($390, 2lb, 8oz; 29.3 sq. ft.). [Note: See my review of the Sierra Designs Tensegrity 2 FL tent, posted after this story.]
Big Agnes Tumble 2 mtnGlo
If you’ve always wanted better lighting in a tent than a headlamp, the Big Agnes mtnGlo tents are for you. They have strips of tiny lights built into the ceiling that run on three AAA batteries, turn off and on with an inside switch, provide enough lighting to see everything (though not quite enough for reading), and pack away unnoticed with the tent. Several tent models come with the mtnGlo lights, including the top-of-the-line Copper Spur UL2 ($450, 2 lbs. 15 oz.) and Copper Spur UL3 ($550, 3 lbs. 14 oz.), which both have two doors and vestibules, and the Tumble 2 ($250, 4 lbs. 6 oz.), with a single door and vestibule, and Tumble 3 ($330, 5 lbs. 5 oz.), with two doors and vestibules. Bonus for photographers: killer glowing-tent night shots of these shelters. [Note: See my review of the Big Agnes Rattlesnake SL2 mtnGlo tent, posted after this story.]
Water Filter
Katadyn Base Camp Pro 10L
I’m a big fan of gravity filters for their simplicity and convenience (see my review of the Platypus GravityWorks), and the lightweight Katadyn Base Camp Pro 10L ($100, 12 oz.) and Gravity Camp 6L ($90, 11 oz.) offer unprecedented volume for a group of backpackers (like my family of four) and a fast, two-liters-per-minute filtering rate. A quick-release valve and connector for hydration bladders eases the transition from filtering to pouring the clean water into your bladder. There’s also a $10 Shower Adaptor Accessory for backcountry bathing. [Note: See my review of the Base Camp Pro 10L filter, posted after this story.]
Air Mattress
Sea to Summit Comfort Light insulated air mattress
After lying on one at the show and almost falling asleep, I want a Sea to Summit Comfort Light Insulated air mattress. Instead of baffled construction of the air cells in the mattress, these employ a matrix of interconnected chambers that deform independently to conform to your body shape. What that means is that you don’t flatten out spots under, say, your hip bones or shoulders; the air mat feels more like the mattress on your bed. The Thermolite synthetic insulation has an R-value of 3.5, good for three-season camping. The air mat’s one-way valves deflate it instantly and inflate using either a Sea to Summit Jet Stream Pump Sack or, even better, a Sea to Summit Air Stream Dry Sack, a 35-liter, seam-sealed, roll-top dry bag: You just blow a single breath of air into the sack, attach it to the air mat’s inflate valve, and compress the sack two or three times to completely fill the air mat in a few seconds. The Comfort Light Insulated air mat comes in three sizes: small, 66×21.5×2.5 ins., $170, 20 oz.; regular, 72×21.5×2.5 ins., $170, 21 oz.; and large, 79x25x2.5 ins., $190, 25 oz. The full line of air mats come in six models, insulated and uninsulated in three sizes each, from $100 to $220. [Note: See my review of the Comfort Light Insulated air mat, posted after this story.]
Stoves and Cooking
Optimus Polaris Optifuel Stove
The Optimus Polaris Optifuel stove ($180, 12 oz. or 17 oz., depending on setup used) burns canister gas or a variety of liquid fuels (white gas, kerosene, etc.) without having to change out any parts, like the fuel jet in the burner—a unique technological advance. You can flip a gas canister upside-down for cold-weather performance, and a magnetized tool is used to easily clean the jet with an internal needle.
Jetboil MiniMo stove
The Jetboil MiniMo stove ($130, 15 oz.) brings simmer control to a stove line known for fast boiling times and packability. The nicest design change may be that the one-liter cooking pot is shorter and wider than traditional Jetboils, making it easier to spoon food out of it. Jetboil says the stove operates well in temperatures down to 20°F (-6°C). [Note: See my review of the Jetboil MiniMo, posted after this story.]
Sea to Summit XPot
Your cooking kit can be the most difficult piece of gear to fit inside a backpack—and the collapsible Sea to Summit X-Pot ($50, 10 oz., 2.8 liters) eliminates that problem. With an aluminum base and silicone walls that are heat-tolerant and lock in place, this pot can boil up pasta and then pack away almost flat. Companion X-Mugs and X-Bowls nest inside the X-Pot. [Note: See my review of the Sea to Summit X-Pot Set 31, posted after this story.]
Sea to Summit XPot packed
NOTE: I’ve been testing gear for Backpacker Magazine for 20 years. At The Big Outside, I review only what I consider the best outdoor gear and apparel. See all of my reviews by clicking on the Gear Reviews category at left or in the main menu.
I invite you to subscribe to this blog by entering your email address in the box at the top of the left sidebar, and follow my adventures on Facebook and Twitter.
The Big Outside is proud to partner with sponsor Osprey Packs. Please help support my blog by liking and following my sponsors on Facebook and other social media and telling them you appreciate their support for The Big Outside.
