7 hot new products debut at OutDoor 2010!
Outdoor headlines
16 July 2010 09:21
LFTO is at Friedrichshafen this week to get a look at some of the superb new outdoor products due to hit the UK in the coming months. It's a GREAT year, and some of the gear we've seen over the last 24 hours looks set to cause some serious stir when it goes on sale. Here's a rundown of a few highlights!
Terra Nova Laser Ultra 1
Without doubt the scoop of the show, Terra Nova has launched the Laser Ultra 1 - the lightest tent in the world - at Outdoor. It's been guarded with eagle eyes, but LFTO got a look at it and shot a guerilla video which you can find here, but to say this tent is unique is an understatement: the fabric is a near-translucent, ultra-thin but ultra light material (which maybe why they have named the material 'ultra') similar to the material used to make sails. It cannot hold dye, giving the tent its distinctive silver look. It's a true double-skin tent which follows the same design print as the Laser Competition, but shaves even more of the already lean weight of the Laser competition, giving it a maximum weight of 560g. Combined with Terra Nova's new line of sleeping bags and a rucksack made of the Ultra fabric, going light just took another big leap forward.
Silva Expedition 4
The classic Silva Expedition 4 has been a mainstay of navigation for years - and while that's not likely to change, the compass itself is, with some dramatic new re-styling, a glove-friendly rubber grip, new colours to help it stand out from the map and an all-new unclippable lanyard. Silva has also launched the Ninox and Siju headtorches, which - with waterproof design and compact stowage features - look as though they will be providing a robust challenge to Petzl in the coming year.
Gerber Balance & Fit multi tools
Gone are the clunky, heavy lines of the old Gerber tools- these two new designs are far more ergonomic additions to the palm, with nifty features such as extendable screwdrivers with changeable heads, a built in torch (and a good one at that) and new lighter materials.
Smartwool baselayers and socks
A new line in baselayers which perform to high technical standards yet have an appealingly rugged chunky-knit look are set to debut, but the big story from Smartwool is a new range of lightweight walking sock which features a breathable, mesh-type wool upper and a padded sole, which will appeal to those wanting a lighter-weight wool sock suited for fast, high perspiration activity.
Columbia Omni-Dry
This new waterproof fabric from Columbia looks set to get some worried looks from eVent and Gore-Tex - it's super-breathable, as demonstrated by the natty bubble display, created by pushing air through the fabric into water tanks. At 7g per yard the new material is super light, and the secret to its breathability is the fact that some 50% of the fabric is nothing more than air. A new jacket range featuring the membrane is incoming.
Scarpa Kinesis
Any new boot from Scarpa is a big deal - the Kinesis Tech, Kinesis GTX and Kinesis Lite GTX are three different specs of Scarpa's brand new 3-season boot. Apart from being great looking and pleasingly robust, the Kinesis also comes in a Vegan version - the Ethic.
Deuter Exosphere 4
A new sleeping bag from Deuter with stretch panels for improved fit make the ExoSpehere a superb addition to Deuter´s range. The synthetic bag is available in different weights and is joined by the Nanosphere, a down version with stretch fit on the inside.