Calm before the storm.  Looking out the media suite at just a part of the Salt Palace in Salt Lake City.

Well, the theme of this years Winter Outdoor Retailer show was “green”.  Not just money green, that goes without saying, but eco green.  Everywhere I looked there was some kind reference to ecological issues.  Is it because they really care or are they just jumping on the green bandwagon because they can’t afford to be left behind?  I really wanted to ask one of the muckity mucks at Patagonia what they thought of all this because Patagonia has been seriously committed to environmental issues for many years and for all the right reasons but I thought better of it. 

Anyway, it was a great show but then again it is always pretty good.  It must be a monumental task handling the arrangements, catering and special requests of more than 800 exhibitors whose presence ranges from a folding table to lavish multi story showrooms.  This is my third year attending the show as “working media” and I have to admit, it is quite a display.  This is one of two shows where the 289 billion dollar outdoor equipment industry shows us the goods.  The phrase in my footer about sorting through the fad and fashion of the outdoor industry comes directly from my experience walking the floor of the Salt Palace searching for great gear.  Looking for needles in a very large hay stack. 

As our readership grows so does our influence with manufacturers.  We are not big and we do not pretend to be but we represent one end of the market, the hardcore user, and I think that we are now playing a subtle part in some of the decisions that are being made on new gear.  I am getting a chance to visit with the production people of some of the biggest names in the business and they seem genuinely interested in finding out what hardcore outdoorsmen want.  I am happy to tell them what I think and what I hear.  We are unique in the fact that we are advocates for the hardcore outdoor enthusiast and not from the industry.  We don’t care about terms or orders or price points.  We care about excellence, performance and durability.  We are the idealist, the purists.  We are pushing, persuading, nudging, cajoling and influencing the market to improve their products for the toughest of critics, the fanatic in the field.  The anti-posers.  The people who can’t or won’t turn back.  I think it is working, we are being heard. 

I hit the floor before the show opens with my breakfast in a cup from Starbucks.  Lunch is on the move consisting of a strawberry banana smoothy and some Cliff Bar samples and I drive on until they kick me out around 7:00pm.  I eyeball every single “booth” except The North Face.  It is a full day of walking, talking, taking notes and pictures and then summing it all up over dinner at the Blue Iguana Mexican food restaurant across the street. 

 
Try the Chile Verde Chimichanga with the good hot sauce, you have to ask for it.  Tremendous!

So, what did I find out this year?  Well next to the greenie weenie effect, the next biggest thing is that wool is back and it is big.  With all the attention on eco everything somebody figured out that a long time outdoors staple, wool, fits right in with the organic agenda.  However, as one synthetic company rep told me, the dirty little secret about wool is that it comes from sheep and as everyone knows sheep are a major producer of methane which is of course a green house gas.  I guess the next big advance for green wool will be fart free sheep?  I will keep you posted on that one.  But seriously, wool has a place in the modern mountain mans wardrobe and there is a wide selection of high quality products to choose from.  Me, I like wool socks, sweaters, glove liners, stocking caps and trousers but not underwear.  I have yet to make the jump to wool underwear partially because my poly pro stuff works so well.  Never the less, it is now possible to hit the boonies outfitted from head to toe, base to shell in nothing but wool.  Here is a zip t-neck Merrino wool sweater from Smartwool.  It is a beautifully made piece that would fit nicely in anyones system.


Smartwool.

Now, keep in mind that I am looking for what I think is best in class gear.  My task at these shows is to identify likely candidates and secure them for T&E.  Test and Evaluation.  We don’t promote it if we don’t use it.  Since my lists are already complete, I am looking for upgrades or items that are better than what I am already using.  Admittedly, I am biased towards what I am already using because I know from experience how good it is.  This trip, as usual, I am especially interested in finding the holy grail, the perfect shell layer jacket. 

Here are a few examples of jackets that are dangerously close to perfection.  Cabelas MT050 Quiet Pack Rain Jacket would be perfect if it had pit zips, bicep pockets and got rid of the hanging mesh liner (which I could live with).  This is a very nice jacket but it needs an update.  The Adventure Tech Silent Strike Viper Jacket is nearly perfect but it is cut too trim for layering, needs some fore and aft hood adjustability and it would be nice to be able to buy one somewhere.  What is going on with Adventure Tech anyway?  The closest one of all and my current highest hope is the Predator from TAD Gear.  I continue to be impressed with my Hardshell version 1.0.  It works beautifully and has everything but the right hood.  While the hood is one of the most user friendly and adjustable when you are using it, it doesn’t fall back and out of the way when you are not.  If the Predators hood and collar were independent or if the hood could be zipped off, this jacket would claim the title, assuming that TADs newest version of this jacket has the kind of soft exterior I am anticipating.  And they would have to add at least one happy color.  The Rivers West Cascade Mountain Jacket with its Lightweight All Weather fabric is also right up there but it desperately needs one hand adjustable hem cords (instead of the cheapo elastic trim), Velcro cuff closures and a hood.  And no, the Sitka 90% jacket does not qualify because as the name suggests, 10% of the time, the most important 10%, it fails.  Oh, that’s when you break out the Downpour Jacket.  I see, well, the Downpour doesn’t have pit zips and why would I carry two less than perfect jackets when one perfect one could do the job.  When Sitka makes a 100% jacket worthy of the hardcore conditions so beautifully illustrated on their web site, I will reconsider.  With those benchmarks in my head, I drive on.             

Shells
I have been a satisfied customer of Marmot for a very long time.  I have a great deal of confidence in their gear especially their gloves and shells.  Marmot Minimalist and Precip Jackets is what I have outfitted my wife and kids in if that tells you anything.  I was able to give the PR chic the slip in Marmots big bull pen and hooked up with one of their long time product development people.  These are my favorite people to talk to at the shows because they really know the products and are not bound by marketing department scripts.  I didn’t see anything new in the glove department that is worth reporting but there are two shells that you should know about.  The new Genesis soft shell is very nice and “designed for extreme foul weather conditions” but it’s not waterproof.  They have mini-taped the seems on the outside of the jacket and turned what would have been a visual scar into a handsome design feature.  I think you will see more of this technique. 


Marmot Genesis Jacket.

The Torre was the one I liked the best in the Marmot line because it strikes a nice balance between weight and durability.  Nice. 


Marmot Torre Jacket.

I wish these two were more like the current Tamarack Jacket which has a drop hood that zips off and a stand alone collar.  These are nice pieces for general outside activities but well short of greatness.  They are cute but not 10s.  What can I say, I am a hood man.  Was that a sexist remark?  Yes.  Yes it was. 

Speaking of greatness, Arcteryx, is the reigning king of the outdoor clothing world.  As I have said before Arcteryx has successfully synthesized extremely high quality and cutting edge style with complete functionality.  If you are in this space, the dead boney bird people set a very high standard.  To that end, their new line contains a jacket that is a prime example of the companys design prowess and might just be a new grail contender.  The Stingray Jacket is made of Gore-Tex Soft Shell which is not quite as soft and quiet as say the Cabelas or the Adventure Tech jackets but it is close.  The new Stingray will feature a true helmet compatible, drop hood with independent collar, pit zips, water resistant zippers, and a very clean but useful design.  The stingray comes in on the high side of my weight range at 26 ounces.  I only have two requests of Arcteryx:  Add the Stingray Jacket to your LEAF line so we can have some good colors for shooters and stop using the metric system.  This is America and we don’t cotton to that new fangled euro ciphering.  Didn't you guys ever see Talladega Nights!?


Arcteryx Stingray Jacket.

Another goer is Cloudveils Koven Jacket.  Not the Plus, the plain Koven.  It too has all the right stuff but uses Cloudburst Stretch EV3 to do the job.  It’s only 19 ounces.  Very nice piece.


Cloudveil Koven Jacket.

Also pictured is the Gore-Tex Soft Shell clad RPK.  It would be a player but it is mooy gordo at 39 ounces.  Trim it up and it would be Phat. 

 
Cloudveil RPK Jacket.

Side Bar
I am not really that hip, I am just trying to impress llona.  By the way, KFR, I got your comment.  Two words pal.  Weak and lame.  I expected more from a Firefighter of the Year winner.  Come on.  Man up.  Tell ‘em Chief.

I looked at the new Terra Shell from Mountain Hardwear which they say is the most breathable waterproof they have ever produced.  I don’t know what that means.  Nice jacket but it doesn’t touch enough of my hot buttons.


Mountain Hardwear Terra Shell Jacket.

Ditto for the Mammut Jannu Jacket.


Mammut Jannu Jacket.

and the Helly Hansen Odin Jacket.


Helly Hansen Odin Jacket.

So no joy on finding "The One" at OR this winter but the the Koven and the Stingray show real promise.  It will be at least a couple months before I can get my hands on new production models to know for sure.

Part 2 will cover base and insulation layers and Boots.

Hardcore Outdoor is dedicated to those who won't or can't turn back.