Best of Winter Outdoor Retailer 2013

I finally made it to Winter Outdoor Retailer 2013 early Friday morning  but because of all of the chaos surrounding my flight changes, I didn’t get the opportunity to spend as much time checking out gear as I would have liked. However, I still got a few days to walk the show floor, ogle the high-tech wonders of the outdoor world, and determine the best gear from the 2013 Outdoor Retailer show. Did I mention OR is like my Willy Wonka Factory? No? Well, it is. Only a lot healthier and better for my teeth.

Having said that, it was tough to sift out my favorite items from the show floor! However, I knew y’all would be disappointed in me if I didn’t come up with some epically cool items, so here is MY favorites list from the week!Too Small To Believe It Is Real: Sea-to-Summit Spark Spl Sleeping Bag

Y’all, look at this photo that Will snapped: on the right, we have a grapefruit. On the left, we have a compressed sleeping bag. Seriously! The Spark uses 850+ loft goose down to keep you warm and water-resistant treatment to help keep you dry. Although the bag is only rated 45 degrees, I still say that it’s size-to-warmth ratio is pretty darn impressive. Sounds like the perfect bag for those kinda-chilly-but-not-quite nights in Moab, no?

Best Item to Protect My Not-So-Healthy Back: Mammut’s Protective Airbags

You may remember my excitement when Will presented me with new backcountry ski gear for Christmas. However, just because we’ve checked the skis, boots, and skins off the list doesn’t mean we are quite ready for the backcountry! Next up? Avalanche packs and airbags!

Luckily, Mammut has come up with a new design just in time for us to make our purchase. The new Snowpulse Protective Airbag System (PAS) has extended neck wrapping which provides more support for the chest, neck and head in situations where the cranium may go boom. Additionally, the  majority of the airbag volume lays in front and on top of the head, so you’ll be in an upright, sitting position with your back down the mountain and your face on top of the snow. Now, I don’t know about you but an unbroken neck and full breathing capabilities after an avalanche both sound like great ideas to me!

Need to See it To Believe It: Nemo’s -40 Canon Sleeping Bag

For some, a -40 sleeping bag may seem like overkill, but I run right around Arctic temps internally, so for me, this is the bag I’d like to use for my early spring hikes.

Just kidding.

So yes, a -40 bag may be a little more intense than most of us will ever need, but think about how amazingly advanced our sleeping bags have become! Nemo engineered this bag with 850 fill and a “stove pipe” feature to help you breathe while all wrapped up tight inside (although I continue to call this a “chimney” and I have no idea why!) Can you imagine? It’s like your own personal mobile sauna!

Carrying Heavy Things Just Got a Little More Comfy: Millet Matrix 30 MBC Ski Touring Pack

Bottom line? Carrying skis is never fun, regardless of how awesome the powder will be on the downhill. The Millet Matrix pack aims to solve that by using an asymmetrical design that carries the skis diagonally across the backpack. There is still room for your shovel and avalanche probe, and a crampon pocket on one side is counterbalanced by an ice axe holder on the other side. I want.

A Lil’ Something for Tals: Swamp Cooler Jacket by Ruffwear

Y’all know how special Tally is to me! In fact, in the midst of checking out all of this sweet outdoor gear, I made a point to head over to the Ruffwear booth and speak with the reps about all of the dog gear they have coming out this year. Tals comes on all of my adventures, so why shouldn’t she get some decent gear to help make these excursions more fun?

I was pretty psyched to hear about this Swamp Cooler dog vest. Unlike most dogs, Tals never has an issue with getting cold; in fact, it’s just the opposite! For nine months of the year, Tals struggles with overheating and it’s exacerbated by her black fur that absorbs all of our Colorado sunshine. I often find her sitting in shade spots on the side of the trail, panting her face off. The Swamp Cooler aims to fix this for my pup! The vest has three layers and helps your pooch stay cool by using water’s evaporative effect. If Tals goes splashing through a stream (sidenote: this always happens!), the second layer of the jacket will soak up the liquid so that the cool fabric continues to keep her temps down. Additionally, the light-colored fabric will continue to reflect the sun off her fur, even when not wet. I think it sounds like a pretty sweet deal, and I am so excited for Tals to give it a shot!