The OMM Mountain Raid 1/2 Bag

We’ll start off with OMM’s very interesting new update to the Mountain Raid ½ bag. If you’re not familiar with the original product, it’s basically a half sized sleeping bag that joins with an insulated jacket to form a sleep system.

With this year’s release they’ve gone one step further by adding zips to the bag that create the potential to turn it into insulated trousers. Filled with PrimaLoft Gold Insulation, the idea is that you can wear the trousers around camp at night or put them on in emergency situations.

Nikwax

We’ve been using jackets and sleeping bags that use Nikwax Hydrophobic down for a while now and have been aware of Nikwax’s claim that it’s possible for a person in a Nikwax-treated down sleeping bag to float for minutes on end.

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We’d never actually seen this in practise however, that was until this year’s ISPO anyway. They launched two willing volunteers off into the ISPO pop-up swimming pool and we can indeed say that as well as surviving, they also stayed bone dry.

Páramo Velez Evolution

The original Velez went down well when it was released a year or two ago, and this new ‘evolution’ of it, judging by the glimpse we got at ISPO and the swanky ISPO Gold Award it picked up, looks like a release that’ll be worth keeping an eye out for.

The waterproof system is the same as the last Velez’s, relying on a Nikwax Analogy liner that’s able to move water outwards, away from the body without the need for a waterproof membrane. The main and most obvious difference with this new item is that Páramo have switched up the zip system, throwing convention out the window and opting for two full length zips that run right from hem to chin resulting in what could well be a very dynamic ventilation system. “Take an old-school anorak, and turn it into a jacket, add a bunch of new cool features, colours and fabric and boom, you have an ISPO Gold Winner,” said a Mr Edwardsson from the ISPO judging panel.

Rab

There were a few interesting items highlighted at ISPO by British brand Rab, including the new Ladakh mountaineering shell as well as new versions of the Neutrino, Cirrus and Muztag jackets.

The most notable item at the Rab stand however was their relaunch of the incredibly popular Microlight, which they’ll be calling the Microlight Summit (pictured above).

Launched in Autumn 2018 to mark 10 years since the original jacket’s launch, it will feature 750 fill power ethically sourced hydrophobic down along with a longer cut to suit climbers. The first items will be available in the honey colour pictured or in charcoal grey.

Berghaus

As was the case with Rab, Berghaus also had a few new items and updates to show off at ISPO including a brand new innovation called ThinDown. Used in their new Aonach AX midlayer jacket, it’s an almost 50/50 blend of down and polyester that’s been formed into long sheets. ‘Why?’, we hear you ask. Well, it’s because this construction, Berghaus say, eradicates the need for baffles, and in turn, the threat of heat escaping through the stitches. It also means a down-proof outer fabric isn’t required, so a high-airflow fabric can be used instead to create a greater breathability throughout the jacket.

Berghaus also showed us their updated Tephra Stretch insulated jacket (above). Looks-wise it hasn’t changed too much, but the devil is in the detail. Look inside and you’ll find that it now has a ‘Reflect’ lining that’s able to bounce heat back to the body. Already used in jackets like the Berghaus Ramche Micro Down, it’s a technology that can supposedly add 10% more warmth.

Mammut Spindrift

Here’s one of four items that Mammut was awarded for at the show this year. A winner in the Snowsport category, it’s designed specifically for ski touring, the main evidence of this being the clever system that allows the wearer to attach skis and ski poles to the pack without needing to take it off.

What we really like about this Autumn/Winter 2018 launch is the innovative windbreaker that you can pull out from the side of the bag with one hand while on the go to wear like a bib over your torso. Ski tourers might be the primary aim here, but this should be a very interesting consideration for trail runners as well.

Arc’teryx Norvan LD

Arc’teryx’s first trail running shoe, the Norvan VT performed exceptionally well when we tested it throughout 2017 so we’re really looking forward to getting our hands on this update to it. The good news is that unlike the majority of products we’ve profiled in this post, this is scheduled for a Spring 2018 launch, so we won’t need to wait long to try it.

While the last model was fairly solid underfoot, this one should provide a good deal of cushioning thanks to its 3-piece midsole comprised of EVA, polyolefin and a 0.7mm TPU plate. The Megagrip outsole is a very useful ingredient that’ll make these suited to some very muddy and slippery trails.

Petzl Bindi

Another item out this Spring, in fact the OutdoorsMagic team have already been out testing it in the field, so expect our review online soon.

As you can probably guess from looking at the picture, this is a really lightweight option that should suit long-distance hikers looking to keep the gramme count as low as possible. How light? Just 35g, and it’ll still safely guide you through the night thanks to its 200 lumen brightness. It’s also waterproof down to 1m and it charges via USB.

Rhino Wolf

One of the great things about ISPO is that you can seek out some remarkably quirky innovations. Like this, the ‘modular attachable super tent’ from Rhino Wolf. We spotted it in the promising newcomers section at the tradeshow.

It’s a one-person tent that can be joined with other Rhino Wolf tents to sleep as many people as you have tents. Combinable tents might sound a little sketchy for camping in bad weather but the attachment method, which involves rolling and sealing, actually seems quite reliable.

And there’s more. Each ‘pod’ comes with an integrated sleeping mat and duvet, so you essentially get an all-in-one camping package. It isn’t even cumbersome, in fact it’ll pack down to about the size of most two person tents. The one we saw was made for summer camping, but we’re told there’s a winter version as well. You can expect that one to have a much bigger packed size.

It’s just a Kickstarter at the moment so you can’t get your hands on one yet, and if the campaign doesn’t go well there’s a chance it won’t even see the light of day. Fingers crossed it does though.