The Outdoor Tradeshow (OTS) returned last week after a long, long pause brought about by a certain global issue, and we were of course there to sniff out all the most interesting outdoor gear releases set for Spring/Summer 2022.
Turns out there’s been quite a bit of innovation going on over the last couple of years, with lots of interesting new products that caught our attention. Here are the items that stood out the most.
For Spring/Summer 2022, MSR will be releasing a new version of their popular FreeLite tent, making it lighter and more affordable than ever before.
At 1.06kg, the 2-person FreeLite is now 270g lighter than the previous model and it includes added features for ease-of-use and durability, including no-curve door zippers, extra storage pockets and reinforced tension points. It’ll be available in 1, 2 and 3-person sizes, with the 2P set to retail at £440.
This new 180g adaptor from MSR lets you convert canister-top mounted camping stoves into hose fed systems with the idea being that you can lower the centre of gravity for when you’re cooking on uneven ground, in strong winds or around renegade children or dogs. It can be used with the MSR PocketRocket series, the Reactor or any other burners with a standard thread.
Light, soft and flexible, the new Blueridge range from Hanwag is set to offer a range of boots and shoes that are suited to multi-functional use; from easy hikes and day-trips with light packs through to just general everyday outdoor activities. The collection is 100% PFC-free and made from European sourced components within the continent.
Each boot features a TERRAGRIP rubber outsole with 15% recycled rubber and a 4mm-deep tread. High-quality Perwanger leather is used for the upper, along with a robust polyamide upper fabric and 3D Breathfit tongue made from themo-moulded reticulated PU foam.
Primus have introduced a new version of their popular Primus Lite+ stove. Nothing’s changed really only it’s just, well, bigger. The top pot can now handle up to one-litre, making it a better option for preparing meals or liquids for two people or more.
It includes pot support pegs that can be screwed onto the burner allowing the stove to be used with any pot, a 1.0L hard-anodized aluminum pot with pour spout and integrated heat exchanger, a cork-lined insulated pot sleeve made from G-1000 ECO Lite fabric and it comes with a bio-based Canister Stand. The total weight is 460g and the output is 1700W output.
Our biggest takeaway from our visit to the Equip stand to see Rab and Lowe Alpine was the news that Rab are now going to be releasing a big collection of new packs. Some of these will be brand new while others will essentially be re-badged Lowe Alpine bags.
Fear not for the future of Lowe Alpine. The brand is set to simply become much more focussed on packs for backpacking, with Rab taking over the climbing, mountaineering and day hiking duties.
This looks like a seriously impressive new jacket from Helly Hansen. It’s a continuation of their high spec Odin range, incorporating their eco-friendly Lifa Infinity waterproof system which uses recycled fabrics and a DWR that’s free PFCs. The Odin Mountain Infinity Pro Shell impressed us last year when we tested it and the Verglas Infinity went down well with our test team for the Outdoor 100 for 2021/22, so this, we expect, is going to be one to watch out for.
We didn’t get the chance to find out much about this roof tent by Dometic. All we know is that it looked very, very impressive when we saw it being electronically deployed simpy by the press of a button.
While there were a bunch of impressive lightweight backpacking tents at the show, this big orange thing from Craghoppers was the one we were drawn to first. We might be wrong here, but as far as we know, this is the first tent the long-running British brand have ever produced. What an entry to the market.
This is an intriguing new unveiling from Camelbak – the original inventors of hands-free hydration. Not only is it 30% lighter than their previous reservoirs but it showcases some interesting new tech too, with an ingeniously designed zipped closure and a rigid backplate that eliminates the need for the baffled seams (commonly found on bladders) which can be tricky to clean properly.
The 2-litre model will cost £59.99 and the 3-litre one will come in at £69.99 with both available from February 2022.
The new ORU Inlet is a a super-lightweight, ultra-portable and quick-to-assemble folding kayak. It fits into its own backpack and can be easily hiked up to remote tarns, making hike-kayak hybrid adventures a real possibility.
It’s 10ft long and 79cm wide, weighs 9kg (the Californian-based brand’s lightest ever vessel), folds into a box about the size of a guitar case (107 x 25 x 46cm), and it can be set up within five minutes. Impressive.
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