How it Works

According to Thin Air founder Eric Boles, “Media will engage with brand representatives in the form of hyper-realistic avatars, learning about trends and experiencing product launches while creating content in real time, driving millions of impressions and click-throughs. Thin Air allows brands to reach consumers while they are safe at home studying, researching, and planning their next adventure or big purchase of outdoor gear and apparel.”

For the skeptics out there, the Thin Air Outdoor Media Show’s interactive platform claims to offer the same experience of walking through the Outdoor Retailer show in Denver, minus the chances to contract a viral illness.

“Thin Air is fully immersive and interactive and allows attendees to engage with exhibitors through chat, talk, and video over the course of three days,” says Eric Boles. “By limiting the number of booths to 400, attendees can more meaningfully engage with brands, explore new products, pick up marketing collateral, and schedule post-event meetings, right from their desktop or mobile device…Brands can also get creative and engage show attendees with scavenger hunts, giveaways, contests, and more. Booths/brands can send real-time alerts to attendees for important announcements being made, and can deliver live or on-demand product overviews with a live Q & A.”  

Pro’s and Con’s?

Thin Air’s scope and vision is unquestionably innovative and in line with the times. Crisis spawns change. In 2001, September 11^th made us painfully aware of airport security and immigration—but also painfully exclusive to certain ethnicities and religions. Today, the COVID19 pandemic has made us painfully aware of what happens when thousands of people congregate and one of them is sick—but it also contributes to quarantine and isolation.  

There is no arguing that Outdoor Retailer is an expensive show. Brands pay substantial booth fees and ship product and personnel to fill and work the booths. ROI and metrics have always been a mystery. The carbon footprint is colossal (Thin Air’s carbon footprint will be zero). Still, it fueled a residual economy. Hotel rooms were filled. Bars and restaurants overflowed after hours. Gig workers picked up extra work. People connected with each other with handshakes and hugs.

Time will tell if the Thin Air Outdoor Media Show is the new paradigm for trade shows. After all, silver linings can hold dark clouds. Personally, I’m looking forward to it. It’ll be like living in a giant Sea of Thieves game for a couple days!

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Fortunately, a growing number of companies in the outdoor industry have instituted sustainability initiatives into their design and manufacturing processes that demonstrate their commitment to doing the right thing and to invite us to reduce, reuse and recycle along with them for the good of a healthier Earth.

Reduce

The non-profit Woolmark Company works to connect Australia’s wool growers with the world through collaboration, education and the promotion of garments made from Merino wool. Wool is 100% natural, renewable and biodegradable. It is naturally breathable and odor-resistant.

One Merino wool shirt, for example, can be worn for multiple wears before needing to be washed. One particular example comes to mind: An experience several years ago in which I wore only an Icebreaker Zone baselayer as my one and only shirt for running and cycling for three weeks–before it needed to be washed. This leads to a reduced need to purchase multiple synthetic shirts (and wash every after use) for cycling, running, hiking, skiing, etc. Next time you’re shopping, think Merino wool as a better long-term solution for reducing the amount of clothing you buy and, ultimately, wash.

Balancing out the Reduce scale is reducing environmental footprint. It’s no secret that the textile industry is the second greatest polluter of local freshwater in the world. DESO Apparel is highly clued into this. Instead of contracting with overseas manufacturing facilities–which are usually the biggest contributors of pollution and waste–DESO Apparel designs and makes all their garments in the heart of San Francisco, California, in small batches.

And if they haven’t reduced their carbon footprint enough, they seek to take it even further by sourcing all materials for and manufacturing of their products within a tight 30-mile radius. This includes knitting their own fabrics. One of my favorite pieces of DESO Apparel is the buttery-soft Fontanillis hoodie.

Reuse

Cotopaxi is a company that has successfully built its model around keeping waste out of landfills by prioritizing re-purposed materials to reuse for their products. Much of their product line is already made with a percent of recycled materials. However, the Tecca collection and Del Dia collection are made entirely from remnants and fabric from factory floors that would otherwise have been discarded and sent to landfills.

This year, Cotopaxi launched a pilot project to extend the life of injured products by repairing them for either the customer or for Cotopaxi to re-sell to new customers who will reuse them.

All sales from the re-sales of repaired products then fund the Cotopaxi Foundation, which supports global initiatives that target poverty and support education and healthcare opportunities in underdeveloped regions. That’s like the complete opposite of what the Trump administration does.

Another example of extending the life of products to keep them in service and out of landfills is Patagonia. The Patagonia Recrafted collection is gear from made from used clothing and gear that has been diverted from the trash heap and re-sewn into “new” Patagonia clothing and gear.

Patagonia also kicks it up another notch by handmaking the collection in California, thereby even further reducing their carbon footprint. To me, Patagonia isn’t simply an outdoor brand. It’s a trailblazing groundbreaker environmental ethics and activism.

Recycle

Teva is also well into its own commitment to sustainability to keep plastic out of landfills, lakes, rivers and oceans while offsetting the use of petroleum and reducing greenhouse gasses.

As of 2020, 100 percent of Teva’s iconic straps are now made from traceable, verifiable, plastic using REPREVE® yarn, which is made from 100 percent recycled plastic bottles and other recycled content. You can find iconic straps in their Hurricane XLT2 and Original Universal sandal line. They also feature a funky Original Universal Upcycle sandal, whose straps are 100 percent remnant fabric from past seasons.

I interned for Teva back in the days when they were based in Flagstaff, Arizona and Mark Thatcher ran the show. Back then they were a band of skilled long-haired, unshaven hippies who maybe washed their hair once a week and couldn’t wait to hit the river rafts. Today, I am positive that they would all be proud to see Teva holding true to their founding values.

Another company with a tiny carbon footprint is Ashville, NC-based Recover Brands. Recycling is the DNA for all their products.

Taking fabric remnants of cotton and polyester from factory floors and post-consumer plastic bottles, they spin it all into yarn and knit it into fabric that they use to make their flagship t-shirts and outerwear and branded collections. Did I mention that all the steps in the making of a shirt are done right in Ashville?

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In an industry where many manufacturers still embrace ‘shrink it and pink it’  and call it a day, it denigrates women’s apparel and products as a mere afterthought. Fortunately, these twelve women-founded, women-led companies make products for you, your body shape and all your adventures, be it hiking the Pacific Crest Trail, skiing, climbing, adventure travel, cycling, surfing, running and whatever you feel like doing.

AdventurHER Travel Adventure

Most outdoorswomen today were introduced to the outdoors and mentored by family or friends who were outdoorsy. But what happens when you don’t have that conduit? Founder, owner and guide extraordinaire of AdventurHER Travel Alli Neal set out to be that conduit. That mentor who nudges or (gently) kicks women in the rear to get outdoors “capably, confidently, and comfortably.”

Talk about women-found, women-led companies! To say AdventurHER is woman-led is to be literal about it. Alli leads women outdoors from all skill levels to camp, climb, surf, hike, bike, ski, SUP, you name it, all while ensuring supportive environment to build skills, confidence and, really, just have fun–whether it’s a weekend ice climbing clinic in Winona, MN or climbing and canyoneering in Moab, UT, inn to inn cycling in Ireland or something completely customized for you. | Adventurhertravel.com

Freshly Minted Socks

Suzette Ayotte is a Maine native and transplant to San Francisco. She founded Freshly Minted socks because she happens to be an avid cyclist with a designer’s eye. All Freshly Minted socks, which are made in Italy, have mid-century modern designs and colors for the cycling life. The price point is a very affordable and reasonable $20 and a portion is donated to the National Interscholastic Cycling Association. Jump here to SpinCycle News to read more about NICA to get more kids on bikes. | Thefreshlyminted.com

Title Nine

If you’ve never heard of Title IX, it’s the much-needed legislation that passed in 1972 that opened up (most) sports to women. Missy Parks, the founder, saw that sports apparel manufacturers were in no hurry to accommodate women athletes. In 1989, Missy started Title Nine with the barest of bones office space in her Berkeley, CA garage: A rotary dial phone (with only 1 line) on her living room table.

Her first round of catalog distribution to 13,000 recipients netted a whopping 56 orders—of which only seven came from people she didn’t know. After several years of epic ideas and even more epic fails, Title Nine now has 23 stores in 11 states with a thriving catalog and website platform—and is still being led by Missy Parks. | Titlenine.com

Skirt Sports

Nicole DeBoom launched Skirt Sports the day after she won the 2004 Wisconsin Ironman Triathlon—wearing a prototype skirt she made at home. There are very few women founded, women led companies to begin with. Even fewere reach 15 years in business. Skirt Sports did just that in September 2019.

For active women of literally all shapes and sizes, Skirt Sports offers a vast line of running shorts, skirts, tops, leggings, bras and, for the cyclist, a skirt with a chamois. But the skirt that really hits the sweet spot is the Lotta Breeze Capri skirt with its flattering style and fun prints. | Skirtsports.com

Carve Designs

Carve Designs is an example of how the best ideas spring from lounging in hammocks, swaying in the breeze in San Pancho, Mexico. It was there that surfers Jennifer Hinton and Thayer Sylvester discussed the dismal prevalence of true surfing boardshorts for women—especially those of shapes and sizes that are never featured in catalogs.

Enter women-founded, women-led Carve Designs, which set out to fill the board short gap and then some. Today, Carve Designs, which is still run by Jen and Thayer, keeps true to their mission: Design athletic and casualwear for women of all shapes and sizes who push boundaries. Additionally, Carve Designs remains true to their sustainability initiatives by making a significant portion of their swimwear and activewear in California. | carvedesigns.com

Houdini

Like so many women athletes in modern dark ages, Swedish mountaineer and ski guide Lotta Giornofelice need clothes that didn’t exist: clothes climbing and ski touring that regulated body temperature for for start- and stop activities. So she made them herself, starting with fleece underwear for herself and some friends.

Today, Houdini creates minimalist styles that are functional for both women and men. But sustainability has—and always will be—the cornerstone of their brand: 100 percent of all the fabrics used in this season are recycled, recyclable, renewable, biodegradable Bluesign certified. | Houdinisportswear.com

Lightheart Gear

Not only is Lightheart Gear woman-founded and women-led, it was started as a sewing project by virtue of the Appalachian Trail. Founder and owner (and retired Air Force nurse, marathon runner, master sewer, AT and PCT hiker) Judy Gross was hiking the AT with a 4.5-pound one-person tent that was heavy and took up the bulk of her pack space. She believed that the current offering of lightweight tents on the market could be better so she approached her first tent design, a one-person shelter, with a problem-solving perspective.

She wanted lightweight. Had to be able to sit upright. Didn’t want to trip over guy-lines in the middle of night. And it couldn’t take up the bulk of the space in her pack. She designed and sewed the first prototype in her basement. Today, in addition to lightweight tents like the Lightheart Gear Firefly, the Lightheart Gear product line includes hiking skirts, rain gear all designed and produced in North Carolina. | Lightheartgear.com

Shredly

This woman-founded, woman-led company was started by Colorado mountain biker  (via a Kickstarter campaign) Ashley Rankin when she saw an opportunity to create a specialized niche of mountain bike shorts for women. And create she did! In a kaleidoscope of wild patterns with total trail functionality. There is no mistaking a Shredly short, especially the pro-unicorn Shredly Tina. In mountain biking apparel, Shredly is distinct. Today, she is still the designer and product tester and makes it all in Colorado. | Shredly.com

MuttRuk

Colorado native and outdoor/dog enthusiast Gretchen Dill founded MuttRuk because she wanted to create a backpack solution for hiking with dogs. After 12 years at a desk job as a Graphic Designer, spending lots of free time outdoors, and seeing a slew of local trails shut down to use by dogs, she felt it was about time to take action in both her career and impact on outdoor spaces.

Inspired by innovative gear, and using her background in design, she took the leap into the world of product design. MuttRuk represents an attitude of adventure as well as respect for our outdoor spaces. A brand that advocates for trail clean up by providing helpful solutions, and an advocate for rescue and training to help both owner and dog grow in confidence and bond together. After a successful Kickstarter campaign in June of this year, MuttRuk is now into production and the MuttRuck Hit the Trail Bundle Pack—which includes 14-liter pack and a rollout water dish for your dog! | Muttruck.com

Astrid Wild

Founder and owner of Maria Paulsson Ronnback designs outdoor clothing for women by women. Inspired by her Nordic roots, Astrid Wild Outdoor Fashion is 100 percent focused on design, the woman’s body, and versatile clothing made for wild adventures, recreation and the city outdoor life. Astrid Wild aims to inspire women to live a happier and healthier life, by spending more time in nature and connecting with like-minded women. | Astridwild.com

Blyss Running

Blyss Running hails from the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina. Founder and owner Alyson Neel began running in her early forties by virtue of a Couch to 5k program. Running taught her that the athletic wear industry had no clue about what a woman needs and wants from her running apparel.

In 2015 Alyson used her background in fashion merchandising to design a pair of shorts. Then she made a running skirt. Today she designs and makes running wear for women like the Blyss Distance Short with deep pockets, longer lengths and higher waistbands—all while running marathons and designing and proudly making all her products in the US. | Blyssrunning.com

Krimson Klover

The heart and soul of Krimson Klover is adventure, which is what drove founder and creative director Rhonda Swenson to become a flight attendant. An unlikely beginning, yes, but connections she made while traveling soon morphed into designing sweaters and selling them through a small boutique sweater company—which she eventually purchased and became Krimson Klover.

Today, Krimson Klover remains a woman-founded woman-led company whose lineup includes slow-fashion style, like the Scandinavian-inspired Astrid Full-zip sweater for the adventurous woman. | Krimsonklover.com

Lo & Sons

Don’t let the “sons” trip you up. Helen Lo founded Lo & Sons to design and manufacture premium, thoughtfully-designed bags for travel and work. Helen, who has a PhD in social welfare, wanted a travel carry-on that was functional, not fugly, and environmentally-friendly. The first two points were easy to check off the wish list but the environmentally-friendly point wasn’t because it didn’t exist.

At 60 years of age, when many people are thinking about downshifting careers into the retirement, Helen gunned the accelerator. She believed it wasn’t enough to just“do no harm” when it comes to environmental impact. Lo & Sons is one of the growing number of brands that are leading the way to reversing decades of damage to the environment. | Loandsons.com

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MINT Cycling Socks for $10

MINT Socks are going game on for Black Friday. These hip, made-in-Italy cycling socks regularly retail for $20 but on Black Friday only, you can order any sock model for $10. MINT will also roll Black Friday through Cyber Monday with incentives offered each day. On Saturday, all MINT Socks roll to 30 percent off through Cyber Monday, plus day-to-day bonus models at 50 percent off. Simply said: all MINTS will be $14 with one special model slated for $10 on Saturday, Sunday, and again on Monday. thefreshlyminted.com/

Patagonia Action Works Donation Match

If spending money on tangible items sicken you, Patagonia has a Black Friday deal you’ll appreciate. It is matching all donations made through Patagonia Action Works starting November 29 (Black Friday) through December 31, 2019. Donors can choose to send a digital eCard, print a card from home, or pick up a physical card in any Patagonia store in the US or Europe. No purchase of Patagonia product is required for donations to be eligible for matching. The perfect gift for the climate change deniers in your life! patagonia.com

Save $300-400 on Roofnest

Starting on Black Friday and running through Cyber Monday, Roofnest is offering $300 off all tent styles, and $400 offthe Sandpiper and Eagle. No coupon necessary. They’re also taking $50 off their signature Roofnest down blankets. As always, they’re offering free shipping to the lower 48 states. roofnest.com

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The CORE Act, which was introduced by Congressman Joe Neguse (D-CO-02), brings four locally built campaigns (new wilderness and special management areas in the Continental Divide area, protecting backcountry in the Spraddle Creek Wilderness and around the Tenmile Mountain outside of Frisco) into one lands package that will protect 400,000 acres of public land.

Senator Michael Bennet (D-CO) has introduced companion legislation in the Senate (S. 241).

But passing the House is only the first hurdle. The next hurdle is a vote in the U.S. Senate. With Republicans making up the Senate majority, it’s anyone’s guess how it will go. However, The Conservation Alliance is heading to Washington DC next week, along with a small group of outdoor and craft brewery business leaders, to encourage and support the Colorado delegation to make the CORE Act law this Congress.

You can help by contacting your Senators today and urging them support H.R.823, the Colorado Outdoor Recreation and Economy (CORE) Act.

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I had the honor of meeting Nicole at the Skirt Sports booth at Outdoor Retailer several years ago. Aside from her well-chiseled thighs and biceps from years of training, I had to ask the inevitable question: “A skirt for running? Er…Why?”

A Reflection in the Window…

“Training [for Wisconsin Ironman] had consumed my days and nights,” answered DeBoom. “I lived in swimsuits and running and cycling shorts. One day I saw my reflection in a storefront window and three thoughts came to mind. I looked like a guy in my men’s running clothing, it was uninspiring and I really just wanted to feel pretty. I went home and scribbled some notes would ultimate create something that had never been done before: a running skirt.”

Indeed, it was that same running skirt, which began as a scribble on a piece of paper, that she wore when she was the first woman to cross the finish line in 2004.

Launched an Empire…

Today, 15 years later, DeBoom has built a successful empire by listening to their customers. “Listening to our target market is what sparks the creative juices,” DeBoom says. “We have a customer-led product design function called The Sewing Room, which welcomes our customer base to become part of the design process by submitting new ideas, like the Flirty Converty skirt that just launched or voting to bring back a favorite discontinued product.”

To Make Fitness Available to all Shapes and Sizes…

As the most inclusive brand in the market, Skirt Sports listens to their customers. “Women are our market and I see us as the stewards of making fitness accessible to women of all sizes,” says DeBoom.

In addition to offering the standard XS – XXL, Skirt Sports offers 1X, 2X and 3X. “XS – XXL are based off of the same size small fit model with the same dimensions,” explains DeBoom. “That means XL and XXL would presumably have the same dimensions just bigger.”

But for most women this isn’t the case. Not all dimensions increase proportionately. DeBoom explains it best. “For 1X, 2X, 3X, we use a new fit model who is size 1X. Then we grade based on her dimensions. The actual sizing is pretty close for XL and 1X and XXL and 2X, but the fit is more tailored to a plus size woman at 1X+ than XL and XXL.”

…And to Celebrate the Female Athlete in every Form

One visit to the Skirt Sports website showcases this philosophy front and center. Instead of professionals modeling size two skirts and apparel, you’ll find real women—Skirt Sports brand ambassadors in just about every size that Skirt Sports offers—modeling everything from running skirts to bras to tights. In my opinion, this is a beautiful sight to see. Not only because it’s truly representative of all women but it inspires women who aren’t necessarily size two to see how that they, too, can rock a running skirt.

And to think, this empire of empowerment started with a reflection on a storefront window, a few notes and a simple running skirt.

Celebrate Fifteen Years with $20 off

Fifteen years is a milestone and to celebrate, Skirt Sports is giving away $20 to everyone, everywhere to celebrate with them. The code is 15YEARS and minimum purchase is $50. And on September 12^th, Nicole is doing a Face Book Live Q&A at 5:00pm MST. You can submit questions ahead of time on the Face Book Live event.

Happy Birthday, Skirt Sports! We can’t wait to see what’s coming down the pipeline in the next fifteen years.

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Zion National Park Forever Project, Zion’s official nonprofit partner, is kicking off its new “We the Keepers” Centennial Celebration and campaign with a special benefit performance by renowned music legend Sting and the Utah Symphony on August 31, 2019.

We’re all aware that there’s a need for more stewardship not only for Zion National Park but for national parks everywhere. The goal for “We the Keepers” is to transform all visitors of Zion National Park and the greater Zion landscape into “Keepers” of those sacred lands, ultimately building a new stewardship model for the next 100 years and beyond.

Zion has become an increasingly popular national park and is the fourth most-visited national park in the US. Over 4.3 million guests visit each year, and each one has an impact on Zion. With the “We the Keepers” Campaign, the hope is that the concert will not only be an incredible way to celebrate Zion National Park’s Centennial anniversary, but that it will bring attention to preserving the park for generations to come.

Without the awareness and rise to action for Zion when it comes to stewardship, the increased visitation of the national park becomes a major concern. Without volunteers, preservation, upkeep, funding and maintenance, the beauty of the park suffers greatly, and the chance of future generations being able to visit this splendor becomes grim.

The Zion Forever Project commissioned Local Studio, a Utah-based video production company, to create a new visitor center film. This replaces the 20-year-old film that is now shown at the park. The film challenges the viewer to make the shift from just being a visitor to becoming a steward of the land. The new film premiers in November 2019.

Jeff Bradybaugh, Superintendent of Zion National Park, stated, “Those of us fortunate enough to be immersed in its dramatic, living landscape are reminded every day of our charge to conserve unimpaired the natural and cultural resources and values of Zion National Park; in perpetuity – a forever mission – and we do so for the enjoyment, education and inspiration of this and future generations.”

More than one million dollars has been contributed to the Forever Project during its first two years, and it has accomplished 36 project goals for Zion and its sister parks, Cedar Breaks and Pipe Spring National Monuments. The next project is currently underway with a full list being released this coming November in the 2020 Field Guide. A limited-run exhibit, “Keepers of the Sanctuary: Zion’s First 100 Years”, runs now through December 1, 2019 at the Zion Human History Museum, and this tells the story of the park’s first century.

Join in the celebration this weekend with Sting and the Utah Symphony at Zion National Park and make a commitment to becoming a steward to the stunning beauty to keep it maintained and preserved. All proceeds from the performance will benefit the Zion Forever Project.

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What I Liked

Ice melts into the bag, not my cooler. My cooler isn’t the most hygienic. I know I should wash it with vinegar and water after every use to kill the fluvial zoo of mold and mildew. (I don’t). Yet I continue to add ice to the cooler, pile in beer, cheese, lunch meat, fruit. At the end of the day what’s left of my food and drink stash is floating in a pool of melted nasty cooler ice. Thanks to NeatIce, I have kissed those days goodbye. The NeatIce waterproof bag contains ice cubes inside 420-denier nylon belly. When the ice cubes melt, the meltwater is still contained inside that nylon belly.

Melt water is drinkable. The BPA-free NeatIce bag has a valve at the bottom and comes with a pour spout and convenient detachable 10-inch drain hose. Most people, myself included, dumped out their cooler water rather than risk an encounter with cholera or dysentery. On a recent mountain biking/camping trip to Wisconsin, I eschewed the gag reflux of yore and fill the bladder of my hydration pack with melted NeatIce water.

Good for the environment. Single-use plastics are a pox on the environment. Instead of purchasing a bag of ice bound in single-use plastic that will ultimately make its way to landfill or water system, the NeatIce bag is reusable—as is the melted water inside.

Tough. Even with the weight of beer bottles, beer cans and food upon it. Inside, the bag will hold about 10lbs of cubed ice, give or a take a cube.  

Brilliant concept, so easy to use. Separate the Velcro, open the top and empty the contents of your freezer’s ice cube bin.  Seal like a giant Ziplock baggie, fold the top down and match the Velcro tabs for an extra secure seal and toss in your cooler. When you’re done, turn it inside out to dry. That’s it. A full bag will keep a medium to large-sized cooler cool. If you have a small cooler, just use half as much ice.

What I didn’t Like

The silicone zipper seal requires very strong fingers.

Final Thoughts

My pre-NeatIce ice cube system was the bane of the environment’s existence: Plastic bags of ice from a store, soggy food and ending with dumping melted the water on the driveway or campsite. Even though I always recycled the plastic bags, NeatIce is a huge improvement.

It’s refreshing to see that such a simple concept and design makes such a large step towards reducing our footprint and the endless cycle of waste. It’s also sobering to see how much power we have in reducing waste with minimal effort and investment.

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SRAM is doing its part to change all that by sponsoring the PBE Inclusivity Scholarship that supports women, trans, and people of color frame builders. The inaugural class consists of Megan Dean (Moth Attack), Julie Ann Pedalino (Pedalino Bikes), Danielle Schön (Schon Studio) and Jackie Mautner (Untitled Cycles).

“At SRAM, we aim to support the people, groups, and events working to change that. The energy that small builders bring is super inspiring. We want to recognize them and help shine a spotlight on these four amazing builders who come from underrepresented groups in the industry,” says SRAM Road Brand Manager Kate Powlison.

The recipients of this scholarship receive funding for builder travel and booth fees, as well as their show build.
Here’s hoping that other cycling industry brands follow SRAM’s example to support and showcase work from a fresh perspective.

About the Builders:

Megan Dean | Moth Attack

Dean builds across a wide array of styles and is recognized for her purposeful frames adorned with eye-catching paint and graphic designs. Dean has also sponsored the all-female Moth Attack Cyclocross team.

Jackie Mautner | Untitled Cycles

In the process of taking on the role of artist, engineer, and alchemist, Mautner finds a near-limitless pool of inspiration. Her hope is for her beautiful creations to disappear into the background for riders as they facilitate journeys. She is introducing Untitled Cycles at the PBE this year, featuring a mix of lugged and brazed steel as well as strategically incorporated carbon fiber elements.

Julie Ann Pedalino | Pedalino Bikes

Pedalino mixes fine arts design and modern 3D printing with her traditional framebuilding skills to make distinctive frames featuring eyepopping metal accents, lugwork and distinctive dropouts.

Danielle Schön | Schön Studio

Schön Studio is a full custom metal fabrication shop which strives to build beautiful machines through form, function, and adventure. Schön has been recognized for her wildly creative theme bicycles at previous shows.

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The Kokopelli Packraft Recon is an inflatable kayak that packs down to a compact 16×12 inches and weighs just 18 pounds. Feel like going for a paddle-session after work at the nearby reservoir? Just toss the compact Recon in the back of your car. No need to head home and deal with loading a kayak on your roof and strapping it down. The raft features 0.9mm PVC sidewalls and a 0.9mm PVC floor. It’s durable, easy to transport, and a great road-to-river whitewater raft to add to your collection. MSRP $900-1,050.

Five Ten came out with the Trailcross which is a mountain biking shoe that is also comfortable and flexible enough to hike a few miles in. Sometimes you have a bit of a hike to get to a ride, or maybe you just want to hike a few miles after your trail riding. The Trailcross allows you to do both without having to change your shoes. The outsole is the sticky Five Ten STEALTH rubber with a dot tread pattern. There is an added rocker on it, torsional stiffness with drain holes on the front and in the footbed. The uppers are hydrophobic, and the shoe dries within five minutes of getting damp. The foam inserts mold to the shape of your foot and keeps your feet from getting excessively hot. The Trailcross incorporates D30 shock absorbing material and comes in both a low and high version for men and women. MSRP $140-170.

Coolers are in abundance in the outdoor world, and it can be overwhelming trying to figure out which one to get. RovR Coolers showcased their Rovr Rollr wagon cooler that comes in a 60, 45 or 80-quart with a built-in gear top, dry storage bin that separates meat, cheese and anything else you don’t want getting soggy from the ice inside, 9” pneumatic tires with a specific tread pattern that can handle mud, sand and hiking to the crags for a day. The cooler has a full single aluminum axle on the wheels which allows for better handling. The aluminum handlebar is sturdy, and you can pull the cooler off to your side, so it doesn’t bump into you. Not only can you roll this manually, but there’s now an accessory, the BikR Kit, that you can attach to your bike and haul the cooler like one of those mini-trailers that holds a child in it. Cooler MSRP $369-449. BikR Kit MSRP $54.00.

Mystery Ranch came out with a climber’s dream of a pack. This mega-organized crag bag is a top loader, and the front of it zips fully open to where you don’t have to unload everything in order to find your quickdraws on the bottom of the pack, or maybe your shoes that managed to find their way hidden between your rope and trad gear. There are internal racking gear loops for hanging gear. It has a compression-molded removeable back panel with bonded stretch woven fabric to repel water and add structure and comfort. MSRP $275.

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