Outdoor Retailer Winter Market Top Picks

As Branden said yesterday in our recap of Winter Market, we are really excited about the cool gear that we’ll be testing and reviewing for our readers over the next few months. Here are just a few of my favorite picks from the show.

Patagonia has some exciting updates and expansions to their line of performance apparel for both men and women. They have completely updated the Regulator series fleeces, making them softer and improving the moisture-wicking performance. A few new styles have also been added, like an R3 hoody. They have also updated the Capilene baselayers with an updated synthetic fabric that feels super soft to the touch and reduced seam bulk to reduce skin abrasion. Longtime fans of the Capilene line of baselayers, we are excited to see how the updated materials perform. The big talk though, is the expansion of their popular Nano Puff jackets. Patagonia has added a full-zip, full-zip hoody, and shelled version to the Nano line-up. All will feature the PrimaLoft One insulation and maintain the superlight and packable properties of the original Nano-Puff half zip. The shelled version, the Nano Storm combines the insulating aspects of the Nano Puff and their H2N0 water-repellent and breathable to create a super lightweight, packable, helmet-compatible jacket. All three lines will be available July/August 2010 but we hope to get our hands on a few to test before then.

MSR has also done some revamping of their products, specifically in their snowshoe line-up. Their new SpeedLock Binding System makes putting on and taking off your snowshoes a lot easier with a single broad strap that can be adjusted to fit your favorite snowshoeing boots and left in that setting and a smaller heel strap. The SpeedLock Binding System is on their Lightning line of snowshoes. For more technical ascents, they have created a 2-piece, freeze-proof PosiLock AT Binding system that conforms to your footwear better, giving you better control and security. However, one of my favorite updates is the Axis Gait Efficiency Technology that will be part of the new Lightning Axis snowshoes. Most people become very aware of minor gait issues when they strap a pair of snowshoes on their feet–whether you tend to be pigeon-toed or duck-footed, the Axis Gait Efficiency Technology allows you to turn the binding four degrees in either direction (left or right) to accommodate varying walking styles. No one walks perfectly straight, so this is a great option to ensure efficient striding when snowshoeing. All new styles will be available for retail markets for Winter 2010.

If you are a dog lover, definitely check out D-Fa: Gear for Dogs. Based in New Zealand, D-Fa (think, D is for Dogs) makes high-quality dog gear for the outdoors-oriented dog. They have put a lot of research into their products and the Daily Hiker mascot will be busy putting their gear to the test in the coming months. First up on the list, the D-FD (Doggy Flotation Device). Inspired by a kayaker who lost his dog, the D-FD is designed with the same standards as human personal flotation devices, but customized to fit and perform for your dog. They also have some great high-visibility/high-reflectivity dog-wear which is great for both urban and rural environments and an insulated dog coat which is great for regulating temperature on cold-weather outings like snowshoeing.

Socks were a big item this year at Winter Market and we’ve got quite a few that we will be putting through the testing process. In the line-up are the socks from Darn Tough Vermont. They make some high-quality merino wool (think, suit quality) socks that we are really looking forward to testing. They make a whole range of socks for a variety of activities (skiing, hiking, running, biking, etc.) but have also just come out with a new lifestyle line of casual socks made with the same quality materials as their performance socks. While their performance socks may not be available in a wide selection of colors and patterns, the small U.S. company is proud of their craftsmanship and the attention to detail shows through in their finished product. An added benefit, they make all their socks in the United States.

So there you have it. Just a few of my top picks, but there will be lots more covered in the coming months here on Daily Hiker. But don’t worry, we’ll be continuing to cover the latest in outdoors-related news and Seattle/Pacific Northwest events.