Outdoor Retailer Show 2014 - Recap from Day One

The bitter cold had no impact at the All Mountain Demo Day, opening Day One of the Outdoor Retailer Show in Salt Lake City, UT.  And while some people (the Australians) struggled more than others, the sun was bright among all the smiles.  Outdoor retailers profited significantly the past year and bringing out the best  and newest gear was sure to prove an amazing event.  Matt Dazley, a buyer for REI, attributes the upsurge in outdoor activities to advertisement promotions.  some of this came from the resurgence of reality TV shows like "The Amazing Race" and "Survivor."  And the Winter Olympics = desire to participate in winter sports.  I would have loved to be there when people gathered around Helly Hanson and traded their old base layers for new ones in order to donate them to Splore.

So what were the highlights from Day One?

• Fritz Barthel's thirty year old lightweight ski binding finally comes to the forefront of ski technology.  Today's biggest name?  G3's Synapse 109.  "Backcountry [skiing] is not some strange daredevil thing to do, it's more attractive to more consumers and that's why more brands are getting fired up about it." - Kenji Haroutunian, OR Show director
• Advocacy Leadership Awards recognized Mike Ratchford, Utah governor Gary Herbert, and Jeff Trandahl.
• Backpacker Magazine named its 2014 Editor's Choice Awards!  This prestigious award dates back to 1993 and recognizes the best of the best in the biz!  Here are this years winners: Kelty TrailLogic TN2 Tent, Mountain Hardwear Optic 2.5 Tent, ExOfficio Sol Cool Ultimate Hoodie, Montbell Down Higger 900 #2 Sleeping Bag, Sierra Designs Backcountry Beds, Big Angus Double Z Air Pad, L.L. Bean Day Trekker 25 Pack, GoPro Hero3+ Black Edition Camera, Halfpops Snacks, and the Marmot Essence Jacket.  Backpacker's Gold Award, for products lasting five years at the top of their field, went to Western Mountaineering Alpenlite Sleeping Bag and the Leatherman Juice S2 Multi-tool.
• Buzzword? Carbon.  The verdict is in and lighter is the winner.  At least for these epic new backcountry skies.
• New trends arise in the world of ski boots and it's not what you thought.  In the words of Chris Gerston, co-owner of Backountry Essentials, "We see more play in the dedicated backcountry boot than in the book that [is made to] go both ways."
• It seems that even the ski bindings have gotten an epic makeover.  with more torsional rigidity, rotating toe pieces, and aluminum power plates, these new bindings will handle whatever you throw at them.
• New trekking poles are becoming so versatile that there's not much they can't do.  Grips that adjust bindings and buckles, holes for tent lines, easy pole locks, ect.
• Splitboards!  Finally a push back to splitboarding.  The sport that does it all.  Hike up a snowy mountain?  Sure!  Gaze out to the amazing vistas?  Absolutely!  Shred back down through the incredible powder?  Hell yeah!  What could be better?
• Is there a theat to alpine skiing?  You bet there is.  But it's not climate change (well, it kinda is...)   It's nordic skiing (cross country skiing).  Leading the field as a health-conscious alternative, this sport has taken the winter sport world by storm.  And the ORShow wasn't short on showing us what's new and exciting!
• Snowshoes are making a comeback too, which is weird for me because I've only been doing it for two years and it's all the craze with me and my friends.  New styles this year are lighter, more adjustable, and well-rounded for multi-use.  Need an activity for the kids?  Snowshoeing.  Hard-core runner limited by the snow? Snowshoes!
• Dynafit athlete, Sally Francklyn, talks about the importance of wearing a helmet while skiing.  She can attest to the lifesaving effects of helmets and she eagerly pushes for change within the winter sports community.
• Frameless, edgy, customizable... Just a few words to describe Stage's new Stunt goggles.  Great quality and with hundreds of different combinations, you'll be hard pressed to find someone with the same pair.
• NEW SPORT ALERT!!!!  That's right.  It's Bike Boarding.  What?  Yeah, that's what I said too.  Yep, now instead of walking up a mountain in the snow, you can bike up, attach your boards to the tires and speed down the slope.  Sounds crazy, but I'm pretty sure that's how skiing starting...
• GooOnYa Bars = 100% all organic, 100% delicious!
• Merino gets a makeover!  Super.Natural is the new brand to beat.  Hopefully the price tag matches the innovation.

The Day One Lookbook:  Icebreaker Helix LS Zip Hood, Lowa's Riga GTX HI, YAKTRAX runners, the Vaude ABScond our 36+4 avalanche backpack, Vasque's new Ultra Trail Runner,  Innate Laundry Bag, Stanley Adventure Stainless Steel Shot Glasses, Grivel's Tech Machine Axe, Dynafit Radical Primaloft Hacket, Fox River's socks, Mountain Hardware Barnsie Jacket, Eagle Creek Tandem Warrior bag, Anhu's Sugar Bowl Books, Lifestraw filtration, Freewaters Vegan Flats, Chaco's Holbuck Waterproof Boots, Nite Ize Mobile phone attachment, Timbuk2's Alchemist Messenger bag, Gramicci's winter base layers, Krimson Klover pullover merino sweater, Oliberte's Danano hiking shoe, Sof Sole cure for plantar fasciitis, Falcon Guides 'Women Who Dare,' Danner's throwback style hiking boots, Brooks Glycerin shoes, Buff's new headliner and neck warmer, Gordini's Stash Lite Touch Gloves, Teva's Surge eVent, Carhartt's Lumberport Ripstop pants, Big Angus Late Lunch Vest, Kamik Storming Kid's boot, Cordura's Klettersack 22.4 liter pack, Sherpa Adventure base layer, Salewa Rosenfarten GTX boot, and the Patagonia Activist winter boot.

Day One Editors Picks:  Bergans Norway Trolltind shell, Chaco Woman's Gallant, Kavu Lowlands jacket, Nite Ize Inova STS headlamp,  Mountain Equipment BackBeyond shell, Snow Peak Stacking Shelf Container, Keep Durand Mid Boot, Outdoor Research Lucent Heated Gloves, and Woolrich Beebe Boots.