Summer Outdoor Retailer Show

The Summer Outdoor Retailer trade show is going on in Salt Lake City right now. Dave MacLeay from Trailspace.com is there and is blogging on his site about the show.

He just posted some pictures of new tents from Big Agnes, including one that is less than two pounds.

BackpackingLight.com is posting reports too (no membership needed to read some of them). There may be other sites doing the same thing, so if you see one, let us know.

Some good information from the European Outdoor show to be found here, http://lighthiker.wordpress.com/
Franco

Thanks Franco, I hadn't seen anything on that show. I think it and the OR show are the two big ones each year. BPL has a write-up but it's for members only. The pics add a lot to his report.

ps. I see you got a mention in his blog.

Hi Tom
Asia Outdoor 08 , the Chinese version of the European show, also just finished in Nanjing, not far from Shanghai. They had 254 brands represented, 40% from overseas. I have no links to that one, apart from their site
http://www.asian-outdoor.com/english/

Lighthiker thinks that I am a bit of a tent tragic, but I really only use one at a time.
Franco

Very funny Franco. I'm always looking at tents, but some of the designs seem really odd to me-strange shapes, complicated pole set-ups that have connectors and other parts that I wonder about losing or breaking. To me, simpler seems better, but a lot of the new designs don't seem to follow that philosophy.

Tom, I think that it is part of evolution in design and the need to create a new market. Have a look at the new Big Agnes Fly Creek with the double Boa tensioned. Clever, but I can do that with my Contrail by lifting the pole up an inch or so....
As it happens, I am slowly collecting tents of various designs. My latest is the Luxe Speedup (it won a prize at the Nanjing show), a design that I suggested to Luxe. This one only needs two pegs to stand up, so minimalist but very versatile .
In my opinion the next leap in design will come when carbon nanotubes and laminates like Cuben fiber become more affordable.
Franco

I didn't know it was here in SLC. I need to find out more and see if I can go. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

The show is not open to the general public, but here is a link to their site.
OR Summer show

Thanks for the traispace.com link. Two things jumped out that I like.

The Big Agnes Flycreek tent you mentioned looks like a winner for me. No pictures of fly so will have to wait and see. I like to be able to cover up the mosquito netting when it is cold and windy. The design looks like I'll be able to do that easily with a home made 3 ounce tent cozy that will cover the top of the tent.

Also liked the one ounce spring activated flint and steel. I plan to buy one when available. Could use as a fire starter and a replacement for the add on piezo starter that I currently have on my MSR Pocket Rocket.

Thanks again for the heads up.