Five other cool things we discovered at the Outdoor Retailer show in Denver
Outdoor Retailer bombards you.
Booth after booth, as far as the eye could see, consumed the Colorado Convention Center this week as 85,000 industry professionals from 1,400 global brands squeezed in. Tents, socks, fishing poles, health snacks, even dog snacks flood your senses. It’s easy to get overwhelmed. But by the same token, it’s easy to get drawn in.
With everyone trying to put their best foot forward, there are items upon items that will make any outdoors enthusiast squeal like it’s Christmas morning. Here are some of the coolest things we spotted at this year’s summer convention.
1. A flashlight/compass survival kit from VSSL. Price: $99 for the survival pack, $66.50 for the first aid kit, $72.50 for the flask;
Who doesn’t love compactable convenience? This metal cylinder triples as a compass, flashlight and survival kit, carrying everything in round tin compartments that stack into the tube, spokesman Jarris Neufeld said. The kit includes everything from matches to fishing hooks. VSSL also sells a first aid kit cylinder. And soon, a flask cylinder will be available that holds collapsible shot glasses instead of silly things like rope and bandaids.
2. Growler with a tap, from Growler Werks, $149$250; growlerwerks.com
You may already use a growler to bring along fresh beer during your outdoor adventuring. The uKeg steps it up a notch. The growler is double-wall insulated and vacuum-sealed, keeping the brews cold for eight hours in direct sunlight, sales representative Matt Gutierrez said. A pressure gauge gives you an idea of how much beer is left. But what’s really fun
about this is the tap. That’s right: While on a camping trip, you can physically pour one out just like the bartender does at your favorite Colorado brewery.
3. Actually good pourover coffee from Kuju Coffee, $2.25-$3 per packet; kujucoffee.com
Coffee. But not just any coffee. Good coffee. It seems an elusive creature in the wilderness when you’re often stuck with hit-or-miss instant. That, at least, was the case for Eagle Scout brothers Jeff and Justin Wiguna, who started Kuju. So the pair did something about it, creating a coffee packet that includes both a built-in filter and specialty grade coffee. You open up the packet, spread the filter over your cup, attach it with the built-in handles and pour your hot water. Justin Wiguna demonstrated the process for us and, as he poured, the enticing smell of coffee wafted through convention floor halls, attracting passersby. In 2 minutes, your pourover is ready to go. Kuju previously offered blends but this week they were debuting single origin coffees from Ethiopia, Papua New Guinea and Indonesia to highlight specific flavors for which each region is known.
4. Impromptu table from Tail Gater Tire Table, $139.95; tailgatertiretable.com
You’re going on a picnic. Or you are taking a scenic drive through Rocky Mountain National Park. Or you’re driving an RV through the backcountry, or camping next to a lake. You have all your food in a cute wicker basket and you arrive at your lunching spot. One problem: You have nowhere to put the food. Not anymore. This table attaches to your car wheel, creating a mini table for you to gather around as you sip white wine and snack on grapes and cheese. And if your car is parked at an angle? No worries. You can adjust the table to make it level, creator Ward Graham said.
5. Wearables on your clothes from Spire, $99 for a three-pack; spire.io
This device takes the wearable from your wrist to your clothes. The small Spire Health Tag attaches to the fabric of whatever you wear frequently — say a bra, pajamas or running gear — and stays there, even in the wash. Whenever you wear the clothing item, the device monitors your activity, heart rate and breathing. You can set it up to give a light buzz if your breathing ever gets out of whack. Its app also provides a breathing guide in case you need to calm down.