A look at clever and useful new gear inroduced at the Outdoor Retailer + Snow Show, for resort employees and guests alike. SAM hit the road in January to check out new products at the Outdoor Retailer + Snow Show in Denver. A few themes emerged across hard goods, soft goods, apparel, and accessories: safety, style, comfort, and ease of use. Peruse some of our top picks from the show. BONX GRIP Bonx Grip is an innovative group-talk technology earpiece designed for outdoor-sports enthusiasts. Voice activation saves battery life, and range is determined by cell phone reception. Using the proprietary Bonx App, it can communicate with up to 10 users. It sets itself apart from other group talk technologies by allowing the wearer to safely and seamlessly switch between group chat, music, and traditional calls. A multi-layered wind-noise reduction system includes a wind-repelling mechanical structure and dual-microphone digital noise cancellation for extreme conditions. bonx.co SMARTWOOL INTRAKNIT MERINO BASE LAYERS Smartwool will introduce its new seamless merino base layers in fall 2019. Using a proprietary stitch, the knit base layer incorporates different fabric weights to create breathability, stretch, and comfort, as desired, and enables a cool geometric pattern for added style. The sumptuous feel of merino in a seamless design is a great combination for the next-to-skin layer, and increased ventilation and articulation is beneficial for those enjoying winter sports or working on the mountain. smartwool.com SMITH 4D MAG GOOGLE Smith brings BirdsEye Vision to skiers and snowboarders with the new 4D Mag Goggle. The new proprietary lens extends and curves below the sightline to offer a 25 percent increase in overall vision. Updated Mag technology includes 16 strong, weatherproof N52 magnets that automatically guide the lens into the frame. These work with new dual locking side mechanisms in the goggle frame that ensure lens placement, but also act as levers to pop the lens out for swapping. smithoptics.com AWARE IMPACT BY FLAXTA Safety is the number one concern for an emerging technology by Flaxta. Aware Impact is a new digital device for helmets that is designed to measure, analyze, and share real-time data to help identify head impacts and their severity. A sensor in the device measures linear and rotational forces and location of impact. The information collected is analyzed by an algorithm and categorized and shared on an app along with recommendations for action. Aware Impact will integrate into Flaxta helmets for snowsports, and soon, cycling as well. It can be disconnected and placed in other protective headwear as products run their life cycle. flaxta.com FLPSDE The FlpSde Dual Chamber Water Bottle is a new patent-pending container that allows users to carry multiple items separately, in one unit. Consider the possibilities: two drinks, a drink and snacks, keys, money, dog food, ski wax, even a GoPro camera. Broad, low-profile caps at either end (or flip sides) of the container provide access. The outer portion is made of stainless steel, and it’s vacuum insulated to keep contents cold/hot. The inner portion is removable, making cleaning efficient and easy. flpsde.com ORTOVOX BEAST SHOVEL Growth in avalanche safety equipment options at the OR + Snow Show reflects the broadening interest in backcountry skiing and snowboarding among consumers. The new Ortovox Beast Shovel is a reliable avalanche tool at a sensible price point ($60). The Beast is lightweight (580 grams) yet durable and stable with an alloy shaft and blade and a hybrid grip. High sidewalls and a robust center give it maximum rigidity, and the bright colors of the shovel and grip make it easy to find in the snow. ortovox.com ZIPPO HEATBANK™ 9S Zippo’s HeatBank 9s Rechargeable Hand Warmer is a dual-function gadget: a USB- compatible power bank for charging mobile devices that also provides up to nine hours of heat at the press of a button, with no waste. Two sides and three heat settings offer six ways to warm up comfortably. The HeatBank 9s can be worn around the neck with an adjustable lanyard to warm the core, and easily fits into pockets and the palm of your hand. Its 5,200 mAh lithium-ion battery allows the HeatBank 9s to reach an operating temperature of 120°F/50°C. zippo.com KARBON TITAN Uniform and retail apparel supplier Karbon introduced its Titan jacket for women, men, and kids. Featuring quadra stretch fabric with Karbonite 20,000 on the outside and blown ECODOWN insulation on the inside, it’s rugged yet flexible, and extremely toasty in cold mountain conditions. The Titan features a stylish quilted baffle paired with performance-grade contrast waterproof zippers and inner snow cuff. The hood is conveniently adjustable and removable. Custom logoing is available. karbon.com WinterSteiger’s Future-of-Rental Concept Wintersteiger is out to make the rental process “convenient, easy, fast, and stress-free” with its Future of Rental concept utilizing EasyRent rental software. Benefits include higher accuracy and comfort during boot selection, continuous data collection, and a fast and largely automated rental process. Here’s how it works: EasyGate software modules gather customer information and guide guests through check-in and the rental stations. The Vandra 3D foot scanner from BOOTDOC provides all the relevant data to select the ski boots that will fit best. An electromechanical sole, Sizefit, transfers the boot sole length to the binding tech via EasyRent for the binding length adjustment. The customer no longer has to remove his or her boot for that step, eliminating the one-leg shuffle drama from the rental equation. wintersteiger.com
