Outdoor Retailer Summer Market 2017: Footwear

By Will Rietveld and Janet Reichl

Lightweight footwear is always a popular topic. Cutting footwear weight makes a difference; according to a research study, taking one pound off your feet is equivalent to taking 6 pounds out of your pack.

Ultralight backpackers prefer trail running shoes. Our preference is lightweight, stable, supportive, cushioned shoes with a wide toebox, snug heelcup, rock plate, high traction outsole, and preferably welded construction.

Lightweight backpackers still like a “light hiker” style of boot, which includes many of the “mid” styles. These boots are sturdier and more supportive. They are heavier than trail runners, but the weight is diminishing. They also last longer. We prefer boots that are made of all synthetic materials, welded construction, good cushioning and traction, and weight no more than 16 ounces/boot.

There are always many new shoe models on display at Outdoor Retailer; we highlight only a few to illustrate our preferences. Weights are for men’s size 9, available spring 2018 unless stated otherwise.

Altra Lone Peak 3.5  Altra Shoes are a thru hiker and ultralight backpacker favorite, and the Lone Peak is the most popular model. The newest Lone Peak will be available in low and mid styles, with or without a waterproof NeoShell upper. All are zero drop. The latest upgrade adds an updated drainage system, improved midsole foam, and durable mesh upper with reinforced stitching. The lightest is the low without NeoShell at 10.4 ounces and $120, available now. The mid style adds 2.1 ounces and will be available August 2017 for $140.

Altra 4-Point Gaiter  All new shoe models and upgrades from now on will have a 4-Point Gaiter Trap for attaching their new 4-Point Gaiter (left). As the name implies, it is attached at four points: front hook, rear Velcro, and two side hooks. We tested it briefly at OR and found it more cumbersome to attach, but it undoubtedly is more secure. Altra’s existing Trail Gaiter (right) already has a double Velcro attachment to a heel tab on the shoe, so it stays in place pretty darn well. Glissading on snow and dirt may be the exception.

The North Face Ultra Fastpack III Boot This new boot has a Gore-Tex lining and welded construction, and comes in mid and low styles. The TPU coated mesh upper is very durable and a FastFoam midsole provides extra cushioning. Weight for the mid is 15 ounces/shoe and cost is $160; the low is $150.

Topo Runventure 2 Shoe The Runventure 2 is a lightly cushioned and responsive zero drop trail runner.  Weight is 9.2 ounces/shoe and costs $110. The upper is welded construction, the outsole is high traction, and it has a thinner EVA midsole than the Terraventure. The gaiter shown in the photos costs just $10. Available November 2017.

My Comfy Socks There are so many sock companies and sock models out there that we can’t possibly cover them all, so we feature a different one each time. My Comfy Socks are made of Alpaca wool, which is claimed to be much warmer than merino. Alpaca is a naturally water resistant and soft fiber with inherent temperature control and wicking properties. They sell for $20-$22, and are available online and some retailers.

Merrell MQM Flex GTX Boot and Shoe The mid version costs $170; the low weighs 11.5 ounces/shoe and costs $140; a non GTX version of the low will sell for $110 and weigh 9.5 ounces/shoe. With a snug heel, cushioning, and great support and traction, this should be a great choice for fastpacking. Available spring 2018.

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Outdoor Retailer Summer Market 2017: Interesting New Technology that Improves Our Gear

By Will Rietveld and Janet Reichl

Most of the improvements in the gear we use are evolutionary; it improves one step at a time, making it lighter, stronger, warmer, more comfortable, more durable, more functional, more weatherproof, environmentally sustainable, etc. New technologies from materials suppliers are incorporated into new products by manufacturers. New products with appealing new features entice buyers, who in turn enjoy and benefit from the improvements. The evolutionary cycle goes on year after year. You would think they would run out of ways to improve outdoor products, but you would be wrong.

Our coverage of new technologies covers highlights from this show that we thought would interest backpackers. Please keep in mind that these are technology stories, not lightweight stories.

Zipperless Sleeping Bag. The zipper is the nemesis of a sleeping bag because it’s hard to avoid snagging. Instead of a zipper, the Sierra Designs Cloud sleeping bags have a tuck-in left side opening. You simply lift the flap (SD calls it an integrated comforter), slide in, and close the flap. The Cloud will come in 35F and 20F versions weighing 23 ounces and 29 ounces. It has a foot vent to enhance ventilation when needed. Insulation is 800 fill-power DryDown and MSRPs are $270 and $300. Functional design, quality materials, and value priced. Some sleepers may not like the fact that the upper 2 feet of the bag’s bottomside is uninsulated, requiring a sleeping pad for insulation, and has pad sleeves on the back. The design works best for back sleepers, but side sleepers will need to sleep on their left side so the flap stays tucked in. When I got in the bag I found that the bag does not turn with me because of the pad sleeves, but the hood twists enough to allow side sleeping; not ideal but it works.

Gore-Tex Active. The next generation of Gore-Tex Active 3-layer fabric will be lighter, softer, quieter, more comfortable, more durable, and more breathable. REI is one of the early adopters with their new REI Drypoint Jacket for 2018. This minimalist jacket for hiking and backpacking weighs only 10 ounces and costs $249. It has an essential feature set that includes an adjustable hood with brim, two zippered hand pockets, and adjustable hem and cuffs. Pants of the same fabric will also be available.

Gore-Tex Invisible Fit. Previously, footwear with a Gore-Tex or eVent waterproof-breathable lining consisted of a bootie inside the shoe. Various other shoe manufactures used a proprietary laminate with the same construction. Columbia’s OutDry has always been different: it attaches the WP/B laminate to the inside surface of the shoe’s upper, and then the upper is attached to the footbed. The Gore-Tex Invisible Fit technology is basically the same approach, as is eVent’s DVdryLT technology that came out last year. The new approach is claimed to be easier to construct, less bulky, lighter weight, and faster drying. An example is the new Merrell MQM Flex GTX for spring 2018. The mid version costs $170; the low weighs 11.5 ounces/shoe and costs $140; a non GTX version of the low will sell for $110 and weigh 9.5 ounces/shoe.

Pertex Simplifies their Fabric Line. To keep things simple, its now Shield or Quantum. Pertex wants you to know that each category   is an array of fabrics, catered to manufacturer’s needs and specifications, so it’s not accurate to label them with a certain weight or function. That said, I would like to mention that we are now seeing 7 denier Quantum fabric in some top shelf sleeping bags and insulated jackets.

Down Prices Rising, Again. We visited the good folks at Downlite to find out what’s new in down insulation. The short answer is Bird Flu. The disease has especially affected white ducks in Europe and China. Additionally, higher living standards in China are diverting more down to domestic uses. So down prices are going up, especially scarcer premium downs. Options available to manufacturers are: using duck down, down blends (with synthetics or wool), and recycled down. Their Recharge recycled down can now reach 700 fill-power.

Primaloft Cross-Core Insulation. Primaloft Cross-Core insulation is infused with Aerogel. Aerogel (Google it to get a full description) is a nanotechnology insulation, consisting of microscopic pores within a solid that are so numerous that the solid is mostly air and practically weightless. When converted to dust, the particles are still full of pores. Primaloft has found a way to incorporate Aerogel “dust” into Primaloft fibers to increase their insulative properties 14%. The new insulation is being introduced in upgrades of LL Bean’s Packaway Jacket and Ultralight 20F Sleeping Bag for spring 2018, both insulated with Primaloft Gold with Aerogel.

Lumin Aid PackLite Max 2-in-1 Phone Charger. This solar rechargeable inflatable cube serves as both a camp light and phone charger. The solar panel on top requires 12-14 hours of sun to obtain a full charge, which is enough to charge a cell phone or provide camp lighting for up to 50 hours, or some of both. It can also be charged with a USB cable from a car outlet. It has five lighting modes, a battery indicator, its waterproof, and can be strapped to the top of a pack. Weight is 8.5 ounces and MSRP is $40.

Kovea Alpine Pot EZ ECO Stove Stores Fuel Inside. It’s heavy at 19.75 ounces, not including fuel, but the technology is interesting. This stove has an internal gas tank, so you can pre-load it with fuel for a shorter trip. Pre-loaded, it will allow six boils of 500 ml of water. One reason why I included this item is it’s a way to empty all those partial canisters that you have accumulated at home, or you can utilize inexpensive 8oz/220g Butane canisters used by caterers. A full review of this stove is available on Section Hiker. It will be available in early 2018. Another way to use up those partial fuel canisters is to get a simple canister fuel lantern, such as the Snow Peak Mini Flame, $40 and 3.9 ounces, and take it on car camping trips.

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New Products of Interest to Lightweight and Ultralight Backpackers from the Summer 2017 Outdoor Retailer Trade Show

By Will Rietveld and Janet Reichl

The twice annual Outdoor Retailer Trade Show showcases outdoor gear that will hit the market in about six months, so gear shown at the summer 2017 show will be available in spring 2018, and some of it even earlier.

Summer 2017 is the last year for the Outdoor Retailer trade show in Salt Lake City. Next year it moves to Denver, CO.

Janet and I have been covering the Outdoor Retailer trade show since 2006, so the summer 2017 show was about our 22^nd. Our show coverage is one of the few that focuses on lightweight and ultralight backpacking gear, as well as new technologies that are driving change in the industry. The Show is huge, including gear for the full range of outdoor activities, so the challenge is finding the select few gear items of greatest interest to our readers.

We would like to thank Gossamer Gear for providing housing for us when we travel to Salt Lake City to cover the show. Without their support it would be difficult for us to continue our coverage.

Liz "Snorkel" Thomas signs copies of her new book "Long Trails: Mastering the Art of the Thru Hike". ISBN 978-1-4930-2872-6.

Our show coverage is organized into several articles for reader convenience. Comments on individual gear items are those of the authors and do not constitute any opinion or recommendation from Gossamer Gear. Click on the topic below to read the article.

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Lightweight Gear

Technology

Footwear

Food and Nutrition

GEAR REVIEW: The North Face Flight Series Fuse Jacket

In the dry western US we carry our rainwear much more than we wear it, thus our priority is finding the lightest functional rainwear available. The Fuse Jacket meets these criteria quite well, so I give it high marks.

By Will Rietveld

The Fuse Jacket is marketed as a water-resistant and breathable running jacket, but I used it as an ultralight rain jacket for backpacking.

The North Face Flight Series Fuse Jacket (TNF photo).

Actually I didn’t know that it’s only water-resistant and meant for running. I checked the North Face website and found some mixed information about the jacket: on the one hand they describe DryVent as a waterproof/breathable technology, but on the other hand they describe the jacket as water- and wind-resistant.

So how waterproof is it, and how suitable is it for backpacking?

Specifications and Features

Manufacturer	The North Face (www.thenorthface.com/)
Product	Flight Series Fuse Jacket
Materials	53 g/sq meter DryVent 2.5L (PU membrane on nylon)
Features	FuseForm fabric with engineered ventilation, 1 chest pocket, water-resistant zippers, adjustable hem, elastic cuffs, attached hood with brim and one rear adjustment and elastic on sides, seam taped, 360 degree reflective logos
Weight	Size Large tested, 5.35 oz, mfr specification size Medium 4 oz
MSRP	$250

Description

The Fuse Jacket has FuseForm fabric construction, which is described by TNF as: “Our proprietary fuseform construction technique … is a revolutionary weaving process that blends thicker, more-durable threads with lighter, lower-density fibers in high-wear zones, effectively reducing overall weight and creating a seamless transition from tougher to lighter zones.” That basically means that the fabric is both lightweight and durable.

The waterproof technology in this jacket is DryVent 2.5L, which is described by TNF as: “DryVent™ fabrics using a 2.5 Layer construction are primarily used for highly active, fast and light pursuits, where light weight and packable is an essential requirement of the user. The inner layer is finished with a functional dry touch print that helps raise the fabric from the skin to provide comfort and enable the quick transfer of vapor through to the outside of the fabric. These fabrics are generally designed into unlined clothing and accessories for maximum light weight, packable, waterproof and breathable performance.”

A third technology in the Fuse Jacket is “engineered ventilation” consisting of fabric perforations in the underarms, side panels, and back. The perforations are cut in the thin nylon fabric before the membrane is laminated on, so the holes are covered by the thin membrane.

Besides the technologies in the jackets, the features are Spartan, as would be expected for an ultralight rain jacket: elastic cuffs and hood side adjustment, one zippered chest pocket, one simple hem adjustor, and one simple hood adjustment on the back. It does have a full-height front zipper, which is very handy for thermoregulation.

Field Testing

I tested the Fuse Jacket on 14 outings consisting of day hiking, backpacking, XC skiing, and snowshoeing.

 Fit – The Fuse Jacket has a trim fit, meaning it fits close to body. The back and sleeves are adequately long for a size Large (back is 29.5 inches, raglan style sleeves are 35 inches from center back neck). The jacket will layer over a thinner midlayer; I was able to layer it over an ultralight down jacket.

The hood has sufficient adjustability for a good fit. It has a stiffened brim, side elastic edging, and one adjustor on the back.

The sleeves measure 35 inches long (center back neck to cuff), but they were a smidgen short for me.

 Adjustability – Although the jacket’s adjustments are minimal, I had no problem adjusting the jacket’s hem and hood to seal in heat and seal out weather.

Breathability – The jacket’s thinness and perforations do give it more breathability than the average rain jacket made of heavier fabrics. It will steam up inside while hiking uphill carrying a backpack, but the front zipper helps a lot to maintain comfort. The breathability specification is 750-800 g/m²/24 hours. The silver color of the tested jacket also reduced heat absorption, keeping the jacket cooler.

Durability – In my testing I carried a day pack or backpack over the jacket on most trips and there are no signs of wear in the fabric, especially on the shoulders.

Waterproofness – Despite the label “water-resistant running jacket”, the Fuse Jacket performed just fine as a rain jacket for backpacking. I tested it in rain and snow and it stayed dry inside.

Windproofness – As expected, the jacket sheds wind with aplomb. It’s not as breathable and comfortable in the wind as a dedicated wind jacket, but it comes close. Opening the front zipper offers a lot of thermoregulation.

One issue I had with the Fuse Jacket is the stiff water-resistant front zipper. It’s basically a two-handed operation to open/close the zipper. Another issue is its trim fit, which limits layering. However, the Fuse is intended for running, for which the trim fit is appropriate.

Evaluation

For lightweight and ultralight backpacking we look for the lightest rainwear that will provide rain protection when needed. In the dry western US we carry our rainwear much more than we wear it, thus our priority is finding the lightest functional rainwear available. The Fuse Jacket meets these criteria quite well, so I give it high marks.

However, this jacket is expensive at $250.

I don’t mind the stiff front zipper, I can get used to that, and what’s more important is that it works properly.

What I do mind is the trim fit. When I layer it over a thin insulating jacket the Fuse is a snug fit. Going to the next larger size is not a good option because that bumps the weight up. The limited layering ability of the Fuse relegates it to summer-only use.