As our OR Winter Market coverage comes to a close, we’d like to leave you with some candid shots of several lifestyle clothing items that will show up at your local shop this Summer. Think of it as a modern version of the Christmas wish book of your youth. We hope you like them as much as we do.
I’ve got to tell you that I’ve saved this until now because it is so cool. Kelty has completely changed the game on travel luggage. Billed as “the bag that carries you” the new Ascender System isn’t their first trip to the rodeo as Kelty once partnered with Eagle Industries to provide the aluminum frame for the EI Rolling Duffel (Kelty has their own version now as well called appropriately enough, the Zeppelin).
What Kelty has done is created a Modular Travel System that is built around a telescoping, rolling aluminum frame system that is paired with a family of bags that fit to it. Because the bags are detachable from the frame, they can be used alone as daypacks or duffles. Conversely, I can see the telescoping frame being adapted to tote quite a few odd sized loads around.
The telescoping frame and expandable bags mean you can adapt the Ascender to your load. For us this is great news. We can use it in its carry-on size configuration when heading to a tradeshow and on the way home expand the frame and bag combo to checked luggage size to accommodate the literature and swag we invariable pick up.
Additionally, like all great travel luggage, the bags are internally configurable. One model is also water resistant.
As I passed the Big Agnes’s booth at OR, I caught a glimpse of MultiCam out of the corner of my eye. I stopped and sure enough, I had spied a camp chair in MultiCam. Of course, I thought, “how cool is that?” It would be great for use while deployed. But if that wasn’t great enough, once I visited Mystery Ranch I got to meet with a rep from the Korean manufacturer Helinox. Turns out, Helinox’s sister company makes aluminum poles. In fact, although not Berry compliant, their aluminum poles are the industry standard. But that’s beside the point. I found out that the chair I saw at master distributor Big Agnes is a consumer product.
Mystery Ranch will be offering a “cool guy” version of the chair called appropriately enough the Tac Chair. It is going to include a few enhancements and will be offered not only in MultiCam but also Black, Ranger Green and Coyote. For one thing, the small pouch you see at the rear will hold the broken down chair for storage and transport. Additionally, they’ve added a small pocket on the side as well as a full Cordura body for durability.
Here you see the Big Guy himself enjoying a short respite in the TAC Chair.
Tilley fans have been asking for a camouflage model for sometime now and they’ve answered by introducing a MultiCam version of the popular T3 model. Interestingly, they’re using 330D Cordura with a water repellent finish but they’ve retained the signature brass vents and snaps on either side to keep the brim up. Tilley hats also float and feature a secret pocket in the brim.
Insured against loss and guaranteed for life not to wear out, Tilley hats are Made in Canada. Sizes 6-7/8 – 8. Available beginning in March.
The Granite Gear Leopard is an ultralightweight pack developed originally for marathon athletes Justin “Trauma” Lichter and Shawn “Pepper” Forry in their recent Himalayas trek. One of teh ways Granite Gear keeps the weight down is by using 100D and 210D Cordura. Additionally, Granite Gear has successfully adapted PALS into their packs in discreet ways. for example, the hipbelt features what is essentially PALS webbing and these are used to attach tool loops and external pouches. The Leopard features a roll top closure along with a floating lid. Seen here is the Oatmeal and Java colorway which I prefer but if you like, there’s also a Skyblue and Slate version.
This is a shot of their Vapor Current suspension which is denoted by VC after the name of the pack. The frame sheet features molded air channels and along with its associated full-length HDPE framesheet is designed to accommodate loads up to 35 lbs. Think high volume over weight here. As with many Granite Gear packs the Leopard is available in a women’s model and there are different length sizes to offer a better fit.
Here, Granite Gear’s Dan Cruikshank goes over the features of the Leopard.
Look for a future version as well called the Snow Leopard and made from Spectra.
The Canon is a -40 deg sleeping bag. It relies on 850 fill power down and these very interesting Thermo Gills to help regulate internal heat. They aren’t complete openings like the arm holes you see but rather zippered slits into the insulation that help exhaust heat without having to completely open the bag up through the main zipper. That collar you see is to help keep moisture from your breath from icing up.
Kupilka is a Finnish company that manufactures fiber-composite tableware. Specifically, the composite is wood fiber and polypropylene. While you can certainly use it at the dining room table, it is well suited for use while camping.
Granite Gear likes to bring military packs to OR that show capability and that’s the case with this variant of the Chief Patrol. It’s a bit slimmed down and in addition to the standard roll top with antenna and radio cable slits, this 40 liter pack incorporates a panel to access the load.
Here you can see the zippered water bladder pouches that accommodate 100 oz bladders.
And finally, you can see the Chief suspension.
So now that you’ve seen the pack and what it has to offer how about you name it? The winning name will receive this pack, shipped to you from Granite Gear and you’ll be able to tell all of your friends you named it.
From now until 2359Z 28 Jan 2013 post your entry to name this pack here on THIS post on SSD and nowhere else. Only entries here are eligible to win. Granite Gear will select the winning name once the contest closes. In the event more than one person submits the same name the first entry with that name will win.
Use any alias you want to post but be sure to use a valid email address since that’s how we’ll contact the winner.
One entry per email address. We will delete entries that violate this policy.
Must be 18 to enter. Void where prohibited.
