Last week we spent more than 3 days at the Outdoor Retailer Summer Show in Salt Lake City checking out the a preview of what you can expect to see later this fall on into Spring 2011. We added another member to the team this year and I am rest assured that we still missed a lot! Here is a preview of a few of the items that I think are worth mentioning….more previews to follow in the coming days.

No Jive here folks – the Jive Jacket is a true performer.The Jive is being sold as a three-season outdoor jacket but if you live anywhere with a mild winter this jacket could easily be …

The AquaSlings are the perfect solution to storing an array of gear from kayaks, canoes, paddle boards and more. The low profile design allows for a space saving solution to your gear storage dilemma. The reinforced nylon straps have a foam core that is designed to protect the finish of your equipment. The system mounts easily in minutes utilizing an alloy base plate and hook.

When I received the box containing the LOWA Renegade GTX® Mid boots, it had been several years since I had worn hiking boots. I had changed gears and spent a lot more time on the bike and running the trails. I still had a few pair of my old boots but was keen to see what improvements had been made in the market.

The main reason that so many adventure racers struggle with the paddling legs is that we just don’t have a ton of time to train effectively, given that we have to be proficient in up to 6 different sports at a time. When I decided to train for the Yukon River Quest this year (first of all, what was I thinking?), I knew there was no way I was going to get in enough face to face time with the ocean and my surfski to train for a 460 mile race, so I started doing the research about alternative training methods. I spoke to my friend who coaches the junior olympic canoe and kayak team in San Diego, and he suggested the KayakPro Speedstroke ERG.

Intensifying temperatures make water sports practically obligatory in the Columbia Gorge. For me, having the layers that allow me to transition from one paddle sport to the next mean more time on the water. Immersion Research base layers are my second skin all summer long.

Like most gear from Mountain Hardwear, the Phantom 0 Degree sleeping bag will immediately impress you with its quality and style. It is a lightweight, high quality offering that will keep you plenty warm in inclement weather withoutfilling your pack or weighing you down on the trail.

The Phantom clocks in at just 2 pounds, 10 ounces, making it one of the lightest 0º bags on the market. It uses tried and true 800-fill goose down as insulation on the inside and superlight Ripstop fabrics along the outside to keep the elements out.

Thanks to Spencer at Traffic Bikes for the heads up on this humorous Craigslist Ad. (FYI- the bike has already found somebody new)

Divorcing my almost NEW Giant XTC 2 – $750 (Cabbagetown)
Date: 2010-06-29, 11:07PM …

Never heard of them before the event, but I can tell you this… I like them! They have a huge variety of cycling gear, but what is most remarkable about them is that they really cater to casual riders and commuters. Not everybody is looking to polish themselves up in advertisement laden spandex. Whether you are riding to the gym for a spin class, or getting a quick afternoon ride around the block, you can throw on some casual riding shorts with a bit of padding to keep things cozy. However, if you check out the AeroTech website, you will find something for even the most competitive athletes. Check out the video showcasing some of their products at the Sea Otter Classic

Bike for sale

What kind of bike? I don’t know, I’m not a bike scientist. What I am though is a manly guy looking to sell his bike. This bike is made out of metal and kick ass spokes. The back reflector was taken off, but if you think that deters me from riding at night, you’re way wrong. I practiced ninja training in Japan’s mount Fuji for 5 years and the first rule they teach about ninja biking is that back reflectors let the enemy know where you are. Not having a rear reflector is like saying “FUCK YOU CAR, JUST TRY AND FIND ME”.

The bike says Giant on the side because it’s referring to my junk, but rest assured even if you have tiny junk that Giant advertisement is going to remain right where it is. I bought this bike for 300 dollars from a retired mercenary that …..

By Kraig Becker

I have a confession to make. I have a really bad habit when I travel. One that I am reluctant to share. It seems, almost without fail, I always end up leaving a piece of gear behind at the places I visit, and invariably, it tends to be my headlamp. Don’t ask me why, it just does. Because of this little travel idiosyncrasy, I always find myself shopping for a new light right before I head off on a major trip.

It was the handlebar that originally caught my eye, but upon closer inspection, there was something new going on with the bottom bracket as well. Though not designed for off-road use it looks like they came up with a simple solution for many commuters and casual riders. Stoked on the easy maintenance of the product and how it can be used with any shifter (as opposed to other systems (LIKE ROHLOFF) that uses a proprietary design that is not ideal). Back to the handlebar – BEAUTIFUL design, kind of looks like an upside down OnOne Mary Bar and can’t wait to try it out on my singlespeed 29er. Check out the video for more.

Some pretty solid products coming from the innovative folks at Cyclelogical. Stopped by their booth to check out a few of their latest –

As bicycle commuters, we see a need for durable, versatile, and practical commuting gear. After researching the existing market extensively, we found absolutely nothing that matched all of our needs for practical and efficient commuting. We, then, took upon ourselves to develop our own line of gear that we believe is the best out there.

Barefoot running continues to gain traction in the psyche of adventure sports enthusiasts. Those who create minimalist shoes are developing new technologies to help those who want to make the transition and feel the ground under their feet.

Tired of sweat getting in your face? YUP. Especially when I put any sunscreen on or when it starts dripping into my sunglasses and blurring my vision. Can be tricky to find a good solution that works with a helmet, but HALO just might have hit the mark. It’s made from two thin layers of Dryline fabric (a microfiber polyester that wicks and evaporates moisture while preventing growth of bacteria) and uses a thin plastic strip to direct the sweat off your face. The Sea Otter Classic saw unexpectedly great weather all weekend, sunshine every day – enough to give me a solid sunburn, and during the whole event they had their mannequin head demonstration with water constantly dripping on one head with a HALO and one without, and the HALO worked perfectly. Check out the video to see more.

To be honest, I got these shoes because they were the cheapest ones I could find at the time. I didn’t have super high expectations, but when I finally had to retire ‘em, I wanted to get the same pair. These are their bottom of the line MTB shoe and are what a casual shoe would be if it was trying to be a performance model, but from my experience they are best thought of as casual weekend warrior type shoe. As you can see from the pictures, they were used and abused and still kickin’, well, actually by the time I took those photos they were a sad sight – but they still worked.

For me one of the toughest pieces of gear to track down is bike lights for adventure racing. You want a good bright light, but you also need it to be light and have extended burn time for races of 24 hours or more. This may sound easy, but trust me, it’s not. You can usually find some good bright lights at any bike shop, but they are typically designed for night rides up to 3 hours or so. Some other lights may have a great burn time, but lack power/brightness.

Camelbak booth had it’s walls filled to the brim with new products and variations – though it was the XLP Race Specific hydration pack was the item that stood out the most. I have been toying with the idea of carrying all my water in bottles/cages so I don’t have to carry any water weight on my back, but I hate the thought of leaving behind the convenience of the tube and bite valve. Sometimes, I want to hydrate when I am on fast sections of a ride and unable to reach down to grab the bottle. The XLP is the answer to this.

RoanokeOutside.com – a resource for the Roanoke, Va., region’s outdoors – has teamed with GearJunkie.com, a top outdoors blog and publication, to host a one-day-only Treasure Hunt event in a Roanoke wilderness park on July 11th.

The event will be called “Gear Junkie’s Treasure Hunt: Roanoke.” More than $40,000 in outdoor gear – from backpacks to kayaks – will be given away to an estimated 300 participants.

Gear Review: Immersion Research Walbridge Short

By Susan Hollingsworth

Summer is here and the oceans, rivers, lakes and streams are just dying to be enjoyed. From surfing to kayaking to just basking in the sand next to the ocean, there are plenty of ways to enjoy the water. Not your average board short, Immersion Research’s Walbridge Short knows that not only do you want to look good, but you need your shorts to perform for you.

With the adventure racing season in full swing, we have teamed up with the folks at Brooks-Range for this giveaway!

They want to give away a free Adventure Racing UTM Reader to one of our lucky fans. To enter, simply go to the Brooks-Range fan page, become a member and leave a note on their Wall saying ‘Adventure World sent me!’ Brooks-Range will select a winner and send the prize directly to you. So act fast! The contest is only good for one week beginning Monday, June 7 and ending Friday, June 11.

Polartec, LLC, the developer, manufacturer and marketer of Polartec® performance fabrics, announces the APEX Award winners for 2010. This prestigious honor goes to the finest Polartec®-based garments that will be available to consumers in the fall of 2010. A panel of judges selected the winners based on the style, function and fit of the garments as well as the most innovative and appropriate uses of Polartec® fabrics in the designs.