What’s changed in the cooler game?

Let’s start with the elephant in the room – what happened to your parents’ cooler, and why are these new ones so much more expensive? One word for you cowboy, “rotomolded.” Basically “rotational – molding” is a manufacturing technique where a mold filled with hot plastic is continuously rotated to ensure uniformity throughout the mold. This process allows for multilayered (i.e. insulated) walls to be manufactured in, and complex shapes to be produced as a single part.

Gone are the days when a styrofoam cooler bought from the gas station on your way out of town would cut it at a weekend campout.

What all this means for you is that these new coolers are now a heck of a lot more durable and insulated than your parents’ cooler could ever dream to be. But it’s not all sunshine and flowers in cooler land. Rotomolding is a more expensive process than how your parents’ injection molded coolers were made. But the manufacturing process is only part of the reason these new coolers cost 10 times as much as older coolers. The other half of this equation boils down to some good old-fashioned design and some fancy features.

Hard Cooler vs Soft Cooler

Here’s the big question: soft cooler or hard cooler. Hard coolers are what you think about when you think about a cooler. They’re big, heavy, rotomolded beasts, that keep your beer cold for over a week. These coolers come in sizes from 20L up to a massive 350L.

For a nice weekend in the woods, 50-70L is a good size to be looking at. At the larger end of the spectrum, your back gets sore at the mere sight of a cooler this large, so some of these coolers are now outfitted with wheels to make towing them to camp that much easier.

Soft coolers, as you might have guessed, have forgone rotomolding in favor of softer materials that are typically RF welded together. Soft coolers come in a variety of shapes and sizes less than 40L and they’re generally cheaper by a few hundred bucks than their hard-sided brothers. You’re not going to hold a week’s worth of food in a soft-sided cooler, but it will carry up to 30 beers.

Rotomolding is a more expensive process than how your parents’ injection molded coolers were made.

What you lose in insulation ability (they keep beer cold for a mere 2 days) you gain with “carry-ability”. That’s a big word I just made up that means that lots of soft coolers can now be carried as a backpack which makes schlepping your beer into the woods mighty easy.

While you might be tempted just to put a soft cooler on your back and call it a day, once you actually lug a hard cooler to camp you’ll be glad you did. The durability of hard coolers makes them great seats and tables. Some have cup holders built in. Others have trays that attach to give you more food prepping space. Still others have a beer opener. And once you’re done making your fancy dinner, toss everything back into the cooler and don’t worry about the local wildlife because these coolers are also bear-proof (as certified by the Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee).

The Big Test

These coolers are engineering marvels but at the end of the day you’re still wondering what will keep your beer cold the longest. The simple answer is that the more ice you put into them and the more shade you keep them in will yield better results. But knowing that you want a better answer than that, the coolers here were set outside for a week with a six-pack of beer and 5 lbs of ice in each. At the end of the week the temperature was taken inside the cooler and a beer was drank to verify the “coolness factor” of each cooler. Results of our study are noted below.

Note: there are a ton of coolers on the market so this list is by no means a definitive best guide but is meant to be a starting point and good snapshot for buying a cooler.

All coolers mentioned here were received as a sample from the manufacturer.

Hard Coolers

Orca 26 Quart

$220/ 24 Liters/ 25 Lbs

Cold beer test –  5 days.

If you’re a fan of nautical-themed drinks, then this Orca Cooler with its Orca tail-shaped lid latches, details, and cargo netting on the back is right for you. Seriously though, this cooler will hold 24 cans and keep them cold for nearly a week.

At 24 liters, 25 pounds is on the heavier side. However, the durable construction and theme to the Orca Cooler should make up for the weight. It’s at a sweet spot in size for a backseat cooler and will easily chill whatever you toss into it.

Pros

– Flexible handles

– Clever accents

– Exterior carry options

Cons

– Heavy for its size

OtterBox Venture 45  – Editor’s Choice, Hard-Sided Coolers

$300/ 43 Liters/ 26 Lbs

Cold beer test – 10 days.

The honest truth about hard-sided coolers is that there isn’t a whole lot of difference between makes and models. That is until you get to OtterBox’s Venture Cooler. The 45 Quart model can hold a lot of beer and ice, 25 cans and 52 lbs respectively, is grizzly-proof, and is one of the easiest coolers to carry in this roundup, thanks to two burly side handles.

Where this cooler shines however is its modularity. Building on OtterBox’s experience making hard-shelled cases, this cooler comes equipped with a multitude of attachments that really make the Venture Cooler shine. There’s cutting boards, internal baskets, a drybox for the outside, cup holders…the list goes on. And on top of this all, those cans you’ve got inside will stay cold for nearly two weeks. Love it.

Pros

– Tons of accessories to build a custom cooler

– Excellent ice retention

Cons

– Accessories are not cheap

RovR RollR 60

$399/ 60 Liters/ 45 Lbs

Cold beer test – 7 days.

You would be forgiven if you thought that the RovR RollR 60 more closely resembled a food truck than a cooler. With its 9-inch rubber tires, accessories ranging from cutting boards to Bluetooth speakers, and even an attachment to pull this cooler on your bike, this is hands down the most loaded cooler in this roundup.

However, all of the above doesn’t come cheap. At $400 (plus extra for each accessory) and weighing 45 pounds, you’re going to have to be dedicated to lugging your 60 cans and 20 pounds of ice around. This cooler will be overkill for most people, but for the right person, the RovR RollR 60 is pure rolling cooler gold.

Pros

– Lots of accessories to work with

– Wheels make hauling a breeze

– Can be towed behind a bike

Cons

– Uber-heavy

– Expensive

Pelican 50QT Elite

$300/ 47 Liters/ 26 Lbs

Cold beer test – 11 days.

Like all Pelican cases, their 50QT Elite Cooler is the crème de la crème in terms of durability, construction and design. There’s nothing flashy about it (save for the neon green interior on the model tested), but it will keep your cans ice cold.

You’ll appreciate the four molded cup holders on the top as well as the 20 in/50 cm molded measuring marks on the lid. That said, with so many accessories dotting other coolers, you might miss an interior basket or divider. But, for a simple, extremely well built cooler, you can’t go wrong with the Pelican Elite.

Pros

– Excellent ice retention

– Built-in cup holders and rulers

Cons

– Bulky to carry

Yeti Tundra 65, Most Functional 

$350/ 65 Liters/ 29 Lbs

Cold beer test – 12 days.

The O.G. of this new breed of coolers. You can’t go wrong with the Yeti Tundra model. With the 65L model, you’ll be keeping 42 cans of beer nice and chilly, in a bear-proof insulated palace. There’s a few included accessories to help organize the interior, but besides that you’ve got a massive ice chest.

The dimensions of the Yeti Tundra are lower and wider than other models tested, which all are taller and narrower. You’ll find that the profile of the Yeti helps keep things more accessible. Additionally its handles, fastened from military grade polyester rope, make this cooler much easier to carry than any other one tested. If you’re into a tried and true cooler, look to the Yeti Tundra.

Pros

– Flexible handles and grips built into the cooler make carrying a breeze

– Included dry goods baskets

– Excellent camp table

Cons

– Gets dirty easily

Soft Coolers

Dakine Party Block, Best Budget Option

$100/ 15 Liters/ 2 Lbs

Cold beer test – 17 hours.

While Dakine’s Party Block is one of the smaller coolers in this roundup, it’s one of the most fun to use on this list. Yes you can carry 18 cans of beer inside the cooler, but then there’s the Rambo-style belt that features four detachable koozies. You’ll be the life of the party with this thing.

At $100 you’re not having to break into your child’s piggy bank to buy this cooler. However, at this price point it’s not the most durable or insulated cooler on this list (only 1″ of foam insulation), but is plenty fine for a long day at the beach.

Pros

– Not over the top in price or ruggedness

– Koozie belt included

– Overall an excellent cooler for most people

Cons

– Will not keep ice cold beyond a day

Orca Podster, Most Comfortable

$200/ 13 Liters/ 3.6 Lbs

Cool beer test – 55 hours.

Orca’s Podster is a very rubberized and ruggedized backpack cooler. Throw 7.5 lbs of ice and 12 cans into its ultrasonically double-sealed walls and you’ll be good for an entire weekend outdoors. MOLLE webbing adorns the outside of this cooler and a waterproof TIZIP waterproofs the entire bag.

You’ll appreciate how easy this cooler carries, thanks to a larger than normal back side and very padded shoulder straps. While some might find the camo colorway too aggressive, there’s a plethora of other colorways available. While the shape of the Orca Podster is unique, though a bit unwieldy when not on your back, you can’t complain too much because this cooler will keep your beer cold for over two days.

Pros

– Excellent ice retention

– Lots of attachment points with MOLLE webbing

Cons

– Difficult to carry at your side

Hydro Flask Unbound, Best Around Town Option

$275/ 22 Liters/ 3 Lbs

Cool beer test – 40 hours.

Of all the coolers on this list, you’ll look the most, well, normal carrying around the Hydro Flask Unbound Cooler. It’s got a very discreet colorway, narrow shape, and numerous exterior pockets that make this cooler really work in an urban setting.

Volume-wise you’ll fit 24 cans inside which will stay cold for nearly two days. At first glance you’ll probably be surprised how long they stay cold because the insulation on this cooler is noticeably thin. But the Hydro Flask designers are some smart folks and know that cold air sinks so they have really padded up the bottom of the Unbound Cooler to keep that precious coolness in. All in all, this is a very sleek, well designed cooler.

Pros

– Excellent exterior pocketing

– Sleek colorways

Cons

– Feels a little flimsy when fully loaded

Pelican SC24

$280/ 24 Liters/ 5 Lbs

Cool beer test – 23 hours.

Of all the soft coolers in this roundup, you’ll find the Pelican SC24 to be the most durable. It’s stout, it’s sturdy, has tons of tiedown and attachment points, and a very functional shape. It’ll hold 24 cans and your life will be a breeze with its attached bottle opener.

However, at 5 lbs this cooler isn’t light and you might be a bit surprised that it will only keep your beer cold for less than one day. That said, thanks to its durability the Pelican SC24 is best viewed as a much lighter alternative to a hard-sided cooler than a full-fledged soft-sided cooler. And for that, you’ll like it.

Pros

– Small and rugged design

– Easily accessible

Cons

– Heavy

– Can’t be carried as a backpack

Yeti Hopper BackFlip 24 – Editor’s Choice, Soft-Sided Coolers

$300/ 24 Liters/ 5.3 Lbs

Cool beer test – 42 hours.

Though simple in shape and appearance, the Yeti Hopper BackFlip is one of the most dialed-in coolers you’ll find on this list. It’s waterproof, will hold 20 cans of beer, and oddly enough, is the only cooler on this list that has a top grab handle which you’ll find super useful when not wearing it as a backpack.

This cooler is heavy but is lined with some substantial insulation. You’ll also find its size to be perfect for fitting in a crowded trunk or on your back. Can’t go wrong with this cooler.

Pros

– Carries very well as a backpack or at your side

– Waterproof

– First-in-class ice retention

Cons

– No exterior pockets

– Heavy

OtterBox Trooper LT30

$300/ 28 Liters/ 7 Lbs

Cool beer test – 34 hours.

The OtterBox Trooper is the most interesting cooler on this list. You’ll find that it has managed to break the mold of what a cooler has to look like – an impressive feat considering every other cooler in this roundup looks the same! This new design has a very intuitive top opening, that can be opened with one hand. There’s a very large ice chest that will hold 24 beers. The exterior of the cooler has well designed backpack straps. A couple of waterproof pockets and a bottle opener adorn the front of the bag.

However, all of this functionality comes at a price – there’s a lot of fragile moving parts and this thing is heavy. In the world of oversized, bear-proofed coolers, the OtterBox Trooper feels a little delicate. That said, if you’re not into extreme camping this cooler will suit you just fine.

Pros

– Very functional design

– Excellent ice retention

Cons

– Heavy for a backpack

– Many moving parts

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Before we dive into the goodies, a couple of observations from this year’s show. First, more and more kickstarted brands are making an appearance. Whether this is Peak Design, who launched (and funded) a new bag on Day 1 of the show, to smaller brands such as Boundary Supply who we caught up with for some out of booth dealings, it’s awesome to see this infusion of new brands into the scene.

Second, there were numerous Carryology logos dotting the convention center floor. Award recipients from the annual Carry Awards, such as Mystery Ranch and Pelican, had emblems denoting bags that the Carryology Community had collectively voted on. The Carryology contingent at the show was also doing our best to dish out fresh-off-the-press Carryology patches (keep an eye out for how to get one). It’s great to see this community growing.

Third, this year’s show had the biggest emphasis on sustainability of any show yet. In many ways Patagonia led the charge (and the push to move the show from Salt Lake City to Denver) with not just new sustainable textiles, but also spearheading legislation here in the U.S. to for instance grow hemp. Additionally lots of textile suppliers were touting less water-intensive coloring processes (cheers Cordura) to material made from plastic bottles, factory waste, and even algae biomass. Very cool to see such an emphasis taking hold on many levels at this show.

Finally, there seemed to be more parties at the show than ever before. Whether this is simply a welcome party for OR moving to Denver, or just the regular Denver party scene remains to be seen. One thing is for sure, carry brands can get down. With that said, here’s part two of our Outdoor Retailer Summer Market 2018 roundup.

Pelican

Pelican came to the show with an array of hard and soft carry goods. Their insulated cooler line is expanding with new colors and sizes. Their much applauded Pelican Air line has also been updated with some sharp-looking colorways.

While Pelican is perhaps most known for hard luggage, they are just now getting into soft goods. Along with their Mobile Protect backpack (official Sixth Annual Carry Awards nominee), they’re expanding to include two sizes of duffels. In true Pelican fashion, the laptop protection on these bags is second to none.

Gossamer Gear

Gossamer Gear wowed us on the show floor with updates to a couple of their most popular backpacks, the Vagabond, Kumo, and Silverback. While the packs more or less remain the same, the team at Gossamer Gear has been working to develop a new series of super lightweight textiles, weaves, and colorways which look really sharp. We’re excited to see these hit the market and the trail.

Dakine

Celebrating their 40th anniversary, Dakine is dropping a new line which pays homage to their original headquarters in the Cannery Building in Maui. I’m personally hoping to have this much swag when I turn 40.

Rounding out their updates are a new Decent Duffel which is lined with an actual tarp and some additional bags in their Cyclone welded construction collection.

OtterBox

One of the things we love about Outdoor Retailer is the chance to talk with designers and hear about their process designing the bags we’re seeing. Case in point is the new Yampa dry duffel from OtterBox.

The duffel itself packs a whole lot of goodies and will definitely be on our radar, but what really made this bag stand out was hearing how the designer made a raft out of four of these duffels and rafted down a river just to test the durability. He was in one piece at OR which sounds like a successful bag review to us.

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“The designer made a raft out of four of these duffels and rafted down a river just to test the durability.”

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WANDRD

We’ve recently seen WANDRD on Carryology with a small collection of good-looking travel bags. At the show the team had the Prvke and Hexad on display for us to ogle, along with some good-looking new products in the works that we swore on our favorite backpack we wouldn’t talk about.

North St. Bags

While at OR we dig meeting with smaller brands such as North St. Bags because we get to hang with the founder and see their personal bag choice, which is always carry candy. Curtis was rocking their new Weekender Backpack, which is handmade in Portland and really dialed in for a week of traveling.

What’s more, we got ahold of a coveted North St. OR survival kit – one of their Pioneer 12 hip packs, decked out with essentials to get us through the week (i.e. whiskey, Advil, and syrup from Vermont). But really, the colorway alone on this bag would have gotten us through just fine.

Yeti

Yeti continued to impress with their uber-durable cooler line and expanding carry line. Building on the success of their Panga submersible duffel, they’ve now got a 28L Panga backpack, complete with the same zipper used on hazmat suits. There’s a smaller, waterproof pouch with an awesome magnetic opening, and a cooler that now has wheels.

We geeked out about the design of this rolling cooler and found out that it’s engineered so there is no through axle on the wheels. The reason being that a through axle would generate friction, which in turn would heat up the cooler, which in turn would warm up your beer. Cheers for keeping our beer cold, Yeti.

Thule

To all the travelers who carry a hiking backpack on their back while simultaneously carrying a smaller bag on their front, Thule has got you covered. Their new Landmark backpack for adventure travelers is a genius design that gives you two bags in one, with a beefy suspension tying the two of them together.

If hard rolling luggage is more your style, well Thule has that sorted too. With their Revolve line, Thule is making their first foray into hard luggage, which we’re excited about. The luggage has a tamper-proof zipper, wheels that absorb bumps, and because they’re Thule, they have tested this luggage to the same test standard as their roof racks. Super impressive!

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“With their Revolve line, Thule is making their first foray into hard luggage, which we’re excited about.”

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The North Face

The big thing we saw at The North Face this year was their Dyno carry line – basically picture four backpacks with some of the most dialed-in and adjustable suspension you can imagine. These bags have been in design since 2016 and pick up where the Prophet Pack from last year left off.

After trying these bags on, I’ve got to say that they’re some of the most comfortable bags I’ve ever worn. Very good stuff.

Mystery Ranch

An annual OR favorite of ours, the team from Montana wows us year after year with the craft they put into their bags. The big one for this year is the Glacier pack, which according to some of their designers is the best carrying pack they’ve ever made.

It’s got their new Astral Frame embedded in it, and was part of a wider overhaul of suspension system that was the result of a super detailed study of how their bags wear. I find myself adjusting my calendar in order to find a week to go into the wilderness to play with this bag.

Timbuk2

In lieu of a booth at the show, Timbuk2 decided to hire a team of bicycle pedicab drivers to ferry people from the convention center to their Denver showroom. “Fitting” I thought as I was whisked through the streets of downtown Denver.

Timbuk2 unleashed a torrent of new bags this year. So many that I had to ask about the sanity of their design team. In all seriousness though, the entire range of new bags look awesome. There’s the Authority pack which is an office-friendly day bag, the Sacoche Sling, which was actually brought over from their Japanese market, a small line of luggage affectionately known as the ‘Never Check Collection’, and a soft cooler that was still wet from the party at the store the night before.

Atlas Packs

We met up with Atlas to dive into their Atlas and Expedition packs and get the lowdown of how Atlas Packs came to be. That’s for another article but needless to say it’s an awesome story that will make you want to grab one of their bags, a camera, and start shooting.

After playing around with these bags, it’s easy to see how Atlas Packs have emerged onto the scene so quickly. I ended up taking one of these bags home with me and was able to fit camera gear and all of the OR swag into it. As anyone who’s been to OR knows, that’s a serious carry potential.

Hydro Flask

Even though we met at 11 am, the team at Hydro Flask was kind enough to supply beer in order to test out their new Cooler Cups. Along with the Cooler Cups, Hydro Flask has a range of new mugs, bottles and tumblers coming out which play very nicely with a miniature version of their Unbound Coolers.

After doing laps through Hydro Flask’s booth, it’s clear that they’ve got not only some of the best drinkware/drink carry options at OR, but also the best colorways.

Mammut

After a few days at OR, even the most hardcore, bag-loving Carryologist will tell you that there’s a lot of the same stuff. That’s why when we descended upon the Mammut booth we were blown away by what they had in store for us.

Their flagship is the new Trion Pack which boasts one of the best suspension systems not just at the show, but that I’ve ever come across. But what really stood out was how Mammut embedded a near field communication (NFC) chip (think the same technology as Android or Apple Pay) into the shoulder strap of the bag. The chip is paper thin and can be scanned to provide warranty and repair information, as well as sport specific instructional video and even access to some specific Mammut trip planning services. We’re really curious to see how this evolves.

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“Mammut’s flagship is the new Trion Pack which boasts one of the best suspension systems not just at the show, but that I’ve ever come across.”

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As the exhaustion that only working a trade show can bring began to sink in, we ducked out to some of the extracurriculars of Outdoor Retailer. After another successful rendition of Product Underground, a small Snow Peak hosted dinner with a wine truck trucked in from Portland, and parties hosted by just about every outdoor brand, we managed to pool the carry insight we had gleaned over the past few days to decide upon the 2018 Outdoor Retailer Carry Awards.

The post Outdoor Retailer Summer Market 2018: Recap Part II appeared first on Carryology - Exploring better ways to carry.

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Hey there, my family and I took a 30-day trip through Northern Italy and we did it without checking any bags. Maybe you think that sounds tricky. Well, I don’t want to spoil the ending, but it was awesome! We flew into Venice and changed towns every 3 to 6 days. If we hadn’t traveled light, it wouldn’t have been nearly as fun. So how’d we do it? What did we bring? Would we do it differently next time? Watch the video and you’ll find out.

The Whole Video:

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Bags

A quality gym bag should be able to go beyond your workout environment. Backpacks and duffels should work well for the office too, whilst being large enough to swallow all your gym and work gear. That way, you just need to carry one bag, which means less hassle and makes it easier to fit in a workout before or after work or during your lunch break.

The bag should have sufficient space to store shoes (ideally separately to protect the rest of your gear). And if it offers additional storage for separating smelly gear, even better. Good access and organization is also important to avoid rummaging, especially if you’re carrying both work and gym supplies. Check out a couple of solid options below.

Aer Gym Duffel 2 (US$ 170)

Smart enough for the office and versatile enough for life beyond the daily grind, Aer’s Gym Duffel 2 includes a host of useful features such as a ventilated main compartment, ventilated shoe compartment, and dedicated padded storage for your tech. And with a choice of interior and exterior pockets for smaller items, you can avoid time-consuming rummaging and keep EDC, work and gym essentials tidy and easily accessible.

RYU Quick Pack 18L (US$ 170)

RYU’s Quick Pack 18L delivers great access with its drop-front main compartment that makes it quick and simple to pack or reach gear throughout the bag. The interior fits a 15″ laptop which can be accessed from the exterior of the pack, and a mix of pockets stash smaller items within easy reach. Additionally, the stylish silhouette slides easily between work and workout environments.

And for more options check out this buyer’s guide to the best gym bags around.

Apparel

Having functional exercise apparel can make a big difference to your workout. Look for sweat wicking properties, good ventilation, and suitable stretch to keep you comfortable and flexible during your session. Additionally, try to opt for pieces that work outside of the gym too. That way, you get more out of your gear and ultimately better value for money. Pieces just like those below.

NikeGrip Lightweight Low Training Socks (US$ 19.97)

With their anti-slip construction, top padding to cushion against pressure from laces, and top mesh fabric for ventilation these socks are great for shorter and longer workouts alike.

RYU Vapor Crew Neck Tee (US$ 57)

Available in both men’s and women’s options, the Vapor Crew Neck Tee features an almost seamless construction for reduced garment weight, partnered with sweat-wicking nylon yarn and mesh zones for increased user comfort and airflow. As an added bonus, integrated Polygiene® helps curb the growth of bacteria and fungi that cause odors.

Myles Apparel Everyday Short (US$ 58)

The Everyday Short combines minimalist aesthetics with everyday functionality, offering four-way stretch for unrestricted movement and a water-repellent finish. Two side pockets hold small essentials, and the tailored fit looks good whether you’re working hard or taking it easy on your day off.

lululemon athletica Metal Vent Tech Short Sleeve (US$ 68)

The Metal Vent Tech Short Sleeve brings a number of features together in a lightweight and sweat-wicking t-shirt that looks good during and beyond your workout. Four-way stretch and seamless construction help keep you comfortable and flexible, with mesh construction for improved breathability and Silverescent® fabric technology to combat odors.

GORUCK Gym Shorts (US$ 69)

Made in the USA with ToughDry fabric, the GORUCK Gym Shorts are designed to be quick-drying and abrasion resistant. Built with two-way stretch, the shorts feature a zippered back pocket, two front pockets and a stretch waistband with a drawstring.

Athletic Propulsion Labs TechLoom Pro (US$ 140)

The one-piece upper of the lightweight TechLoom Pro shoes is seamless for improved user comfort and fit. The midsole and outsole feature a proprietary Propelium® compound for improved shock absorption, cushioning and durability. In addition, flex grooves in the outsole and an 8mm drop work with your natural motion and foot positioning for improved efficiency.

RYU Ethos Pullover Hoodie (US$ 147)

Designed with comfort and unrestricted movement in mind, the Ethos Pullover Hoodie features breathable and four-way stretch construction. And with fewer seams and reduced bulk, it performs well without weighing you down and brings clean style to your workout wardrobe. For a women-specific alternative, check out the Ethos Pullover.

Accessories

Accessories should help make your workout easier, whether they’re supplying hydration or sweet tunes for motivation. The prime pieces below are great gym buddies.

Klean Kanteen Classic Stainless Steel Bottle with Sport Cap (from US$ 13.98)

The Klean Kanteen Classic features a durable and lightweight single wall stainless steel construction. The Sport Cap 3.0 offers a high flow rate and quiet user experience. And with a variety of colors and sizes to choose from you can pick one to suit your personal tastes.

Hydro Flask Insulated Sports Water Bottle (from US$ 29.95)

With its double-wall vacuum insulated construction this Hydro Flask bottle can keep liquids cool for up to 24 hours or hot for up to 6 hours. Available in a range of colors and sizes, the bottle is made with durable stainless steel and includes a lifetime warranty.

lululemon athletica Towel (US$ 38)

Offering a soft and lightweight construction, this microfiber towel is designed to be both slip resistant and absorbent. The towel also comes in a choice of colors to suit personal preferences.

Jaybird X3 Sport Bluetooth Headphones (from US$ 119.99)

Keen to listen to your favorite tunes during your workout? These wireless headphones offer a compact design with a secure fit and a hydrophobic nano-coating to protect against sweat, rain and snow. An 8-hour battery life keeps the music flowing and you can customize the sound with an associated app.

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Unlike previous years where a team of half a dozen of us would decide on the three winners with nearly full agreement, we knew after Day 1 that this would be a real challenge. There were hours of debate and we roped in Mike in Australia to get his thoughts as well. What was the problem? I think it has a lot to do with how long R&D cycles take. The amazing things we saw in previous years had just made it to market now and it takes time to come out with real winners. That is not to say that there wasn’t anything impressive. This is the best of what we saw.

Rising Star – Hydro Flask

Internally, this award is known as the brand that is the Rookie of the Year. We don’t have a specific age ceiling, but usually 1-2 years is where you’ll find previous winners. However, it’s also reserved for brands that are entering a new market, creating a product that is new to them or outside their comfort zone. That’s what is happening here with Hydro Flask. The Bend, OR company is known for their expertise in vacuum insulated bottles. I didn’t think they’d ever create a soft cooler but once I saw it, it was an obvious and somewhat natural progression.

The new Outbound Soft Coolers have Hydro Flask written all over them. They are sleek, concentrate insulation on where it matters most, are comfortable to hold and can actually be carried.

Most Innovative – Mystery Ranch

If there was a company that could probably win an innovation award year after year, it’s Mystery Ranch. The team of dedicated design gurus out of Bozeman, MT were eager to show off not one but two new suspensions this year. First, the Hover Pack addresses the problem of back ventilation in a unique way. The unique curved frame means the pack literally hovers off your back, with the only contact/support points being the harness, yoke, and hip belt.

Next up is something that’s not entirely new for Mystery Ranch, but is new to the outdoors space. MR took their successful Terraframe, developed for hunters, firefighters, and the military and adopted it for an outdoor pack. The main pack is able to separate from the frame and additional gear (think hunted game, rafts, crash pads) can be carried in the cavity.  In this “overload” mode, everything is secured with straps. What’s also really unique is the way the frame stays actually rise a good 4-5 inches above the shoulders, with the load lifters attached to the top.

Best In Show – Mountain Hardwear

We spent a good twenty minutes with Mountain Hardwear designer Robert Hollister where he meticulously walked us through the Multi-Pitch collection. Developed during the week and tested on weekend climbs, the collection seems to have every little detail figured out. For material choice, they went with TPU on the front and top for easy dragability and high abrasion resistance. The sides and bottom are rocking 840D ballistic nylon.

The front is formed with a structured tubular A-frame which serves as a top handle as well as clip points for carabiners and straps. Really innovative features like a water bottle/stash pocket that is hidden until you deploy it from its zippered home, or zippers oriented in a certain direction to avoid accidental openings while being pulled up a mountain, are some of the things that left us impressed.

Our awards are never for products, but for the whole brand showing and this year Mountain Hardwear really encompassed a Best in Show company. Besides their pack game, they had strong showings in men’s and women’s apparel, technical jackets and pants, and tents and sleeping bags. I cannot stress enough how big of a difference the Mountain Hardwear of today is compared to even 2-3 years ago. They are an outdoors company, reborn.

The post Outdoor Retailer Carry Awards :: Summer Market 2017 appeared first on Carryology - Exploring better ways to carry.

BioLite

While not a bag company, BioLite has branched out tremendously from the CampStove that put them on the map. They are still focused on bringing lighting and power to off-grid scenarios and whether that means a village in Africa or #vanlife nomads, they had all the bases covered.

The star of the show was the SolarHome 620, which includes a solar panel, three lights, and a control panel that provides an MP3-compatible stereo, charging for mobile devices. The lights are all energy-efficient LEDs with dedicated on/off switches and one of the three even has a motion sensor. Again, this would be great in any scenario where light is just needed for an evening and can charge during the day.

In addition, we also got to see their new NanoGrid series which consists of a base station, hanging string lights that can be infinitely expanded, and the PowerLight Mini which has really cool edge lighting, taking a cue from fiber optics. Lastly, they put their own spin on portable battery packs, producing three sizes with quite a unique look.

Black Diamond

A raucous party was going on in the Black Diamond booth, complete with a live band featuring an upright bass, when I had my appointment. This made it difficult to check out the bags in person, but luckily BD is only introducing six new trail packs for Spring 2018. Actually, for next year, they are revamping their whole day trek series to make things more cohesive.

Starting off with the most full featured of the bunch, the Nitro comes in both 22 and 26 liter sizes. This is the high end of their day trek packs and comes with water bottle straps, swing warm hipbelts, and ice axe compatibility. The 26L will be priced at $150.

The Bolt comes in just the 24L volume size and it is the little brother to the Nitro. It shares many of the same features, but at a lower price point.

The Magnum will be available in both 16L and 20L, for shorter trips, and has a simple belt, as opposed to the beefier ones we saw with the Nitro and Bolt. Lastly, the runt of the group, the Bbee 11 is made for fast runs and quick ascents. It’s priced at $50 and represents the entry level pack.

All packs are hydration compatible but do not include bladders. They all use Black Diamond’s open-air, high flow back panels and are constructed out of BD’s own version of Dyneema.

Cotopaxi

The big story for Salt Lake City locals Cotopaxi is their wildly successful Allpa travel pack which raised over $1M on Indiegogo. The pack comes in two colorways, black and blue, and is 35L. The exterior is a TPU-coated 1000D, with 1680D ballistic paneling. The bag is carry-on compatible and has carry handles on all sides, and all the straps can pack away to avoid any snagging during transport.

The bag has a butterfly splay open feature for easy packing and unpacking, with a mesh panel interior on one side and a large main cavity on the other. The mesh side allows you to see all the contents while offering separation.

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“The big story for Salt Lake City locals Cotopaxi is their wildly successful Allpa travel pack which raised over $1M on Indiegogo.”

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Compression straps on both sides keep things nice and compact. The back panel has an air mesh material to keep things cool and can support a 15″ laptop in the compartment. What’s great is the bags also come with the Batac 16L daypack in Cotopaxi’s Del Dia colorway, which is to say, every bag is different. This packs flat so it’ll serve as your city/daypack while the Allpa is your base camp.

I’m personally really excited to try this system out. While the weight might be a little higher than comparable one-bag solutions out there, I think the system as a whole and the size is really attractive.

Deuter

The 119-year-old German backpack brand introduced four full lines of completely new bags, or at least revamps of existing bags.

The Futura series uses the new Sensic Back System which provides maximum ventilation while transferring up to 70% of the weight to the hip fins. The Futura Vario feature the VariFit slide for easy one-touch adjustment. The bags are all hydration compatible and come in 17 sizes including women-specific and extra long models. They range in price from $120 to $230.

The Aircontact Lite bags are designed for long treks. They feature an open-cell foam back for ventilation, and an adjustable X-frame to transfer weight to the hip belt. Speaking of the hip belt, it’s a dual density hip belt that is stiffer on top to promote weight on top of the hip, and softer on the bottom for comfort. There are plenty of external straps for axes and poles and of course they are hydration compatible. The Aircontact Lite bags come in 6 sizes and are priced $190 to $220.

The Speed Lite series light/fast packs were revamped for 2018. They are lightweight with the largest size (32L) weighing just 870 grams (under 2 lbs) and it’s meant for multi-day trips. Nine sizes are available ranging from 12L to the aforementioned 32L and are priced reasonably at $60 to $140.

Last but not least is the Race and Race Air series of bags. They offer maximum ventilation and comfort, thanks to the Aircomfort Flexlite suspended mesh back system. There’s lots of practical features like loops for bike lights, sunglasses attachment loop on the front strap for easy access during a ride, detachable rain cover, and 3M reflective elements. They are priced at $105 to $135.

Eagle Creek

The company that has kept my travel luggage organized for as long as I could remember has a few new interesting products for Spring 2018.

Things start off with the Morphus International Carry-On. The Morphus has been in the line for a while but what’s new is the size is now international carry-on compatible (just 0.5 inch difference). They also took everything they learned from the first release to improve this new iteration. The concept is from one bag, comes two. The front bag zips off the framed roller and essentially becomes two carry-on bags. If you don’t pack the front bag fully, it’ll even fit under the front seat on your flight. It’ll retail for $329.

The new special edition Cargo Hauler is made with X-Pac sailcloth. The fabric also has Kevlar embedded for increased tensile strength as well as reinforced handles. There is a new pocket on the inside of the lid and the bag can be carried as a backpack. It only comes in one size, 60L, and will be $199.

The Global Companion Travel Pack which tries to improve on the 40 years of Eagle Creek Travel Packs. The problem they were trying to solve with this one is access. Usually you have to get in top load or front load, which makes it hard to get stuff at the bottom. This new pack has a full butterfly opening. It’s available in a 40L carry and 60L checked size. The 40L comes with a separate shoe compartment with water-resistant fabric, organization, a stash pocket for a jacket, sunglasses pocket on top, storm flap on the bottom to prevent water from leaking in, and a 17-inch laptop compartment with pass-through access to the main compartment. The 40L also comes with an attached rainfly, while the 60L comes with a separate “check-in” rainfly that basically self-contains the whole bag and straps into a clean package. They are $159 and $229 respectively.

Finally, the Packables line was redesigned with a new lightweight fabric. The line includes a day pack, duffel, and tote and now packs down smaller and lighter.

Fjällräven

If you’ve been to Outdoor Retailer recently, you’ll know that the Swedish brand Fjällräven has one of the sweetest booth setups around. This year was no different and we were invited to go through their new bag releases, high up above the Salt Palace convention hall floor, in their crow’s nest. It was one of the few reviews where we were seated and had relative privacy. We were shown a new tote that comes in two sizes as well as three bags celebrating the company’s history with Greenland.

Totepack No. 4 comes in both wide and tall sizes and is a great everyday bag to haul groceries, baby gear, a yoga mat and clothes, or your laptop and documents for work. It is made with Fjällräven’s famous G-1000 material and can be waxed for waterproofness. Both models are 19L and can be carried in either tote or backpack style.

Fjällräven was part of the Greenland expedition and to celebrate the 50th anniversary, they released a line of apparel and bags. The first bag we’ll cover is the Greenland Top. It comes in two sizes, large (38L) and small (28L). Again, it’s made with G-1000 and features metal hardware, a top drawstring closure, laptop compatibility, and a quick-access front compartment. They’ll retail for $120 and $150.

Next up is the Greenland Zip Backpack which is a little smaller than the Greenland Top. It also comes in two sizes, 16L and 23L, and will be priced $90 and $100. Pretty straightforward features here – padded laptop sleeve, double top carry handles, and padded shoulder straps for comfort.

Last but not least, now what’s a Fjällräven celebration without the classic Kånken. The Greenland Kånken just improves on a good thing with a leather logo, Scandinavian handle and burlier design. The 16L pack will retail for $100 and will come in a variety of colorways.

Hydro Flask

One of the biggest showings this show, for me, was Hydro Flask with their Unbound Series of soft coolers. Traditionally known for their insulated water bottles, Hydro Flask is entering the soft goods world and while the apparel is mildly interesting, what really caught everyone’s attention are the two new soft coolers. The 22L Soft Cooler Pack and 24L Soft Cooler Tote feature their new TempShield Soft insulation and Advanced Thermal Mapping to keep food and drinks chilled for 24 hours.

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“One of the biggest showings this show, for me, was Hydro Flask with their Unbound Series of soft coolers.”

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The coolers have thick insulation on the top and bottom where they found that the most cold is lost, while keeping things light and comfortable in the middle portions. Welded Aquaseal zippers mean no leaks in or out of the coolers. Both styles feature dry storage areas, tear and abrasion resistance, and can free-stand on their base. They will retail for $275.

Leatherman

This American knife company from Oregon has some of the most loyal customers and like most EDC’s, they want to carry their multitools with them anywhere. By now, you’ve probably heard of the story of how Leatherman president Ben Rivera tried to bring his Wave into Disneyland but security wouldn’t let him. This led him to creating the Tread. It’s been a great seller for Leatherman but customers were clamoring for two changes – first they wanted a smaller and narrower Tread. Second, for those wearing wrist watches, they hated having two bracelets on their wrist. They asked Leatherman to combine the two.

Leatherman came through with a small unit, called the Tread LT. It’s 20% lighter than the standard version, still comes with nine different tools, and is still TSA approved. It’s priced at $175.

The second request, the watch, was a lot harder to accomplish. You can’t simply hook up a Tread to a watch because the torque that’s applied when using the Tread tools often resulted in damage or failure of the watch component. They were finally able to overcome the obstacles with the Tread Tempo. It mates a Tread bracelet with a Swiss-made timepiece, utilizing a Quartz movement. It comes in two colors (silver and black) and both come with a sapphire crystal watch face for hard wear. It’ll retail for $575.

Osprey

A lot of buzz had already formed around the Osprey booth before OR even started. They were coming off a high from their European trade show, so the Outdoor Retailer attendees knew what to expect.

Kicking things off are the new Levity/Lumia packs. Osprey has always had Ultralight packs but now with the help of their own lightweight fabric called NanoFly, they have entered the Super Ultralight category. They come in two sizes, 45L and 60L, and weigh 1.76 and 1.83 pounds respectively. Think about the bags out there that weigh under 2 lbs and what that feels like to carry a load in, for long distances. What do you have to give up in terms of features and comfort? From what we saw, Osprey answered: not much. The pack has an actual (ultralight Airspeed) suspension, uses an Exoform harness, and a lumbar that pushes into your back and wraps around your waist for support. It’s made from Osprey’s proprietary fabric called NanoFly, which is like their version of Spectre or Dyneema, and it’s mated to a 30D silnylon underneath. It includes a top lid and side pockets. There is a men’s and women’s specific version in two colorways and two sizes, costing $250 and $270 and dropping in January 2018.

Besides that, there were some updates to existing bags. For example, the Exos was the last bag in Osprey’s backpacking line to not have a women’s specific version. They are finally fixing that with the Eja. Adjustments were also made to the hipbelt to make things easier to adjust and repair in the field. The lumbar rack was also taken from what they learned developing the Levity. This is a pack for someone who wants to carry 25-35 lb loads.

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“Osprey has always had Ultralight packs but now with the help of their own lightweight fabric called NanoFly, they have entered the Super Ultralight category.”

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Lastly, the Aether/Aerial line was updated with AG tech on top of the custom-molded hipbelt. And a removable day lid was added to round things off.

Pacsafe

The company best known for keeping your belongings safe is back with a new line that keeps your things safe while you play in the water. The mission of Pacsafe has always been to allow customers to enjoy their travel but not be encumbered by worrying about security. With the popularity of dry bags and water activities, Pacsafe saw an opportunity to combine the two and came up with the Dry Series. The bags are constructed with high-frequency heat welding and fitted with high-frequency sealed seams and YKK water-repellent zippers.

The most heavy-duty of the bunch is the Dry 15L Travel Safe. It has a rolltop closure, and can convert to a backpack. It comes with a custom designed marine lock which is a combination lock that is stainless steel and water resistant. It’s been water tested to IPX6. Next up is the 25L backpack featuring Pacsafe’s Roobar locking system, with a wet/dry separation on the inside.

Then there is the 36L beach bag/tote which seems perfect for carrying all your gear to the beach for a surf outing. Again, you’ll find the Pacsafe locking system and wet/dry separation inside. Lastly, a small 4L Dry Stash Pack is perfect for a tote or just carrying your hotel key card, wallet, and phone for a trip down to the pool. You can secure it around the lounge furniture while you take a dip.

Pelican

Initially Pelican’s philosophy was to design tough cases and the customer could decide what to put in them. Now, they’ve changed their mindset and are taking a more prescriptive approach to things, creating cases that are designed for particular uses. Pelican had backpacks before, but they were really just the hard cases with straps tied to them. For Spring ’18, they partnered with a design firm to come up with the Pelican Mobile Protect series. For the series, Pelican wanted to focus on the extreme traveler, someone who is on the road often and is hard on their gear. They wanted to preserve the brand ethos of protection, but also address comfort and organization.

First up – the backpacks. They feature 1000D nylon canvas that has been DWR coated, YKK PU-coated zippers, a suspended laptop sleeve, and one-piece EVA back panel and shoulder straps. Pelican believes that by reducing stitch points, they eliminate a source for wear and tear. What makes it a Pelican case is the ballistic nylon coated EVA pods on the bottom and corners, to protect against impact. It comes in 20L, 25L, and 35L and has a lifetime guarantee.

In addition, the MBP (Mobile Protect Duffel) line comes in 40L and 100L sizes and features shoulder straps for backpack carry, heavy reinforced bartacking for strength, a weather flap instead of coated zippers, and laptop support.

Both bags will be dropping early 2018.

Topo Designs

New for Topo Designs Spring ’18 is the Core Pack. It is a great starter pack for their line, with expandable water bottle pockets, easy access to organization pockets and a U-shaped opening. There’s a dedicated laptop sleeve, and it comes in red charcoal, khaki, black, and olive. It’ll retail for $119 and will be available in March. The Mountain Pack is also refreshed. It’s gotten quite a bit bigger. The side water bottle pockets were updated to be more streamlined. It was also given a larger flap pocket.

There are lots of new colorways in the Rover. The Y-Pack ($79) is also getting new colors but also new water bottle holders and padded straps. The story with the Y-Pack and Core Pack, as well as a few others, is Topo is moving some production to Vietnam. This allows them to add more features to the bags and reduce costs, which is passed on to the consumer as savings. Most of the packs will still be made in Colorado.

The Mountain Duffel has been available in the 60L size but now they are introducing a 40L size as well, which will be available in the Fall. The Classic Duffel will now be available in X-Pac as well. Speaking of X-Pac, expect to see a lot more use of the material across their lines. The Klettersack will be available in black X-Pac in the Spring.

Lastly, a new collaboration with Danner featuring a black Horween leather lower and a matching boot. Both will have co-branded labeling.

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One bag travel packing lists need to be tailored to each trip, but seeing someone else’s list can be a great source of inspiration for your own bag contents. As a filmmaker and the owner of Aviator Camera Gear, our new contributor Zeke Kamm is no stranger to travel. However, for a nine-day trip to England with his family he decided for the first time to embrace the one bag travel challenge. Turns out, it was a pretty liberating experience. Journey into the world of one-bagging and unpack his carry contents in this helpful video…

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If you have the time you can watch the whole 30min video in one sitting, or watch it in chunks via the links below:

One Bag Basics

The Bag

Apparel

Accessories

Next Time

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Packing List

Worn On The Plane

Bags:

Tom Bihn – Synapse 25

Tom Bihn Stuff Sacks used inside for organization.

T-Shirt:

Ministry of Supply – Core T

Button Down Shirt:

Wool&Prince – Blue Oxford

Shorts:

Billabong – Crossfire PX

Underpants:

Woolx – Daily Boxer

Socks:

Icebreaker – Multisport Ultra Light Cushion Micro Socks

Shoes:

New Balance – Minimus MX20v4

Packed

Shirt:

Woolly Clothing – Long Sleeve V Neck

Pants:

Thunderbolt – Original Jeans Mark II

Underpants:

Woolx – Daily Boxer

Socks:

Woolly – Ankle Air Sock

Shoes:

VIVOBAREFOOT – Ra II Hopewell

Earth Runners – Circadian X with inserts

Sunglasses:

Spy+ – Fold

Layers:

Woolly Clothing – Hoodie

Outdoor Research – Helium II

Patagonia – Nano Puff Jacket

Electronics (in Tom Bihn – Side Effect):

Panasonic – LX100 w/ extra battery & charger

3x 64GB SanDisk Extreme Pro

Small tabletop tripod

RØDE – smartLav+

Tiffen – Water White IRND Filters 0.9, 2.1

Samsung – Note 4 w/ charger

In addition Tom Bihn – Side Effect

Kindle

Kikkerland Universal Power Adapter

Earphones

Other:

Big Idea Design – XTS Raw Titanium & XTS in Black Travel Pens

Hydro Flask – 21 oz standard mouth w/ insulated sports cap

Toiletries – bar shampoo, tooth powder, crystal deodorant, q-tips, floss and a toothbrush

ADDITIONAL OPTIONS

Tom Bihn Synapse 19, Pilot

Osprey 20L dry sack

Sunday Afternoons Sun Tripper Cap

Solid Cologne – Alfred Lane, Fulton & Roark

Travel Towels – Journey Towel set from Ecodept, Youphoria Sport Towels

Bluetooth Earphones – Jaybird Sport X2

Bluetooth Speaker – UE MEGABOOM

TSA Friendly Multi Tool – Leatherman Style PS

Travel Wallet – SPIBelt, SPIBand

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