Anyone for glamping? Vango brings out the best tea set at the show
There were goodies galore at the recent Outdoor Trade Show at Stoneleigh in Warwickshire.
We continue our look ahead to bring you some of the novel designs and new models unveiled at the three-day event, where large and small outdoor brands reveal what will be on the shelves of the UK’s shops in the coming months.
Geigerrig’s motto ‘Never suck again’ could easily be the subject of smutty jokes, but we’ll resist the temptation.
The brand picked up a Novel award at last year’s show with its pressurised hydration packs, which deliver a stream of water in to the mouth without the effort of having to suck at the mouthpiece.
The Geigerrig Ultra vest
New for the upcoming season is the Rig Ultra vest, aimed at runners. It has a 1.5 litre pressurised hydration engine and comes in sizes small to extra-large, with a suggested retail price of £109.95.
Also on view was the Bike Rig, a 1 litre reservoir that sits on a cycle’s saddle post and has a tube long enough to allow the drinking nozzle to be attached to the handlebars.
The Bike Rig will sell for £89.95.
A simpler but no less interesting drink system was on display from EcoVessel.
The EcoVessel Aqua Vessel
The company, based in Boulder, Colorado, is new to Britain, and had its Aqua Vessel Ultra Lite bottle at the show.
The 750ml is made from Tritan plastic, which contains no BPA. It has a flip-up drinking spout on its lid, which also has a plastic loop that you can use to aid attachment to rucksack straps or belts.
The bottle has a MiraGuard filter through which the water passes as you drink, and EcoVessel says this filter removes 99.9 per cent of Giardia and Cryptosporidium organisms and also reduces toxic chemicals, heavy metals, microscopic pathogens, chlorine, sediment and dirt.
The filter uses activated coconut shell carbon and is said to be good for more than 450 litres – more than 500 refills of the bottle.
The Aqua Vessel Ultra Lite sells for £24.95 and is one of a range of bottles and containers that include insulated ranges and collapsible lunchboxes.
See our quick test of the Aqua Vessel Ultra Lite.
More details are available on the EcoVessel website.
The Force Ten range, Vango told us, is now being marketed separately from the main brand.
The Force Ten Classic
Many seasoned campers will remember the original orange Force Ten, which is still on sale in its latest incarnation, complete with waterproofed cotton fly and inner in its familiar ridge-tent shape.
Certainly not designed for lightweight backpacking, the Force Ten Classic Standard Mark 5 weighs in at a hefty 10.1kg, with an equally hefty price of £520.
The Force Ten Axial Hub on the Argon 200
Brand-new on the brand’s stand was the Argon 200, featuring its Axial Hub system on the three-pole tent, designed to improve rigidity.
The two-person tent is firmly aimed at the lightweight backpacker or camper, with a claimed weight of just 1.74kg and a pack size of 45 x 16cm.
The Force Ten Argon 200
The Argon 200 will retail at £425, the company said.
Force Ten’s range of sleeping bags will also be augmented by the top-end down model the Catalyst 600, retailing at £330. Also appearing in the shops soon will be the Vango Ultralite Air self-inflating mattress at a reasonable £45.
New from Superfeet is the merinoGREY insole.
The US company’s new range uses merino wool to keep feet at the right temperature and keep down foot odour.
Superfeet said: “Whether hiking or taking a casual stroll in the city, the merinoGREY insoles are specially designed to provide wearer comfort and extra structure to any boot, shoe or casual footwear.
The Superfeet merinoGREY insoles
“Created using merino wool, the merinoGREY combines the natural thermo-regulating properties of the wool with Superfeet’s high standard for support and performance.
“The insole features an ultrafine merino wool top cover which wicks moisture away from the foot, while regulating temperature to keep feet warm when it is cold and cooler when it is hot.”
The insoles use Superfeet’s supportive Foundation foam which provides a durable biomechanical support, as well as helping to absorb impact for ultimate comfort.
Superfeet has also incorporated its Encapsulating Stabilizer System into the merinoGREY to keep the wearer supported, aligned and comfortable during any activity.
“A deep heel cup cradles the heel’s fat pad to improve natural shock absorption, ensuring comfort and stability for a variety of different activities, footwear, and foot types,” the company said.
The merinoGREY cost £40 a pair.
The merinoGREY is available in Superfeet sizes B-G (UK 2-14). More information is on the Superfeet website.
The ODLO Air Women's Jacket
ODLO, better known for its performance underwear, unveiled an expanded range including a men’s and women’s waterproof jacket, produced in partnership with Gore.
The Jacket Air is a lightweight, 305g top that boasts waterproof properties to a hydrostatic head of 28,000mm and breathable too, with an RET rating of 4.
ODLO said the jacket is extremely durable and can be easily packed away when not in use. There is a choice of colours including hibiscus for the women’s model and olive green for men’s. The jackets will retail at £220.
The brand’s Tec Shirts have fine interlock material, offering lightweight UV protection of more than 50 due to the dense structure of the weave.
The Marty Tec Shirt
ODLO said: “The Gwen women’s and Marty men’s short-sleeved polo shirts are incredibly soft and cool to the touch as well as being lightweight – thanks to the fine interlock material, which also gives them an incredible performance.
The shirts will sell for £45.
More details of the brand’s products are on the ODLO website.
