Outdoor Retailer Winter Market 2013 - Preview

Today marks the start of the 2013 Outdoor Retailer Winter Market, an insanely huge show that happens twice a year (Summer & Winter), showcasing everything outdoors from packs and tents to shoes and snowboards.  Unfortunately, Team Paddle Junkie is sitting in Minnesota shivering while all of our "outdoor" friends are wandering the halls of the Salt Palace in Salt Lake City...  Fortunately for us, they are sending regular updates to help ease our withdrawal.

Here are a few highlights of new exciting gear and some of the happenings that make the OR Show as special as it is.

SKORA Running launches a new line of running shows designed to both "disappear and stand-out".  Blending high-vis and low-vis materials, they strive to push the limits of footwear design.  Never be caught wearing the same shoes as everyone else again...

Columbia's booth not only shows off their gear, but the science inside.  Whether it's Omni-Heat, Omni-Dry or Omni-Wick Evap, Columbia and their team of "scientists" have gear to keep you warm and dry.  They not only have one of the largest and most exciting lines of product at the show, but they also have daily fashion shows to present their good to the world.  Put industry leading technology and great design into your gear, then have a bunch of beautiful people showing them off....  Brilliant!!!

Sierra Designs brings a range of gear most brands can only dream of.  From some of the best down jackets on the planet (in my opinion) some of which include their water-phobic DryDown, to bomber tents like the ultra-light Flash Tents (which literally just won a Backpacker Magazine Editor's Choice Award), you could literally outfit yourself with everything you need at this one booth alone.

KEEN brings some amazing gear and one of the most jaw-dropping booths at the show.  Beyond their epic footwear, this year they bring the Northern Lights to Salt Lake City.  A 50' by 100' building across the street from the trade-show is illuminated every evening of the show, transforming an otherwise mundane blank wall into a light show worthy of a Pink Floyd concert.  Salt Lake City needs 6 months between OR shows just to recover.

Now throw in the evening festivities, and you have one heck of a party.  The folks at Wolverine throw arguably the best shindig of the show every time.  For this Winter OR you better get over to their booth early, because the dog tags to get into the show Thursday Night at The Depot to see Mayer Hawthorne and Macklemore & Ryan Lewis.

This is just the start of Day 1, so stay tuned...  More to come!

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