geartrends
Tap into the trends at Summer Market
1. Alps Mountaineering Valdez
2. Gregory MIwok 44
3. Eagle Creek Systems Go Duffel
4. Lowe Alpine Eclipse 35
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Prime-time players
Smaller packs get tricked out for a full day outdoors
Photos: Courtesy manufacturers.
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growing nuMber of done-in-day
athletes are demanding multi-day pack
comfort, support and accessibility at a fraction of
the weight and size.
The sleek and slim daypack is the new king of
haulers at outdoor retail.
“The full gamut of light and fast is not just for
running, but also the fast hiker that’s using really
lightweight gear and lightweight kits,” said Wade
Woodfill, Marmot’s category merchandising
manager for equipment. “The versatility and the
access are the keys to these packs.”
Marmot (#34037) broadens the selection in its
light and fast Momentum series of packs to include
the Kompressor Verve 26 and 32, with a U-shaped
entry and three zipper toggles (MSRPs $109-$149).
Deuter (#5000) introduces the trim AC Aera top
loader with additional U-shaped front panel access in
22- and 28-liter sizes for women and 24- and 30-liter
sizes for men (MSRPs $109-$119). The durable, steel
frame technical daypack is outfitted with Deuter’s
A
ventilated back system and an integrated, detachable
rain cover.
“We’ve never done a pack of this size with this
huge U-shape opening,” said Christian Mason,
director of sales and marketing for Deuter. “As a
hiker, when you’re famished, but you didn’t do a
good job packing, the U-shaped opening allows you
to open the pack without having to do the yard sale
of pulling everything out. You can open the whole
thing and the sandwich is right there.”
With its unique zip entry, Mile High
Mountaineering (#BR407) extends the snakeloader system — an S-shaped zipper — to the Switch
24 (MSRP $158), a smaller and more versatile 24-liter
urban-or-trail daypack with a removable flexpivoting hip belt. Three zipper sliders allow multiple
access points and the pack completely unzips to lie
open and flat.
Mountainsmith (#20015) debuts the Parallax
(MSRP $270), an outdoor camera backpack with top,
back and side panel entries for equipment, a laptop
compartment and a
deployable camera
pod that can rest on
the chest.
In its premiere
multifunction pack
category,
Lowe
Alpine
(#26037)
launches
the
lightweight Eclipse line (MSRPs $100-$150) for
hiking, biking, running or climbing. To create a max
opening, the central and side entry zips are combined
into a single zipper on the men’s 25- and 35-liter
packs and the women’s 22- and 32-liter packs, while
a wide, easy-access side entry is integrated into the
larger 45-liter packs.
Beyond accessibility, brands are focusing on
improving ventilation systems in their lineups of
fastpacks and daypacks. Deuter furthers its child
carrier options with the Kid Comfort Air (MSRP
$229), which provides top or side child entry, a
pivoting hip belt and a fully ventilated back system.
“We’re addressing parents that use child carriers
when their kids are small and they live in hot sticky
climates,” Mason said.
Alps Mountaineering (#80) adds the Valdez, a
streamlined 25-liter daypack with a ventilated back
continued on Page 26
july 31, 2013 / day 1
25
gear trends
day packs
conTinued fRoM Page 25
1
1. Mile High Mountaineering Switch 24
2. Sea to Summit Flow 35
3. Exped Torrent 20
4. Bergans Rodane 12
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and padded hip belt (MSRP $90).
Gregory (#6026) slims its Z and J
series of packs (MSRPs $99-$229; 23to 65-liters), while improving their
suspension system — a trampolinestyle back panel with a lightweight
wire X-frame that transfers the load
addition to a ventilated waist belt and
harness.
Also focusing on trimmer pack
designs, Bergans of Norway (#15017)
announces the Rondane Series,
including 6- and 12-liter velocity sport
sizes (MSRPs $99-$109), along with
“The full gamuT of lighT-andfasT is noT jusT foR Running,
buT also The fasT hikeR ThaT’s
using Really lighTweighT geaR
and lighTweighT kiTs,”
--Wade Woodfill, category merchandising manager for
equipment, marmot
to the lumbar pad and waist belt
while allowing airflow. Gregory also
lightens and reintroduces the men’s
Miwok and women’s Maya packs
(MSRPs $69-$169; 5 to 44 liters)
with its updated BioSync suspension
— a moisture-wicking back panel in
26
outdoor retailer daily
larger sizes. The daypacks incorporate
a new quick-adjust system —Velcroattached shoulder straps slide
vertically along the back panel — to
offer simple pack adjustability and
user flexibility in the entire range of
sizes. Hydrapak (#7030) focuses on
lightweight and stability in the Bishop
11- and 14-liter biking packs ($140150) with aluminum support stays and
an internal ridged spine, ventilated
shoulder straps and large waist strap.
Boreas (#38213) goes burly, yet
light, with its Topaz 18- and 25-liter
packs (MSRPs $44-$54). They
employ 100-denier nylon with rolltop closures, yet each weigh in at less
than a pound. JanSport (#21043)
implements smaller capacities for
outdoor- and around-town pursuits
in the refurbished Equinox Series,
including 18- and 22-liter packs
(MSRPs $80-$90).
Waterproof packs — no raincover
needed — are on the rise at Summer
Market, thanks to several brands
gaining
expertise
from
more
complicated and contoured drybags.
By adding comfortable harnesses and
accessibility features, the “drypack”
category is bourgeoning. Exped
(#21035) expands its roll-tops to
include the Torrent 20 (MSRP $119),
a smaller pack for wet-weather urban
commuting and watersports such as
canyoneering and kayaking. The new
packs feature an exterior stash pocket
with a waterproof zipper, an interior
foam-padded laptop sleeve and
removable hip belt. Sea to Summit
(#16001) expands its TPU laminated,
420-denier nylon, waterproof lineup
with the Flow 35 Drypack (MSRP
$199) with a removable load-bearing
hip belt and compression straps to
attach equipment — from fishing
poles to skis — to the pack’s side. The
central compartment is sealed with
fully taped seams and closes with a
roll-top.
Convertible travel-commuter packs
are multiplying at the show, as seen in
the 35- and 60-liter Systems Go Duffel
Pack (MSRPs $140-$160) from Eagle
Creek (#24014), a hybrid backpackduffle with a padded adjustable hip
belt; as well as the 30- and 40-liter
Compass from Gregory, a backpack
with a cross-over duffle function,
luggage style-access, compression
straps and an external padded laptop
compartment (MSRPs $99-$129).
--MoRgan TilTon