Ryan Stuart, explore's gear editor
Ryan Stuart's tell all blog spot on his gear addiction and life and times as explore magazine's gear editor
August 2008 archive
Cairn for Kain
Anyone who has done any climbing in Canada has probably heard of the lengendary mountaineer Conrad Kain. Many of the impressive rock and snow routes he put up are still classics and his long list of first ascents is remarkable. That's why the Conrad Kain Memorial Society is planning to ...
Scoop: Socially responsible bikes from MEC
I found out some interesting news the other day: Mountain Equipment Co-Op is planning to create their own bike line by 2010. A source involved in the project says MEC sees potential to produce reasonably priced bikes, with decent margins and so they're going for it. The plan is to ...
Travel guide to Salt Lake City
After four days in Salt Lake City and way too much time spent inside the air conditioned Salt Palace I managed to get in three runs in the downtown area. If you find yourself in downtown Salt Lake a run is a great way to see a few sites and ...
Outdoor Retailer Stats
Although it was only my second Outdoor Retailer, the show felt busier this year. On paper it was equal to last year in attendance, but despite the dour economic climate, especially in the U.S. the mood was optimistic. The only fear that seams to be growing is how to get ...
Day 4
I'm back in Canada again after a four day visit to the Outdoor Retailer Show in Salt Lake City. It's where manufacturers show off their new gear for Spring 09. I saw everything from the latest boats to bamboo socks. After walking the show for four days I noticed a ...
Techno clothing
- Posted on August 10, 2008 at 10:09 PM
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Over the last few days at Outdoor Retailer I've learned about many new technologies. Along with all sorts of new fabrics, tents pole configurations, ways of combining EVA and shoes, venting pack backs etc. there are also some innovations that cross from the outdoor arena into the biotech and high ...
Day 2 Fun
Outdoor Retailer is fun. Ask anyone. The days are long and there's work to be done, but there's lots of fun things going on as well. Today I walked by a few of these events. At the Smith Optics booth there was a chin up contest. There's a rock climbing ...
Day 1 - OR Show: Little known facts
- Posted on August 8, 2008 at 8:22 PM
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My first long day at OR is over. I had 16 appointments between 9 am and 6 pm. I'm tired now. But it was a productive day. I saw some cool new technology from GoLite Shoes (watch for hiking boots), Osprey packs (refined suspension system in the frame) and Marmot ...
Here I am: Salt Lake City
I'm in Salt Lake City for the Summer Outdoor Retailer Show. I arrived this afternoon, on a plane full of Vancouver outdoor industry folk (it looked like half of Mountain Equipment Co-Op and half of Arc'Teryx was on my flight) to a solid furnace blast of desert heat. And I've ...
Outdoor Retailer here I come
Friday marks the beginning of the biggest event in the outdoor retailer calendar - the annual Summer Outdoor Retailer Show in Salt Lake City, Utah. (There's a winter one as well, but it's not as big.) It's where manufacturers show off their latest and greatest in gear for Spring-Summer 09. ...
Buy a Kelty, get a ranger
For every Kelty junior sized backpack purchased between now and June 2009, Kelty will donate $1 to the National Wildlife Federation. It won't benefit Canadian wildlife or wild places but it is worthwhile. In turn the National Wildlife Federation will give pack purchasers three free issues of Ranger Rick. I ...
