Ryan Stuart, explore's gear editor

OR Day 1: Squirming in water bottles

• Posted on July 21, 2009 at 7:47 PM
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Haven is the squirming entry from Therm-a-Rest in the sleeping bag category.

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A little wary, but still keen, I'm back from the first day of Outdoor Retailer Summer Market. The show is definitely different from last year: there are noticeably fewer booths and the new gear isn't as risky. The main theme seems to be water bottles. Everyone is selling them or giving them away. Most are stainless steel and there are a few aluminum and BPA-free plastic ones. There are a few old school soft plastic bottles kicking around as well. In fact a few manufacturers are pitching some high tech bike-bottle style squirt waterbottles with multiple functions - gulp, squirt, gel, chill jacket, etc. Watch this blog for more on the different bottles on the market and why buyer beware.

PVC-free plastics are a big push too. I stopped at SealLine, Seattle Sports and Pacific Outdoor Equipment and all three are coming out with new PVC-free protective cases that range from full on dry bags to water resistant Kindle carriers. Mountain Equipment Co-Op was one of the leaders in this category of producing less environmentally harmful plastics and it seems to be catching on.

And finally, the third thing I noticed today is that hard to get into sleeping bags are hot. I just camped with a 1/4 zip bag and let me tell you I'm not that excited to test them. However, Therm-a-Rest is entering the sleeping bag market with the Haven a down bag that slips over a sleeping pad, but doesn't have a zipper. And Brooks Range, a tiny company that mostly manufacturers avalanche safety and rescue gear, tarps and the like is coming out with a chest high sleeping bag that you'll wear kind of like chest waders without the separate legs.

Now I'm off to drink beer outside and watch a bouldering climbing competition. A big change this year is with Utah State drinking laws. A legislative change took effect recently that allows restaurant establishments to sell alcohol even if you're not eating and for patrons of bars to enter without getting a membership or being sponsored. They were more minor annoyances than hindrance to the party, but no one is complaining that they're gone.