The Outdoor Retailer Show just wrapped, and as per usual, it was epic. Over the next week or so, we'll continue to highlight some of the favorite new products we saw, starting with these three.
1. Columbia Baselayer Light Shortsleeve Top:听颁辞濒耻尘产颈补鈥檚 new Omni-Freeze ICE shirts has the next best thing to an onboard air conditioner. The baselayer's fabric is embedded with microscopic crystals that get gummy when they interact with sweat, causing an endothermic reaction. If you remember seventh grade science class, that's the one that uses energy and in the process creates cold, not heat. It's no gimmick: The effect really is noticeable, but fleeting: once the shirt wicks away most of the moisture, the cool sensation you feel on your skin subsides. Available in January 2012, $55.
2. Eton Soulra XL: It's the ultimate tailgating, beach lounging, crag thumping, solar-powered sound system. The Soulra XL puts out 22 watts of power through eight speaker drivers powered by a 72 inch solar panel. It takes five hours to fully charge, according to Eton, and gives you eight plus hours of tunes. Transport it with its built in handle, or sling it over your shoulder by the gel padded shoulder strap and carry it like a messenger bag of music. Available now, $250, etoncorp.com
3. Primus Firehole 300: We just got the first glimpse of this Mac Daddy of car camping stoves. The propane powered and portable Firehole has two 12,000 BTU burners that boil a liter of water in about three minutes. An on-board light and cook timer ensure that as the sun sets, you don't burn your marinara while you're searching for a headlamp. Another feature we like: a plastic lid “pod” that doubles as a cutting board and also holds cooking utensils. Available March 2012,听$250,
-Berne Broudy