Fall - InsideOutdoor Magazine

The Cord Lock Light appears
to have appeal to both
retailers as a replacement
item and to apparel
designers as a point of
differentiation.
is super light and super
cool in the Arizona
heat, hangs nicely
and seems to live
up to what bamboo
advocates claim. Assuming
that the free
giveaway shirt was a
basic style and likely
not the company’s
best effort, we’re
optimistic about what
bamboo can do.
And finally, from the
new exhibitors to the notso-new,
history was in the
air at OR with many long-standing outdoor brands looking
to get “back to their roots” when it comes to both
positioning and product development.
“We’ve worked off our heritage equipment and
core product,” said Barry McGeough, vice president
of hardgoods for The North Face, in reference to the
company’s Spring ’09 equipment collection.
Eagle Creek marketing representative, Stasia
Raines, likewise, was quick to emphasis the company’s
renewed focus on core offerings, as well as getting
re-acquainted with the company’s history as a
pioneer of adventure travel gear. Meanwhile, throwback
imagery and retro stylings could be spotted in
every corner, such as JanSport’s billboard-sized tribute
to founder Skip Yowell and Freestyles line of fun, neon
bright 1980s-influenced wristwatches.
It’s quite possible the nostalgic mood hit full swing
because many outdoor brands are celebrating or preparing
to celebrate significant anniversaries of their
respective formations, some of which can be traced to
the early days of the outdoor industry and beyond.
Among them, Isis turned 10 this year, EcoWood
turned lucky 13 and CGPR marked its 15th anniversary.
Both Thinsulate and Nikwax celebrated 30 years;
Hilleberg the Tentmaker, Polarguard and Marmot each
turned 35; and The North Face threw a 40th birthday
bash. Going even further back, Gore-Tex marked its
50th year, while La Sportiva celebrated its 80th, and
Deuter hit a whopping 110.
Not that anyone needs another reason to party at
an OR show, where the free beer flows more plentiful
than at a Catholic wedding. But hey, faced with more
than 30 hours of trade show in four days, no one was
complaining either.
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Fall 2008 | InsideOutdoor | 23