Salomon

First up was a visit to my pals at Salomon. Like every manufacturer, the list of new products was a sizeable, but the two items I latched onto were the new XR Crossmax trail running shoe and the XT Zipoff Vest.

What’s cool about the XR Crossmax shoes is their unique upper construction. Since full Gore-tex booties tend to be overkill for most applications, Salomon is introducing the first hybrid shoe with Climashield waterproof membrane in the front, lower tongue and sides, but no membrane in the rear 1/4 and upper tongue. For long wet-weather runs, these look to be just the ticket.

The XT Zip Off Vest is also quite the hybrid piece. It sports a zip-off sleeve/cape design that allows for a quick transition from jacket to vest. Simply unzip the two front zippers, pull off the sleeves and the snap at the rear of the collar keeps the cape from falling to the ground. Unsnap it and tuck it into the sizeable rear pocket. Available for men and women, the XT Zipoff Vest is very cool.

Teva

It’s always good to see what Teva is up to. The last big thing was the Illum Sandals. This year, we can look forward to freeride mountain bike shoes and (my favorite) the new Mush Frio — an ultralight shoe based on the Teva Mush sandals.

The top-of-the-line Teva Links Freeride shoes feature embedded Ion Mask waterproofing and lightweight, but strong, toe armor to keep your toes intact.

And the ultralight Mush Frio shoes had me at Mush. I’m a huge fan of the Mush Sandals and turning them into a lightweight pair of shoes sounds like a dream. Fall can’t come soon enough.

Woolrich

Yes, the plaid palace yielded one noteworthy item… the Exposure Jacket and Vest. Stuffed with 800-fill down, the new Woolrich Exposure Jacket and Vest look stylish and well-suited for around-town and occasional backcountry use. Both feature audio ports for rocking out on your iPod and the vest sports a baseball-style collar for reduced bulk when used as a mid-layer.

The North Face

Plenty of cool stuff here, but the number one was the new The North Face Powder Guide Vest ($189). We’ve all seen the MacGyver-style ski patroller with the home-made rope strap shovel carrier, well the Powder Guide Vest aims to eliminate that in style and versatility. For sidecountry or quick backcountry adventures, the Powder Guide may be just the ticket to carry all the essentials in a non-backpack form factor.

Another great hybrid (yeah, I heart hybrid jackets) is the new The North Face Zuper Zephyrus Hoodie ($179) for men and women and sports Primaloft insulation and body-mapped stretch venting panels for improved fit and movement.

Scarpa

Last year, the Maestrale stole the show with its amazingly-capable package at a modest price point. Along the same vein is the new, lighter Scarpa Rush. With amazing walkability and light weight, the Rush comes in at an affordable $559. This is focused on those who relish the tour, but it will still be capable enough to whip your rockered fatties into shape.

G3

I’ve had my eye on G3 for years, but this year will really stand out as a big year for the “Little Black Diamond” from the North. First off, the Onyx ($499) tech (a.k.a. Dyafit) touring binding has been refined and has some unique features you’ll only find here. As opposed to other tech bindings, the toepiece’s natural state is closed, so it clamps down on the boot unlike any other on the market. I’ve been told that their release values (pseudo DIN) are much more accurate than others on the market as well (consistently measuring within 1/2 step of the setting vs. DIN that can be plus/minus 2).

The G3 Onyx heelpiece is unique as well. It has a flip on the rear that slides it into ski mode or touring mode instead of rotating, like the leading competition does. The heel lifter system is much more straightforward than previous designs. I’m told that this binding is the tech binding for those who like to ski, not just tour.

Outdoor Research

A handful of great pieces from OR this Fall, but the easiest “wow” factor were the two gloves featuring TouchTec leather. Both the lightweight Sensor Gloves ($70) and the all-weather Ambit Gloves ($99) feature this touchscreen-capable leather. We’ve all taken our gloves off in nasty weather to take care of a phone call or check your email. Now, these gloves will allow you to interact with your smart phone without taking your gloves off.

I gave it a whirl and it works… well… pretty darn well. It’s not 100% perfect, but I think with a bit of practice I could get it to work more consistently. Honestly, I was on overload with all the great new products from OR, but these will suffice as the coolest.

Dynafit

The Fall 2011 Dynafit lineup is something to behold. The boot options are off-the-hook and the new binding design is revolutionary for tech bindings. The Dynafit Radical FT ($599) touring binding now comes with a step-in toepiece. Guided in by the twin “power towers”, the boot toe clips in quite easily. The metal wings are now 100% forged aluminum to save weight and increase rigidity. This one also includes a carbon torsional plate than can be engaged to stiffen up the ski underfoot for ultra-burly conditions. Add on top of this the Speed Step climbing bars and the new Dynafit bindings remain the ones to beat, but are also the most expensive.

Garmont

After nailing it with the Radium touring boot, Garmont pretty much made their old Endorphin/Adrenaline line obsolete. Who wouldn’t want a superior performing boot with less weight? Well, for Fall 2011, Garmont is introducing the Delirium FR 130 no-compromise touring boot for those who want a single boot for the resort and backcountry — it features interchangeable DIN and touring blocks (included). These Frankenstein-ish boots (check out the square toe) aren’t freaky by any means… they are burly and capable. I slipped them on and the toebox is quite roomy. So, for those who need extra room and are looking for that one boot quiver, the $799 Garmont Delirium may be your salvo. You can opt for the slightly softer Mystic FR 120 as another option as well.

Rab

While Rab hasn’t completely caught on here in the States, it is gaining in popularity. It’s product line continues to evolve and this year, expect them to launch an entirely-new base mid and base layer programs. In a midweight fabric, the Polartec Powerdry High Efficiency fabric in the AL Pull-on and Baseline Hoody err on the highly-breathable side of things.

As far as base layers go, the Rab Merino/Cocona lightweight base layers resist body odors naturally and provide a comfortable, durable wear. Look for 165 weight and 120 weight designs in long and short-sleeve designs.

Rab Aeon Tech Tee

With a loyal following among hard-core alpinists–especially in Europe, Rab continues to build high-quality outerwear and apparel. The backbone of their outerwear is eVent fabric, but this little number hit my radar because of its simplicity and price. With a mere 3 oz. weight and super-breathable fabric, the Aeon Tech Tee hits the wallet pretty light at only $25.

Ryders Eyewear Treviso Polarized/Photochromic Sunglasses

Pushing the price envelope for Ryders, but still crushing the competition for what it offers, the new Ryders Treviso features both a polarized and photochromic lens design. Not only is this lens a solid offering, the frame is definitely noteworthy. What makes the frame so great are the cues taken from Gumby… yes, Gumby. The temple and nose pieces are adjustable to conform to your face for all-day comfort or improved helmet compatibility. The Treviso polar-photo will be available soon for $89.99. Current Treviso models feature a standard lens and can be had for $39.99.

Salomon RX Travel Shoes

Due to scheduling issues, I wasn’t able to meet up for the official scoop at Salomon, but I did see some changes to the heralded XT Wings and XT Hawk shoes, now called XT Wings 2 and XT Hawk 2. They have also released the Relax line consisting of the RX Travel, RX Slide and RX Moc. These ultralight post-workout and chilling shoes look comfy. Prices and availability is TBD.

Keen Austin Commuter Bike Shoes

Intent on catering to the growing bike commuter crowd, the new Keen Austin shoes look like a stylish pair of shoes on top, but hide a full shank and clipless-compatibility. Commute to work clipped-in and put the shoulder to the wheel in low-key fashion once you arrive with the new Keen Austin shoes. Available in Spring 2010 at $120.

Merrell CTR Cruise Trail Running Shoes

Built for athletic trail running, the new Merrell CTR Cruise utilizes Outlast temperature management technology combined with breathable mesh uppers. On top of that, the tread pattern is as burly as they come for no-nonsense traction in all conditions. On this shoe, the “M” logo isn’t just for show, it’s an integral part of the lateral support system and the lower tongue features a scree guard to keep the… well, scree from entering the toebox. The CTR Cruise will be offered in regular and Gore-tex versions for $110 and $120 respectively.

I’d say this year was more of a refinement year with not much in the “entirely new” category coming down the pike. Here’s a quick overview of a handful of great products coming your way later this Fall and into Spring 2010.

Montrail Rockridge Trail Runners

Hot on the heels of the award-winning Mountain Masochist trail runners, Montrail is introducing a handful of trail runners including the all-new Montrail Rockridge. This shoe is built on a low-profile last for excellent trail feel, but still sporting plenty of cushioning with neutral support for the long-haul. Traction is provided by Gryptonite rubber with center deflecting lugs with perimeter traction lugs. The entire liner of the shoe is also seamless for superior comfort. MSRP is $90 with an early 2010 release date.

Mountain Hardwear Fluid 10 Hydration Pack

With all the hydration packs currently on the market, there are only a handful that I can totally recommend (Deuter comes to mind).  But, the new Mountain Hardwear Fluid 10/18/26 hydration pack lineup looks like a great foray into the market. The best feature is the frame sheet, dubbed HardWave, which looks like an accordion going top-to-bottom for a back-conforming fit, but still providing torsional rigidity. Another bonus of this design is its ability to conform to the contours of your back while providing excellent breathability.

An additional innovation on this pack is the OTF (On-the-Fly) Compression system that allows you to cinch down the entire pack from the hip. This ingenious design has long been needed in the market. I always complain when packs don’t have compression straps to cinch the load, but this one takes simple compression straps to the next level by allowing you to cinch the entire load down from the waistbelt. Capacity is 600 cu. in. and weight is 1 lb. 4 oz. with an MSRP of $80.

Patagonia Tsali  and Nine Trails Trail Running Shoes

Honestly, I was totally impressed with the trail running lineup from Patagonia. I hadn’t explored their shoe line much previously, but both the ultralight Tsali and the supportive Nine Trails look to be killer shoes for Spring 2010.

The Tsali tips the scales at just under 10 oz. each, but still provides excellent cushioning and support in a fast and light package. One of the coolest features is the proprietary Dynamic Lace System (shown below) where the two uppermost lace eyelets are criss-crossed for a more snug fit. At $100, the Tsali is a solid player in the lightweight trail running space.

The all-new Nine Trails offers a tad more support than the Tsali, yet still tips the scales at a respectable 11.2 oz. With a medial post for extra support, Dynamic Lace System and a bit of sticky rubber in the toe/heel for smearing, the Nine Trails will get you there for $110.

GoLite Comp Trail Running Shoes

An interesting story indeed, GoLite shoes approach the shoe-building process upside-down. While the rest of the shoe market builds cushioning that’s built to squish the foot to the hard outsole or tread, GoLite’s patented “Soft Against the Ground” design actually keeps the foot stable and cushioning happens from the outsole-in. Think of it this way… you’ve undoubtedly ridden in a truck or a bus and seen the driver’s suspension captain’s chair, right? Well, that’s like traditional shoe cushioning… seems silly eh? Now think of a car’s suspension. Everything is built to keep the frame of the car stable and cushion the tires/rims as they compress towards the rigid frame. Sounds better, right?

With that in mind, let me introduce the GoLite Comp trail running shoe. This trail runner is offered in both mesh and softshell designs with an exoskeleton for supportand interchangeable inserts to increase or decrease toebox volume depending on your preference. The only downer is the price as these shoes are a bit more spendy than others in the market at $130 for the mesh and $140 for the softshell.

Princeton Tec Remix Headlamp

With a variety of LED bulb options to both extend battery life and provide just the right lighting for the situation, the new Princeton Tec Remix headlamp is the choice for all situations. With a large on/off button and easily-rotated lamp body, the Remix looks great for winter dawn patrols. The new Remix sports 3 – 5mm LED’s and 1 Maxbright Rebel LED to deliver a bright 45 lumens with up to 200 hours of burntime. MSRP is $44.99.

Outdoor Research Helium Jacket

Another great offering in the lightweight jacket world, the all-new OR Helium Jacket tips the scales at 6.8 oz. (Men’s) and features waterproof/breathable Pertex 2.5 fabric. Built with a full hood and minimalistic design, the entire jacket stuffs down smaller than a can of soda with the built-in stuff pocket. Look for the Helium in Spring 2010 at a $140 pricepoint.

Oboz Dash Trail Runner with Enhanced Footbed

I’ve been excited about the progression of the Oboz brand over the years. For Spring 2010, look for an entirely-new trail runner called the Dash. Utilizing the same outsole as the Ignition, but modified slightly to provide a more supportive overall feel, the Dash comes standard with a few little niceties not found on many shoes on the market. For starters, the Dash will feature a thin EVA padding on top of the footboard, which serves to provide just a tad more comfort. Add on top of that, a fully-supportive, proprietary insole that puts other stock insoles to shame.

The goal is to get this insole into every shoe and not raise prices. Looks like feet everywhere will rejoice in the added stability, control and comfort, but wallets everywhere can relax because that footbed will come with the $100 Dash trail runners in Spring 2010.