Outdoor Retailer Summer 09: Highlights Part 3

Part 3 of Outdoor Retailer followup features some great new products from Rab, Ryders Eyewear, Salomon, Keen and Merrell. With lots of product refinements coming, keep an eye out for some of these great products coming to a retailer near you between now and Spring 2010.

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.