The Gear Junkie Scoop: Heidiskis
By STEPHEN REGENOLD

In the vast and multi-billion-dollar snowsports industry, there exists dozens of boutique ski brands that are small, privately-owned operations catering to connoisseurs willing to drop large cash for boards customized to their particular snow-sliding niche. The outfits, including the likes of Aluflex, BumTribe and Grown Skis, might manufacture a few hundred pairs a season, selling to a demographic of likeminded freeskiers, powder seekers or heli enthusiasts.

“I compare the boutique brands to independent surfboard shapers,” said Kelly Davis, director of research at SnowSports Industries America in McLean, Va. “A lot of people are living their dream, trying to make the best ski possible.”

Into this fray enters Heidiskis, a Montreux, Switzerland, brand created by Heidi Blum, a former college racer and American expatriate from Marin County, Calif.

The company (www.heidiskis.com) made its debut last season with a built-to-spec luxury custom ski concept that sold for 3,800 Euros. Its slogan: “Your ultimate personalized hand-made wood core skis.”

Indeed, that price tag made Heidiskis—which were built in an Austrian factory to the exact anatomy of each customer—among the priciest planks on the planet.

For the ‘08 – ‘09 season, Heidiskis will sell three retail offerings in powder, freeride and all-mountain profiles with prices starting at 1,200 Euros, or upwards of $1,500 per pair.

What makes Heidiskis so special? The skis employ Swiss white ash for a full tip-to-tail core touted as being higher quality than most anything in the industry. “To my knowledge, they are among the only ski brands who take the wood core the full length of the ski,” said Drew Simmons, a company spokesman.

Swiss white ash is known for its mix of flexibility and strength, as well as its ability to hold its camber forever, Simmons added.

Other Heidiskis notables include: artsy top-sheet designs; high-end “World Cup quality” P-TEX 4000 bases; Rockwell 48 extra wide steel edges; ABS sidewalls; and carbon reinforced mounts. Said Heidi Blum, Heidiskis’ namesake founder and lead designer: “Our goal is to change your expectations for how a ski should perform.”

To those high claims—and to the high price tag Heidiskis is proposing—Davis from SnowSports Industries America said: “Bring it on, I would love to demo a pair.”

In other words, Davis could not comment on Heidiskis’ performance. But she said the materials cited and the touted Austrian craftsmanship, though not exclusive, would put the pricey sticks in an upper-crust category marketed to “wealthy enthusiasts.”

Indeed, Simmons said Heidiskis will be sold only at a few ski shops in North America, likely in places including Aspen, Colo., Sun Valley, Idaho, and Whistler, British Colombia. “They are marketed to 100+day skiers,” Simmons said. “These are exclusive quality, the type of Austrian craftsmanship rarely seen by recreational skiers.”

Heidiskis’ retail line ships in small batches to shops starting this fall at $1,500 to $2,000 a pair. The custom builds are available online now at the aforementioned 3,800 Euros, or about $5,913 as per this week’s currency exchange. No word yet on the option to trade in a used Subaru to bank on a payment for the skis.

—Stephen Regenold writes the weekly Gear Junkie Scoop for Outsidemag.com and TheGearJunkie.com.

This is my fourth and final look at new gear from the 2008 Outdoor Retailer Summer Market trade show. . .

Kayland 6001
Kick some alpine butt with these beefy expedition boots. A full boot-wrapping gaiter made of Neoprene and a Schoeller soft-shell fabric provides extra warmth, while the footbed is packed with Primaloft for insulation from below. A Vibram outsole is made for climbing rubber-to-rock, or clip on crampons to the sole’s heel and toe grooves and you can work your way up a vertical wall of ice. Available March 2009; $549.95; www.kayland.com

REI Passage 65 Backpack
Made for teens, the Passage 65 is touted to grow as your kid grows. The pack has a highly-adjustable suspension system to fit a range of body sizes, from the scrawny 13-year-old hiking his or her first trail to the buff high-school senior trekking out alone. REI didn’t skimp on components, using the same quality straps, zippers and fabric as seen in its adult line. Nice touches include a top lid that detaches and can be used as a lumbar pack, and a pre-curved hip belt to better match your youngster’s anatomy from day one. $149; available spring 2009; www.rei.com

Crumpler’s Bumper Issue
Australian messenger-bag maker Crumpler has entered into the hydration pack world with its Bumper Issue, a water-resistant nylon pack that accommodates all common hydration bladder setups. It’ll come in four “exciting colourways,” as the Aussies put it, including red/orange/ yellow, lime/royal blue/white, brown/white/lime and black/gun metal/orange. Features include a main flap with a quick-release clip; three internal compartments; side clips for a bicycle pump or trekking poles; and reflective sections for added visibility while travelling at night. $95; available in November; www.crumplerbags.com

Pakboats XT-15 Solo
It stows away into a 26×18 x 16-inch package and weighs just 39 pounds. But unfold and assemble the XT-15 Solo and you have a 15-foot sea kayak the company says is fast and high-performing. In construction, individual sections are locked together by clips with stainless steel pins, and clips are mounted on the cross ribs, making a rigid total structure. The stems at each end of the frame expand through lever action to tension the skin (a 600 denier PU-coated polyester rip-stop material), which secures to the sides with Velcro strips. Disassembly and packing of the boat takes about 25 minutes, according to the company. $1,775; available in October; www.pakboats.com

Black Diamond Climbing Harnesses
Deploying a liquid-crystal polymer that’s been used in NASA spacesuits, Black Diamond’s new men’s and women’s Ozone, Aura and Chaos harnesses are advertised as taking climbing gear a quantum leap ahead. While most harnesses use strands of padded nylon webbing for support, Black Diamond’s build distributes the pressure when a climber hangs on a line throughout the harness’s entire structure. The result is a look and feel that’s slimmer and lighter than most anything else on the rock today. harnesses start at $99; available March 2009; www.bdel.com

Related content. . .

OR Show 2009 Product Preview, part I
OR Show 2009 Product Preview, part II
OR Show 2009 Product Preview, part III

The news fallout from the Outdoor Retailer trade show—which I covered extensively last week, and plan to write again on later today—has garnered mentioned even on TheStreet.com, a popular business site that covers the financial markets, economic and industry trends and financial planning.

In “Great Gear to Lure Kids to the Great Outdoors,” Jonathan Blum, an independent technology writer and analyst living in Westchester, N.Y., writes about the current economic turmoil having an interesting, two-sided effect on outdoor-goods retail sales.

On one hand, Blum writes, outdoors retail is showing it can stand up to a soft economy with dollar sales for outdoor goods up 9% year-to-date through June, according to the Outdoor Industry Association. Blum says that’s due in part to sales of recession-friendly products like camping gear.

But on the flip side, Blum writes, industry vendors, retailers and travel suppliers are fretting over a serious new long-term threat: Kids are losing their taste for going outside. Everything from National Park use to participation days in outdoor activities, Blum cites, are down among kids.

Read the full story, “Great Gear to Lure Kids to the Great Outdoors,” here:

http://www.thestreet.com/story/10433048/1/great-gear-to-lure-kids-to-the-great-outdoors.html

In this third look at the latest gear from the Outdoor Retailer Summer Market trade show I have uncovered stylish sunglasses made for fishermen, water shoes that look like skate shoes, and a luxury rooftop cargo box from Thule that will sell for $800. . .

Horny Toad Cayo
This techy T-shirt can take you “from trailhead to summit and taco stand to dance floor.” That’s according to Horny Toad, which commissioned this everyday shirt to be constructed with a proprietary fabric called DynoSoar that is made from 85% recycled poly Dri-release and 15% organic cotton. DynoSoar feels like cotton but has performance properties for wicking, drying, comfort and odor control. $54; available February 2009; www.hornytoad.com

Thule Excellence Roof Box
Advertised as “ultra premium,” the Excellence rooftop cargo box from Thule has 18 cubic feet of capacity and touches like struts, stiffeners and a high-gloss two-tone finish. Its main innovation is in its looks, which Thule says can complement the lines of a higher-end vehicle, which is the market. Made for SUVs, crossovers and mid-size vehicles, the Excellence box is sleeker, lighter, and more aerodynamic than much of the competition. The box comes with a customized lid cover to shield from the elements during storage to help maintain a newly-purchased appearance for years. $799.95; available March 2009; www.thule.com

Marmot Wool Half Zip
Marmot cites the Half Wool Zip as offering “a glimpse into the future of base layers.” That future apparently includes lots of sheep and a few coconuts. Indeed, with its unique combination of natural and synthetic fabrics the top employs the latest version of Polartec Power Dry with wool on the outside layer to keep you warm even when wet. The inside layer is polyester, which Marmot cites as being comfortable next to the skin and highly breathable. Last, the polyester fabric is fused with fibers derived from coconut husks to add odor management, wicking and sun protection. $85; available this fall; www.marmot.com

Gregory Diablo with Bio-sync
As part of a new line of eight lightweight trail packs with “Bio-sync suspension,” the Diablo moves as your body moves, according to Gregory. Made for running, hiking, cycling and other aerobic sports, the Bio-sync suspension system uses elasticized attachment points at each shoulder harness and on the waist belt that the company says can mimic the wearer’s body motion during activity. The pictured Diablo pack (called the Dipsea in the women’s version) is a six-liter pack with just enough space for water, food and a layer or two. A notable feature: the “tube management system” is made so that after a drink your hydration hose will snap back into place on the shoulder harness automatically with the aid of a powerful embedded magnet. Just don’t get your compass too close to that small force field. $59; available January 2009; www.gregorypacks.com

Inno Kayak/Canoe Locker
Load and lock down your kayak or canoe with this unique lockable strap system rack. Rubber-coated steel cable straps ratchet around your craft and lock with a key. Capacity is one kayak or one canoe and up to two wind-surfboards or up to three surfboards. $229; available now; www.innoracks.com

Smith Mogul
Made for fishermen, the Mogul comes in “fishing-specific” lens tints and is available with “polarchromic” lenses that shift when the ambient light changes outdoors. It has polarized glass lenses with a hydrophobic coating on both sides of the lens to keep splashed water from smudging your view. An anti-reflective coating is applied to the inside of the lens to eliminate backlit reflections from bouncing into the user’s eye. Light-blocking temple arms and a distinguished chrome logo badge complete the Mogul look. $159 (polarized), $179 (polarchromic); available now; www.smithoptics.com

Teva Gnar
Borrowing more from the skate culture than the boating world, the Gnar is engineered to perform in the water. Features include a tacky rubber outsole for grip on slick stone, a closed-cell EVA tongue that absorbs no water, and mesh panels for drainage once you step out of the creek. $80; available in January 2009; www.teva.com

(Stephen Regenold writes The Gear Junkie column for eleven U.S. newspapers; see www.THEGEARJUNKIE.com for video gear reviews, a daily blog, and an archive of Regenold’s work.)

Related content. . .

OR Show 2009 Product Preview, part I
OR Show 2009 Product Preview, part II
OR Show 2009 Product Preview, part IV

I’m back from Salt Lake City and the Outdoor Retailer Summer Market trade show. Here’s the first gear report from the show for this week. . .

Confluence Watersports Concept Boats
These carbon-fiber/fiberglass hybrids took cake as some of the coolest products at OR this year. Available next spring in limited quantities, Confluence was calling these boats “concept designs,” meaning the company was flexing some of its design muscles to show the potential of what they can do with the right idea. Lift one of these boats—as I did in the booth—and you won’t believe the weight: The whitewater concept is a floaty 19 pounds; the sea kayak, a full-length schooner that’ll purportedly be priced around $5,000, tips the dial to a feathery 35 pounds. Available spring 2009; www.confluencewatersports.com

Terra Nova Titanium Tent Skewer
The absurdist’s dilemma of trying to find the lightest-weight tent stake on the market just got even more absurd. U.K.-based Terra Nova—formerly known as Wild Country—sells titanium tent “skewers” that weigh just one gram apiece. They stand about 12cm tall and are as thin as swizzle sticks. But company testers claim they keep in the ground through wind and rain if placed correctly in the turf. Available now in six packs for £15 at www.terra-nova.co.uk

Mammut Verglas jacket
The Swiss-designed Verglas jacket, a soft shell made for all-around use, is one of several new pieces to feature a finishing treatment from Schoeller Textiles purported to make dark colors feel lighter than wearing white. Called Coldblack, the treatment reduces heat build up and keeps the wearer cool while offering protection from the sun’s harmful rays, according to Schoeller. $279; spring 2009; www.mammutusa.com

Z-Medica Corporation QuikClot
In the hope-you-never-use-it category, Z-Medica Corporation’s QuikClot product has a hemostatic agent designed to stop high-volume bleeding, including arterial and venous incidents. The small first-aid packets are filled with a granulated mineral substance called Zeolite, which comes encased in a porous surgical sponge. It works by removing the liquid components from blood, allowing the platelets to clot rapidly. According to Adventure Medical Kits, which will distribute QuikClot in the outdoor retailer sales channel, blood from a wound can take up to 30 minutes to clot. But QuikClot, the company touts, can clot a gusher in about three minutes. QuikClot is currently used by the U.S. military, and the creators credit this product as saving 150 lives in Iraq and Afghanistan. Packs start at $9.99; available now; www.adventuremedicalkits.com or www.quikclot.com

Princeton Tec Swerve
The Swerve can almost guarantee you’ll be seen 100 percent of the time from behind on your bike at night. A pair of half-watt LEDs dance and flash on this bike-seat-compatible light. A clicking toggle switch turns the unit off and on and shuffles through its two visibility modes. The company says diffused and focused lenses send wide and narrow beams of light that are easier for cars to see from a distance. $29.99; available now; www.princetontec.com

Montrail Mountain Masochist
The women’s and men’s Mountain Masochist shoe was designed for trail pounders who might tick off 20 miles on any given Saturday morning. The shoe—which also will come in a Gore-Tex iteration—is advertised for the off-road runner “who wants exceptional fit, performance and breathability.” Tech specs include a triple-density midsole with “Vapor Response” EVA foam; a flexible full-foot plate for protection; “Gryptonite” rubber on the outsole for traction and durability; and a lightweight upper with hydrophobic mesh and a gusseted tongue to keep dirt out. Weight hovers around 10 ounces per shoe in average sizes. $90 ($115 for Gore-Tex model); available in spring 2009; www.montrail.com

Wenger Swiss Raid Commando watch
Designed for the Swiss Raid Commando, a semi-annual military training event organized by the Swiss Special Forces, this “black on black on black” watch has a black rubber strap, an anti-reflective matte-black stainless steel case, and a black dial. Orange or green markings glow subtly for nighttime visibility. Watch features include a tachymeter for measuring speed over a known distance and a 12-hour chronograph that displays elapsed hours, minutes and seconds. $425; available now at www.wengerna.com

KEEN Springwater
The closed-toe and clipless-pedal-compatible Springwater is among a line of cycling products to come from KEEN next spring. The company touts the shoe as having “the same comfort and performance on the bike and off.” Features include a cleat cap plate, a non-marking rubber outsole and a removable footbed. $130; available in January; www.keenfootwear.com

Mammut Smart belay device
As a new take on the belay device, the lightweight (82 grams) and inexpensive ($30) Mammut Smart has a locking feature that makes catching a hard fall easy and safe. The device works by forcing the rope into a pinched-off position when weight is applied, effectively locking off the belayed climber in a fall or when he or she needs a rest. The device is suitable for all ropes from 8.9mm to 10.5mm in diameter. Available spring 2009; www.mammutusa.com

Related content. . .
OR Show 2009 Product Preview, part I
OR Show 2009 Product Preview, part II
OR Show 2009 Product Preview, part III
OR Show 2009 Product Preview, part IV

(Stephen Regenold writes The Gear Junkie column for eleven U.S. newspapers; see www.THEGEARJUNKIE.com for video gear reviews, a daily blog, and an archive of Regenold’s work.)

The Gear Junkie is off again and in Salt Lake City for the Outdoor Retailer Summer Market trade show, a twice-annual industry gathering where journalists and buyers meet with companies to preview the latest in outdoors gear, gadgets and apparel. Here are a few items that caught my eye thus far, a preview of what’s to come in outdoors shops circa 2009. Watch for an update upon my return after the weekend. . .

Big Agnes Slide Mountain Series
This series of three-season backpacking tents incorporate the Boa Lacing System, a knob-based tensioning device often found on footwear the likes of snowboarding boots. Big Agnes applies the Boa system to aid with fly tensioning on the tent. When the Boa knob is rotated, a tiny cable winds on its spool as the tent fly tightens. The Slide Mountain SL 2 tent weighs 4lbs 12oz and will retail for $499.95; the Slide Mountain SL 3 tent weighs 5lbs 6oz and retails for $599.95. Available in spring 2009; www.bigagnes.com

Light & Motion Seca
Touted to be “the first LED bicycle lighting system to make good on the promise of besting the top HIDs on the market,” Light & Motion’s Seca line of LED bike lights will provide models with output up to 700 lumens. VERY bright, in other words. And at that output Light & Motion specs five hours of burn time between battery charges. (Burns times up to 20 hours are achievable at a lower brightness setting.) Multiple light pattern modes let you put the Seca’s beam right in front of your wheel or blast a ray of powerful light down the trail, piercing the darkness up to 200 feet ahead, according to Light & Motion tests. Three Seca models will ship next year, with prices starting at $349; www.bikelights.com

Brunton BrewFire
Brunton calls this “the world’s first portable, duel-fuel coffee maker.” Right, it’s just like your coffee maker at home, but this one is fueled by propane or butane cartridges so it can be taken anywhere. Just put your coffee grounds of choice in the included conical reusable filter, add water, turn the knob and flip a switch. In ten to twelve minutes you have eight cups of steaming hot java. The double-walled, vacuum-sealed stainless steel carafe keeps your coffee hot for 2.5 hours, the company says. Weighs 6.5 lbs. Price: $99; available Feb. 2009; www.brunton.com

Yakima LoPro Skybox
At 15.5 cubic feet, this cargo box was made for consumers with tall vehicles, low garages and/or those looking for a low profile, space-saving solution. But here’s the kicker: This cargo box has a built-in solar-powered light that automatically illuminates the SkyBox when opened for better visibility inside. $649; available at retail by Jan. 2009. www.yakima.com

Injinji Rainbow Toe-Socks
Introducing the revival of the classic Rainbow toesock in a new COOLMAX version. Injinji touts these toe huggers as “retro fun in a smart, high-performance sock, ideal for active outdoor adventures.” The Rainbow toesock incorporates Injinji’s patented construction, which recently received the American Podiatric Medical Association’s Seal of Acceptance for its superior moisture management, odor control and ability to improve foot alignment for better posture, gripping and balance. $14; available in February 2009; www.injinji.com

Crazy Creek Beach Backpack Chair
Advertised as a “super-comfy, lightweight outdoor seat that can be carried anywhere,” Crazy Creek’s Beach Backpack Chair has padded backpack straps for transport. Nice touches include height and length adjustments, a swiveling footrest pad, adjustable headrest, and a drink holder. $99; available in early 2009; www.crazycreek.com

Bilt Stainless Steel water bottles
Metallurgically, I may be a bit inept. But if it means anything to you, these Bilt bottles are made with a “premium food-grade Korean type 304 stainless steel containing 18% chromium and 8% nickel.” I think that’s good. The company says this material was chosen for its consistent quality and performance characteristics of not leaching chemicals, staining, corroding or rusting. Bilt bottles are available in several sizes, shapes and colors, starting at $16. www.bilt.ca

Patagonia wool base layers
Wool for warm weather is the premise behind Patagonia’s spring 2009 collection, called Wool 1. The company is pitching the line as “officially the lightest wool baselayer on the market today.” Made from 63% merino wool (16.5 micron fiber) and 37% recycled polyester, this soft, stretchy fabric combines wool’s natural odor control and insulative-when-wet properties with polyester’s durability, stretch and speedy dry time, the company says. www.patagonia.com

ZYM Catapult
Pop it in your bike bottle and wait for it to fizz. Then drink. That’s all there is to downing the electrolytes and other athletic enhancers in ZYM Catapult, a new hydration product that includes 100mg of caffeine and B12 vitamins. The result, the company claims, is a concoction that “fights off dehydration, fatigue, muscle pain, and lactic acid build-up.” 10 tables cost $8.95; www.drinkzym.com

Related content. . .

OR Show 2009 Product Preview, part II
OR Show 2009 Product Preview, part III
OR Show 2009 Product Preview, part IV

(Stephen Regenold writes The Gear Junkie column for eleven U.S. newspapers; see www.THEGEARJUNKIE.com for video gear reviews, a daily blog, and an archive of Regenold’s work.)

My story in today’s New York Times covers the hobby of rendezvous re-enactment. I visited a rendezvous encampment a couple months back on the banks of the Canon River in southeast Minnesota, and this story highlights my experience—including black powder rifles, hatchet throwing and the imbibing of mead—as well as delving into some background on a hobby where grown men and women dress in fur-trade period outfits, sleep in tepees or canvas tents, and turn their backs on modern civilization for a couple of days.

There are dozens of rendezvous held every year in the United States, and as many as 20,000 people—men, women and children—are involved in the hobby, according to Donlyn Meyers, publisher of Smoke & Fire News, a monthly periodical that covers living-history events.

The tradition is old, and the name is French for a reason. In the centuries when the fur trade dominated North America, French adventurers made their way up the rivers and lakes to the heart of the continent to meet with Indians who had pelts to trade for European goods: guns, kettles, beads, cloth, alcohol. By the early 19th century, the French dominance was gone, but the gatherings remained, larger and more varied. Enterprising explorers and mountain men, Indians, fur buyers and mercantile traders came from miles around, and the rendezvous became a festival that featured commerce, competition, whiskey and the ensuing bacchanalia of lonely men in rare communion.

Go here for my full story. . .

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/08/travel/escapes/08rendezvous.html?_r=1&8dpc&oref=slogin