SNEAK PREVIEW: 16 NEW CAMPING AND OUTDOOR PRODUCTS FOR NEXT YEAR
For a few days every summer, the sleepy German town of Friedrichshafen on the banks of Lake Constance becomes the capital of the outdoor gear world. Twelve enormous halls are filled with brand new products, as manufacturers show off all the camping and outdoor kit they've lined up for the following year. For gear geeks it is heaven on earth.
Unfortunately the general public aren’t allowed in but luckily the Camping team did get an invite and, in between scoffing bratwurst and guzzling beer (honest, we weren't), we looked at hundreds of new products, from tents to torches and everything in between. The manufacturers want to keep it under wraps for a few more months but we see it as our public duty to tell you about all the best stuff as soon as we can, so read on as editor Iain Duff reveals some of our favourite new products from OutDoor that will be in the shops in 2015.
They say the best things come in small packages and that’s certainly true of this excellent piece of kit, one of the best things we saw at Friedrichshafen this year. The Treo chair is ideal for solo camping trips and is brilliant because it can be permanently kept in the back of the car without taking up any room. It packs completely into its own tripod base, and when folded up, takes up less space than a two-litre drinks bottle. When fully assembled, the three-legged chair expands to 56x41cm, providing an unexpected amount of comfort. The tripod base ensures stability while the chair’s aluminium poles should provide durability. The Treo will be available shops from January 2015 for £85.
www.cascadedesigns.com/en/therm-a-rest
The first time we set eyes on this, it was love at first sight, one of those rare occasions when something literally stops you in your tracks. In among the sea of green and blue tents that filled one of the aircraft hangar-sized halls at Friedrichshafen this beauty stood out a mile – and not just because it was bright orange. The yurt-like design is like nothing we’ve seen on a mainstream tent in this country before. Eight-sided, with each panel zipping open to reveal a mesh window, it is airy and bright and very… well, glampy. Coleman had cleverly decked it out with a huge, comfy-looking double airbed to add to the luxurious feel. It was so unusual that I assumed it had been produced for the European market and wouldn’t be available in the UK. But I am delighted to say I was wrong and you’ll see it in the shops next spring.
www.coleman.eu
Ideal for all types of outdoor pursuits, this was developed using the latest Chips on Board (COB) technology, designed to produce a bright and expansive beam. It uses lots of little LED chips packed tightly together to produce a flood of light. The pen-sized gadget also has a rubber-coated finish to give better grip.
www.go-travelproducts.com
Swedish-based Thule are probably best known for roof-boxes, cycle racks and travel luggage. But after decades of helping you deliver your gear to your destination and leaving it at that, now they want you to use their gear while you’re participating in your activity of choice. And to achieve this, they’re moving into the traditional backpacking market. The Capstone daysack is one of three different lines they are launching next year and it comes in a variety of sizes ranging from 22 to 50 litres. It’s taken almost three years to develop the range, and it’s pretty clear that lots of design work has gone into it. The USP is the fact that the height is adjustable on the move, but there are also multiple entry points, high-spec materials and a high strength to weight ratio.
www.thule.com
It may not be the most glamorous piece of camping kit you’ll ever pack, but it could well be one of the most useful. There is nothing more annoying than turning up at the campsite dishwashing area laden with filthy pots and plates, only to discover that someone has pinched the plug. I don’t know why this happens – perhaps there’s a massive black market in used sink plugs or a thriving collectors’ scene. Rather than cramming paper towels into the plug hole to stop the water draining away, the solution is to bring your own plug and this kit from Craghoppers includes a universal stopper that will fit almost all plug holes. It also comes with a twisted elastic washing line for use with hooks or pegs.
www.craghoppers.com
For 2015, Berghaus is introducing a new waterproof, breathable technology called Hydroshell, designed to keep the wearer drier for longer. The new material is being used in the Hyper Smock, which Berghaus claims to be the world’s lightest waterproof jacket but for most of us that’s probably a little more high spec than we need. For more traditional users a jacket there’s the Light Trek jacket, a classic walking jacket that comes in both men’s and women’s versions. They were developed using insights from hikers on the West Highland Way and offer storm-level waterproof protection. The jackets are packed with features, including a fixed and fully adjustable hood with wired peak, four pockets and body venting
www.berghaus.com
The new Pro-Lite collection from Craghoppers has been specially designed to be lightweight and packable, so much so they have put together complete outfits for men and women that weigh in at less than 1kg – the weight of a bag of sugar. Part of the men’s outfit is the Pro-Lite Softshell, a water resistant and windproof jacket, that packs away into its own pocket and weighs just 355 grams
www.craghoppers.com
Therm-a-Rest’s Slacker hammock can been strung up between a couple of trees to provide you with somewhere to chill out with a beer on a sunny afternoon or if you feel like getting back to nature, a place to sleep overnight. The hammock is available in single and double sizes and is made with a soft polyester fabric for a luxury feel. It features a custom, ripstop fabric, which eliminates lengthwise seams. The attached pocket works as a stuff sack as well as a holder for books, tablets or torches and you can buy a bug net if you do fancy sleeping overnight.
www.cascadedesigns.com/en/therm-a-rest
H.A.D. Originals is a German brand that will introduce its range of Buff-style scarves to the UK next year. Among the brightly coloured and stylish products they sell are these child-friendly scarves with a road-safety theme. Rather than just have reflective strips or dots added, the reflective material is incorporated within the design. There’s no release date for these particular products yet but they are expected to make their way over to the UK soon.
www.had-originals.com
Best known for their outdoor clothing and rucksacks, the Regatta name has appeared on Argos tents for a few years. But in 2015 the company is launching a full range of its own bespoke camping gear – including tents, sleeping bags and accessories. The range includes two-berth pop-up tents for festivals, a selection of two, three and four-man tents for weekend breaks, an easy pitch backpacking tent and several family sized tents, including the Vanern tunnel tent, which comes as a four or six berth. The Vanern has a covered front canopy, large windows, storage pockets and lantern hanging points.
www.regatta.com
Craghoppers is introducing a range of new super-absorbent towels next year. They’re capable of soaking up a huge amount of water, can be dried out in seconds and fold away into a tiny package. So what sets them apart from any other microfibre towel? Well, in this case, size really does matter. The Super Large towel has been specially designed to cover a lady’s modesty – top and bottom. So no more embarrassing towel slip moments in the shower block.
www.craghoppers.com
The Swedish outdoor clothing brand Didriksons has been around for more than 100 years but they are relative newcomers in this country. It's family friendly clothing designed for the outdoors but with a touch of style that means you can wear it anywhere - out on the hills, around the campsite or going to the pub. Apart from the bright colours, What impressed us most was the ratio between the quality of their products and the price. The Meduna jacket - for men and women - was a typical example of a value for money jacket with functional materials, breathability and protection.
www.didriksons.com
There's a bit of a Scandinavian theme going on here. Kozi Kidz are based in the UK but their children's clothing is designed in Sweden where getting outdoors is part of the culture - no matter your age. The new Smidig range is warm but lightweight and can be packed away compactly when not in use, handy for on the campsite or for keeping in the car. It regains its shape as soon as you remove it from its carry bag. The Smidig designs are aimed at spring or autumn wear - or for cooler summer evenings. In fact, any time when it gets a little bit colder. We particularly loved the colourful boys' jacket, with its high collar, knitted sleeves and detachable hood.
www.kozikidz.com
Once again we return to the Nordic lands, this time for Fjallraven's new High Coast range. It includes lightweight summer jackets, trousers, sweaters and even a dress, made from light, cool fast-drying materials. The windproof anorak stood out for us - made from a new polyamide/organic cotton blend treated with wax to provide protection from the wind and even give some water resistance. It's available in men's and women's styles and includes a "kangaroo" pocket that also acts as a pack bag. At £130 it's not a budget jacket, but you're paying for classic Scandinavian design and workmanship.
www.fjallraven.co.uk
The Littlelife range of daysacks is always popular but we reckon this latest addition to the collection will take it to infinity and beyond. if you've got young children you'll already know that this is based on the Disney character Buzz Lightyear, from the Toy Story series of films. Like all the Littlelife daysacks, it has plenty of space for all their junk (sorry, essential items) and just as importantly it doubles up as a method of keeping wandering toddlers under control, simply by clipping on the rein.
www.littlelife.co.uk
HANWAG TUDELA LIGHT GTX
The new Tudela Light GTX boot was actually inspired by Hanwag's own technical footwear - so what have is an exceptionally light pair of boots (the size seven weighs just 490g) with a good gripping sole and a nice look. The £145 boots are ideal for easier hikes and a wide range of outdoor activities in conditions that won't be too demanding, temperature-wise.
www.hanwag.com
