Roam’N Around’s top picks at Outdoor Retailer
In this retailer report, a key player at this South Dakota shop dishes on what apparel and footwear excites him most from Outdoor Retailer Winter Market 2018.
Get access to everything we publish when you sign up for Outside+.
The snow is just starting to fall in Rapid City, marking winter’s approach. That means Roam‘N Around’s Bill Bernhard is scouting out which products he’s going to push to their limits in the cold—which is likely to drop below zero for at least a few days this season.
“I try to take gear and find out: How well will this work for how cold it is?” he says. “We’ve had some fun on 25-below days on a fat bike with our gear.”
The store is nearing its 12th birthday and just started offering rentals—making it the only store in the city to do so—and a new consignment section. Both locals and out-of-towners exploring Badlands National Park stop by for camping, hiking, backpacking, and snow essentials—whether they’re buying new or just borrowing.
“Consignment and rentals provide a good entry point for people trying to get into outdoor activities,” Bernhard says. “I’m excited to see what this winter brings now that more people know we have that option.”
What new gear are you most excited about so far?
1. Eagle Creek Cargo Hauler Duffel
“I like the new redesign, the packability for storage, and the simple-to-use shoulder straps. This duffel is a 45L do-everything travel bag.”
2. Oboz Sapphire Women’s Winter Boot
“I think that’s a great look. I think it’s multi-functional. You can use it in a lot of different situations, whether it’s hiking out in the snow or just walking around town getting your Christmas shopping done.”
3. Mountain Khakis Bison Boxer Briefs
“We already carry Mountain Khakis, and I’m excited to see how this new line does. I think it could be one that could work well for a lot of people.”
This article was originally published in Day 4 of The Daily (Winter Market 2018).
