8 new exhibitors worth visiting at OR
Looking for something new at Outdoor Retailer Winter Market? Check out these first-time exhibitors.
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From portable bone broths to environmentally friendly hygiene products, urban crossover outwear to next-level repair tape, these eight Outdoor Retailer first-timers bring fresh perspectives to the trade show floor.
1. Alpine Provisions (Booth #49002-UL)
Love the natural world so much that you wish you could just bathe in it? Well, Alpine Provisions wants you to do just that. The Boulder-based brand, part of the Pangea Organics family, infuses their castile soaps, made from a mixture of olive and coconut oils, with pairings of cedar and sandalwood, fir and sage, and lavender and juniper. The brand donates five percent of each sale of its sustainably sourced, organic, and biodegradable soaps to the Colorado Outward Bound School to help fund scholarships so that young people can experience the positive impact of time spent outdoors.
2. Arctic Gear (Booth #34020-UL)
To the team behind Arctic Gear, a hat isn’t just a piece of headwear—it’s an opportunity to make a difference. The brand launched earlier this year as an extension of New York-based nonprofit Arc of Seneca Cayuga, which provides services and facilitates inclusion for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and every cent of profit is invested back into the organization. Their stylish, American-made knits are created at the Finger Lakes Textiles factory, which employs people of all abilities to not only create Arctic Gear’s line, but also construct cold-weather headwear for the U.S. Armed Forces.
3. DivaCup (Booth #34060-UL)
Although mother-daughter duo Francine Chambers and Carinne Chambers-Saini launched DivaCup 15 years ago, this is the brand’s first appearance at Outdoor Retailer. Their signature product is a reusable silicone menstrual cup that’s available in two sizes, with the larger typically meant for those who are older or who have given birth. The DivaCup is leak-free, staying in place even during the most intense physical activity, from mountain biking to rock climbing. Best of all, it can be worn for up to 12 hours at a time, providing an environmentally friendly alternative to disposable products like tampons and pads.
4. Forj (Booth #39085-UL)
The folks at Yale Cordage want to fix your busted gear—or, at least, give you the power to do so yourself by using their new Forj tape. It’s easy to see why this lightweight, but incredibly strong thermoplastic ribbon is an Outdoor Retailer Innovation Award finalist. The material works by fusing with itself once heated; all you need to do is raise the tape’s temperature to at least 140°F or hotter (it’s microwave-safe!), shape it around the item that needs repairing, and wait a few minutes for it to cool and solidify. Even better? Forj tape isn’t just waterproof and cold-resistant; it’s also reusable.
5. Kathmandu (Booth #44073-UL)
New Zealand-based adventure wear purveyor Kathmandu, which has been outfitting Australasian outdoor enthusiasts for thirty years, will make its North American debut at Winter Market. The brand offers a full line of clothing, footwear, and accessories designed for travelers off all types, from packs and sleeping bags aimed at post-college backpackers, to insulating jackets and base layers meant for all manner of alpine enthusiasts. Sustainability is core to their ethos; not only does Kathmandu use 100 percent responsible down, but they’ve also saved 6.7 million bottles from landfills by using Repreve technology in an array of items throughout their line.
6. LonoLife (Booth #34032-UL)
The “surfers, climbers, hikers and travelers” behind Oceanside, California’s LonoLife know what it’s like to be on the go, so they developed their line of bone broth products to be equally portable. While their grass-fed beef and chicken broth powders are available in bulk sizes, they also come in individual packets and pods that fit into standard single-serving beverage dispensers. LonoLife also offers packets of coffee spiked with collagen, a Master Cleanse powder mix, and plant-based protein sticks, which are available in mocha, coconut pineapple, vanilla, and cucumber lemon flavors.
7. No Cow (Booth #34001-UL)
When fitness enthusiast Daniel Katz had a difficult time finding low-sugar, dairy-free protein bars that were easy on his finicky digestive system, he decided to create his own, launching No Cow in 2015 when he was 18 years old. Three years later, the brand is anchored by two main product lines: protein bars (the impressive assortment of flavors includes raspberry truffle, vanilla caramel, carrot cake, and lemon meringue) and cookies (snickerdoodle, peanut butter, chocolate chip, and double chocolate). As a further nod to sensitive bodies, every No Cow product is vegan, gluten-free, and soy-free.
8. Terracea (Booth #38067-UL)
Terracea launched in 2017 with a crowdfunding campaign that offered customizable, multi-functional outerwear. Since then, the Boston-based company has built a full line of “Urban 2 Outdoors” pieces that pull double duty, mixing sleek city styling with hardcore weatherproof functionality. They’ll debut an array of new puffers, parkas, and jackets at Winter Market, most of which are hiding practical details like snow skirts, wrist gaiters, and Primaloft Silver Insulation underneath their stylish exteriors. Philanthropy is also central to the brand; Terracea donates a percentage of its profits Appalachian Mountain Club’s Youth Opportunities Program, which works to increase outdoor access for low-income youth and those in urban areas.
