As ever, the Outdoor Retailer show was an excellent time to meet with manufacturers and see what they have brewing for the future. Since it was the summer show there wasn’t a whole lot of product visible that related to snow and skiing, but there were a lot of cool electronic gadgets to check out.

Regular readers know I’m usually slow to adopt technology. When it comes to telemark bindings I’m on the bleeding edge, but otherwise, I’m slow to adopt. This is especially true in the electronics realm. It isn’t that I don’t know the conveniences and power of electronic devices in our lives, but the number of options they provide quickly becomes overwhelming. More than anything the speed at which new technology replaces recent or old technology makes me wary because it replaces skills with convenience. The result is a loss in the depth of understanding in many subjects that often is woven through history which is summarily replaced by mesmerizing gadgetry.

Nonetheless, in the virtual worldwide web that same technology is a tool that can embellish the illusion of the backcountry in the blogosphere. The recent OR summer show was the perfect time to catch up on since there aren’t any irresistable toys like skis and boots to vie for attention.

Keep in mind I’m only scratching the surface here since I was in catch up mode for much of my time, but look for future reviews with more depth.

GPS w/Magellan

Magellan’s GPS units continue to get smaller and more powerful. The basic unit, the eXplorist 110, comes with a basic map and all the basic tools you need to mark your route, retrace, and download it. The rest of the eXplorist series, from the 310 to the 710 now come with a camera so you can keep track of where you were with a photo, tagged with the GPS coordinates, of course. Perhaps more important though are the number of specialized map companies that Magellan has partnered with. You can import basic topographic maps from National Geographic TOPO!, trailmaps optimized for ATV’s, snowmobiles, hunting, fishing, a summit series, a city series and a set of high resolution satellite images similar to Google Earth. The maps are obtained with an annual subscription and you download what you need as you need it. If you’re savvy though you can download a bunch of your dream locations and once you have ’em, you own ’em.

Headlamps
One thing that was evident after talking to just a few headlamp brands was the ongoing improvement in LED efficiency. Every model that had been tweaked since last year was touting almost twice the lumen output for the same price.

Pieps Vector
Pieps’ Vector appears to finally be ready for delivery this fall. It is the first avalanche transceiver to not only offer GPS functionality, but it incorporates it in how it searches for signals, and it comes with a rechargeable Li-ion battery. More details on everything it claims to do shortly. Pieps didn’t invest all that energy in utilizing GPS just for their avalanche transceiver. It turns out they will also be joining the fray in the global emergency locator business with their Iridium GlobalFinder product that uses that same shell as the Vector, only without any avalanche transceiver functions and a host of communication features including the ability to compose and send a text message. Again, more on that later.

SPOT
While I’m on the subject of emergency locator beacons I took the time to get up to speed with GlobalStar Communications who offer the SPOT satellite GPS messenger system. You probably knew this but I didn’t. They offer a SPOT unit called the SPOT Connect that uses an iPhone as the interface. Combined with a free app you can use the iPhone to compose your communication message, or trigger a search. In case the iPhone runs out of juice, there is a fail-safe button to call in the troops.

FastFind Ranger
There is yet another option available in the personal locator beacon world. The FastFind Ranger is essentially the same sort of product as the ACR emergency locator beacon. Unlike SPOT it does not communicate with low-orbit satellites. This means it has a more reliable connection, especially in deep canyons where a signal might be blocked, or if you are far from the equator. As ever, more on this later. Unlike ACR it doesn’t require an annual subscription to plugged in to the satellite rescue network.

USB Charger
My fave electronic gadget was the ReVolt from Black Diamond, a simple 5-volt USB charger that plugs into the cigarette lighter jack in your car. Light, small, and useful. Only time will tell if it can survive years or months before dying or, more likely, getting lost.

© 2012