Outdoor Retailer Summer Market 2006

I will be reporting live from Summer Market the next few days. While never sure what goodies I will discover I am planning on following up on several themes.

• As a 30 year plus trail runner I will be looking at the latest trail running gear. I will certainly check out Inov-8, Salomon, and my local favorite Timberland which is announcing products designed in conjunction with GoLite.
• I have been trying wool as a baselayer and will be curious to see the new lighter weight fabrics. I still find wool a bit warm in summer.
• As I approaching 50 and still super active I will be looking to see how companies are addressing the older active outdoor person. It's not just a youth market and the baby boomers have the bucks and the time to enjoy the outdoors. A few specifics I will be looking for: over RX sunglasses, kayak/canoe hybrids such as those from Native (met the New England rep on the plane out) for flyfishing which are also more stable
• I am fascinated by materials and will look for new approaches to fabrication which reduce weight and are functional in new ways.
• As a loyal New Englander I will check out the locals who have trekked West.
• Finally, I will look for truly innovative products and will seek out TrailFlex which is introducing a modular backpack system from hydration endurance to multiday backpack (wilderness or business travel...) which I really could have used on this trip out West.
  

Not to forget the trails are great in Utah I have already done two great trail runs in Salt Lake including a fabulous 2:45 run from Mill Creek Canyon which covered the Great Western Trail, Desolation and Dog Lakes all on very smooth trails also popular with mountain bikers. Spectacular scenery: high meadows and views towards Park City from the ridge.