BikeBiz Bicycle and cycling retail news
The vast halls of Messe Friedrichshafen are close to the bosom of the bike trade, but aside from four days at the end of August for the industry’s largest international show, they also play host to OutDoor.
OutDoor is, as you might expect, a large-scale outdoor business event aimed at trade and press visitors. Running from today (July 10th) to 13th, there are industry awards (now in their eighth year) with the winners announced on the first day of the show, over 21,000 trade visitors and enough new product to lure in visitors from over 90 countries.
Clearly then, like Eurobike for bikes, OutDoor should be on your to-do list if you’re in the outdoor trade.
For British brands like Sealskinz, OutDoor is crucial to reaching out to the global outdoor market. Sealskinz marketing manager David Richards explains: “The Outdoor Show plays a key role in our drive to grow the Sealskinz business. With our own operation going from strength-to-strength in Germany it gives us great visibility in the market, but more than that it is a chance for us to showcase the new brand and products to retailers from all over the world.”
It was, in fact, Sealskinz’s accelerated international growth that gave it a strong grounding for its recent rebrand, which saw it embrace its endurance accessory identity and celebrate its ‘products which perform in the most hostile environments, to enable you to go further, go longer and defy the outdoors’.
The firm now employs three levels of tech – Stretchdry, Waterproof and Windproof – each with their own specific benefits.
“We have seen a great reaction to the rebrand thus far,” said Richards. “With it due to go live globally to the consumer base from July 1st we are really excited about what the future holds for Sealskinz. Come and see for yourselves in Hall A4 – Stand 205 at OutDoor.”
Among the product highlights at the Sealskinz stand will be the brand new Dragon Eye Glove, packed with technical details including an Anti-slip lining to improve dexterity and feel via reduced friction. It virtually eliminates liner pull-out, we’re told, and the glove includes touchscreen-friendly tabs on the index finger for taking calls, photos and checking bearings without exposing skin to the biting cold or rain. Also on the gloves front, the improved All Season Glove and All Weather Cycling Glove all now feature Anti-slip too, touchscreen-friendly tabs redesigned aesthetics.
On the hat front, waterproof beanies from Sealskinz use ADD waterproof tech and a soft micro-fleece lining for warmth and moisture control. A selection of patterns are available, while the Skull Cap and Waterproof Cycle Cap are both improved. Meanwhile, Sealskinz socks are guaranteed to keep feet completely dry in the wet and free of sand in dry arid conditions. The entire sock range has been redesigned for a more luxurious look and feel, not least with the Thin Mid-Length Sock. The close fitting range offers Merino wool lining for warmth, comfort and moisture control.
Keeping outdoor enthusiasts warm is an aim close to the heart of F-Lite too, which also offers Merino, except in its base layer collection. Visitors to stand B4-302 will be able to see the new Merino TEC 240 base layer collection in person, which combines the advantages of the natural functions of merino wool with the performance properties of superfine polyproylene yarn, which is lightweight and offers body mapping for excellent wicking properties and ultimate performance. The range, which comprises of mens and womens long sleeve tops (RRP £79.99) and long tights (RRP £59.99) is pitched as the ultimate thermoregulator base layer for cold days outdoors, whatever the activity.
Over on stand B1-310, Snugpak will be showing off the new Snugpak Stasha, which is an ultra-lightweight shelter that can be packed away to a remarkably small size and stashed away in pockets, making it completely portable. The shelter features looped webbing and grommets in each corner so it can be staked out or attached with four guy ropes, which are also provided, allowing it to be configured in a different number of ways. Two plastic snaps allow the shelter to be folded to make an improvised bivvi.
Elsewhere Superfeet will be showing the newest member to its insole selection – Carbon – at OutDoor this year and will have a full range of samples at the show. Superfeet’s lightest performance insole yet, Carbon provides a low volume performance insole with unrivalled stability. Using new technology Superfeet has been able to create its strongest, thinnest insole which is designed to work in low volume shoes where performance is key, allowing customers to wear Superfeet in even the tightest of performance footwear. The Carbon is available in store now. Superfeet will also be exclusively giving all retailers who visit the stand a free test pair of Superfeet insoles (stand B3 402).
Teko (on stand FW-WA164) will be exhibiting the new EVAPOR8 Ultralight running socks and compression sleeves for improving calf muscle stability, comfort and endurance in an ultralight, fast-drying fibre made from recycled polyamide.
To find out about the rest of the 900-or so exhibitors appearing at OutDoor head to
www.outdoor-show.de.
