Here’s what we found in canoeing and camping gear at the first day of Outdoor Retailer’s 2014 Summer Market:

Mad River Canoe

Canoeroots loved test paddling Mad River’s Serenade for a review in the Early Summer 2014 issue, so we were excited to see a new Ultralite version available for 2015 that’s lighter and has a more traditional canoe seat. While the original Serenade featured a kayak-style seat with a backrest backrest, the new model has a classic wooden canoe seat. The new composite hull material shaves weight off the original Serenade too—the Ultralite weights in at under 30 pounds. The Serenade can be paddled with either a single- or double-bladed paddle.

ALLY Canoes

ALLY Canoes makes packable boats that come in flatwater and rough water models. At 43-45 pounds, they’re easy to transport whether they’re put together or broken down into the large duffle bag they come in.

The tubular aluminum ribs clip together and, as they’re put in place during the construction process, tension the boat to keep the hull tight. First-timers will take an hour to assemble an ALLY canoe, but after some practice will cut that time in half. 

Bushnell

Bushnell’s Compact Lantern folds up to pack and stands on solid legs to light up your campsite once unfolded. The loop on the top makes it easy to hang and there’s an extra beam on the bottom for reading or other tent activities.

Their larger camping lantern has both general lighting and beam settings so it can be used to light up a campsite and to find the trail to the thunderbox. 

KEEN

Canoeroots was first in line this morning to check out the new UNEEK shoe at Outdoor Retailer. When KEEN set out to make these shoes, they wanted to do something completely different. UNEEK is just two cords and a sole that move to adjust for a custom feeling fit. They’re light, comfortable and use KEEN’s classic, quality sole. We’re looking forward to putting a pair to the test in 2015.

BioLite

The BioLite Basecamp is a new stove ideal for car camping with the family. It’s ultra-efficient because of BioLite’s patent-pending thermoelectric technology—we don’t fully understand how it works, but were impressed to learn that you can cook a meal for 12 people using only three wrist-width sticks a fuel. (There’s a diagram here if you want to learn more.) Energy created by heating the stove can be used to charge small devices like phones and lights. 

The Basecamp’s KickStarter campaign was so successful BioLite raised a million dollars selling this freestanding stove.

Kokatat

The new Poseidon PFD ($159, above) from Kokatat, was designed to meet the needs of every sea kayaker, no matter what kind or how much gear they like to paddle with. Multiple configurations of the PFD allow you to even put your gear where you want to; sky’s the limit. The Poseidon is also as comfortable as Kokatat’s popular Misfit Tour.

The Poseidon comes standard with one chest pocket pack, which is on a quick-release system, mounted on only one side of the PFD, which means it will still be attached, even if your PFD is unzipped. The back of the PFD also features a hydration reservoir sleeve built right in. Spring for the Tactic Pack and store additional gear behind you, with swing around access to essential gear. 

Kokatat’s new Idol Drysuit, $1,100, is the first step towards fully modular drysuit designs, and is a fully seperable, two piece drysuit. The top can also double as a stand-alone dry top by folding the rubber gasket at the bottom over the zipper to protect it from wear. The Idol is also part of Kokatat’s custom options program, allowing paddlers to get a custom fit drysuit in four weeks. 

Brooks Range

Looking for a windbreaker for chilly morning paddles, but hate feeling clamy and sweaty with your jacket stuck to you? Brooks Range’s new Lt. Breeze wind jacket won the Best New Gear award from the Gear Institute for it’s groundbreaking design that prevents exactly that problem.

The outer shell of the jacket uses 20d lightweight and breathable nylon to protect paddlers from wind, while the interior is line with spongy, fleece dots. These dots move sweat away from your skin, preventing that sticky, clammy feeling. The jacket weighs only 5.5oz, which means it’ll pack down tight into your bow hatch after the sun catches up to you during your early morning paddle. 

Pelican International

Building on the popularity of the Intrepid 100x, Pelican International has released a 120x model that is two feet longer. The kayak also features a bow hatch for added storage and extra volume in the rear tankwell for even more gear. The speed and tracking of this boat will be noticeably better than the 100x model, due to the length. 

Stohlquist

Stohlquist has released a drysuit intended for all day comfort and breathability. Their new Shift Drysuit, $949, is capable of being fully vented by unzipping the Captive Zip entry system and leaving the jacket top open. This will be great for getting the boats ready to launch, or scouting the next set of rapids. The rampart 3 layer fabric is less porous than other materials, which means salt can’t get in between the fibers and prevent breathability over time.

The Captive Zip entry system allows paddlers to step into the drysuit and pull it up like a pair of pants. Pulling the neck gasket over your head and zipping it up is easy, even if sitting in your kayak. The latex neck and wrist gaskets keep water out and features an integrated spray skirt. There is also an interior phone port, along with multiple splash pockets. 

MTI 

New color schemes are available throughout the MTI PFD lineup. Sky, Periwinkle, Berry and Coral are eye-catching and sure to stand out on the water. A new print, called Caribe (below), is also available on their Moxie PFD, cut from a single sheet of material, so no PFD design can be the same as another. Daisy Chain Attachment System webbing is introduced in more key spots on the PFDs to allow for more gear storage. 

Watson’s Base Layers

Need a super warm, super soft base layer for you and your whole family? Watson’s Base Layers‘ Merino 150 series of tops and bottoms are available in men’s, women’s and both boy and girl. The 100% 18.5 micron Merino wool is great for winter paddles because it’s warm, odor fighting and ultra breathable. The family freindly price point, $55, means you won’t need to break the bank to outfit your whole family for a day on the water. 

Onyx

The Movevent PFD series from Onyx are high-backed in design, so they will be comfortable in all types of kayaks, canoes or SUPS. The ability to wear the PFD high on your chest, or set it down low makes it versatile for all paddlers. The Torsion model, the Movevent’s top of the line model, is great for the serious paddles looking for more gear storage and features 400 denier ripstop construction and has lighter foam.

Northside

A great value, the Santa Cruz water shoes, $29.99, from Northside, lets you walk in and out of the water while the closed toe, TPR sole and EVA foot bed keep your feet safe and comfortable. A quick-draw elastic lacing system make these shoes easy on, easy off for when the campfire is calling your name. They are available in Navy or Black color schemes, in Men’s, Women’s and kids sizes. 

Stay tuned for more of the greatest new products from Outdoor Retailer.

Spice up your camp photos with Olloclip’s 4-in-1 quick-connect lens for iPhones. The tiny one-piece package slides on easily and includes wide-angle and fish-eye lenses capable of capturing views up to 180-degrees wide, as well as two macro lenses for picture perfect close-ups. The design looks sleek and the results from its precision ground glass are ultra clear. For iPhone 4/4s and 5/5s.

Lens options:

www.olloclip.com | $69.99

Get the full article in the digital edition of Canoeroots and Family Camping, Early Summer 2014, on our free iPad/iPhone/iPod Touch App or Android App or read it on your desktop here.

Outdoor Retailer’s 2014 Summer Market kicked off with an Open Air Demo Day, where hundreds of brands shared their latest and greatest in boat design and new gear—some of our favorite finds are listed below. Stay tuned to Canoeroots all week as we cover everything Outdoor Retailer has to offer. 

Old Town Canoes and Kayaks

Old Town Canoes and Kayaks made a splash today with the introduction of the NEXT, a brand new canoe that joins their lineup as an accessible, entry-level design seeking to draw new paddlers into the sport and make canoeing more convenient for those who are already committed. The NEXT is lightweight, stable and very easy to maneuver with a double bladed paddle—traditionalists will enjoy it with a single blade as well.

It accelerates quickly, can carry gear and is a breeze to load on the car for spontaneous paddle sessions. Stay tuned for more on the NEXT at Canoerootsmag.com. 

GoPro

Canoeroots and Family Camping got a sneak peek at the Fetch today, a new dog harness camera mount from GoPro that is yet to be released. After years of seeing customers strap human harnesses to their furry friends, GoPro responded with a dog-specific harness that fits animals of all sizes. The harness has a chest mount and reversible back mount for GoPro cameras. 

Sony

The AS100 is the new addition to Sony’s lineup of action cams. The new model has a bigger and better sensor for higher image quality. The splash proof camera can handle some moisture without any housing, and can be totally waterproofed with plastic housing for full submersion. The AS100 has streaming capability and fits in the palm of your hand.

Chapul Cricket Energy Bars

Chapul Cricket Energy Bars are new, packable snack or meal replacement bars that come from a sustainable protein source. As Chapul describes it: “Insects require less land resources, emit fewer greenhouse gases, and have a much smaller water demand than livestock and animal substitute such as soy, corn and rice.” Bonus: They’re delicious.

Primus

Primus is building on its already-excellent lineup of stoves by adding one handy new feature: a way to attach the pot you’re cooking in to the stove you’re cooking on. The two pieces are built to fit together and connect and detach easily so hot pots can’t slide around while you’re cooking. Additional screws help you attach other cookware to the Primus stoves.

Outdoor Retailer’s 2014 Summer Market kicked off with an Open Air Demo Day, where hundreds of brands shared their latest and greatest in boat design and new gear. Stay tuned to Rapidmag.com all week as we cover everything Outdoor Retailer has to offer. Here are some sweet new finds from today’s demo: 

Dagger Kayaks

The new Roam is a brand new moving water sit-on-top design from Dagger Kayaks. Great for grab-and-go access to quick and easy local paddling, it’s also a great platform to access hiking, climbing and fishing destinations. The Roam series isn’t built specifically for whitewater, but can handle rough water and, in the right hands, can run up to class III rapids, says Snowy Robertson, a designer for Dagger. It has a hatch in the front and a mesh bag for storage in the back that unclips to double as a light daypack.

Sawyer Paddles and Oars

New for 2015 Sawyer Paddles and Oars introduces the K-Flex. This straight shaft kayak paddle is built as an all-rounder, lightweight and ready for both whitewater and touring. The goal with the new design is accessibility, and our first impression tells us the K-Flex is a simple design that’ll be great for paddlers who want one stick for all their recreational kayaking needs, from touring, to whitewater, to inflatable kayak trips.

Sony

The AS100 is the new addition to Sony’s lineup of action cams. The new model has a bigger and better sensor for higher image quality. The splash proof camera can handle some moisture without any housing, and can be totally waterproofed with plastic housing for full submersion. The AS100 has streaming capability and fits in the palm of your hand.

Chapul Cricket Energy Bars

Chapul Cricket Energy Bars are new, packable snack or meal replacement bars that come from a sustainable protein source. As Chapul describes it: “Insects require less land resources, emit fewer greenhouse gases, and have a much smaller water demand than livestock and animal substitute such as soy, corn and rice.” Bonus: They’re delicious.

Primus

Primus is building on its already-excellent lineup of stoves by adding one handy new feature: a way to attach the pot you’re cooking in to the stove you’re cooking on. The two pieces are built to fit together and connect and detach easily so hot pots can’t slide around while you’re cooking. Additional screws help you attach other cookware to the Primus stoves.

Wilderness Systems

A new tandem touring kayak, the Polaris 180, from Wilderness Systems, replaces their North Star model. “The hull design is based off the Tsunami hull,” said Shane Steffan of Wilderness Systems, “which means it has great initial stability, and is also known for speed.” It also has improved hull stiffness, he said, “which breeds better weight. It really has nice speed and glides easily, but can also turn and carve well.”

A new quick access day hatch keeps essential items close, like phones keys, or even a 1 liter Nalgene water bottle. The boat will be available in March of next year. 

Advanced Elements

Advanced Elements‘ new Paklite inflatable kayak is perfect for paddlers looking to hike into lakes and need something light. The total weight of the new Paklite all packed, including pump and paddle, is six pounds. They’re new single-action pump, The Accelerator, is now going to be available for all of their kayak and FishBone SUP models, making your kayak ready to paddle faster than ever. 

Point 65

The new AIR Seat from Point 65 is available on all their new kayaks, in differnet forms. The seat can not only adjust up and down to provide extra comfort and support, but it also features an air bladder inside the seat. Paddlers can pump the seat up quickly and easily to creat more cushion in the seat, or to provide more body contact while paddling. 

Necky Kayaks

Not comfortable in your sea kayak? The new ACS2 Seat System, available from Necky Kayaks, was carefully designed to fit the ergonomic shape and curve of the body. The 3D shape and curve from the bottom of the seat into the backrest are intended to relieve back fatigue and ache, even in older paddlers, hoping to get more people paddling. 

The height of both the bottom of the seat and the backrest are adjustable. The seat is made up of ventilated mesh which will keep paddlers cool and comfortable. There will be two versions of this new seat, a wide version on recreational kayaks and a more compact, narrower version on touring models. Old Town touring and recreational kayaks will also be receiving the new seat, with a different look more suited to Old Town. 

Current Designs

Current Designs has released a new model, called the Equinox, which is as wide as their Solstice series, with a 22″ model and a 24″ model, but is two feet shorter, at 16ft. Their is also going to be a plastic line of kayaks available, along with the composite. 

Their Vision series will now be available with a skeg. New partial deck color schemes in the Vision series also spruce up the line. 

Delta Kayaks

Delta Kayaks replaces their popular 14.5 boat and brings all the latest improvements from other designs into one boat, the new 14. Those new features include the press-lock hatch system, front day pod and day hatches, and their new seat system. The new Contour Seat System is much lighter, more comfortable and has less moving parts to improve durability. New molded handles on the boat help get it to the water more comfortably.

The new rudder system for 2015 is composite in construction and is much lighter than their aluminum model. It can also withstand more bending before breaking. The rudder is also spring loaded with only one anchor line, rather than traditional two line anchor trolley systems. This not only helps with faster deployment, but allows the rudder to hold its position better in current when not in use, rather than being pushed up when drifting. 

Riot, Seaward Kayaks and Boreal Designs

A revolutionary rudder system designed by Felix Martin, is now available on all Riot Kayaks, Seaward Kayaks, and Boreal Design. The design is a 3 part plastic mold that was “bio-inspired,” said Martin, “from a humpback whale flipper. They have the shortest turning radius for whales, and they’re super long.” 

The rudder tapers in thickness and is shaped specifically to reduce drag in the water, improving efficiency. It is as stiff as aluminum, but can withstand bending better. 

The Edge series from Riot Kayaks, will also be introducing a composite model that will be stiffer and lighter, but also have a better price point. “Great for entry level paddlers who want to start sea kayaking,” said Martin.

Hobie Kayak

Pedal farther with the latest upgrade on the Hobie Kayak MirageDrive, called Glide Technology, which was three years in the making, said Morgan Promnitz. Roller bearings have been added to all five moving parts on the MirageDrive to reduce friction and improve efficiency. This means you can peddle for extra miles without getting fatigued as early. The bearings are plastic, which means they’re free from corrosion. “It makes turbo fins peddle as easily as normal fins,” said Promnitz. How’s that for speed? 

The new Vantage Seat also caused a buzz across Demo Day. The new seat is available on all MirageDrive boats and has three different positions (except the Revo series, which has two positions). The breathable mesh seat has adjustable lumbar support, as well as forward and reclining adjustments. The low position is just as low as normal seats, so there will be no loss of stability when peddling. 

Their Speed Drain system is also a handy addition to the MirageDrive kayak lineup. Once the one way plug is pulled and secured and the boat begins moving at at least 3mph, the venturi system actually sucks water out from the cockpit. 

Stay tuned for more of the greatest new products from Outdoor Retailer. Be sure to follow along with Adventure Kayak on our Facebook and Twitter pages!

Perfect for cool summer or late-spring days, this short sleeve splash top keeps the water off without the sweaty sauna feeling of a dry top on a day that’s too warm. It’s breathable and light and has cone-shaped cuffs to seal around the arms. The neck opening is big and easily adjusted with a single tab.

www.bombergear.com | 89.99

Click here to find great new gear under $100 in the free online edition of Rapid, Early Summer 2014 or download our free app for Apple or Android.