Featured photo courtesy El Capitan Canyon

2013 camping has made a detour from the “ultralight” trend of the last decade and I couldn’t be happier. I felt like I was the sloth because I preferred a queen-sized air mattress in my tent over a 6″ wide pad that barely went to my butt. I get that, in the past, we camped out of necessity. Back in the day, to get to remote regions where few if any hotels exist, you camped; and you wanted to carry the lightest gear possible for your trek. Today, however, it’s all about camping for camping’s sake. Now there’s even “glamping”- glamorous camping offered at places like El Capitan Canyon Resort in Santa Barbara, Calif. and Dunton Hot Springs near Telluride, Colo., where you can get exclusive chefs, linens, showers and WiFi in your tent.

But even if you’re doing it out of the back of your car instead of staying in a five-star tent, this lack of outdoor roughness trend won’t be dying off anytime soon. Campers want more creature comforts than ever before. We want to make ourselves that home away from home. Cots, tables, air mattresses, chairs are all getting plushier- and a little heavier – this summer but that doesn’t seem to be an issue for consumers.

“They want it all- lightweight, packable, durable, and comfortable,” said Eureka’s Mark Hrubant. “They want those nice features to enhance their outdoor experience.” And that experience isn’t necessarily hiking, mountain biking, mountaineering or climbing. It’s just as often plain “camping”. So it’s okay if gear weighs a little more and costs a little more. “Our customers are willing to spend if it means they’re getting more,” said Greg Henry from Crazy Creek. “Customers want versatile features that add value. And they want gear that lasts.” The Crazy Creek AirChair (MSRP $124.50) is a ground chair that’s also a self-inflating, full-length air mattress.

Crazy Creek has also seen a growth in those wanting to get off the ground and is cultivating designs to meet that demand; like their new folding table. Eureka, too, is making tables that fold flat and that come with netting on the sides and underneath for extra storage.

Kelty/Wenzel has folding chairs with built-in trays so the potato salad doesn’t wind up in your lap. Add in DishTV’s new remote satellite system and you may never want go home.

Puff Puff and Away

It’s not just air; it’s not just foam. It’s an air/foam mattress that’s getting the buzz for 2013. Both Therm-a-Rest and Eureka are rolling out these plush options for your overnight ground stays. The Eureka Dualis ST (MSRP $89-119) is a patented air mattress that combines a self-inflating pad and an air tube mattress.

The pad provides the warmth and cush while the air tubes offer the conformability. Therm-a-rest’s NeoAir Dream (MSRP $199-219) has a contour-hugging, open-cell foam topper, covered with a plushy, machine-washable, micro fleece shell all covering a custom air mattress which some say is more cozy than a hotel bed.

 

Your ski trip is near and the first thing you want to do is run out to Big 5 and shop. Wait. There’s a solid reason why you shouldn’t go all out gearing before the big vacay. Okay, purchasing ski gear in a resort could cost you almost as much as your lodging but unless you’re going to bargain hunt on eBay or Craigslist there are some very good reasons to pack light and buy your next ski outfit when you land.

Local buyers know what locals want and need. I promise you that unless you attend the SIA show in Denver you will not find a better display of winter softgoods than inside your neighborhood resort retailer. Think about it. You need to dress like a local when it comes to skiing and riding. We know the steeze. Whether you’re a Deer Valley ski bum or Canyons’ park rat, you’re not going to get a better quality item, with the latest technology, style and color.

Big city store buyers are like AAA ball players. They have a general grasp on the game but have yet to be called up to the big leagues. They lack that keen, innate winter fashion sense that can only be honed when you live in a ski town.

Park City skiwearshopping rivals the likes of Aspen and Vail, so leave yourself time during your trip to browse. Pick up a pair of pants, a casual sweater or timeless ski coat for each member of your family and take home the best souvenir money can buy. FYI- most if not all of these shops sell online as well if you can’t make it to Park City.

Cole Sport

Though there are retailers on every block, Park City is basically dominated by two sporting goods stores- Cole and Jans. If you can’t find something in one, just cross Park Avenue and you’re bound to find it in the other. Cole Sport has their main store on Park, stores at the base of Park City and Deer Valley resorts, and a snowboard-specific store called Bazooka’s. Aside from the boardshop, Cole is second only to Christy Sports in terms of stocking the most expensive brands on the market- Kjus, Bogner, Authier, Fire and Ice, and more.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The $1200 Bogner Eiger-T

 

Jans

Like Cole, Jans has multiple stores scattered around Park City (five total including a front at PCMR and two at Deer Valley and a signature backcountry store, White Pine Touring). The clothes are more mainstream, appealing to a broader, more budget-conscious snowlover- Marker, Marmot, Scott, Rossignol, Nils.

 

 White Pine Touring

White Pine was an independent retailer and guiding service focusing on core mountain athletes and backcountry enthusiasts before Jans bought them. They still have their hearts in the backcountry as well as running a 20 km cross-country ski center for skate and classic skiing. Here, you’ll find brands like Patagonia, Mountain Hardwear, Arc’teryx and Cloudveil.

Destination Sports

This Park City store offers a little bit of everything. Spyder, Mountain Hardwear, Marmot, Nils with no real theme or rhyme other than it’s what the buyer likes and wants to stock.

Bahnhof Sport

This is the store of choice when you have little rippers who beg for style. The sizeable selection skews toward youth-driven brands like Burton, 686, Orage, Spyder, O’Neill.

 Quiksilver

Park City is home to one of only two Quiksilver “mountain concept stores” in the country. The company recently decided to pull the surfboards and trunks hanging from the walls to focus on winter. After all, we have mountains not beaches in Utah. The designers have tried to make it look like you are in a modern log cabin but you can only do so much when you are in a tight, historically zoned space on Main Street. Check out the walls while you shop Quiksilver, Roxy and DC duds. Photos and posters of team riders decorate the place. The store officially launched during the Sundance Film Fest

 

ival complete with a private party, DJ and poster signings by pro rider Erin Comstock. FYI- The other store is in Vail.

Marmot

Technical outdoor clothing and equipment is what Marmot is known for and prominently placing their first concept store in Park City gives you the perfect opportunity for gear testing.