If you've spent some time on this website, you'll know that the Outdoor Retailer shows can be a bit extreme for me and the people around me. No one went to the hospital this year, although another Columbia Sportswear employee did get hurt (sorry Adam), so I'll call this one a success. Here are a few context-free highlights from the trip.
1. Seeing oil explode out of a vat of molten salt at the Easton Mountain Products factory tour. Ka-BOOM!
2. Listening to Gearjunkie.com founder Stephen Regenold speak of his love
of Buff headwear: "I think I wear one every day of my life."
3. Watching half a dozen blind-drunk people from [will remain nameless] apparel company stagger out of their plainly marked limo, then miraculously find their way into the Red Door lounge. Apparently, Kiwis know how to party.
4. Hearing iRunFar.com's (hilarious) Bryon Powell encourage our driver to have a glass of wine by saying "Well, you're not driving NOW..."
5. Seeing Columbia Sportswear's social media manager Adam Buchanan getting cracked on the head with a piece of street art. Sorry about that, A-bomb...
6. Admitting that I came to Outdoor Retailer with my mom's computer (long story).
7. Trying to write down all the courses of our meal at The Yurt at Solitude, but giving up when I couldn't pronounce half of the items.
8. Realizing that no matter how many shoes I have, I need more.Thanks, Saucony.
9. Receiving a sample flask (still in its packaging) that happened to be
pre-loaded with Maker's Mark whiskey. Deluxe model, anyone?
10. Seeing our collective Outdoor Retailer experience summed up in this video. Great job, Verde PR!
You want gear stuff, check out TheGearcaster.com or GearJunkie.com. These guys have tons of great gear content. Or heck, you could even read some of my gear reviews over at ActiveJunky.com/thefix or Wired.com. It's not bad either.
