Best New Gear We Saw at Switchback 2026
From trail footwear to backpacking packs, here is the new and upcoming outdoor gear we’re excited about
Switchback, a business and education event for the outdoor industry, concluded its second-annual event this June. The event saw a gathering of outdoor specialty brands, retailers, and media, including four Treeline Review contributors who are eager to share their favorite gear items and brand initiatives from the event.
Our writers were among the 1,262 attendees from 46 states and 16 countries who gathered in New Orleans over three days to chat with brands, retailers, and other media folk.
After comparing notes and sharing photos, here are the new and upcoming gear items our writers are most excited about for the coming seasons.
Shawnté's Favorite Gear
A bigger space, more brands, a better location, smart innovation, excellent humans, and a nod to the Conservation Alliance breakfast of Outdoor Retailer Past—year two of Switchback Spring proves this trade show newbie has legs.
As I sit here on the eve of a two-week backpacking trip, wearing a custom Backpacker’s Pantry trucker hat and colorful SWOOP Boxy Polo Shirt (yes, both acquired at Switchback), a quick flip through my show notebook reveals a lot of scribbles and a lot of excitement. Because I knew I’d be hitting the trail shortly thereafter, a prime opportunity for some hardcore field testing, some of my favorite discoveries were in the backpacking realm.
First up, as loyal Treeliners know, I’m a pillow nerd (see our Best Backpacking Pillows guide), so it was joy at first sight when I saw Big Sky International set up right at the front of the show floor. I made some sort of squealing noise when I dove for their Deluxe UltraLight Pillow, a 4.4-oz inflatable that features a contoured, rectangular TPU inner and a soft fabric cover with a thin layer of PrimaLoft insulation. Ultralight enthusiasts can also just buy the inner as a standalone 1.6-oz inflatable. I’ve already tried it at home and while it takes slightly longer to inflate than, say, a Sea to Summit Aeros, the unique contouring seems to cradle my head without the dreaded bounce house effect that some inflatables produce. This one’s already in my pack!
I’m also testing out a few hydration products that I saw at the show: LifeStraw’s Peak Solo filter and a combo of CNOC bags and toppers. The LifeStraw filter weighs 1.7 oz, and like my longstanding favorite, the Platypus QuickDraw, it features a cap on both ends. It also filters out parasites, bacteria, and microplastics, screws onto standard water bottles, and boasts a roughly 3L/minute flow rate when fresh (this was my experience on first use, as well). The only ding for me is that backflushing requires a somewhat fussy push syringe custom to the filter; we’ll see if this becomes more second nature on the trail.
I’m also taking a variety of BPA-free CNOC products that I saw at the show: an updated version of their ThruBottle (lighter and more squeezable than the previous iteration), several of their Hydriam flasks, and a QuickCap and QuickStraw, which I’ll use for easy water access while hiking. What I love about their products is that they’re specifically designed to be modular and customizable, allowing users to mix and match to suit their needs.
I’m also taking along a handful of meals from Luxefly, the brainchild of chef and restaurateur Sara Willis. If Backpacker’s Pantry and Mountain House are the classic standards, and brands such as Good To-Go, Itacate, and Bowl & Kettle bump it up a couple notches, Luxefly is downright gourmet. Drooling through their lineup at Switchback, I eyeballed plenty of options that would make my gluten-sensitive, non-beef-eatin’ stomach downright ecstatic: chicken pozole verde, chile relleno with burrata cheese, and wild mushrooms with creamy polenta and mole are just a few delights on offer.
Other excitements: Butt Napkins plans to launch a bidet called The Submarine this fall (“Built to Go Below!”), Berghaus’ 3.5 oz. Pendower Wind Jacket could be a fresh substitute for my battered wind shirt (trail time will tell), and Sea to Summit will debut the Ultralight Ion 5 sleeping pad with an R-value of 4.8 for under 12 oz (which will come in more than one width to better fit different body types).
I also finally tried on the Symbiosis Aspen backpack, an innovation dreamed up by thru-hiker Sarah Berkeley. Her idea was to build a pack that would better fit people with boobs, with narrower, curved shoulder straps that are also attached a bit closer together than those on most packs. It’s wild to me that someone only thought of this (or only actually put real research and design time, money, and resources into this issue) recently; Berkeley launched Symbiosis in 2024. Although given the wider apparel and gear industries’ ongoing reluctance to invest in more inclusive offerings, perhaps I shouldn’t be so surprised that it’s taken this long. I’ve yet to trail test an Aspen (though other Treeliners have), but after feeling how well a loaded pack sat on my body, it’s on my dream list!
Sara's Favorite Gear
Sara Kruglinski (right) with Symbiosis founder, Sarah Berkeley (left).
This was my first time at Switchback and it did not disappoint. The event started off with a viewing of the film “Best Day Ever”, which started everyone off thinking about inclusivity in the outdoors, followed by a gathering at the Generations Hall where we were all able to catch up with old and new friends. Day One started off with a presentation by The North Face with keynote speaker Griffin Post about searching for lost treasure and conservation of outdoors spaces. After all of that it was exciting to get into the expo hall and see all the new gear that could lead to more adventures.
Switchback hosted quite a few women-owned brands that I had not seen before. Allover Apparel features overalls that are not just cute but also functional for outdoor activities, from hiking to biking to climbing and more. The overalls are made of a stretchy material that blends the lines between city and trail. I could see them working just as easily in a coffee shop in NYC as they work on a steep switchback on a Colorado 14er. These looked well designed with a long side zipper for easy access for bathroom breaks and they have seven total pockets for all the things you need while you are busy adventuring. I was super impressed with these—and as an artist, I could see them being perfect for wearing on hikes to paint the perfect sunset while helping me keep my brushes organized in the front pocket.
Keeping with the overalls trend, another women-owned brand, SWOOP, had the coziest-looking fleece overalls with a rainbow-colored zipper and a drop seat in the back. These overalls featured artist panels on the front and zippered hip pockets. These overalls feel like sleepwear but can be worn out on the trails or town just as easily as home by the fire. SWOOP also had a very interesting mesh bra that claims to be airy, supportive, and breathable. The biggest selling points for me with the mesh bra were that it was (1) not see-through and (2) it dries almost instantly, so you can wear it for alpine lake swims. I am most interested in trying this bra for backpacking. I hate putting on a wet bra in the morning.
Other women-owned brands present were Bert Shoes, a woman-owned-and-founded brand featuring their Bert Shoe, a pre and post-activity shoe that is lightweight, packable, and comfortable at the same time. Not only do these look great for camping and trail, but they also look really nice for travel since they pack up so small and are so light. I can see a lot of use cases for these comfortable shoes, even as a driving shoe to and from the trailhead so your feet are more comfortable for a long drive.
Gear Envie had a booth that was hard to miss with brightly colored down accessories. The mother-daughter duo behind the brand created Hikas, which are puffy down gaiters that go inside your shoes or boots to keep the dirt out. This unique product was so intriguing and fun with all the bright colors and patterns. The Hikas were cute enough to go from trail to town whereas I always feel like I have to take off my traditional gaiters before heading into a coffee shop or restaurant. As someone who loves socks and legwarmers, I am super excited to learn more about how these Hikas perform out on the trails.
Valor Skincare is another woman-owned-and-founded brand featuring skincare, deodorants, and cleansers. What stuck out the most to me was that they have a program where you can buy low waste packaging and refills for their popular products. They also had the best-smelling deodorant that I have smelled in a long time that would totally fit in on a hike without interfering with being able to smell the wildflowers in nature. I always struggle with what personal care items I want to bring out on adventures and backpacking trips, and Valor Skincare has some products that work to fill that void, including creams that come in small packages and solve multiple skin issues at once. The Everything Balm might find a place in my tiny personal care backpacking kit.
Another big trend at this year's Switchback event was mosquitoes, specifically, how to avoid being bitten in the first place…and what to do once you have been covered with bites. As someone who just a week prior camped in what must have been a giant mosquito nest, I was very interested in all of these brands. As far as protection in the first place goes, Mimikai is a bug spray made from tomato plants. It is the first new EPA-registered repellent in 25 years. I tried some of the spray at the event and it was so pleasant smelling I didn’t even remember that I was wearing it. As someone who hates DEET, this was an exciting find.
Following the mosquitoes, if you are unable to avoid getting eaten, Heat It is a tiny device that attaches to your phone and works with an app to heat your mosquito bites. The idea is that heating your bites for a few seconds at around 124 degrees helps to denature the protein that causes itching. The device works best when you are able to use it within a few minutes of being bitten, and the tiny portable size makes it easy to use. I wish I had this product the week before, it would have been the perfect time to test it out in my tent.
Finally, Sallye Ander has a No-Bite-Me itch relief stick that is tiny and portable, perfect for hiking and backcountry adventures. I liked the all natural formulas in their products and that the smell was pleasant. They also had a soap that claims to be bug repellent and provide itch relief, which sounds wonderful to use if you have found yourself hiking in an area with a fresh mosquito hatch that you weren’t prepared for.
Camping was another big category at this year's Switchback event. I saw a ton of really creative camping tables, from large models at Coleman and Core Equipment to tiny tables at Crazy Creek. Crazy Creek showcased a tiny table that can be used with their on-the-ground chairs and is just the right size for a game of Uno with your camping partner. Crazy Creek also had new materials for their chairs, from inflatable models for more comfort while camping to fully waterproof models that can be used on SUPs or in kayaks for extra back support. I have a Crazy Creek chair from about 20 years ago that I love, so it was exciting to see new versions with different users in mind.
I saw a lot of camping chairs at Switchback, and my favorites had to be Grand Trunk with the 360-degree swivel stools. I never thought about how useful it would be to have a chair that rotates, but this was super fun to sit in and spin around. I can see this being useful around the campsite, especially while cooking over the fire and also needing to rotate toward a camp table for food prep, it just makes things a lot easier when you can just rotate on the stool instead of having to move a whole chair around. All of their chairs were well designed and looked stylish while being comfortable.
Coolers were another trend at Switchback. Travoca and Dometic both showcased electric coolers with dual zones for fridge and freezer. This is a game changer in the car camping space. I would love nothing more than to eat a pint of Ben & Jerry’s by the campfire in July. These dual-zoned electric coolers make that dream a reality and can plug into your car, campsite electric, off-grid power bank or solar panel. Travoca was handing out free ice cream from their coolers—I had one myself and it was indeed frozen. These coolers fill the niche for car campers who don’t want to have to deal with ice, and feature more customization in temperature control in the cooler, allowing for more flexibility in camp meals beyond hot dogs and burgers.
Not necessarily a piece of gear, Minus33 shared their search and rescue (SAR) initiative which takes in gently used or imperfect base layers and garments and creates SAR kits for rescues. As a former member of SAR, I think this is so cool—you can request a shipping label and send them your old merino wool clothing (from any brand) which will get a second life on SAR teams who will use them to help keep people warm once they are found. If you participate you get a 25% off code for new gear with Minus33.
Finally, Rumpl had some exciting products to share. The future lineup is expanding beyond their well-known puffy blankets with more complete sleep systems, including super fun brightly patterned sleeping bag liners and sleeping bags. I love a good sleeping bag liner and I always use one whether I am car camping or backpacking, so it was really exciting to see Rumpl with a line of liners that come in fun colors to match their blankets and wraps.
One of my favorite Rumpl products, the Overland Mat, is getting a redesign to be more fire resistant and less bulky—my dogs will be excited for that release. A less-bulky design means it is easier to pack and take even more places. Rumpl also was showing new towels that pack into their own bag, which was pretty fun. Normally when something packs into a bag you don’t get bag space, but these still had room for gear like sunscreen, books, and a chair.
There were so many more things that were exciting at the show, it is too many to mention. Dry Brew has chewable coffee, which has so many uses beyond backpacking and camping. Coastal Range has a backpacking cook system that is 30% lighter than the competition. Ocean Bottle has insulated hot/cold bottles that promise to stop 25 lbs of plastic from entering the ocean, and when paired with an app where users track refills, more plastic is collected per refill. FKT Gear had some stylish sunglasses for running and hiking. MSR also has a new coffee system coming out.
I could go on and on, but I will stop here. It was a great show with great gear and I can say that 2027 is going to be a fun year for innovative gear out in the outdoor space.
Mary Beth's Favorite Gear
One of the things I was most intrigued to see at Switchback was Sea to Summit’s new sleep system. In the spring of 2027, the iconic brand is releasing a sleeping pad with a 4.8 R-value and a new sleeping bag liner that can be paired with the Aeros Ultralight Pillow and the Spark 45 Sleeping Bag to create a sleep setup that weighs less than 2 pounds (or less than a weight of a full Smartwater bottle). The resulting setup is comfortable enough for side sleepers (I can attest), and competitive with a number of popular ultralight sleep setups, which was enough to get my attention.
Additional releases that feel promising include Minus33’s August underwear launch, a new soft water jug from Snow Peak, a new women’s running line from Roark, an embargoed trail running shoe that’s “not from this planet” from Scarpa, and a new line of high-protein backpacking meals from Backpacker’s Pantry that should be released sometime this fall.
In addition to loads of new releases, a few brands are focused on refreshing beloved pieces, including Mountain Hardwear (which is updating its alpine equipment for the 2027 season), Fjallraven, and The North Face.
A brand that was entirely new to me was Datefix, which essentially makes energy gels out of medjool dates. The brand’s creator explained that he wants these goos to be accessible to the everyday person. And the short list of clean ingredients on every goo and sweet flavor were enough to win me over.
Kate's Favorite Gear
This was my first time attending Switchback. I live and work along the Appalachian Trail, and found Switchback to reflect trends we’ve been seeing along long-distance trails for 2026 into 2027. While lightweight is still in, hiking brands are finding personality in a space where folks are willing to carry a little bit of extra weight for reliable accessories that function well.
Sleeping bag liners seem to be making a comeback for comfort and reduced funk on loved gear. I’m totally on board with this—being a self-proclaimed sleeping bag liner convert—and Sea to Summit has my top choice with their planned release of a 2.2-oz tapered fit, non-silk hoodless liner bag. Functional for anyone’s kit, the Pico Ultralight liner is on my must-buy list for early 2027.
Brands like CNOC and BearVault made big releases this year, and my fingers are crossed for potential expansion on food storage and hydration systems.
Footwear was represented in full force. I wished for more time to visit all the brands I did not recognize. Asics pulls forward with upgraded lightweight midsole materials in the Trabuco Max 5 and Trabuco 14 trail running shoezs models. I hope to see an in-store trail presence from them for 2027. Styles from Lems caught my eye, including the everyday and campworthy Chelsea Tuff Boot with extra durability and traction compared to their Chelsea Barefoot style.
At the Currex booth, I was introduced to the HikePro Insole (available in low, medium, and high arch profiles) with added cushioning and heel grips as compared to their more popular RunPro insoles.
A trekking pole company, ZENONE, piqued my interest with removable, stowaway tips for easier carry-on travel of running-style poles.
In the apparel category, Minus33 showcased their SAR Warming Kit Merino Takeback Program, in which lightly worn merino wool garments from any brand (new for 2026) can be donated for wilderness rescue.
Lastly, Berghaus had an impressive hiking lineup for a European brand I did not previously recognize. I’m pretty stoked about their Fast Hike 15L backpack available in women’s and men’s sizing. On the return from Switchback, I used the Fast Hike F15 for a 16-mile day hike in southeastern mountain terrain. This mid-capacity day pack offers a unique, comfortable, do-it-all snug fit with hidden side bottle pockets, adaptable for running and hiking.
Overall, I found Switchback to be an event worth attending— full of excitement around increased participation and access to public outdoor spaces—and providing recreationalists with the gear they want for success. While we are still in the heat of summer 2026, the wide range of exhibitors, highlighted gear, and conversations certainly have me eager for future releases in upcoming seasons.
Parting Thoughts
With a second year under their belt, the organizers of the Switchback outdoor gear trade show gathered a great range of outdoor brands. We left the show excited about upcoming gear from brands we know and love, as well as enthusiasm seeing new brands we’d never heard of.
Not only are we excited about gear innovations, but also about the chance to connect with each other and other inspiring, creative, hardworking, and visionary outdoor enthusiasts. We are already looking forward to Switchback’s third year next year!
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