Outdoor Gear Trends and Innovations We Saw at the Outdoor Market Alliance Summer 2026 Show
From sleep systems to footwear, material innovations to sustainability initiatives, here’s what’s new and upcoming in outdoor gear
The Summer 2026 Outdoor Market Alliance Media Show was a show to be remembered.
Sure, we may not remember every single SKU we saw, how many fabrics we touched, how many tents we crawled into as a team, how many new product photos we took, or how many shoes we tried on—but what our team will definitely remember is walking the OMA tradeshow floor together. As well as…
Trail running and gear testing at 7 a.m. before the show. Working over laptops and breakfast and coffee beforehand. Convening for discussions during our note-taking breaks. And talking about new gear innovations immediately after as a team (trailside, over beers—the best way to do it!).
This year more than ever, we had Treeline Review crawling the show, with co-founder Liz and countless staff, editors, writers, and collaborators. We put in the hard work over 2 ½ days as a team to dive deep into repairable and fully replaceable gear innovations, hardshell and waterproofing innovations, UPF 50+ apparel tech, shoes from upcycled scrap fabrics, and cool secondhand initiatives like the SAR kits from Minus33, and so much more.
Wondering what we thought of where the future of ultralight, lightweight, and sustainable outdoor gear is headed in spring 2027 and beyond?
Here are our staff’s favorite picks and takeaways from the OMA show.
For our winter 2026 OMA takeaways, check out our Gear Trends and Innovations We Saw at OMA Winter 2026 article.
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Liz’s Takes
Outdoor Market Alliance this year was particularly full of innovation this year. Sustainability was not a focus for most brands (the last few years, brands have been all-out on getting PFAS removed from gear). Instead, we saw design overhauls and new riffs on what had long been considered the norm. Here is gear that intrigued me, both on the ultralight and traditional gear front:
Kelty Early Start Tent
A Kelty tent being one of the most innovative gear items at the show? This 2-lb 10-oz backpacking tent for $270 was one of the first gear items I saw on Day 1, and it set up my mind to be blown throughout the show. With 14" poles, it can even double as a bikepacking tent. Durability, waterproofing, and ease of set-up are all TBD, but I applaud Kelty for taking a real stab at making lightweight backpacking more affordable.
Sea to Summit sub-2lb sleep system
An ultralight innovation that truly intrigued me was Sea to Summit's sub-2-pound Big 4 of backpacking gear. You can have a sleeping pad, sleeping quilt, sleeping bag liner, and inflatable pillow all for less than 2 pounds. Of the system, the 11-oz, R-value-5 sleeping pad intrigued me the most.
Optimus Gemini II two-burner stove
Two-burner stoves have been heavy and clunky for decades. The Gemini blows that idea out of the water with a folding, 26.8-oz stove. Each burner has 17,000 BTU (more than many 20+ pound stoves). For small apartment dwellers, mountain guides, or anyone who wants a camping or group backpacking stove, this is a game-changer and the biggest innovation in stoves since the GSI Pinnacle Pro.
Peak Design 2-in-1 Travel Pack
When I was 18, I backpacked across Europe and the US, living out of a 2-in-1 backpack. Sadly, I sold it to buy more gear and think about that pack nearly every week. Now and then, I'll see other brands or models that try to approximate it. The Peak Design 2-in-1 Travel Pack is the first that actually does it well, with a daypack that zips into the main travel body and then seamlessly unzips to use during the day.
CNOC Thru-bottle take 2
Lighter and more squeezable, stoked to try this and hopefully see it at PCT Days!
Ridge Merino Alpha Wool
Merino and Polartec Alpha Direct, two of our favorite materials, are getting combined in one midlayer. Ridge Merino has been making a habit of taking our favorite synthetic layers and asking, "But what if we made this in wool?" Now, the Alpha Direct hoodie, popular among thru-hikers and ultralighters, is coming backed in naturally odor-resistant merino.
In practice, it looks similar to a much-missed and long-gone Appalachian Gear Company All-packa alpacka midlayer, with similar breathability. I wore that hoodie on my October thru-hike of the Superior Hiking Trail, and despite much searching, the Ridge is the first midlayer that fills that niche of warm when wet. Though Ridge is a West Coast brand, I hope AT, Northeast, Midwest, and European hikers take note.
RTIC Innovations
As someone who has been testing soft coolers non-stop for the past few months, I felt the mic drop when I saw what RTIC has coming down the line. A soft cooler tote with a wide mouth, waterproof zip, and luggage pass-through that is $89? Backpack coolers with pockets and real shoulder straps for $149? Though they aren't out until September, just looking at them, I knew I'd wasted my summer of testing other brands. I'm also thrilled about the cushions they made to sit on top of coolers to turn them into camp chairs. It's just an efficient use of space.
Sam’s Takes
As Liz mentions above, what stood out to me at OMA this year was that sustainability wasn’t a highlight for most brands. Is this because everyone has switched to recycled, PFAS-free materials and now they’re out of easy sustainability wins, are brands “reading the room” in the US market, or something else? But a few brands did stand out that are still focused on furthering their sustainability mission.
Minus33 Warming Kits
Minus33 has been offering first responders warming kits (clothing to help individuals in need of search and rescue) for several years, and this year they’re opening up the program to customers. Every Minus33 warming kit includes a wool top and bottom, a wool hat, wool socks, and wool gloves.
In the past, Minus33 was making these kits mostly with old or slightly defective Minus33 items, but now they’re putting any wool items from any brand in the warming kits to expand the program. So, if customers donate their gently used wool garments to Minus33, they'll receive a 25% off code for a new order. And Minus33 will pay for shipping, too. Keeping old gear in use longer is a win for sustainability.
Leki Warranty
Leki has always had a great warranty program. But now, that warranty is getting a facelift. They’re in the process of building a storefront on their website where customers can buy individual, small parts to repair their poles themselves.
As I learned about this new initiative, I watched the representative from Leki disassemble, then reassemble one of their running poles with no tools, and then I did the same. Yes, that means customers may have to pay for small parts. But it also means they won’t have to send their poles in for repair, which takes time and money. I think this is a great step in terms of sustainability.
Danner Recraftable Hiking Shoes
Danner is stepping up their recrafting game this year, releasing recraftable versions of their popular 2198 and 2650 hiking shoes. Both of these lightweight hiking shoes are named after the Appalachian and Pacific Crest Trails and will now have a replaceable outsole and midsole. Hopefully more brands that make lightweight hiking and trail running shoes follow suit.
In the ultralight backpacking and fastpacking space, a few new pieces of gear stood out to me as well.
Osprey Thrulite Pro
Osprey is releasing a new backpack to jump into the ultralight space. The Thrulite Pro will be available in 20, 40, and 55L sizes and is comparable to many ultralight framed packs from cottage brands. These new packs will be available to purchase this fall from independent retailers and Osprey.com. Then, on February 1, the packs will be available at REI and other big box retailers.
Ridge Merino Alpha Direct with Wool
Ridge Merino, as several other Treeline Review writers also mentioned, is releasing a new fleece hoodie made with a new Alpha Direct with Wool fabric from Polartec. This will combine the ultralight breathability benefits of Polartec Alpha Direct with the comfort and odor resistance of wool. I’m stoked to try this fleece layer.
Sea to Summit Ion Sleeping Pad
Sea to Summit is releasing an 11-oz sleeping pad, the Ion, with an R-value of 5. This pad will cost $175, which is less than the most popular ultralight pad with a similar R-value. It’s inflatable, but thinner than many other sleeping pads. So we’ll have to wait and see if the Ion is as comfortable as its competitors.
Rab Ultralight and Fastpacking Gear
Rab is also stepping into the ultralight backpacking and fastpacking world, with a 40L fastpack and 13.8-oz quilt. The fastpack, which has a frame and suspension back panel, has running vest straps and was very comfortable when I tried it on. The quilt is rated to 32° and has a thermal reflective lining, which explains how a quilt that’s several ounces lighter than other down quilts can be rated this warm. If this is as warm as Rab claims, it could be a game changer.
Stasia’s Takes
This OMA show was a mixed bag of exciting new gear for both summer and winter, with many brands launching exciting updates to long-loved products in their line. These updates and returns of favorites are what excited me most.
Ridge Merino Send-It Seamless Merino Sports Bra
Ridge Merino is a favorite for many of us at Treeline, and for good reason: They make great merino apparel at a reasonable price, and good style to boot.
I’ve long tested sports bras for Treeline, one of the most challenging categories because fit and performance can vary so widely across styles and body types alike. But over all these years of testing dozens and dozens of bras, the Send-It Seamless Merino Sports Bra has stood out as an all-around favorite for a long time. It came out of line for a short while, which devastated us, but it’s back now with some thoughtful updates. I’m very much looking forward to testing the updated version—and likely living in it, as I did with the previous model, as my all-around mid-impact bra.
Ridge Merino Alpha Direct wool pieces
Another piece I’m excited about from Ridge, once the temps cool and winter returns (fingers crossed!), is the Alpha Hoodie. It’s an active insulation piece with a thin outer shell fabric that’s weather-resistant, and Polartec Alpha Direct wool on the inside. I love active insulation layers, especially for skiing and ski touring in winter. The best ones have some sort of light, air-permeable fleece like Alpha Direct, but the synthetic ones always end up stinking, so I’m thrilled about the option of an active insulation layer with wool Alpha Direct on the inside.
Rab ski apparel
The Rab Kinetic has long been one of our favorite softshell jackets for its added weather protection, while still remaining very breathable. Previous versions we tested were more of a traditional three-season shell with a more technical fit. But things are changing, and the Kinetic will now be part of Rab’s ski line, with the Kinetic getting a redesign in fit and features to be the ideal touring shell—available in both a jacket and pants or a half bib. This is high on our list to test this winter!
Additionally, Rab is leaning harder into their ski line and introducing a full-on freeride kit—another one we’ll have our eyes on for testing when the snow starts to fly.
Kuat Varial rooftop box
Kuat has long been a leader in making quality bike rack systems, and this fall they’re launching their first rooftop gear box: the Varial. It’s a sleek and sturdy-looking design (much like some of their bike racks we’ve tested). Plus, all parts are repairable or replaceable, with the intention of keeping the box in use for a very long time. And here at Treeline, we’re huge fans of durability and repairability.
Kids Ride Shotgun bike, backpack, and tow system
My husband and I have loved using the Kids Ride Shotgun seat for my toddler to take him on ride-alongs, from the rec path to singletrack. But I was completely unaware until this OMA show that they also make a balance bike for little shredders, complete with real tires (ones that inflate, rather than the foam-filled ones common on other balance bikes) and rear disc brakes. And it’s clear these guys understand little kids and their needs.
You can also get a backpack system that carries the push bike, so your little one can ride shotgun on your bike on the way to the tiny pump track, and there’s a tow rope for hauling them up hills when they want to stay on their own bike. Planning to get plenty of testing in with this system!
Mary’s Takes
MSR Freelite Stash Tent
The MSR Freelite Stash Tent was one of the most unexpected things I saw at OMA. Coming out in 2027, the Freelite Stash looks similar enough to the current Freelite model, at first glance. But looks are where the similarities stop. The rainfly got updated, as well as the height of the bathtub floor for better weather protection. The Stash is 16% more packable than the current Freelite and 8% more livable, but the price stays the same.
But the biggest update is that this tent will now have the shortest pole segments on the market for super compact packing (MSR partnered with DAC to make this proprietary new length of short poles). This tent is going to create awesome possibilities for bikepacking, bike- or hike-powered multiday trips, backpacking trips where you are splitting up gear, and rafting or packrafting.
Kelty Early Start
In other tent news, we also got a peek at the new Kelty Early Start (which will come in a 2- or 3-person version), a true backpacker-focused tent at a very competitive and accessible price. “Tired of $450-500 backpacking tents? This one’s for you.” No matter how experienced a backpacker you are, the specs are awesome: 15-denier floor, not super long pole segments, a versatile rainfly that rolls back halfway for stargazing, and 2-lb 10-oz for a 2-person at $270. At face value, Kelty impressed us, and I’d love to see this tent tested by Treeline Review soon.
Rab Running Vests and Belts
Rab also had some cool trail gear to share. Recently, the brand spent hundreds of research hours across dozens of trailheads surveying a slew of women runners about what they like in running vests, as well as what they’d like to see change or get better. Finally, Rab put that R&D into its first women’s-specific Valkyr Running Vest (a 12L in small, medium, or large sizes), coming out in late spring 2027.
The vest was comfortable as soon as we tried it on in the room, and specs include: an enhanced female-specific fit, integrated RECCO reflector and whistle, two soft flasks and a bladder-compatible back compartment, a z-pole carry attachment feature, a secured YKK-zippered pocket, PFAS-free DWR, and lots more. It weighs about 8 oz (not including flasks). We are definitely looking forward to testing this one on trail.
Rab also showcased the sleek Veil Belt 1L running belt with multiple stretch mesh pockets and toggles for pole-carry attachments…that is only $50(!). With some belts getting up to $129-150, this price is really intriguing for those who want to invest in their first running belt, or runners who want to carry a bit more without wearing a vest. It’s a small drop in the running accessory bucket, but a great one!
HydraPak FuelKit
This past year, I started getting into longer trail runs and ultrarunning/crewing at ultras. I’ve never been someone who loves gels…especially the waste factor from a sustainability perspective. HydraPak’s new FuelKit—and fuel soft flasks, which I’ve already tested with drink mix, high-carb mix, gel, Skratch hydration, mashed potatoes, and maple syrup—is a great way to invest a little in a simple but organized fuel storage system, and an even better way to avoid single-use wrappers and waste. I’m really looking forward to this being in constant use during trail running season!
LOWA Paceterra Pro
LOWA’s Paceterra Pro trail running shoe (as well as the similar Paceterra model) was also another surprising find. The specs are simple: just 208 g per shoe for $210 (yes, lighter than the Norda 005s). There were several other shoes and footwear initiatives that stood out to me at OMA (from brands like La Sportiva, Scarpa, Oboz, Salewa, Smartwool, and more), but if I had to pick ONE shoe out of the whole show that stuck with me, this is probably it.
The Paceterra Pro has a Matryx textile upper, Vibram Megagrip Litebase, 3.5mm lugs, a nitrogen-infused TPEE, and 6mm drop. The weight and construction are super impressive for a brand that wasn’t previously really operating in the superlight foam, supershoe, raceshoe space. I appreciate that LOWA is getting into that run space and doing something different that surprised me!
Mary Beth’s Takes
After attending Switchback this summer, I wasn’t sure that OMA would impress me this season, but it did! I was consistently captivated by new releases and upgrades, with some brands straying from their comfort zone in a notable way. For example, Oboz is officially entering the trail running chat in 2027 with two new releases: the Anabatic Wind Evo and the Anabatic Carbon Pro, offering hikers and runners lightweight footwear options.
Equally as fascinating is an upcoming release from Osprey. The brand is releasing the Thrulite Pro backpack in 20, 40, and 55-liter options in independent outdoor stores in November of this year, and large retailers in 2027. It’s going to be about 100 grams lighter than the Exos, which has long been the go-to pack for lightweight hikers. Given its weather resistance, I’ll be surprised if this pack doesn’t entirely dethrone the Exos.
Other notable releases include two new coffee products from MSR, including the Titan Pour Over and Coffee French Press (1L or 1.8L available).
Helly Hansen is turning 150 in 2027, and the brand is releasing a new two-wheeled suitcase in celebration.
Topo Athletics just announced its first carbon-plated running shoe.
Farm to Feet is releasing a compression sock next year.
PAKA is celebrating its 10-year anniversary in September with a special hoodie.
And Smartwool is releasing its first shoe, the Cabin Mule, which uses merino for insulation and easily switches between indoor and outdoor environments.
This fall, La Sportiva is releasing the Prodigio Hike LT, adding a full mid to the line.
Royal Robbins is releasing a full zip sun hoodie in 2027.
And Sherpa Adventure Gear is bringing a new active adventure line to the table.
All in all, trends seem to point to a daring push towards lighter gear that accommodates a wider range of athletes. Yes, please!
Chris’ Takes
In a sizzling summer set to make us all salamanders searching for shade, we attended this year’s OMA. While we always see some great new gear at OMA, I felt that there was a lot to talk about at this one in particular. While each Treeline Review contributor had their own unique picks, we also had consensus on a few picks of our favorite things. Here’s my take on what I’m looking forward to seeing and testing after checking out over 40 brands in two days.
Willpower
Wowed by wool at OMA: Woolpower’s intro to the US market, that is. With heritage going back to 1969, the company’s founding as a sock maker comes through in its beefiest wool base layers and jackets today, with a fabric that looks and feels like the cotton terry that you’d see on a warm sweatshirt. The knit wool fabrics made from Patagonian-sourced merino wool were designed for harsh Nordic winters, and we’re looking forward to checking them out when (if) winter comes back to Colorado.
We also appreciated their commitment to sustainability and sheep welfare. As well as their commitment to taking care of their employees, many of whom are refugees who settled in Sweden. Extra bonus points, if we’re giving them out: each garment includes a label with the name of the person who sewed it.
MSR Freelite Stash Tent
MSR’s new Freelite Stash Tent embraces its short (pole) king status. Don’t worry, the tent itself is full-sized and has a rectangular floor with near-vertical walls for plenty of sleeping space and for sitting up easily, but its killer feature is the new BeyondLite DAC aluminum poles. The poles were designed from the ground up as short-section poles rather than the longer-section poles most tents have. This makes them more like what you’d expect from a bikepacking tent, like MSR’s Hubba Hubba Bikepack, and allows the tent to pack down into a smaller, squatter width. However, since the bikepack tents are generally adapted versions of regular backpacking tents, there’s an upcharge for the shorter pole segments and other features like bigger pockets and daisy chains for drying gear.
The new Freelite will stay at the existing pricing scheme of the Freelite tent line of $439.95 for the 1-person version, $499.95 for the 2-person version, and $569.95 for the 3-person version. Though MSR has a one-year exclusive agreement with DAC for the new tent pole design, we hope to see other tent manufacturers producing tents with them in the future.
Leki Repair Program
A little more about poles. Leki’s pushing for more people to make repairs to their poles, rather than tossing them out or warranting the whole pole if only part of the pole is damaged. Their FX poles (a designation across winter and summer products), like the Cressida FX, feature user-replaceable parts including sections—the string that holds the sections together, tips, etc. At their booth, they walked us through what looks like an easy process, leaving us wondering why more pole companies haven’t adopted a similar approach. Anything that helps keep waste down and a good product in my pack is always a bonus!
Climbing Shoes
We’re getting up there! It feels like climbing shoes were generally refreshed at a much slower pace than running and hiking shoes. New shoes and updates were generally introduced every three years or so. Now it seems like rock shoes are being introduced on a near-yearly basis. Both La Sportiva and Scarpa introduced new climbing shoes at OMA. La Sportiva’s most interesting new shoe is the HyperEZ, a shoe intended for beginning climbers and gym climbers, with a flat sole and a lower price point than many other high-end climbing shoes at $119.
At the other end of the spectrum, Scarpa introduced the $289 Blackbird, alongside the $119 Gecko V, and updated the $169 Veloce climbing shoes, with regular and low volume versions of the shoe. The Gecko is intended for newer climbers and the Veloce is a more aggressive shoe for gym and sport climbing.
The Blackbird takes a unique approach to a climbing shoe, adding in a 3D-printed midsole with carbon fiber reinforcement. Scarpa says the stiffness of the midsole does a couple of things, including improving support on tiny footholds by distributing the force across the forefoot and reducing foot fatigue. It also says it means climbers won’t have to downsize as much as they do with other climbing shoes. It’s a sleek-looking shoe that I’m sure Kai, our climbing shoe tester, is looking forward to checking out. I’d love to see how my foot would feel in an uncrammed climbing shoe like that, too.
Mammut Avalanche Airbag Packs
Shifting from climb to ski. . . Mammut has offered avalanche airbag packs for a long time, but has always used a system that needs pressurized canisters to deploy. Starting this fall, that changes. At the show, they introduced the new Haldigrat 30 E2 Airbag, which is powered by the same Alpride E2 system that a number of other avalanche backpacks like the Osprey Soelden Pro and Sopris Pro use.
While Mammut is not the only avalanche pack maker that still makes canister-powered airbag packs, we expect the trend toward more electronic-powered airbag packs will continue. The advantages are many. You can’t fly on a plane with the pressurized canisters for a canister-based pack—you can with an electronic pack. With pressurized canisters, you only get one deployment per canister, and some canisters are only usable once; it’s costly to refill them or purchase new ones. With an e-airbag, you can often inflate a pack multiple times on one charge or set of batteries, and it’s easy to swap them out or recharge them. It also makes practicing deploying the airbag much more realistic when each deployment doesn’t cost $20 or more. We’re looking forward to testing the $1,499 Haldigrat and will let you know how it stacks up against our other favorite avalanche airbags, like the Ortovox Litric Tour.
HydraPak FuelKit
Keeping it clean, organized, and going. We also loved HydraPak’s new FuelKit. If you ever prep drinks (not the martini kind) and gels for an excursion on a trail or river, you know it can be a pain in the butt to scoop out powders and put them in bottles and baggies for later. If you’re like me, that means sometimes you’ll end up buying a bunch of one-serving packages to use as needed.
The Fuel Kit makes it way easier to prep drinks, gels, and snacks for adventures and races thanks to some well-thought-out pieces, like the adjustable measuring spoon, collapsible funnel that fits multiple bottle sizes, and flexible spill tray so you can funnel the inevitably spilled electrolyte powder back into the funnel that’s on your bottle. It also comes with a couple of HydraPak Fuel Paks for gummies, granola, or whatever else you love to bring, too. It’s great for prepping at home, but with plenty of storage in the case, I’ll gladly bring this on longer trips when I’m refilling everything between daily excursions.
Erica’s Takes
Affordable outdoor gear for families is something I look for when I head to these kinds of gear product showcases. I’m a new mom, and it’s exciting to keep an eye out for the next gear to use with our family at the car campground, on our urban adventures in Chicago, and beyond.
Kelty Innovations
Kelty has always impressed me with their affordable, approachable, entry-level gear for camping and adventuring with kids. And as a new mom, I’m so stoked about all the new kids' gear they’re launching, like some kids' sleeping bags that come out next spring. The Lil Bear Bags (appropriately named) are shaped like little bears with ears and come in two different colors and a 35-degree temperature rating. Unlike the sleep-sack style Kelty Space Cadet 40 that my daughter currently uses, this is a traditional-shaped bag, which means it’s ideal for toddlers.
They’re also launching a new Kelty Early Start Tent, which fits 2 or 3, and seems like a great lightweight, affordable backpacking option, especially for families. I can’t wait to test it out on my first backpacking trip with our 2-year-old next spring/summer.
Sun Hoodies
It also seems like sun protection is (still) having a major moment in the industry. Almost every apparel brand mentioned some sort of sun protection-forward piece of apparel. They also all promote that they make the best, the lightest, the softest, and the most protective UV sun shirts on the market. It’s hard to really suss out which are the most legit (especially before I test them), but a couple certainly stood out.
The Royal Robbins Salathe Sun Long-Sleeve Hoodie has been a favorite of many Treeline testers, and while the shirt hasn’t really changed much since last year, they’re coming out with some new fun colors as well as a full-zip version for those folks who aren’t an anorak-type-of-girlie.
Fjallraven is launching their High Coast Sunprotect Hoodie, which offers UPF 40+ protection and feels butter soft with a technical edge to it. Also, totally unrelated to sun hoodies, Fjall is also debuting a thick, heavy-duty cotton collar Vardag Rugby Shirt inspired by one of the founders’ vintage rugby shirts from the early ‘90s. I’m so jazzed about it because, well, it’s cute AF.
Gear Organization
I’m also an organization die-hard and absolutely love dialing in my car-camping setup. I own every size of the Gregory Alpaca Gear Boxes and am jazzed to know they’re coming out with a new 25L size, which will be perfect for kitchen gear and gadgets, or even storing food since it’s a bit smaller capacity.
Osprey is also launching a 100L Transporter Gear Box and Transporter Packing Cubes that nest perfectly inside the box. I have similar types of soft-sided bags by Gregory, called the Alpaca Gear Pod, but I’m eager to see how the Osprey versions compare.
Sara’s Takes
I met with a lot of brands at OMA this summer and saw so many new things, it is hard to narrow down my list of things I am excited about. I love gear and have been traveling a lot this year, so travel items stuck out to me quite a bit, as well as extras to make car camping more enjoyable.
Peak Design
Peak Design had new and promising travel bags and accessories. As someone who spends a lot of time traveling, often with art supplies, there were several bag options that would work for carrying art supplies and tripods for easels, as well as camera gear and just regular weekend travel. They have a 2-in-1 40L carry-on travel bag that is pretty innovative—the front panel zips off so you can have two separate bags when you are at your destination, and they zip together so you can just worry about one bag when you are in the airport or on the train. I was also excited to see the new line of urban travel bags with hip belts and shoulder bags with padded tablet sleeves in fun, bright colors.
Forgeline
Forgeline is a new brand that has only been around for three months. They seem like a cross between Patagonia and Carhartt, with durable work-ready gear that is also technical and breathable for hard days on trails. The stars of their lineup were waxed cotton jackets and pants in colors meant to always be in style, so you don’t have to buy a new jacket each season for a color upgrade. Waxed cotton wears in, not out, so the more you wear it, the better it looks and feels. They also showcased some base layers that were lightweight and reminded me of the old Patagonia Lightweight Capilene in handfeel and weight.
Goal Zero
Goal Zero showcased their Nomad+ power stations—updated to take up less room (20% smaller and lighter, in fact)—and went as far as using them to power up a blender and a freezer cooler with ice cream. It was very impressive to see them in action. While Goal Zero is best known for making solar panels, this time they were also showcasing more power banks and will have smaller power banks in the future. It will be interesting to see where this goes and if they will be able to earn a spot in a thru-hiker’s pack.
Nestout
Nestout has a lot of interesting, durable battery and accessory options, from bright lights to fans. They have a mini rice cooker, the Nestout Cooker, that's perfect for making fresh rice away from home while camping or traveling in your van. The size is just right for travel and makes perfect portions. There is something about making rice in a rice cooker that tastes so much better, and being able to have that rice in meals outside camping sounds incredible. It just isn’t something you can do well on a two-burner stove.
Paka
PAKA is coming out with a Heritage collection this fall to celebrate their anniversary. If you are a fan of PAKA and their soft sweaters and socks, you will want to make sure you catch the limited-edition gear when it launches. They had some items on display, including Fair Isle sweaters and special pieces that are bound to sell out immediately. You have been warned.
Grangers
Grangers was at OMA and told me we are all washing our gear wrong. We need to be washing our gear more often than we think to help keep it in rotation longer. Grangers has a wash or spray for almost everything that an outdoorsperson can think of, including special down wash and one just for waterproof breathable materials. Consider this your reminder to wash your down—if you can’t remember the last time you washed it, it is time. They recommended washing every three weeks if you have a down jacket you are wearing daily, which is a lot more often than my annual load.
RTIC
RTIC is coming out with new cooler cushions, making your cooler the coolest seat at your campsite. I love having an extra spot to sit around the campsite, and this turns the hard cooler into a plush spot that will likely be fought over, especially for its proximity to the drinks. They also are coming out with a Happy Hour Tote Cooler Bag that has a spot for your wine and would really level up nights out at music in the park or shorter hikes to pretty places.
Gear can be cute and functional, and with all the fun colors RTIC is really winning at that game. I asked them about bear safety and aggressive raccoons, which have been an issue at places I camp lately. They are working on getting bear certified—apparently there is no certification for raccoons, but hopefully Jimothy won’t be a match for a locked RTIC cooler.
Kuhl
Kuhl has so many fun gear and apparel items, but what really stuck out to me this time were the travel bags. They showed me a duffel bag with so many organizational pockets and useful spaces, I was instantly in love. The travel duffel has zippered compartments on either end, and you can stuff shoes or dirty clothes in them as you travel, keeping the center compartment clean while slowly filling up the ends as you wear clothes on your trip.
They also showed me the Pulse Legging, which is a fleece-lined legging that I am sure I could live in all winter for dog walks, skiing, and beyond.
Marmot
Marmot showcased their new Superalloy UL Tent with a mesh fabric that makes it harder to see inside, like a privacy screen. I am looking forward to seeing what our testers think of this new mesh, but the idea is really exciting. I often keep my rainfly on when I am backpacking for privacy even when it is hot, so it would be nice to feel more comfortable taking off the rainfly in more crowded camping areas with a mesh that makes it harder to see inside.
Oboz
Oboz had a fun activation where we could see if we were wearing the right-sized hiking shoes. I have been wearing a 9.5 or 10 for the last eight years, and I was curious to see how I would measure out. I was shocked to see that I measured at about an 8/8.5 and have been wearing shoes that are too big the last several years.
I grabbed a new pair of Oboz Bozeman II hiking shoes in a 8.5, and they feel great so far. Most of the participants were wearing shoes that were sized too small (about 50% of the participants were wearing shoes that were a different size than what they measured). The Oboz team recommends that all adults get measured at least once a year—with so many people buying shoes online, we have strayed away from accurate measurements over the years.
Kelty
Finally, Kelty has a new version of their well-known Loveseat with durable mesh and a cover that doubles as a pet mat, so everyone gets a place to sit. The durable mesh is also dog-friendly, so you can snuggle with your pup at the campground and make your partner sit on the pet mat. I love a piece of gear that is well designed with extra details, and the floor/pet mat cover is just a perfect detail. I could see it being handy as a place to take off shoes before entering the tent or a place to just have a clean spot at camp.
Parting Thoughts
At the summer 2026 OMA show, we scoured the whole tradeshow floor—up and down showroom walls and tables and booths—checking out ultralight packs, repairable backpacks and trekking poles, tents, sleeping pads and bags, socks, apparel, climbing shoes, running shoes, camp cookware, mountain bike equipment, solar panels, and so much more. We worked together to get all the detailed info in order to test and help inform you, our readers!
And we couldn’t be more stoked on this list of what to start testing and what we’re looking forward to!
To read more from our OMA contributors, check out the Treeline Review author pages for Liz Thomas, Sam Schild, Stasia Stockwell, Mary Murphy, Mary Beth Skylis, Chris Meehan, Erica Zazo, and Sara Kruglinski.
