Every year, many of the biggest outdoor brands gather at Outdoor Retailer to show off the latest and greatest gear and clothing. Below are some of the best and most innovative products we saw at the summer 2026 trade show in Minneapolis, from retooled ultralight packs to base layers purpose-built for taller hikers. We look forward to testing much of it on the trail soon!
Hyperlite Mountain Gear Unbound 40L & 55L Backpacks
Hyperlite’s Unbound packs became immediate thru-hiking favorites when they were released a few years ago, and the 2026 updates make them even more compelling. Though still made with tried-and-true Dyneema, the packs now sport a 200-denier nylon face fabric that promises better abrasion resistance and an improved hand feel.
The retooled fabric felt much more flexible and less plasticky, and the new gray colorway looked great (it should wear better on the trail, too). Hyperlite also upgraded the suspension from a single back stay to a double stay for improved stability, moved the water bottle pockets down for easier access, and streamlined the daisy chain system along the sides.
Trail Stuff TrailStand
Trail Stuff shook things up in the ultralight community a few years back with the release of the Trailbrush – a toothbrush that attaches to the handle of a long-handled spoon. Now, they’re aiming to do it again with the innovative TrailStand. Designed to stabilize isobutane canisters, this 0.4-ounce stand is slim enough to fit inside a standard titanium pot, keeping the metal of the fuel can from rusting.
The design worked better than we expected, slipping effortlessly into a pot and keeping a stove surprisingly stable. The stand is injection-molded rather than 3D-printed and has a surprisingly robust feel for how thin it is. The three legs fold out from the middle, so you can leave one undeployed for balancing on uneven ground, and their slim shape should work well on loose surfaces like sand or leaves.
LEVE Outdoor Co. Ultralight Jacket
A truly waterproof, non-DWR-coated rain jacket that checks in at 3 ounces without sacrificing pit zips is an ultralight dream that LEVE has made a reality Made of 15-denier, silicone-coated polyester (silpoly for short), the LEVE Ultralight Jacket features a full-length #5 zipper up the center, pit zips, a hood cinch, and a waist drawcord. The jacket had an excellent hand feel and struck us as much less compromised than most competitors in its weight class. Silpoly is not a particularly breathable material, but the inclusion of pit zips should help with moisture management.
Sky View Tents Sky View Solo Tent
If you love having an unobstructed view of the night sky while camping, Sky View Tents’ designs are hard to beat. Their latest Solo Tent stands out in two big ways. First, the rainfly is inside the mesh body, allowing you to deploy it at a moment’s notice from the comfort of your sleeping bag. The design ensures any moisture will be routed away from the interior, with a careful set of overlapping panels that showed no obvious vulnerabilities.
The second neat design feature is the nearly transparent mesh, which took designer Joe Bissonnette a while to find. We’re eager to see how the mesh performs on a clear night, but under the bright showroom lights, it was much more see-through than we’re used to.
Haven Tents Spectre Hammock
Haven Tents promises a great night’s sleep outside, and their new Spectre hammock takes aim at the ultralight crowd. The all-in-one kit includes both a rainfly (silpoly or Dyneema) and specialty sleeping pad (standard or XL size). In testing out the design at the show, it felt like a cross between a good bridge hammock and a tent pitched on top of a soft bed of pine needles. We flipped and tossed but remained comfortable no matter how we positioned ourselves.
The 5-pound-2-ounce weight may not seem very competitive at first glance, but when you consider all you need to add is a sleeping quilt, it looks a lot more compelling. Sure, you could build a comparable bridge hammock setup (hammock body, rainfly, sleeping pad, and suspension) that weighs less, but there’s no denying the Spectre’s class-leading comfort.
Hyperlite Mountain Gear CrossPeak 1 Tent
Freestanding ultralight tents are having a moment, and Hyperlite’s one-person and two-person CrossPeak tents make it easy to see why. Compared to semi-freestanding designs, freestanding tents are easier to pitch, offer better stability and reliability in inclement weather, and are more livable due to their steeper walls that maximize headroom.
Hyperlite was showing off their revamped CrossPeak 1 at the show, and it looked impressive. With 0.55-ounce Dyneema for the rainfly and 0.96-ounce Dyneema for the floor, the CrossPeak promises a livable space for one in an easy-to-set-up and weather-ready package. We’ll reserve our comfort and durability judgments for testing in the field, but the tent seemed incredibly solid in person. The fact that it weighs just 1 pound, 12.7 ounces with poles is truly remarkable – and a testament to Hyperlite’s expertise.
Coastal Range The Backpacker Stove
After seeing countless ads for Coastal Range’s The Backpacker stove over the past few weeks, we approached it with some skepticism, expecting it to be fine but forgettable. But color us impressed – this thing is the real deal. Dubbed one of the lightest integrated stove systems on the market, The Backpacker features a wide, 1.2-liter aluminum pot that makes it easy to boil water for two. The pot fits medium fuel canisters, and the wide shape minimizes turbulence at a rolling boil. The entire kit (excluding fuel) checks in at just 9.2 ounces and is priced very reasonably.
Alpenglow Gear Alpenflow Fuel Transfer Valve V2
Partially empty fuel canisters are an inevitable part of backpacking, but Alpenglow Gear is making it easier to justify carrying a dedicated fuel-transfer device on the trail. Their first-generation Fuel Transfer Valve shattered expectations when it was released thanks to its scant weight (0.09 ounces / 2.4 grams) and cheap price tag. Version 2 that we saw at the show improves on the original by adding clear instructions on an easier-to-grab rim – with a negligible weight increase to 0.11 ounces / 3.1 grams.
Seeed Studio SenseCAP MeshTracker X1
For a modern take on the walkie talkie, Seeed Studio’s SenseCAP MeshTracker X1 makes it easy to stay connected with your partners in the backcountry. Rather than relying on stationary cell towers, the MeshTracker uses long-range LoRa radio waves to enable communication over distances of up to 8 kilometers (roughly 5 miles) in direct line of sight. This isn’t new tech – similar devices have been used in disaster relief and other applications for years – but we’re excited to see it being marketed to the outdoors crowd.
The X1 offers an IP66 rating for weather resistance, dual-band GPS tracking, five days of battery life, and USB-C charging – all in a sub-2-ounce package. Voice calls aren’t supported yet, but the device enables off-grid texting and location sharing via the phone you’re already carrying.
Chicken Tramper Ultralight Gear Stitch-All Sewing Kit
To take your repair kit to the next level, Chicken Tramper’s Stitch-All is an innovative take on the classic sewing awl. It makes quick patches faster, easier, and stronger by utilizing a lock stitch rather than a running stitch that you’d commonly make with a needle and thread. Having something to grab and push on means you can force the needle through much thicker materials, making it possible to repair shoulder straps, hipbelts, and sturdy fabrics like grosgrain.
No Matter Antimatter Chair
Fresh off a successful Kickstarter campaign, the Antimatter Chair promises backcountry comfort at only 8 ounces. For weight-conscious hikers and backpackers who scoff at adding an extra pound or two to their base weight, the half-pound Antimatter offers good back support in a relatively simple and intuitive design. We were pleasantly surprised by the chair’s sturdiness and comfort. The nylon construction is thick enough to inspire confidence, and the chair folds up into a remarkably small package.
Near Zero Adventure Bundle
Near Zero’s pre-built backpacking bundles take the guesswork out of building your first kit. Their Adventure Bundle includes everything beginners need to spend a night outside with minimal fluff.
The included pack, Near Zero’s Dean TR 50, is designed more like travel luggage than a traditional backpacking design, with a big U-shaped zipper that opens wide for easy access to all your gear. The interior is divided into several labeled compartments to divvy things up. We have some concerns about the designated food area being positioned far away from your center of gravity, but it’s a thoughtful design nonetheless. The kit also includes a two-person tent, 25-degree sleeping bag, 3-season sleeping pad, pillow, stove, cook pot, long-handled spork, headlamp, and well-stocked first aid kit.
Hypershell Exoskeleton X Ultra S
Exoskeletons are quite an experience to try for the first time, and Hypershell has some of the most polished designs in the industry. Their X Ultra S model delivered a pretty incredible experience at the show, lifting our legs and propelling us forward with surprising ease. Movement felt effortless, walking was strangely “low-friction,” and moving our legs even the tiniest bit created a feeling of intentional momentum.
This product isn’t for the average hiker and backpacker – recharging the battery in the field will require advance planning, and the unit may interfere with some pack hipbelts. Still, the technology has a lot of promise for aging adventurers and those with disabilities, and we hope to see it become more accessible over time.
Utica USA Fold-A-Spork
A folding spork isn’t new, but one that weighs 0.18 ounces (5 grams) and folds flat is. Utica USA – best known for their American-made knives – seemed to be marketing their Fold-A-Spork towards RVers and campers at the show, but we immediately saw its potential for weight-conscious backpackers. The design is surprisingly robust given its simple plastic build, and it folds flat for easy cleaning and storage. We love that there are separate fork and spoon ends, although it won’t replace a long-handled spoon for digging deep inside a dehydrated meal pouch.
Alta Reina Base Layers
Tall girls have it rough in the clothing department – there simply aren’t many options made to fit their body types. New clothing company Alta Reina is aiming to change that. In talking to their head designer Suzi Zook, it was clear this is a brand built on passion, experience, and quality. Although we can’t personally attest to their fit, the Launch Collection base layers – including leggings and a long-sleeve shirt – seemed very well built with a strong attention to detail.
