The outdoor adventure market is growing fast with new survival and navigation gear
Whether you are a walker, a mountain biker or a geocacher, the Summer months are a time to go gear-buying, but it is difficult to make sense of the vast number of new products that are launched each spring. Far from being a benefit, the sheer number of new tents, jackets and boots makes it hard to decide between then in any meaningful manner (unless we fall on the old favourite, colour). One result of this avalanche is that launches in lower profile, but essential, categories such as survival gear and navigation aids tends to be overlooked.
The omission of some of these less obvious, but potentially crucial, product categories is something that we’ll attempt to put right by identifying a couple of key developments in the areas of personal survival equipment and maps and compasses. A feature of both product types is that, despite their lack of technology led sales buzz, both brand owners and consumers seem to have taken renewed interest. While the appeal of the ‘alpha male’ survival gear might be self-evident, it’s probably harder to explain the continued interest in paper, folding maps and liquid filled compasses. However, the extraordinary truth is that, whilst every walker seems to proudly sport the latest GPS unit these days, sales of traditional navigation tools are on the increase. Indeed, according to the second biggest online retailer of Ordnance Survey Maps, Above and Beyond, sales are steadily growing.
Who would have expected that, in 2011, a compass from the Swedish company, Silva, would still be regarded as an essential purchase for anyone venturing onto the hills. A tool that many of us associate with childhood is an outdoor essential, with the Expedition 4 remaining the best seller after many years. Perhaps more unexpected is that Silva are evolving their product range and 2011 sees some significant launches.
Unusually for Silva, their 2011 introductions are not so much individual products, as a concept applied to several products from simple urban direction finders to military grade expedition compasses. In short, Silva has used pared down information and coloured elements in order to make compasses at all levels easier to use. A compass like the top rated mirror sighting Expedition S incorporates a clinometer and GPS measurement scales, yet retains a very clean interface that aided by a contrast colour bezel.
The range that really seems to have enlivened the rather hidden world of personal survival equipment in 2001 is the Bear Grylls branded products from Gerber and a standout product is the Bear Grylls Ultimate Survival Knife that, in its fixed blade version, includes features such as a firestarter and sharpener. This item alone has sold in hundreds this Spring and made survival gear more mainstream.
It is easy for manufacturers of outdoor gear to focus all their attention on developing new products in the core segments such as boots and waterproofs. Thankfully, 2011 has shown that they are also investing in essential, niche equipment that keep all climbers, walkers and outdoors enthusiasts safer.
This entry was posted on Tuesday, May 31st, 2011 at 3:51 am and is filed under General. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.