GEAR Up EXPO Review – Everett, WA

Days after getting back from Bolivia I decided to stop by the inaugural Gear Up Expo in Everett to see what new things I might come across.  There were a lot of local dive shops, a couple retailers, tourism boards, talks, and even a keynote speech by Jim Whittaker (the first American to summit Everest). Here are some of the interesting things I came across.

 

 

Innova Kayak produces several heavy duty inflatable kayaks. There lightest, the Swift weighs in at only 18 lbs.

Backpacker’s Pantry has repackaged their meals to include details about calories and dietary features on the package. A nice benefit for someone like me who has GF kids.

This Toronto based inventor came up with a great and stable way of carrying a DSLR that keeps it out of the way. It’s the Ezee strap. I wore it over my Ribz a bit higher up and it was both comfortable and versatile.

After salivating over Hilleberg’s 4-season tents I finally got to see what they are all about. While not UL, they are definitely well built and would hold up to inclement weather.

First off, sorry for the poor quality. The lighting wasn’t great and I didn’t want to interrupt with a flash. Jim spoke to full seats about his life and experiences. The amplification made it hard to hear at times, but there were some gems there!

This Prepper’s Warehouse company was showing off typical gear and was my first opportunity to see a Kelly Kettle first-hand.

I spent a few minutes chatting with the makers of Mazamba Bar. The make great tasting meal replacement bars that weigh in at  around 400 calories each. You can find their bars at their site or at a handful of places around Washington.

I had to stop by and say hello to the crew at Seattle Backpacker’s Magazine. Hi!

I’ve been eyeing a Tentipi for a long time, so I was happy to hear that MansfieldOutdoors.com is now their first North American Retailer. Check them out!

You can pick up this whistle (Whistles for life) at REI. It’s a 120 db whistle that won’t be confused for a marmot!

Overall the expo was a bit small, but for a first year, it was a good turn out. It would be great to see more of the Washington based gear companies show up for this event next year!