The 2024 Outdoor Trade Show has just concluded. Staged on the banks of the Mersey in buzzing downtown Liverpool, the show has grown to become the UK's only major outdoor trade event, the place to see and be seen for pretty much every brand in the market. Over a busy three days our trade show team clocked up an impressive mileage crisscrossing the show to check out all the new gear we can expect to see in the shops in 2025. We saw a lot of product of course, much of which will be featured in our upcoming show report videos.

As ever, a few items particularly caught our eye. And here they are: 

Rab Veil XP pack

We reviewed Rab's Veil 6 running vest last year and were really impressed. The Veil XP isn't, however, an outright running vest. Yes you could use it for running - it'd be great on something like the Spine, Saunders or OMM - but what we like most about it was that it looks impressively versatile, and might equally fit the bill for hillwalking and backpacking. It'd be an intriguing one to use scrambling and mountaineering too, even though that isn't necessarily what it's been designed for. In short, this is a close-fitting and airy pack you could use for pretty much anything…

It's the accessibility of its various storage options that appealed to us most. Efficiency is something we greatly value in a pack, since the ability to store everything somewhere you can actually access is extremely important when you're out and about. In the case of the Veil XP there's space for two soft flask bottles, plus further storage options at the front, sides and back. They've also added pole sleeves to each side of the pack, which compliment the bungees on the front for when you need more secure storage.

Last but by no means least, the Veil XP is waterproof, with an IPX 4 rating (i.e. showerproof, but not submersible). In the British climate this will likely be a blessing, although we'd always recommend using dry bags inside just in case.

Available in 20 and 30L.

New climbing shoes - Boreal Mutant, Scarpa Drago XT, and Unparallel Beat 

These days a lot of climbers have several pairs of shoes on the go at once, often chosen for different uses. Reflecting this growth in demand, new climbing shoes are a staple at every trade show. A couple stood out for us.

The Mutant has been a Boreal mainstay for years. New versions of favourite old shoe lines aren't always greeted by the user as improvements, but we've a strong hunch the updated Mutant is destined to be a hit.

While this shoe has been through changes over the years, its essential character - a slipper plus single strap - carries through to the new iteration. Mutant circa 2025 features a supportive forefoot for secure edging, combined with a soft and sticky rubber. This is a combo that might sound counter-intuitive, but we're assured it works well. The slimmed-down heel piqued our interest, reverting from the rounded moulding you tend to see on modern performance shoes to a more traditional construction that looks like it should hold an edge well when heel hooking.

The new Mutant doesn't come in men's and women's fit but rather as high volume or low volume options, both available across the entire size range - a nice idea. As a performance all rounder with a refined feel the new Mutant looks really promising, and we're itching to try a pair.

For something slightly different, it was over to Scarpa to check out the smart-looking new Drago XT. The Drago has become an exceptionally popular shoe since it was released eight years ago and the introduction of the Drago LV four years ago further cemented its success. However, Scarpa aren't a brand to rest on their laurels and it feels as if every shoe they develop simply ups the ante for whatever comes next.

The Drago XT is a good example of that development in action, as it takes the DNA of the Drago, then adds some special features - the most striking being that stunning heel, which has to rank as one of the most sensitive available. We'd recommend giving a squeeze whenever it hits the shops, because it's a thing of beauty, and unlike anything we've seen before. It's also constructed using Scarpa's super sticky M50 rubber, so there'll be no excuses for slipping off those marginal heel hooks anytime soon!

In terms of fit this is Scarpa's narrowest and lowest volume model yet, but unlike the Drago and Drago LV you can adjust that volume with not just one, but two straps - hence it's possible to get a much more precise fit.

Thanks to the popularity of indoor climbing and bouldering, the modern market errs towards softer shoes, but Unparallel's Beat is one model to slightly buck this trend, and it's good to see another choice towards the more solid end of the scale.

Thanks to a relatively stiff midsole, and 4.2mm of more durable rubber, the Beat should offer the sort of edging ability that trad climbers tend to prefer, and which might also be welcome if you're sport climbing on an edgier rock type. With its moderately aggressive-yet-accessible shape, this quality lace-up should be a reliable all-rounder in the mid to upper grades.

Primus Micron 3 Stove

Cutting down the grams while backpacking or mountaineering can be about marginal gains, and this neat folding stove from Primus must be one of the lightest canister-top burners around, significantly undercutting some of the obvious competition at a barely perceptible 54g. Key to this weight saving is the use of aluminium for the threaded section of the stove, rather than the usual steel.

The Micron 3 folds down pretty small, and features an interesting burner design with a mesh centre (think along the lines of a tiny MSR Reactor) that promises to make it more wind resistant without the added weight of a wind guard. What's the downside? Well you might think a stove weighing just 54g would have to be weedy, but the output of 2600W sounds pretty respectable for something this tiny. Will that aluminium have durability implications? Only time will tell, so watch this space for a review next year.

Sprayway Arderin Jacket

In recent years the price of Gore-Tex jackets has gone up, and up, and up. So it's nice to see a brand showcasing something a whole lot cheaper, offering exceptional value for money in a marketplace that often seems to end up focusing on the pinnacle pieces at pinnacle prices. At £170 you're unlikely to find a cheaper Gore-Tex shell!

The Sprayway Arderin features a 2-layer Gore-Tex ePE membrane with a drop liner. We wrote a lot about ePE back when it was introduced to the outdoor market in 2023, and if you haven't read the following article we'd recommend doing so as it'll give a summary of what it is and why its development is important for the industry:

Features-wise Sprayway have kept it simple, partly to keep down cost, but also because what features do you really need other than two arms, a hood, and a couple of pockets? It's also constructed using recycled materials, further adding to its appeal.

Instinct packs

A new one on us, and fairly fresh to the UK, is this range of running packs from France. All sporting a distinctive black and yellow colour scheme, the designs themselves look really interesting, with an emphasis on close vest-style fit and load carrying support.

A tight selection of unisex models, from a tiny 3.1L to a multi-day-friendly 40L, Instinct packs feature a host of pockets and compartments that should appeal to folk who like to keep their gear well organised and easily accessed on trail. All have obvious crossover potential from running to hillwalking day trips and fast-n-light overnight backpacking, with our pick of the bunch for versatility being the 20L pack.

DMM's new axes - Cortex and Apex

Big news for winter fans is the launch of not one, but two techy axes from everyone's favourite Welsh hardware brand. Headliner is the Cortex, DMM's most advanced technical axe to date. Users of the old Switch might note vague echoes in its design, but while that battleaxe was not known for its lightness and subtlety, a crucial difference with the Cortex is the much lower weight, which at 589g (minus pick weights) is now comparable to competitors at the aggressive and technical end of the scale.

The striking milled cut-outs account for the slim-down, but thanks to the I-beam shaft and one-piece construction from head to handle the Cortex should still be dependably solid in use, something we've come to expect from DMM. No riveted sections, no risk of wobbles... We like the durable over-moulded handle, and from a quick play on the stand we'd say the balance and swing potentially feel great. Of course it's impossible to say more until we've used them in anger, and the great news is that a review is on the cards for this coming season.

"For the Cortex, we took the collaborative decision to remove the spike to further improve the use of the axe on technical ground" DMM tell us.

"We still have a round clip-in point to fit a DMM Shadow, Phantom or Phantom HMS carabiner and an innovative cord point that can be threaded with up to a 5mm cord, this can be used to attach a DMM Freedom Leash."

Perhaps more relevant to the majority of mid grade weekend warriors is an update to the Apex. A firm fixture for many years in the hands of least one of the UKC team, this all-round technical axe has always boasted the durability and performance for classic Scottish winter abuse, but we'd never have called it a lightweight. With a subtly updated design there's now less weight in the shaft and handle, while the head is reconfigured and the shaft geometry has also been refined ever so slightly. The one-piece handle, lower rest and spike also look like an improvement on the original. We absolutely love the old Apex, and early signs suggest DMM have only gone and made it better.

"Following discussions with our athletes we decided to make the Apex tube straighter, and the head / pick have got steeper. This improves the performance for low angled ice climbing and offers more efficient penetration on steeper ground" say DMM.

Going modular across their technical axe range, DMM offer three different interchangeable picks, two hammers and one adze that are all compatible with the Cortex, the new Apex and the existing Vertex. We're going to want a pair of all three.

Ron Hill running shoes

Perhaps it's surprising that running specialist Ron Hill has never gone in for footwear, but all that has changed with the launch this year of two new running shoes, and the promise of a third for spring 2025.

With a lightweight and simple feel, and great attention to detail, these shoes are clearly built for the UK runner, and come in a commendably tight and accessibly priced range that in just three models spans all your needs from trail, through fell, to racing. All three feature a light, durable, and highly breathable matrix upper; a front-end fit that should accommodate a good range of feet; quite supportive and springy midsoles; and outsoles developed in collaboration with Michelin.

Trail running generalist is the Freedom, featuring a shallower tread, a bigger stack height, and a more durable rubber for the inevitable pounding on harder tracks.

Moving up a gear we have the Reverence. With a more aggressive sole optimised for soft, wet ground, this is the fell running specialist, and looks great too as a crossover shoe for mountain crag approaches and hillwalking.

More racing-oriented is the upcoming Defiance, with a deeper, springier sole, a stretchy sock fit tongue and a high collar with a close fit to keep out the gubbins.

A keen fell runner himself - and it shows in the results - Ron Hill's footwear designer Harry Bolton took on the job straight from University, building the collection from the ground up over the last 2 1/2 years as very much a labour of love. The results look very promising.

New camping mats from Therm-a-Rest, Nemo and Sea to Summit

Who doesn't love a good air mat? OTS was awash with them!

One to catch our eye at OTS was the Ether Light XR Pro from Aussie camping specialist Sea to Summit.

The replacement for the old Ether Light XT Extreme, this insulated mat makes use of innovations in synthetic fill to give you something that's both significantly warmer than its predecessor, and a lot lighter and more packable. With a very toasty R-Value of 7.4, the XR Pro offers a level or warmth you'd normally expect from a down-filled mat, while the weight reduction (size Regular has dropped from 720g to 565g) makes it much more viable for mountaineering and winter backpacking. The new Ether Light range has enhanced toughness too. Warm, comfy, lightweight and durable - sounds like we may struggle to find anything much to criticise when we get hold of one to review.

Therm-a-rest's offering at OTS was at the luxurious end of the spectrum. The NeoLoft is best described as having the comfort and thickness of their massive Mondo King, but combined with the lightweight construction of a NeoAir XLite. The end result is a thing of beauty, being exceptionally soft and comfortable, and yet managing to retain a remarkably small pack size and weight. If it's super light you're after then this isn't for you, but if you're looking for an amazing night's sleep then this must be about as comfortable a mat you could get for 500(ish) grams.

Nemo's Tensor Extreme takes things to another level for winter, boasting what they convincingly claim to be the best warmth to weight ratio on the market, with an R-value of 8.5 and a weight of 505g in regular and 472g in mummy. As always though, these figures only provide part of the picture, as they can be a little abstract. Other details such as depth are also important, as is how noisy it is to sleep/roll around on - and the Tensor Extreme wins on each of these fronts, with a depth of 8.9cm,and advertised as being the "quietest pad in its class".

Edelrid Pinch

Controlled braking belay devices seem to be on offer from most major hardware brands these days, and ever ones to innovate, Edelrid have come up with something a bit different. Compact and user-friendly, the Pinch is designed to pay out smoothly and quickly, requiring less specific and fiddly handling than some popular devices on the market, and being potentially less grabby as a result.

Cleverly, it can be attached direct to your belay loop - no carabiner necessarily required - and clips on in various orientations to make it easier to use in setups such as belaying in guide mode. Whoever gets to review this will have to watch out that their team mates don't pinch it.

Nikwax Sports Refresh

Never the most exciting topic, garment aftercare is however the bread and butter of any outdoor wardrobe since it's essential to maintaining the performance and longevity of your clothing. New from Nikwax is the Refresh range, comprising Wetsuit Refresh, Footwear refresh and Sports Refresh.

The next generation of Base Wash, Sports Refresh boasts more cleaning power, combining a non-bio cleaner and deodoriser. Not just for baselayers, it's made to clean and de-stink all synthetic sports clothing. And as you'd hope from a company that has had sustainability built-in from the word go, it contains no nasty biocides.

An outdoor trade show without beer has not yet been known, and we were pleased to see that in keeping with this spirit Nikwax brought along their own range of Palate Refresh ales. Perhaps they should provide a free can with every aftercare product? We only hop it tastes better than TX Direct (disclaimer: Nikwax is not for human consumption).