The greatest part about gear is that it’s always evolving and getting better. Nowhere is that more evident than at Denver’s Outdoor Market Alliance (OMA) gear show, where some of the hottest and most innovative brands gather biannually to show off their latest and greatest products. And this year, for the winter show, they brought their A-game.
GearJunkie hit the floor of OMA running, buzzing around from brand to brand, getting the lowdown on some of the coolest gear we’ve seen all season. We saw premium rooftop tents with built-in couches, Kevlar avalanche airbag vests, the most versatile headlamp we’ve ever encountered, and much more.
It’s never easy picking our favorites. But here’s the gear that jumped out at us.
Thule Wide Sky Rooftop Tent
Rooftop tents (RTTs) are having a moment, and Thule is capitalizing on it. The Wide Sky is the brand’s newest low-profile, wide-top, hardshell rooftop tent. It pops up via hydraulic arms when the four clasps are unlatched, then opens to reveal a generous interior and an exceptionally comfortable mattress.
Integrated LED lights create a warm, comfortable, and well-lit atmosphere for cozy evenings.
The real magic of the Wide Sky, though, is in its convertible mattress. Thule designed the bed so that it can be propped up to create a couch-like seat with two settings, so you can comfortably sit up in your tent and soak in the sunset, take in a view, or watch the weather passing by. It’s a small detail, but one that sets the Wide Sky apart from other RTTs in its class.
When it’s time to break camp, the Wide Sky collapses on its hinging arms and easily clasps shut. The telescoping ladder packs up into a storage tote and stows inside the tent. This premium RTT will set you back $4,000. It will be available in April 2026.
Norrona Lofoten Avy Ace
Norrona was born in the mountains of Norway, and its backcountry and frontcountry ski apparel and outerwear are among the best in the game. But the Lofoten Avy Ace is the brand’s first swing at an avalanche pack.
Actually, it’s a vest, but it can hold as much as a pack with multiple pockets on the front, and a rear compartment for a shovel and probe that can be accessed without taking the pack off.
Made from 60% recycled 160D polyamide and 40% 180D Kevlar face fabric, Avy Ace is treated with DWR for water-resistance. It zips up in the front and clasps with two heavy-duty clips for extra security. Straps on the waist allow for fit adjustments, and a leg loop clasps with a carabiner between the wearer’s legs.
Of course, the star of the show is the Alpride airbag system integrated into the Avy Ace. This rechargeable electric airbag inflates extremely fast when its bright orange trigger is pulled. You can situate that trigger on either shoulder, depending on preference. It’s carry-on–friendly for plane travel and rolls up fairly compactly for storage.
COAST WPH10 Headlamp
Headlamps come in all shapes and sizes, and at GearJunkie, we’ve seen pretty much all of them. So it takes a pretty special headlamp to jump out at us — Coast’s WPH10 did. We’ve reviewed (and loved) the brand’s voice-activated headlamps and lanterns, but the WPH10 is a different animal altogether. Not only does it have a 1,000-lumen light, but it also has a red light setting with very impressive throw (even in a well-lit room).
What sets this headlamp apart, though, is its modular versatility. You can wear it like a headlamp with the included elastic strap. Or remove the strap and connect it to a clip accessory that lets you attach the light to the bill of a cap (pictured), the shoulder of a backpack, or wherever else it’s useful. There’s even a built-in magnet so you can stick it to a metal surface if you’re working on a car or in tight spaces.
La Sportiva Granite Mountaineering Pack
La Sportiva is known for its footwear — from running and hiking shoes to serious mountaineering boots. But in 2026, the brand is diving headfirst into technical mountaineering packs. The Granite is its new premium pack made with a weave fabric that is exceptionally light and durable.
The roll-top design is waterproof and has a secondary cinch closure inside. It’s also ice-axe and A-frame carry compatible, and minimalist in terms of pockets.
The Granite is a very good-looking pack with serious technical chops. For La Sportiva’s first foray into ski mountaineering packs, this is an impressive entry.
EXPED Ultra 6.5R
EXPED claims this backpacking sleeping pad has the best warmth-to-weight value of any all-season sleeping pad on the market. This pad comes in several sizes and shapes, the most impressive of which is the Ultra 6.5R medium mummy, which weighs just 12 ounces. That’s 56.7 g per 1 R-value.
Compare that to the Nemo Tensor All Season (14 ounces, 5.4 R-value) and the Therm-a-Rest X-Therm (15.5 ounces, 7.3 R-value), and it’s clear this is certainly a competitive pad. One of its most attractive attributes is its quietness. While many ultralight pads tend to crinkle a lot when you move around in the night, EXPED managed to negate that with its proprietary SynMat Plus technology.
GearJunkie covered this sleeping pad when it was announced, and now it’s hitting shelves and is available for purchase ($200).
DemerBox Speakers
There are plenty of durable, waterproof speakers out there, but DemerBox takes it to another level. GearJunkie was a big fan of these speakers when we first tested them in 2018 — and the brand has only improved them since then.
These portable speakers are built inside Pelican-like cases, making them IP67 waterproof and “crushproof,” according to the brand. Inside are one or two 3-inch 8-ohm speakers that bump 94dB of high-quality sound via Bluetooth.
One of the best parts about this rugged music setup is the ability to store things inside it. The speakers take up a small amount of the interior space, leaving a lot of waterproof room to store your wallet, keys, phone, and other small items. For river trips, camping, and outdoor cookouts and BBQs, these are an ideal companion.
DemerBox offers a single-speaker ($250) and a double-speaker ($400) option (pictured). The brand also allows customers to build their own DemerBoxes, selecting one or two speakers and choosing custom colors for $10 more.
Something Very Cool From BearVault
BearVault has been making some of the lightest and most functional bear canisters for backpacking and camping available. This spring, the brand is releasing one of its most innovative creations yet. It has been in development for years, and took a lot of creative design work and engineering.
We can’t talk about it too much — yet. What we can tell you, though, is that bear canister technology doesn’t make leaps and bounds very often. With this new product, BearVault is about to catapult the tech to the next level.
Stay tuned for the news on this exciting release, coming later in March.
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