The first Big Gear Show is a trade event highlighting products from outdoors shops and gear brands. Here are some we really liked.
Every editorial product is independently selected, though we may be compensated or receive an affiliate commission if you buy something through our links. Ratings and prices are accurate and items are in stock as of time of publication.
What Is the Big Gear Show?
The Big Gear Show is a new invitation-only trade event where outdoor specialty shops meet gear brands to discover new products. At the inaugural BGS, staged in August at the Deer Valley Resort in Park City, Utah, I spent three days uncovering my favorite new gear items to share with you.
While perusing the aisles, I paid special attention to gear for car camping, outdoor cooking and other aspects of the family outdoor experience. Here are nine products you’ve got to see!
Best Bike Rack for the Family
A family outdoor excursion that includes any kind of biking requires a great bike rack. The Yakima HangTight 6 ($999, available Nov. 15) can stack up to six bikes to ensure everyone brings their own wheels.
The engineering and design on this tow-hitched rack is impressive. The bikes line up vertically, saving space and easing loading. The cradles that support each bike are fully padded, and the sturdy rack keeps the bikes from bouncing around on bumpy terrain.
Best Towable Family Camper
If you’re going to take the family on an adventure, it may as well be a luxury experience. The Cricket Overland from Taxa Outdoors ($39,950, available for preorder) is a tiny house on wheels that includes a full kitchen, popup tent for extra head room and sleeping space for two adults.
There are also plenty of optional upgrades, including a 5,000 BTU air conditioner, and a hanging berth that drops from the ceiling and suspends two more kid-size beds. The Overland edition of the Cricket includes all-terrain tires to provide traction in all sorts of off-road environments, as well as a lock n’ roll hitch that offers much more turning flexibility than a traditional ball hitch.
Best Grill for Car Camping or Tailgaiting
Fact: The better the food, the better the family camping experience. The Woodwind WiFi 36 ($1,000) is an outdoor chef’s dream.
This grill lets you cook two ways — over propane on the direct-flame grill, or using pellets in the main grill. And here’s what’s really cool: The power of this grill is actually in your palms!
This technical masterpiece connects to the Camp Chef Connect App, letting you customize the smokiness of your meat. The app alerts you when your meat has reached the desired temperature while also tracking your data, so you can adjust cook-times in case your last batch was over/undercooked. The downside with the app? With all the features, if your meat is cooked poorly, you have no one to blame but yourself.
Best E-Bike
Keeping up with the kids on a bike can be demanding, unless you have an e-bike. The Quiet Kat Jeep E-Bike ($6,699, available for pre-order) is a collaboration between two of the most proficient offroad brands, Jeep and Quiet Kat.
Though available at Jeep dealerships nationwide, there’s high demand (and a cult following) for these motorized wheels. It peaks at 1,500 watts so you’ll get up to speed in no time, and can reach speeds of 40 mph on a single charge. With nine speeds, extremely fat tires and a 300-pound load capacity for hauling gear, this all-terrain bike may be all you need on your next outing.
Most Comfortable Outdoor Chair
Every campsite needs comfortable seating. I’ve sat in a lot of outdoor chairs over the years and many of them are good, but the Kijaro Rok-It ($80.24) is amazing.
The rocking mechanism at the base of the back two legs allows you to bounce in a smooth motion that can only a real rocking chair can replicate. Sink into padded comfort. And when it’s time to move on, use the foot-press to fold down and collapse the chair with ease.
I found myself returning to this booth with sore feet and tired legs for a quick break before continuing my trek through the tent-canyons of gear!
Best Canine First Aid Solution
My family has a beautiful yet clumsy Great Pyranese named ShoneKey. She tends to get herself into trouble, especially during our outdoor outings, and it seems we’re never properly prepared for her injuries.
That’s why I was excited to discover the Wolf Pack from Uncharted Supply ($89), a first aid kit for dogs that doubles as a dog collar. Simply strap it onto your dog and forget about it until it’s needed. The best part? It includes items specific to canine injuries, but also basics you can use on a human.
Best Backpack Cooler (and Hydration Center)
Every family gathering needs liquids. And when that gathering is in the outdoors, those liquids have to go with you.
The ChillBak 30 from Camelbak includes a roll-top style main compartment that will fit dozens of bottles/cans. It’s connected to a 6L reservoir that zips away in the back panel. The reservoir attaches to a hose and spigot, to double as a cleaning hose if needed.
The shoulder straps allow this portable cooler to go wherever you do. Don’t worry about your drinks getting warm — this bag will keep ice frozen for 48 hours or more.
Best Tandem Canoe
You organized an outing to reconnect with nature, but also to reconnect with each other. There’s no better place to do this than on a peaceful stretch of water, inside a stable yet stylish canoe.
The Boundary Waters from Wenonah (starts at $3,199) is designed for stability, with an extra-wide gunwale (middle section), low stern height (to catch less wind) and seating that keeps your weight centered. Different styles of hull offer different levels of weight and ruggedness.
Most Versatile Headlamp
There are lots of headlamps out there, but the Snap Solo ($35) works well out in the field as well as inside your garage. The magnetic head of the lamp easily detaches and reattaches to any metal surface.
Hunched under the hood of a car? Squeezing into a dimly lit space? Attach this headlamp to any metal surface while in civilization, and then return it to its headstrap you’re ready to hit the outdoors. This is one headlamp that you’ll use even when you aren’t camping.
