For the first time, Outdoor Retailer landed in Minneapolis, and Snowshoe Magazine was there to see what’s next for winter.
The move to Minnesota felt fitting. This is a place that knows snow, ice and outdoor recreation, and the show brought together familiar names, emerging brands and plenty of gear we hadn’t seen before.
Snowshoe Magazine has covered Outdoor Retailer for more than a decade, reporting on winter gear innovations, new snowshoe designs and industry trends. This year’s show offered an opportunity to continue that tradition while discovering some of the smaller companies bringing fresh ideas to outdoor recreation.
We walked the floor with one question in mind: What should snowshoers have on their radar this winter?
Some of the most interesting discoveries weren’t snowshoes at all. They were products designed to make cold-weather adventures more comfortable, introduce new ways to enjoy winter or solve everyday challenges on the trail.
Here are eight that caught our attention.
Redfeather Outdoors Expands Beyond Snowshoes
It wouldn’t be an Outdoor Retailer roundup for Snowshoe Magazine without snowshoes.
Redfeather Outdoors has been part of the snowshoe industry for decades, and it was good to reconnect with the Wisconsin-based manufacturer in Minneapolis.
While Redfeather remains a familiar name among recreational snowshoers and racers, the company’s expansion beyond snowshoes is particularly interesting.
In 2026, Redfeather opened a new flagship store in Ely, Minnesota, near the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. Alongside its snowshoe lineup, the company has expanded into composite canoes and other outdoor equipment.
It’s an interesting evolution for a company with deep roots in winter recreation. The new store also gives Redfeather a presence in a destination known for both paddling and snowshoeing.
For snowshoers, Redfeather remains a brand worth watching, both for its traditional equipment and its broader approach to outdoor adventure.
Explore: Redfeather Outdoors
Read More: Meet the New Redfeather Outdoors
Ulko Gear Takes on Cold-Weather Breathing
Cold, dry air is one of winter’s less enjoyable challenges, particularly for snowshoers who train or race in low temperatures.
Ulko Gear caught our attention with its Talvi Air Gaiter 2.0, a breathing accessory designed to help winter athletes manage exposure to cold air.
Unlike a conventional fabric face covering, the Talvi Air incorporates a heat-exchange component intended to retain some warmth and moisture from exhaled air.
It’s an interesting approach to a familiar problem, especially for snowshoers, runners and Nordic skiers who spend extended periods exercising outdoors.
We’ve been in touch with Ulko Gear about its technology and look forward to learning more about how the product performs in real winter conditions.
Explore: Ulko Gear
Read More: The Effects of Chronic Cold Air Exposure on Winter Athletes (Sponsored Content)
Wild Ice Skating Opens Another Door to Winter
One of the most visually striking discoveries at Outdoor Retailer wasn’t a snowshoe at all.
It was wild ice skating.
The skates caught our attention immediately, but so did the people behind them and the possibilities for exploring winter landscapes in a different way.
For snowshoers, the crossover is easy to appreciate. We’re already drawn to frozen lakes, snowy trails and outdoor adventures that make the most of the colder months.
And in places where lakes freeze before significant snowfall arrives, skating offers another way to enjoy the season.
Of course, natural ice demands careful assessment, appropriate safety equipment and local knowledge. Conditions can change quickly, and no frozen body of water should be assumed safe.
Still, wild ice skating is a sport we’d like to explore further, from the equipment and destinations to the people helping introduce newcomers to it.
LEVE Outdoor Co. Brings a Family Story to Lightweight Layers
One of the most enjoyable parts of Outdoor Retailer was meeting smaller companies with interesting stories behind their products.
LEVE Outdoor Co. was one of them.
Its Alpha 90 Hoody uses Polartec Alpha Direct insulation to create a lightweight, breathable layer designed for active outdoor use.
For snowshoers, layering can be a balancing act. You’re warm while climbing, chilly when you stop and constantly adjusting clothing as conditions change.
A layer that provides warmth without adding much bulk is an appealing option.
What made LEVE particularly memorable, though, was the family story behind the business. The company grew from a collaboration between a grandson and his grandmother, bringing a personal dimension to its products.
It’s a reminder that some of the most interesting outdoor innovations come from small businesses with a practical idea and the determination to bring it to market.
Explore: LEVE Outdoor Co.
CleanTrek Makes Trail Cleanup Part of the Adventure
Every once in a while, you come across a product that makes you wonder why someone didn’t think of it sooner.
That was our reaction to CleanTrek.
The concept combines a trekking pole with a tool for picking up litter along the trail.
For hikers and snowshoers who already use poles, it’s a clever way to incorporate trail stewardship into an ordinary outing.
And the idea extends beyond winter. From neighborhood parks to mountain trails and river access points, litter is an ongoing challenge in outdoor recreation areas.
We’d be interested in seeing how CleanTrek performs in snowy conditions, particularly while wearing winter gloves.
But the concept itself is worth highlighting.
Sometimes outdoor innovation isn’t about going faster or farther. It’s about leaving the places we explore a little better than we found them.
Mainers Keeps Winter Hands Warm
Some Outdoor Retailer encounters introduce us to entirely new companies. Others offer a chance to reconnect with familiar brands.
Mainers falls into the latter category.
Mittens may not be the most glamorous piece of winter equipment, but anyone who has spent hours snowshoeing in freezing temperatures knows how important they are.
Warmth matters, of course. But so does the ability to handle trekking poles, adjust snowshoe bindings and manage equipment without constantly exposing your hands to the cold.
Mainers remains a company we’re interested in following as we prepare for another winter season.
Explore: Mainers
Read More: Keep Your Hands, Feet, and Head Warm for Snowshoeing
Love Your Melon Adds Purpose to Winter Warmth
Minnesota-based Love Your Melon stood out with its colorful knit hats and a mission that extends beyond outdoor apparel.
The company supports children facing cancer through charitable initiatives and partnerships, bringing a give-back component to its winter accessories.
For snowshoers, a warm beanie is practically standard equipment. But Love Your Melon adds another reason to consider the brand.
Its products combine everyday winter functionality with a charitable mission, making them an appealing option for people who want their purchases to have a broader impact.
Explore: Love Your Melon
Gear Envie Rethinks the Traditional Gaiter
Gaiters are familiar territory for snowshoers, but Gear Envie caught our attention with a different approach.
Its Hikas are compact ankle gaiters designed to help keep dirt, debris and moisture out of footwear.
Created by a mother-daughter team, the product offers an alternative to the larger gaiters commonly used for hiking and winter recreation.
Hikas aren’t necessarily a replacement for traditional gaiters in deep snow, but their compact design could make them useful for lighter outings and changing trail conditions.
It’s another example of a small company rethinking a familiar piece of outdoor equipment.
Explore: Gear Envie
Small Brands, Big Ideas
Beyond the individual products, one of the most interesting aspects of Outdoor Retailer was its emphasis on emerging businesses.
The Garage Grown Gear and Founded Outdoors Pavilion gave independent entrepreneurs an opportunity to introduce their products to retailers, media and outdoor enthusiasts.
These companies often begin with a simple observation: something about the outdoor experience could work better.
A different gaiter. A lighter jacket. A tool that makes cleaning up trails easier.
And while the products may be small, the stories behind them are often what make them memorable.
For Snowshoe Magazine, meeting those entrepreneurs was one of the highlights of the show.
Looking Ahead to Winter
Outdoor Retailer’s Minneapolis debut offered a reminder that snowshoeing is part of a much larger world of winter recreation.
We may head outside with snowshoes strapped to our feet, but the experience also depends on the layers we wear, the accessories we carry and the ways we choose to explore and protect the outdoors.
Some of these brands are already familiar to our readers. Others are just beginning to find their audience.
We’ll be following several of them as winter approaches and looking for opportunities to put their products to the test.
What new winter gear are you most interested in trying this season? We’d love to hear from you.
Leave a Comment