Main image: The Vango F10 Classic was showcased at the Outdoor Trade Show 2025 | Credit: Chris Townsend
The annual Outdoor Trade Show, held at the Exhibition Centre in Liverpool’s docklands is a great opportunity to catch up with brands large and small, friends old and new, and for us at The Great Outdoors to find out which new gear will be in the shops and on our reviewing roster next year.
Having so many brands together also reveals general themes and trends. Sustainability remains a significant and growing theme for us all as outdoor lovers, reflected in the materials and production of the outdoor kit available. Greener choices are increasingly mainstream, which is as it should be.
One significant change is Gore ending the production of Paclite, a staple of mid-range lightweight waterproofs for many years. Some companies are now using Pertex Shield, others their own proprietary fabrics. It’ll be interesting to see how these alternatives to Paclite perform.
Weight was a theme too, or rather – less of it. In quite a few cases, new materials and construction methods have enabled product designers to reduce the weight of established models without lessening performance (or, in some cases, even improving it). New models are lighter than the ones they replace too. These changes are right across product categories from tents to boots.
Most of these products won’t appear in the shops until 2026 and won’t be found on brand websites until then either. We will of course be testing them in the coming months. In the meantime, take a look at our latest gear guides.
Aku footwear with BOA Fit System
The BOA micro-adjustable dial fit system is an excellent alternative to laces that I really like, though it’s not found on much footwear. In 2026, it’ll appear on new Aku hiking boots and trail shoes. The Furiosa BOA Trek GTX boots and Furiosa BOA GTX shoes also have EVA midsoles and Vibram Megagrip outsoles. Costs are £220 for the boots and £190 for the shoes. The latter are also available without Gore-Tex (hurray!), for those of us who prefer non-lined, breathable footwear.
Lowa ATR collection
Lowa’s ATR range of footwear is designed for trail running but looks excellent for long-distance hiking, especially the flagship model, the Skyterra. This has a DYNATPE midsole that is said to have better durability, cushioning, and rebound properties than PU or EVA and to provide greater comfort and consistent forward momentum. The outsole is the Vibram TRAC ULTRA 2 with 4.5mm lugs. The uppers are made from mesh reinforced in high-wear areas and there’s a robust toe guard. The cost is £160.
Vango revives the Force 10 with an ultralight version
Back in the 1960s Vango launched the Force 10 tent with double A poles, a ridge pole, and, for the first time, a porch. The tent has been a mainstay of outdoor organisations ever since as it’s tough and very wind resistant, often being the last tent standing after a big storm. Force 10s are heavy though. Now Vango is making a lightweight version from modern materials, the Force 10 Classic UL 2, which weighs just 2.5kg. The design is the same as the original. The A-Frame though is made from carbon and the flysheet from 10D ripstop nylon with silicone on one side, PU on the other. The seams are taped. I think it looks fantastic!
Long waterproof jackets from Mont Adventure
New to the UK is Australian company Mont Adventure Equipment. Amongst the many excellent-looking items I particularly like the Odyssey Jacket as it’s mid-thigh length, bucking the waist high alpine trend of recent years and offering extra protection in foul weather. It’s a 3-layer garment made from the company’s proprietary Hydronaute Pro fabric. This has a hydrophilic membrane and has a 20,000+mm hydrostatic head and a 30,000+ g/m2 MVTR, so it should perform well. The jacket also has a YKK AquaGuard zips, pit zips, wired hood, and chest and handwarmer pockets. A medium size weighs 745g. The cost is £370.
Gregory Baltoro and Deva now more comfortable, more durable and lighter
The excellent, large load carrying men’s Baltoro and women’s Deva packs have been extensively updated for 2026 with an all-new harness using three layers of EVA foam sewn into a 3D shape to give improved comfort and load stability, and an auto-angle yoke to adapt to your body shape. There’s now a grippy panel at the back of the hipbelt to stop any slippage here. Better durability comes the removal of easily damaged mesh from exterior pockets. Gregory is collaborating with Garmin as a co-promotion and the harness stretch pocket is now big enough for a Garmin inReach. The packs are now lighter too. The Baltoro 75 was 2.43kg, now 2.26kg. The Deva 70 was 2.3kg, now 2.15kg. Costs are £320 for the Baltoro 75/Deva 70, £300 for the Baltoro 65/Deva 60.
Terra Nova solo tent pitches with trekking poles
Trekking pole shelters have been favourites of mine for many years. Terra Nova is now making a solo one, the iO 1, that looks excellent. In design it’s similar to the well-established Terra Nova Laser tents but instead of the central hoop it pitches with two upright trekking poles. As well as cutting weight this also has the advantage of more headroom than with a hoop. There are two porches too. The flysheet is made from a recycled silicone nylon and polyester composite fabric with a 3000mm hydrostatic head. The weight including stuffsacks is 1.14kg.
