Well, folks, I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but my dreams of free soloing El Capitan have officially been crushed—by my own grip strength.
Royal Robbins had a fun little “hang challenge” at their booth, where you test how long you can hold onto the Finger grips on a large wooden cross beem, before gravity takes over. Sounds easy, right? WRONG. I confidently grabbed on, ready to channel my inner Alex Honnold, and… three seconds later, I was back on the ground, questioning why I never listened to my dada about grip strength and thinking of the grip workout I’ve always skipped. The Royal Robbins team had a good laugh, and I walked away with sore hands and a newfound respect for climbers (and maybe a need for some forearm exercises).
But hey, I didn’t come to OMA 2025 just to humiliate myself—I came to check out the latest and greatest in outdoor gear, and let me tell you, there is some seriously cool stuff hitting the market this year!
Day One Highlights: The Gear That Stood Out
🔹 Sidi MTB Aertis & Gravel Aertis – Big news for cyclists: Sidi is back in the U.S. market with a sleek, high-performance MTB and gravel shoe. These fit like a dream, and if you’re into fast, technical rides, they’re worth keeping an eye on.
🔹 Roll Recovery R8 Plus™ – After that Royal Robbins hang fail, I needed a good muscle recovery tool, and this was it. This deep tissue massage roller adjusts tension so you can get the perfect amount of pressure on those tired legs. Trail runners and hikers, this one’s for you.
🔹 Royal Robbins MTB Mosquito Apparel – Forget chemical sprays; these clothes keep bugs away with a smart fabric weave. I’m all for smelling like pine trees instead of DEET, so I’ll be putting this to the test this summer.
🔹 Vibram Mega Grip Elite – Vibram took their legendary sole, made it 50% thinner, just as durable, and ditched the glue. Lighter, stronger, and eco-friendlier? Sign me up.
🔹 Mountain House Cheesy Enchilada – New backpacking meal alert! I wasn’t expecting to be blown away by freeze-dried Mexican food, but this one had legit flavor. Spicy, cheesy, and exactly what you want after a long day on the trail.
Nite Ize Rachet Cam is a game changer
First Takeaways from OMA 2025
The biggest trends I’m seeing? Sustainability is everywhere (biodegradable midsoles, glue-free soles, responsibly sourced fabrics), recovery gear is on the rise, and tech-driven comfort is making outdoor adventures even better.
I’ve got a lot more gear to check out over the next couple of days, and I’ll be back with more highlights soon! In the meantime, let me know—what’s the piece of gear YOU’RE most excited to try this year? Drop a comment below!
#OMA2025 #OutdoorGear #SierraRecMagazine #TrailTested #GearPreview
