vs.

This is by far the biggest news, in our humble opinion, of this year's O.R. Granted we've only been here about 1/2 hour. Phew, that Utah beer may not have much alcohol, but you drink 2 cases of anything and you're going to be feeling it. Here are the details according to the official announcement from eVent and REI yesterday:

• "REI and eVent have agreed to launch a technical, high-end REI-branded outerwear collection made with eVent Fabrics""
• "For REI, the eVent fabrics collection will be a premium collection within its outerwea line"
• "REI's plans to initially roll out its new outerwear made with eVent fabrics into 70 REI stores nationwide in August"
• "REI will introduce three styles including men's and women's jackets and pants"

This is a huge coup for eVent. They've been trying to break the Gore-Tex monopoly in the US for years with little success and they now have their beach head. Actually more than a beach head, it's an all out frontal assault. Great news for consumers who will now have greater access to a fabric even the U.S. army claims is superior to Gortex. (Source: OR Daily)

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• eVent versus Gore-Tex Pro Shell: The Battle Lines Are Drawn

O.K. so 2006 didn't quite turn into the Year of the Kayak like we were expecting. And we skipped predictions in 2007 all together because we were hung over. But 2008 is all about pushing the envelope, and so we bring back our annual, "Year of" title. Think of it as a Chinese Zodiac, but for the outdoors. So, without further ado, we present 2008, the "Year of the Bike." Why do we feel so strongly about this? Lets just say there is something in the air. A convergence of sorts. You've got free bike programs sweeping the country. Utility bike buzz. City bike buzz. Portland becoming the world's first bike city. Whatever the means. The signs are all there folks. And if you need further evidence, let us present the piece de résistance. The harbingers of all that is cool, trendy, and forward looking. The Pitts. That's right, Brangelina were snapped riding urban bikes with kids in tow. No helmets mind you, which is an obvious comment on the sad state of helmet design. But that's another story. So to recap. All the signs are there. There's something in the air. 2008 is the Year of the Bike. You read it here first. Thanks for the Pitt Tip BH. Pictures: Ralph Notaro / Splash News