Trail Swag Visits The 2012 Toronto Outdoor Adventure Show

Trail Swag went on a road trip to visit the Toronto Outdoor Adventure Show at the International Centre, and boy, was there a lot to see!

We're always on the lookout for swag for you, and this year there are piles of contests. Just inside the entrance to the show enter draws for clothing, a messenger bag, compression socks, and a rafting weekend.

Tent City is in their usual spot just inside the door with deals on clothing and it always seems like the most popular section is their knapsack selection.

The show is split into numerous areas ranging from various food vendors, Scuba, Running & Cycling, Health & Fitness pavilions, to Ontario Travel and abroad. 

Parks Canada who just celebrated their 100th Birthday, had many great brochures and maps of destinations coast to coast for adventure enthusiasts. Proof again that Canada offers all sorts of visual beauty, Parks Canada was showing off destinations in Nunavut, each of them bordering on local towns that enrich the experience. 

Europe Bound in their regular corner always have interesting gadgets and gear on sale. You can easily spend time rummaging through their booth.

Get Out There was handing out goodie bags with the latest March/April edition of the magazine that just hit newsstands. Don't forget to pick up the 2012 Race Guide (which also includes the Reader's Choice award winners) for free as well!

The Ministry of Natural Resources was handing out pamphlets to educate people on bears. Since bears live in every part of Ontario, the easiest way to deal with them is to get to know them better through their hand-outs and their Bear Wise website.

Parks Canada had a booth in the Northern Ontario Pavilion to let you know of parks you may have not considered before such as Pukaskwa which can be accessed by land or water. With a beautiful shoreline, Pukaskwa is a gorgeous destination via sea-kayak.

The Ontario Parks 2012 Parks Guide, hot off the presses is at the show. Be sure to pick up your copy as these always disappear quickly.

Be sure to browse through the Ontario Parks booth for maps, Ontario Parks clothing and seasonal passes.

Be sure to chat with Ontario Parks Superintendents who are at the show who can show you some of their favourite routes. Paul Smith, Superintendent of the Kawartha Highlands Signature Site Park was at the show and I had a few minutes to ask him how he thought of the first year of the Kawartha Highlands Signature Site went. He said he was very pleased how well the park was received and he expected this year to be even busier than the last, especially now that the park has been added to the phone reservation system.

Ontario Parks also has a sweet prize pack of swag, so be sure to enter at their booth as well!

The Canadian Outdoor Equipment Company made their first appearance at the show who sell many traditional forms of camping equipment as well as exclusive gear such as Trangia camping stoves. 

There were plenty of Win the Superior contest forms which offer quite the prize pack.

Not one, or two, but three draws at the Scenic Caves booth. 

The Wilderness Canoe Association were at the show who recently added the top notch Canadian Canoe Routes website to their fold.

Many deals on paddles for canoeing and kayaking were offered by local vendors and craftsmen.

The Ontario Travel booth offered live music throughout the day.

Stop by the Scuba Pavilion to learn more about the Ontario Underwater Explorers Scuba Club and the Etobicoke Underwater Club.

Here's Swift's new Keewaydin Canoe with the Flax Fusion laminate.

Swift will gladly spend the time to help you pick out a canoe or kayak that is right for you.

Taste of Nature was in the Health and Fitness Zone and I found The Go Ontario granola bar interesting as it is made from fruit locally sourced from Ontario! Support local!

Le Baron is paying the tax at their booth, and don't forget to pick up their new 2012 catalog for only $2.

There are frequent demonstrations all day long at the 30' x 50' NWT White Water Demo Pool.

There were great live demonstrations such as how to help your fellow paddler get back into their kayak after being upended.

Kevin Callan gave talks at the Ontario Travel booth on what gear to bring, how to pack your camping equipment, how to hide your food from scrounging bears and which type of camping stove might be best suited for you.

A volunteer from the crowd took Kevin up on his offer to show how a flint can work as a firestarter, however not as a speedy result.

Kevin's brand new DVD The Happy Camper's Wilderness Quest launched at the show and you can purchase it for the first time at the show.

Eureka Tents had many of their new tents on display as well as their new 2012 catalog.

After all of these booths, I've just shown you a sampling of what there is at the show. Head on down to the International Centre all weekend to explore what the Toronto Outdoor Adventure Show has to offer!