SNEWS Your source for outdoor, snow sports, and adventure travel news
5 Hispanic outdoor gear designers you should know
September 15 to October 15 marks National Hispanic Heritage Month and in honor of the rich cultural traditions of our Hispanic neighbors, friends, and colleagues, SNEWS would like you to meet five designers with roots in Mexico, Ecuador, and Peru. Some have worked in the industry ...read more
Ron Griswell is on a mission to build a more diverse pipeline of talent in the outdoor industry
In 2013, Ron Griswell took a break from college at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University (NCA&TSU) to figure out what he wanted to do with his life. “I moved to Minneapolis and got into outdoor guiding and education,’” said Griswell, who took a job working ...read more
REI sells new campus to Facebook for $390 million
REI announced yesterday that it has sold its new, 400-square-foot office complex in Bellevue, Washington, to Facebook for $390 million, less than 30 days after putting it on the market and just three months after the outdoor retailer boycotted the tech giant for its handling of ...read more
The numbers don't lie: VF is serious about inclusion
VF Corporation released its 2020 Inclusion and Diversity Annual Profile to the public in recent days, providing an in-depth look at the company’s global efforts to create a highly inclusive culture that celebrates the diversity among its 50,000 employees. The report—the first ...read more
Recent Press Releases
Since 1984, SNEWS has been the outdoor industry’s most trusted source for trade news, company and retailer profiles, outdoor politics and issues, gear trends, and important interviews with power players.
Catch up on all the stories that are making news in the outdoor industry
Industry Buzz: Patagonia hides political message on clothing tags, body recovered in Colorado, ski ticket changes, Jeremy Jones, outdoor voters
Industry headlines: Intriguing reads from around the web Vote the assholes out: Patagonia hid a provocative message on the back of some clothing tags this season. People just recently noticed, and the revelation is now making waves on the internet. [BACKPACKER] Body recovered in ...read more
MEC will eliminate its co-op structure under new ownership
The Canadian retail chain Mountain Equipment Co-op announced yesterday a unanimous decision by its board of directors to sell substantially all of its assets to Kingswood Capital Management, a Los Angeles-based private investment firm. Under the new ownership, the 22-location ...read more
Industry Buzz: Big year for bikes, backpacker found dead, fishing participation increases, Alex Honnold gets married, National Clean Up Day
Industry headlines: Intriguing reads from around the web The most “interesting” year in decades: Why 2021 is shaping up to be one of the most eventful years in recent memory for the cycling industry. [Bicycle Retailer] Backpacker found dead: A black bear was discovered scavenging ...read more
Gearmunk postpones Thin Air Show for a second time
The much-touted virtual media show called Thin Air, originally scheduled to run in June and subsequently pushed to mid-September, has been postponed again, this time to an unspecified date later in the fall. The show's parent company, Gearmunk, maintains that the event will run, ...read more
Industry Buzz: Climbing chalk virus transmission, Patagonia's new film, TGR opens new shop, Yvon Chouinard's advice, Oboz expands team
Industry headlines: Intriguing reads from around the web Climbing chalk is safe: A new study suggests powdered climbing chalk is unlikely to transmit the coronavirus. [Climbing] Patagonia’s new film: Don’t miss “Public Trust,” premiering September 25, about the ongoing battle for ...read more
New data shows the outdoor industry heading in the right direction
It's hard to believe, but the latest data from the Outdoor Recreation Roundtable showing a 65 percent year-over-year decrease in sales among outdoor businesses actually counts as good news. Of course, it's all about context. ORR, in partnership with the Oregon State University ...read more
Industry Buzz: National Forests close, racism on the trail, bike assembly fees, OIA needs your input, the shift toward lower-priced gear
Industry headlines: Intriguing reads from around the web A tragic loss: Janette Heung, former deputy director at the Colorado OREC office, died in a climbing accident in Wyoming this weekend. Our hearts go out to her family, friends, and colleagues. Fires ravage California: The ...read more
Outdoor Trend Report, Part 3: Promoting inclusion through affordable gear
[This is part three of a three-part series on 2020 gear trends. Read part one here and part two here.] Holly Phillips grew up in Ona, West Virginia, exploring the outdoors on fishing trips with her dad. The two would set out on a Friday evening, camp near a river, and start ...read more
Land acknowledgments 101
These days, land or territory acknowledgments are increasingly common, often made at the outset of public gatherings. In our industry, where we are reliant on a strong connection to the land and nature, these types of acknowledgments are more important than ever, as they address ...read more
Industry Buzz: Exxel acquisition, Outdoor Economy Conference news, Salomon's latest sustainability efforts, Conrad Anker, coronavirus rebound, and more
Industry headlines: Intriguing reads from around the web Exxel Outdoors, parent company to Kelty, Sierra Designs, Ultimate Direction and others has acquired Compass 360, maker of fishing, hunting, and outdoor products. Darby Communications has been tapped to head up PR efforts ...read more
Are you bullish or bearish on the outdoor industry in the next six month?
We all wish we had a crystal ball, especially in these unprecedented times. The coronavirus pandemic has crushed many outdoor businesses, small and large, while some segments of the outdoor industry have blossomed. How do you think your business will fare in the coming months? ...read more
Fjällräven faces lawsuit
In addition to decreased sales, supply-chain challenges, and coronavirus restrictions, outdoor brands and retailers are facing another obstacle brought on by the pandemic: potential eviction. In a lawsuit filed last week in Boulder County (Colorado), landlord Ten Eleven Pearl LLC ...read more