Mady Koller

Spandex—the now ubiquitous elastic apparel fiber—has exploded in popularity since its inception in the '50s, starting out as a replacement for rubber in garments—like women’s girdles—and becoming a staple in the athletic community. In fact, walk into any outdoor shop today and ...read more

Fifty-two million acres protected. Three thousand, four hundred river miles preserved. Fourteen climbing areas saved. Five marine reserves preserved. Thirty-four dams halted or removed. The numbers John Sterling leaves behind him—after more than 20 years of protecting North ...read more

Many knew John Bresee as one of Backcountry’s founders, but many more knew him as a man who loved living on the edge. A strong intellect and wit drove him to constantly be seeking the extraordinary, and ultimately led him to his exceptionally successful life. He spent June 28, ...read more

Keep up by reading Industry Buzz. Here are today's top headlines: Have a news tip? Email us at [email protected] We broke down the Vista Outdoor boycott, with an inside look at the year-long feud and what we can learn from it. HBO and Teton Gravity Research just announced ...read more

Though shrouded in speculation and controversy, Cannabidiol—more commonly known as CBD—has quickly become trendy and it's emerging in the outdoor industry. Last year, the U.S. saw the federal decriminalization of hemp with the Farm Bill, further opening markets to the cannabis ...read more

Keep up by reading Industry Buzz. Here are today's top headlines: Have a news tip? Email us at [email protected] Outdoor Industry Association chimed in on the introduction of the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act 2019: “America’s diverse and unique wildlife are not only ...read more

Keep up by reading Industry Buzz. Here are today's top headlines: Have a news tip? Email us at [email protected] Amy Roberts is leaving Outdoor Industry Association and heading to The North Face to become the new senior director of communications and corporate social ...read more

Keep up by reading Industry Buzz. Here are today's top headlines: Have a news tip? Email us at [email protected] Big Agnes recently announced an expansion of its international sales and distribution in Europe. Those actions include hiring new sales personnel in Europe and ...read more

Keep up by reading Industry Buzz. Here are today's top headlines: Have a news tip? Email us at [email protected] Outdoor Industry Association released this statement regarding the recent restart on the U.S./China trade talks: “We welcome news that there is a pause in the ...read more

Keep up by reading Industry Buzz. Here are today's top headlines: Have a news tip? Email us at [email protected] Enrollment for the fifth class of the Skip Yowell Future Leadership Academy is open. The six-month immersive program is designed to help prepare the next wave of ...read more

The world is facing a plastic crisis: The once-pristine beaches of Bali are so overwhelmed by trash, they're totally unrecognizable; videos of sea turtles having plastic straws removed from their noses are going viral; and tiny fragments of plastic have been found in even the ...read more

One of the biggest themes at this year’s Outdoor Retailer show has been sustainability—in gear, in booth design, and in the choices attendees are making on the trade show floor. Amy Horton, the Outdoor Industry Association's Senior Director of SUSTA, sat down to talk with us ...read more

Any mountain biker can tell you that the clipless-versus-flat-pedals debate is the oldest and most heated in the community, and one that often turns casual conversation into childish warfare. An avid mountain biker and founder of Hustle Bike Labs, Craig Payne is no stranger to ...read more

Keep up by reading Industry Buzz. Here are today's top headlines: Have a news tip? Email us at [email protected] Outdoor apparel brand Columbia Sportswear testified in front of the Office of the US Trade Representative (USTR) in Washington against the proposed tariffs on ...read more

We talk with one of the leaders of the Plastic Impact Alliance, Michelle Fleming of Stanley, about the industry’s cohesive mindfulness around single-use plastic at Outdoor Retailer and what’s next for the Alliance. ...read more

Keep up by reading Industry Buzz. Here are today's top headlines: Have a news tip? Email us at [email protected] Rising Chinese tariffs will result in as much as a 15 percent increase in price for products in the outdoor industry. The U.S. Department of the Interior's ...read more

The Oberalp Group added a fifth name to its repertoire of mountain sport brands today with the acquisition of the popular climbing company, Evolv. “The addition of EVOLV allows us to offer a complete solution for rock climbers when paired with our WILD COUNTRY brand, an ...read more

We’re sitting down with Outdoor Product Design and Development Program Coordinator Chase Anderson to talk student accomplishments, upcycled chalk-bags, and the future of the OPDD program. ...read more

Bringing inclusivity, positivity, and heels into the outdoors, backcountry queen Pattie Gonia and SNEWS reporter Ronald V. E. Griswell talk mindfulness around plastics and how we each have a responsibility to make the world a cleaner place. ...read more

When we find a symbol or a character that bears significance, oftentimes we will lovingly tattoo it on our skin as a way to always keep it with us. Deejo wants you to be able to take those beloved designs and turn an every day item into something meaningful with their ...read more

As society becomes increasingly more concerned with the impact individuals have on the environment, it's only natural that "green" alternatives will pop up to replace older and more harmful models. The outdoor industry is definitely no exception to that. Foothill Fuels has ...read more

In December 2018, expanded polystyrene (EPS) foam—more commonly known as Styrofoam—was officially banned from Maui's shores. Darrell Jobe, who was vacationing on those pristine beaches the same weekend, was completely on board with the idea. Upon entering a store to find a ...read more

On April 27, 2019, Merrell sent 23 photographers and filmmakers all around the world to capture the global diversity that exists on the trail. "The trail is a great unifier, and our goal with the One Trail project is simply to demonstrate that," says Strick Walker, CMO at ...read more

Smart marketing: In honor of MSR’s 50 anniversary this year, its PR company, Verde Brand Communications, dug deep into the archives and posted three press releases from 1960s, ‘70s, and ‘80s. It’s a glimpse back in time to when the company was “an organization of persons ...read more

Jonathan Ballesteros, founder and CEO of Geyser Systems, created his product when he was faced with a blind date after spending five days in the Australian outback with no shower. As he frantically scrubbed away at the layer of grime covering his body with only a washcloth, he ...read more

East Coast waves are notoriously fickle and the surf is often plagued with flat spells, but for surf and skate brand Jetty it was just an excuse to follow their own line. This soon became Jetty's "calling card"—thriving from the challenges of bipolar seasons and changeable ...read more

Non-profit outdoor alliance Maine Outdoor Brands announced that it has elected Jenny Kordick as full-time executive director. Kordick comes from The Wilderness Society in Washington, D.C. and Maine, and will officially start the week of Outdoor Retailer. Scott W. Crook, ...read more

Scott W. Crook, outdoorsman, limerick enthusiast, and co-founder of Pack Rat Outdoor Center in Fayetteville, Arkansas, passed away on June 10, 2019. He was surrounded by those he loved as slipped from one adventure to the next. The byproducts of his kindness, honesty, and ...read more

Global industrial manufacturer Milliken & Company has just announced that it has signed an agreement to acquire Polartec, LLC from Versa Capital Management. Versa acquired the assets of the former Malden Mills in 2007 through the then 101-year-old textile manufacturer’s third ...read more

Outdoor Retailer has partnered with Nalgene to get a 32-ounce plastic Nalgene bottle into every set of hands attending Summer Market next week. And there will be no shortage of places to fill them, either. With more refill stations in common areas and scores of Plastic Impact ...read more

The Yading Kora is a holy pilgrimage around the base of three sacred mountains high in the Himalayan hinterlands of southwest China. It's said that, once completed, the effort will cleanse a person of an entire lifetime of negative karma. The Kora, a film by Joey Schusler, ...read more

Could backpacking insurance increase your time outside? More and more people are cutting down on their time outside to avoid the high healthcare costs often associated with the industry. After being injured himself, Charles Merritt developed an on-demand accident insurance ...read more

The world of magazine publishing is changing rapidly as the expectation of digital content becomes the standard. Today, consumers are less inclined to stop and pick up a magazine and more likely to pick up their phones. In a screen-dominated society, print magazines are looking ...read more

Justine Barone started Gearo after a failed attempt to find a place for her and her husband to rent paddleboards for a day-trip. Having faced this problem several times, she dug a little deeper and discovered that while many specialty shops offer rental programs, they struggle ...read more

Last we heard from Maine-based startup Flowfold, the team—armed with new backpack prototypes—was headed up for a quick summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro. Now more than a year later we caught up with COO and President of Sales James Morin to talk about their new Gorham, Maine, ...read more

Today we launched an exciting new column called HER Voice in partnership with LifeStraw. Managing Director Alison Hill kicks things off with an overview of the project: "Our goal for this column is to continue adding to the rich conversation that already exists, to highlight new ...read more

Mountain Hardwear has fully launched its high-fidelity Augmented Reality shopping app, featuring its completely redesigned equipment line. The app is meant to limit time needed to visit retail stores, decrease difficulty of in-store setup, and limit the guesswork of online ...read more

Keep up by reading Industry Buzz. Here are today's top headlines: Have a news tip? Email us at [email protected] Outdoor Industry Association released its 2018 Annual Report. OutsidePR hired Kelsey McGrew as new Senior Account Executive. “Kelsey is a driven and passionate ...read more

When you think of bachelor parties, you think of booze, wild nights, and...rafts? Filmmaker Thomas Woodson brings to life the ultimate bachelor party as ten friends get together to celebrate one last adventure with their soon-to-be-married friend Mason. Can't Ski Vegas follows ...read more

Keep up by reading Industry Buzz. Here are today's top headlines: Have a news tip? Email us at [email protected] OIA Global and Ditto Sustainable Brand Solutions created a program called Garments On Ditto that makes removing plastic from retailers simpler. The program ...read more

Located on the shores of its namesake lake, Whitefish, Montana, is known for its dramatic outdoor vistas. But in the charming resort town, The Toggery has become its own kind of destination. Originally opened as Frank’s Shirt Shop in 1947 by Frank and Jessie Stephens, the store ...read more

Keep up by reading Industry Buzz. Here are today's top headlines: Have a news tip? Email us at [email protected] Outdoor Retailer announced the finalists for the ninth annual Inspiration Awards. The Inspiration Awards recognize people who inspire others to enjoy outdoor ...read more

Every year, Americans spend more on outdoor recreation than they do on pharmaceuticals and fuel, combined, the Outdoor Industry Association (OIA) reports. The outdoor recreation economy generates $887 billion in annual consumer spending, 7.6 million jobs, $65.3 billion in federal ...read more

Keep up by reading Industry Buzz. Here are today's top headlines: Have a news tip? Email us at [email protected] Cotopaxi is living up to their creed to Do Good. They announced in a recent press release that they will adopt the Higg Index standard in an effort to increase ...read more

Keep up by reading Industry Buzz. Here are today's top headlines: Have a news tip? Email us at [email protected] The Outdoor Business Climate Partnership (OBCP)—comprised of the Outdoor Industry Association, Snowsports Industries America and the National Ski Areas ...read more

Seeking affordable living in an outdoor space, avid mountain bikers and partners Jen Zeuner and Anne Keller found themselves in Fruita, Colorado, a town once known as being one of the most conservative in the state. Despite a lukewarm welcome, the two decided to open a ...read more

Keep up by reading Industry Buzz. Here are today's top headlines: Have a news tip? Email us at [email protected]. President Donald Trump proposed tariffs on all imports from China, including outdoor footwear and apparel; the public comment period starts in June. Outdoor ...read more

Keep up by reading Industry Buzz. Here are today's top headlines: Have a news tip? Email us at [email protected]. As part of his “Five Deeps” Expedition”, businessman Victor Vescovo dove 35,849 feet down the Mariana Trench—and found a plastic bag. In a study released in ...read more