Learn more about the companies that comprise the outdoor industry.
Courtesy
Nobody covers outdoor gear companies like SNEWS. From breaking news to in-depth brand profiles to interviews with company leaders, we cover it all.
Learn about the latest product launches, the most innovative marketing initiatives, important safety recalls, mergers and acquisitions, and get to know all the companies that make up the outdoor industry: the new ones, the old ones, the big ones, and the small ones.
Don't get discouraged by the ongoing closures of sporting goods stores and other retailers because according to one expert, retail is making a comeback.Julia Clark Day, executive director of business development at NPD Group, is a number cruncher. With more than 20 years of ...read more
Elevator Pitches are written by the company and edited for space and clarity. They do not express the opinions of SNEWS or its editors.Ride the elevator with Curt Nichols, founder of Glade.This might just be the most comfortable shirt you’ve ever worn. Seriously, you need to feel ...read more
There’s hiking like it’s your job—and hiking because it actually is your job. This summer, the lucky employees of Steamboat Springs, Colorado-based Big Agnes (plus sister businesses Honey Stinger and retailer BAP) are in the latter category. The brands are staging an ambitious ...read more
NEMO employees love a good contest. While other companies announce “initiatives,” NEMO stages competitions that spark everyone’s urge to win—even if it’s just to claim the honor of being the fastest to load a backpack during the company campout. But the company’s latest challenge ...read more
Kevin Jorgeson has been climbing since before he can remember. He said his parents tell him stories of him ascending fences, trees, and ladders. But it wasn’t until he walked into a climbing gym at age 9 that his whole world opened up and changed the trajectory of his ...read more
We're all on the hunt for outdoor products that are going to enhance our experiences, and beer gear is no exception. On a recent 90-degree day in sunny Colorado, I drank beer from eight different vessels (with help from a few friends) designed to keep my beer ice-cold and ...read more
Elevator Pitches are written by the company and edited for space and clarity. They do not express the opinions of SNEWS or its editors.Ride the elevator with Bradley Spence, of Boulder Denim.Launched July 23 on Kickstarter, Boulder Denim’s Denim 2.0 features a proprietary ...read more
Tom DeFrancia filed his first patent on a cooler back in 2006 but abandoned finalizing it due to red tape with the patent office. It was the same year YETI launched its premium roto-molded coolers to the world, instantly creating a new, multimillion dollar market. DeFrancia ...read more
Whether you're mountain biking, running, or hiking, water is a must. And if you'd prefer to drink on the go, hydration packs are the best option over water bottles. Vote for your favorite brand and then tell us in the comments what outdoor activity you use a hydration pack for ...read more
It’s the late 1980s and Barry Barr is at the helm of a 32-foot commercial salmon fishing boat in Alaska’s Bering Sea. It’s a pretty good summer gig for him while studying at Washington State University, but there’s one nagging issue on the young captain’s mind (or off it, in this ...read more
Whenever Outdoor Retailer rolls around, it puts tons of outdoor brands on our radar. We find the latest products and hottest trends. But it’s also a time to be inspired by the companies that are doing fantastic things. Check out these five brands doing good across the globe. ...read more
When Kyle Parsons was walking the streets of Bali in 2004, one of his flip flops fell apart. Barefoot, Parsons went looking for a pair that really represented Bali. What he found was a pair with uppers made of grass and soles made of motorbike tires."I was really intrigued by the ...read more
Cliff Cox, plant manager of Chargeurs Wool, is an anomaly in the workforce. In an era when the average U.S. worker occupies 12 different jobs before age fifty, he’s held onto his job for four decades. “When I interviewed here, I said that I was looking for something that I could ...read more
“Made in the U.S.A.” is an increasingly important tag for outdoor gear. Among U.S. outdoor consumers, 30 percent are willing to pay more for products made in America, according to an Outdoor Industry Association ConsumerVue study. But, arguably, the most important piece for the ...read more
Farm to Feet celebrates its fifth-year anniversary, and it’s difficult to believe that such a well-oiled company was introduced as recently as the 2013 Outdoor Retailer winter show. Despite the brand’s choice to specialize in what was perceived by many as a saturated ...read more
The Sherpa Adventure Gear Yatra Pack is the backpack I didn’t need, but absolutely had to have. While it isn’t the most technical pack I own, it has all the bells and whistles essential for a day around town, or even for a short, cool day hike. And it's the perfect mix of trendy ...read more
Outdoor Retailer is the place to see, be seen, make connections, and generate buzz. And for emerging non-profit groups, buzz is what leads to action.Craghoppers, the UK-based adventure travel clothing company, wants to help emerging nonprofits grow. At Outdoor Retailer Summer ...read more
On the eve of its relaunch as a brand, GoLite brand manager, Josh Clifford, hit the road on a listening tour to gain insights on how GoLite can be an ideal partner to specialty outdoor retail stores. In a time when retailers often feel disenfranchised from the brands they work ...read more
The North Face has taken a new step to advance equity for all.Today, the iconic company announced its commitment as a Peak Partner with Camber Outdoors. Peak Partners contribute above membership dues to accelerate Camber Outdoors’ ability to develop programs that move the entire ...read more
Elevator Pitches are written by the company and edited for space and clarity. They do not express the opinions of SNEWS or its editors.Ride the elevator with A.J. Gonzales, founder of Infinite Coolers.The days of struggling to lug a cooler from Point A to Point B are over. As ...read more
A lightweight camp chair with a matching carrying case and blanket, all in a playful pattern—sounds like the perfect kit for lounging outdoors in style. Helinox this year is debuting this type of colorful chair in collaboration with Rumpl, the millennial puffy camping blanket ...read more
Vista Outdoor Inc. (NYSE: VSTO) is selling off its eyewear brands, Bollé, Cébé and Serengeti.An entity controlled by a significant European private equity fund entered into a definitive agreement with Vista Outdoor, according to a company news release.Earlier this year, Vista ...read more
BioLite began with a quest to give campers a better way to cook with wood—but call it a cooking company, and you miss the point. This brand’s true focus is developing energy for off-grid living, whether that’s in Yellowstone or Kenya. Because while some travelers prefer to unplug ...read more
Elevator Pitches are written by the company and edited for space and clarity. They do not express the opinions of SNEWS or its editors.Ride the elevator with Mick Scully, founder of Mr. Steak.Just in time for grilling season, Mr. Steak has announced a new line of portable grills ...read more