Almost every adventure starts with a backpack, making it one of the key categories in any retail shop. And selling packs successfully (and responsibly) requires deep technical knowledge of features, fitting, and use. Our free online course will help any sales associate—seasoned ...read more
Hot New Products are written by the company and edited for space and clarity. The column was previously called Elevator Pitch. They do not express the opinions of SNEWS or its editors. Pitched by Greg McEvilly, founder of Kammok: We're unveiling Kammok's first lineup of ...read more
On Feb. 28, 2015, Greg Thomsen held a reunion for about 60 former Wilderness Experience employees at his home in Malibu, California. He and his brother, Jim, founded Wild X as a guiding business in 1971 before it evolved into an iconic outdoor gear manufacturer with hundreds of ...read more
From backpacks to surf bags, Dakine has been making gear for outdoor enthusiasts since its founding on Maui's North Shore in 1979. The brand will continue to do so, though under the wing of a growing brand management company. Marquee Brands LLC announced that it has acquired ...read more
After 36 years running River Sports Outfitters, Founder Ed McAlister knows what resonates with customers—but he always keeps an open mind when seeing new gear and brands. Nearly 50 brands—from A to Z and from big name to up-and-coming—mix together on his shelves and in the ...read more
The Mammut Trion Nordwand 20L was made for extreme alpinist pursuits, but I found that it's just as useful for aspiring mountaineers because it's made to last. Mainly, the tougher-than-steel Dyneema ripstop nylon material will hold up through training climbs and stay in tact in ...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
Two Harbors, MN — July 9, 2018 - Granite Gear introduces the Blaze 60 multi-day hiking backpack, an update to their original, award-winning Blaze A.C. 60. Built to go the distance with comfort and durability, the Blaze 60 weighs only three pounds with a 50-pound load rating, ...read more
A backpack for $3.50? Is it too good to be true? The Quechua 10-liter hiking pack comes in seven colors and with a 10-year guarantee. The brand is under Decathlon, a French sporting goods retailer that keeps its prices low by designing and producing its own products for 50 ...read more
Planning around today’s fickle consumer can be as frustrating as business planning around today’s political environment. Add in shifting climate and weather patterns that make holiday planning more like closeout planning, throw in a dash of digital retail disruption, mix a few ...read more
Everyone has their favorite backpack. I personally have one that travelled all over the world with me, including collecting rock samples in Namibia. It was great for that, but it’s not great for everything. I can’t take it into the office, and it doesn’t fit well on a bike. ...read more
It's a simple question, but maybe not so simple an answer. Who do you think makes the best backpacks? ...read more
In the Pre-Show Edition of Outdoor Retailer Daily Summer Market 2017, you'll find the hottest new gear from dozens of brands coming to the show. For the cover, we camped out in the Roosevelt National Forest near Boulder and set the stage with 2018 gear from Wenzel (which might ...read more
