Fat lugs? Zero drop? Minimalist profile? Everyone has a preference when it comes to the kicks they take on the trail. More and more, hikers are swapping out their heavy-duty boots for lighter options, such as trail runners. We know everyone's feet and preferences are different, ...read more
Don't go a day without reading Industry Buzz or you might miss something. Here are today's top headlines: #ClimbTheHill: The American Alpine Club (AAC) and Access Fund teamed up this week in Washington D.C. for the third annual campaign to meet with law makers and advocate for ...read more
Whether you hit the rock climbing gym every once in a while or you're constantly rushing out of work to get in as many routes at the local crag before the sun goes down, we know you have a favorite pair of shoes. Some brands have been cobbling for decades and others are new to ...read more
One of Diana Seung’s favorite pieces in the new Backcountry.com line is a pair of knickers, light enough to fit under a ski bib but designed to keep women warm all day in the mountains. It was such a hit, men wanted them too, she said. Seung, the executive vice president of ...read more
Bobbi Gale Bensman has spent more than three decades working within the industry. She started back in 1981 at Desert Mountain Sports in Phoenix, Arizona, while climbing professionally at the same time. She retired from the climbing circuit in 1999, but continued building her ...read more
The SIA/WWSRA On-Snow Demo picked up where SIA demos have left off in previous years: On the welcoming slopes of Colorado’s Copper Mountain. Under bluebird skies, close to 3,400* retailers (1,000 more than last year), reps, manufacturers, media, and other show attendees gathered ...read more
The increasing popularity of climbing gyms isn’t a new story, but gym-specific gear is finally starting to catch up to the particular demands of the indoor setting—and the climbers who are flocking there in ever-larger numbers. “Gyms attract newer climbers, so simplified ...read more
We, the independent specialty retail shops, did all the legwork to create these customers. Without us, these companies wouldn't be here. I’m not sure there are many vendors that could survive without us, so I’m trying to help vendors balance capitalizing on the opportunities ...read more