Coronavirus news Outdoor brands shutter stores left and right: Many companies are closing all retail stores to prevent the spread of the virus, among them Merrell, REI, VF Corp., and Columbia. Some, including Patagonia, are halting ecommerce as well. End of the line: Ski resorts ...read more
Summer Market 2019 was just my third Outdoor Retailer show, so the experience still leaves me a little giddy and starstruck. This time around I met some of the founders behind my favorite brands, chatted with my Instagram heroes, and also cruised the show floor— attending panel ...read more
Didn’t make it to this year’s show? We’ve got you covered. We prowled the floor for three full days in search of new products that your customers will be scrambling for. Here are 25 of the most interesting products at this year’s Outdoor Retailer Summer Market. A “scrappy” ...read more
The massive collaborative effort to eliminate single-use plastic from Outdoor Retailer continues to gain steam, with less than two weeks until show time. Of the 200+ members of the Plastic Impact Alliance about 120 of them are exhibitors at OR and will be hosting in-booth water ...read more
An approach to a crag could be walking across a road or scrambling straight up scree, but either way, you want to feel safe and secure on asphalt or while traversing rocks. And you also don't want to be left lugging heavy, leather hiking boots up a route. These 11 brands seek to ...read more
Keep up by reading Industry Buzz. Here are today's top headlines: Have a news tip? Email us at snewsedit@aimmedia.com. Good To-Go's good deed: Through its DoBetter campaign and with the help of customers, Good To-Go donated one meal for every two purchased on their website and ...read more
Judges at the 2019 ISPO show crowned a big batch of brands with awards for developments in technology and design as well as safety and comfort. Check out the best of the best in the outdoor and snowsports divisions. Not pictured: Lagoped EVE Jacket and SUPA ...read more
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
