"If there's any pattern to all this, it's to expect delays. Which categories, brands, or products—that's anybody's guess. It's best to just assume everything will be delayed and end up pleasantly surprised if it's not." That's Eastside Sports owner Todd Vogel's take on the state ...read more
Industry headlines: Intriguing reads from around the web Taking the edge off a stressful day: As you anxiously await the results of the election, consider turning off the news for a little while and clearing your mind with this livestream of polar bears. It might do you good. ...read more
[This is part two of a three-part series on 2020 gear trends. Read part one here.] With all due respect to the many great outdoor sock brands out there, let’s be honest: For most consumers, socks are a commodity. So when the folks at Nester Hosiery, a North Carolina sockmaker, ...read more
After all but losing spring 2020 to the pandemic, retailers and consumers alike are looking for gear to get excited about in 2021. So excited, in fact, that we decided to add their votes to our ranking of next season’s top products. Together, we’ve pored over, narrowed down, and ...read more
Industry headlines: Intriguing reads from around the web Mark Satkiewicz Memorial Fund: After the passing of our colleague Mark Satkiewicz last weekend, a fund has been created in his name to provide gear and resources to Steamboat Springs youth. Celebrate the newest outdoor ...read more
In this episode of First Look, our Editor-in-Chief, Kristin Hostetter, sat down with Erika Derylo, brand marketing manager of Merrell to discuss the evolution of the Moab franchise: the new Moab Speed and Moab Flight shoes. Some highlights we cover: The legacy of the iconic ...read more
Industry headlines: Intriguing reads from around the web DEI-focused merit badge: The Boy Scouts of America announced that a newly created Diversity Merit Badge will be required to attain the rank of Eagle Scout. [The New York Times] Black Folks Camp Too: A new startup is on a ...read more
Merrell's new head of marketing, Janice Tennant, could hardly be more perfect for the role she stepped into just last week. Combining a lifelong love of the outdoors with more than 18 years of marketing leadership experience—including her most recent role as CMO of Cat ...read more
"Anything. Everything. Something." In a recent SNEWS survey circulated around the outdoor industry, that was one participant's answer to the question, "What more would you like to see your company do in response to racial injustice?" It wasn't an isolated plea. Dozens of ...read more
Industry headlines: Intriguing reads from around the web Ski resorts open: Some Oregon ski areas are gearing up to reopen. [Oregon Public Broadcasting] Shoe launch during the pandemic: Why did On Running launch a new product during the coronavirus crisis? [Fast Company] Q&A with ...read more
Industry headlines: Intriguing reads from around the web The Outdoor State: To celebrate Earth Day, Protect Our Winters is gathering support for a new climate change initiative. [Forbes] How coronavirus has affected Colorado's outdoor rec: A new survey by the Colorado Outdoor ...read more
The best of SNEWS: Top stories we've published recently Should Outdoor Retailer be cancelled?: We asked you if the OR Summer Market should go on as planned, be postponed, or be cancelled all together. Sixty percent agreed on one definitive answer. What do you think? Eddie Bauer ...read more
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
Combing through the season’s new gear can be like bushwhacking through a jungle: slow going. Consider us your personal guide. We spent weeks poring over press releases and product shots, watching embargoed videos, and asking questions about materials, features, and design. Then ...read more
Keep up by reading Industry Buzz. Here are today's top headlines: Have a news tip? Email us at snewsedit@aimmedia.com. Huge win for climbing: Access Fund helped get Hell’s Kitchen bouldering area outside Chattanooga, Tennessee permanently protected as part of Cumberland Trail ...read more
Keep up by reading Industry Buzz. Here are today's top headlines: Have a news tip? Email us at snewsedit@aimmedia.com. Big kudos: Judy Gross, owner of LightHeart Gear, is this year's recipient of the Business North Carolina's Small Business of the Year Award. Gross celebrated the ...read more
Keep up by reading Industry Buzz. Here are today's top headlines: Have a news tip? Email us at snewsedit@aimmedia.com Tomorrow is National Public Lands Day, which means admission to all National Parks is free. More than 100,000 volunteers are expected to help the National ...read more
Keep up by reading Industry Buzz. Here are today's top headlines: Have a news tip? Email us at snewsedit@aimmedia.com This weekend: SNEWS Assistant Editor Amelia Arvesen is heading to Bend, Oregon, to attend a new outdoor festival called Outdoor City USA. Bikes will be abundant, ...read more
Wolverine World Wide today announced that Chris Hufnagel is the new global brand president of Merrell, a role that was previously held by Sue Rechner. A 10-year veteran of Wolverine, Hufnagel most recently served as the global brand president of Cat Footwear. He has also been ...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
It's summer break and a family of four with two teenage kids is driving to Yellowstone National Park. Noticing they need gas and knowing they need to stock up on a few camping essentials, the driver seat suggests that one of the kids find a good gear shop nearby. An ad for the ...read more
Leading in to Mother's Day weekend, Merrell's latest short film features one athlete's upbringing and her true origin story of how she became connected to nature through her mother's inspiration. Nadia Mercado is a skydiver, a runner, a climber, and a cardiac nurse, and her ...read more
Keep up by reading Industry Buzz. Here are today's top headlines: Have a news tip? Email us at snewsedit@aimmedia.com. As of today, 96 brands—Outdoor Industry Alliance, KEEN, KAVU, and more—have joined The Plastic Impact Alliance to make Outdoor Retailer a more sustainable trade ...read more
Full disclosure: Gear is a wicked subjective thing. Always has been, always will be. To curate this list, our team of hardcore—and highly opinionated—gearheads pored over hundreds of new product launches, reading the specs and sifting through the marketing promises. We zoomed in ...read more