Mountainsmith

According to the staff at Backpacker Magazine, gear testing is the best job in the world. “We are lucky people, and we take it seriously,” says Editorial Director Shannon Davis. “Our test team of more than 140 field scouts and staffers put in thousands of bag nights and even more ...read more

It's not even 8 a.m. one Thursday morning in mid-September and people are erupting with laughter at Mountainsmith's headquarters in Golden, Colorado. I'm gathered around a pot of coffee and a pile of backpacks with a lively bunch of writers and Mountainsmith employees before we ...read more

At every Outdoor Retailer, attendees find reasons to celebrate: new products, the gathering of friends, new seasons. Anniversaries are also another reason. Here are a dozen-plus brands that marked monumental birthdays at the show last week. ...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

A log will do just fine, but a chair literally elevates the way you camp whether you're doing it out of a car or heading deep into the woods. Vote for your favorite brand. Cast another vote: What's your must-have luxury backpacking item? A chair? Camp shoes? Chocolate? ...read more

Some call them waist packs or hip belts, others call them fanny packs. Some wear them to Disneyland, others wear them hiking or fastened to their bikes. Whichever your preference, these compact bags are trending right now—up 50 percent as of November—and numerous outdoor brands ...read more

Keep up by reading Industry Buzz. Here are today's top headlines: Have a news tip? Email us at [email protected]. On Cotopaxi's fifth birthday, the brand is launching the Cotopaxi Foundation to help educate and support underprivileged and underrepresented communities. ...read more

Keep up by reading Industry Buzz. Here are today's top headlines: Have a news tip? Email us at [email protected]. Our very own Kristin Hostetter talked to Rick Saez for The Outdoor Biz Podcast about getting into the outdoor industry, our shiny new magazine and initiatives, ...read more

Keep up by reading Industry Buzz. Here are today's top headlines: Have a news tip? Email us at [email protected]. On Thursday, the Senate Energy Committee met to talk about outdoor recreation access, infrastructure, and permitting. This is the first step in what could be ...read more

Keep up by reading Industry Buzz. Here are today's top headlines: Have a news tip? Email us at [email protected]. Patagonia updated its mission statement from “Build the best product, cause no unnecessary harm, use business to inspire and implement solutions to the ...read more

Hikers who use trekking poles swear they save their knees and improve their balance. Nowadays, poles are lighter, more compact and durable, and molded to fit gender-specific hands. If trekking poles are part of your hiking kit, which brand do you like best? ...read more