Industry headlines: Intriguing reads from around the web #OptOutside continues: Even in this tumultuous year, REI will once again close its stores on Black Friday and pay its employees to spend time outside with friends and family as part of its annual #OptOutside campaign. A ...read more
The Consumer Product Safety Commission has issued a recall of approximately 15,000 Petzl ropes, sold between March 2018 through July 2020 at industrial and recreational stores nationwide and in Canada. According to the recall, the ropes “can have a deep cut or tape securing the ...read more
The best of SNEWS: Top stories we've published recently Coronavirus throws spring travel into chaos: The pandemic has changed life for everyone. See what industry professionals are saying about their travel plans. Queer identity and the outdoors: Venture Out Project founder Perry ...read more
Petzl considers itself an advocate for responsible risk management, and as such, it is taking extra precautions to keep its Utah employees safe during the coronavirus pandemic, Tom Adams, chief operating officer, told SNEWS by phone. Effective March 16, 2020, all but 15 employees ...read more
Outdoor companies making personal protective equipment Across the industry, we've seen outdoor businesses convert manufacturing processes for the greater good. Here's a running list. ALLIED Feather & Down is currently making 10,000 masks per day. Arc'Teryx is helping to produce ...read more
Keep up by reading Industry Buzz. Here are today's top headlines: Have a news tip? Email us at [email protected]. There's a new trade show in town: The Big Gear Show will premiere in July 2020, three weeks after Outdoor Retailer Summer Market. What do you think makes a ...read more
Tom Adams, who has held the post of director of the Utah Office of Outdoor Recreation (UOOR) since 2016, is moving onto to the private sector. Adams will become Petzl North America’s COO. It will be familiar turf for him: He served as Petzl’s North American sales director for ...read more
A boom in gear technology innovation prompted ISPO, Europe's largest outdoor industry trade show, to create an all-new category for the June show. Four brands received "Outstanding Outdoor" crowns, out of 203 nominations in 28 categories, for setting new standards in ...read more
Five years ago, I was involved in a hit-and-run accident. After three months in the hospital and 13 surgeries, my left leg had to be amputated. It felt impossibly hard at first, and I didn’t have a positive outlook. Who would? At age 25, I had just become disabled. It wasn’t ...read more
Immersion in social media and technology is taking a toll on us and the Pantone Color Institute believes that a vibrant yet mellow color will bring us all a little more joy. The world's self-proclaimed color gurus have declared Living Coral the color of the year for 2019. Its ...read more
Keep up by reading Industry Buzz. Here are today's top headlines: Have a news tip? Email us at [email protected]. Emerald Expositions, parent company of Outdoor Retailer, is on the hunt for a new CEO. Longtime CEO and president, David Loechner, who has been with Emerald in ...read more
Fact: 55 percent of all online product searches start with Amazon. Fact: There are more than 550 million products for sale on Amazon. Fact: 3,500 new anonymous 3 party (3P) sellers join the Amazon marketplace everyday. This last stat is a real doozie: By virtue of their ...read more
Keep up by reading Industry Buzz. Here are today's top headlines: Have a news tip? Email us at [email protected] In honor of the climber who died last year in an avalanche on Imp Peak, Mystery Ranch established the Inge Perkins Scholarship to celebrate the life and ...read more
Back in the 1970s, climbing harnesses were nothing more than a few straps. Now, buyers consider the weight, material, number of gear loops, durability, and so on. Our friends at Climbing Magazine put together a little history on the essential piece of gear. Vote now for the brand ...read more
When the sun goes down and the stars come out, a headlamp is essential to your camping and backpacking kit. These nine brands have come out with new and improved versions that are brighter, lighter, and more battery efficient, helping you either wash dishes and clean up camp or ...read more
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah (June 14, 2018) - Petzl team member Alex Puccio successfully completed all four finals problems at the International Federation of Sport Climbing World Cup to take home the gold medal at Vail Mountain during the GoPro Mountain Games on Saturday, June 9. One ...read more
Everyone knows that some of the outdoor industry’s top brands are led by strong females — Rose Marcario of Patagonia, Sue Rechner of Merrell, Donna Carpenter of Burton, Rue Mapp of Outdoor Afro, Amy Roberts of Outdoor Industry Association, Deanne Buck of Camber Outdoors, and ...read more
The outdoor industry is devastated after the gut-wrenching news of famous climber Hayden Kennedy’s death. After his father, Michael Kennedy, confirmed his death, we also learned that his partner, Inge Perkins, had died in the avalanche. The 23-year-old climber and backcountry ...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
It is 2017, and we are now #adultsummercamping. Don’t judge: That’s pretty much the No. 1, unspoken rule of the wild and wonderful new CamelBak Pursuit Series. It is the opposite of the “Gore-Tex Vortex” you’ll find in places like Boulder, and it’s a beginner outdoorist’s ...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
