Emily Fisher, executive director of��Youth Sports Alliance��(YSA), discusses the impact of winning��the Outdoor Accessibility and Education category of the 2023��Defender Service Awards��Presented by CHASE. Designed to support hardworking nonprofits across the United States and Canada, the award (which included a brand-new customized Defender 130) recognized YSA’s work helping kids of all backgrounds to experience the wonder and empowerment of outdoor sports, from mountain biking and sailing to skiing and snowboarding.

Defender embraces the impossible. A modern-day hero that anticipates the future. Available in 90, 110, and 130 body styles, with up to eight seats, each has a charisma of its own. Learn more at .

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Here at , we believe in supporting and partnering with nonprofit organizations who work to protect the planet and grow outdoor participation among youth and underrepresented communities. We believe that together with our audience of 80 million people per month, we can make a difference. Will you help us get more kids out on the slopes or the bike for the first time? Fund the fight for climate action? Bring yoga to those who need healing—and seeds to community gardens?

Join us to support seven nonprofit partners from our Find Your Good that are doing this work every day.

Give to one (or more!) of your favorites by Dec. 6—your tax-deductible donation goes directly to the nonprofit(s) you choose.

and help protect the places you love from climate change.

�� and kick down barriers to winter sports.

and help empower a new generation of environmental activists rooted in equity and inclusion.��

and train youth to be effective leaders at the intersection of the environment and climate justice movements.

and help bring trauma-informed yoga and mindfulness practices to incarcerated people.��

and help teach young people to lead, create, and grow a healthy, sustainable future through community gardening.��

and help increase diversity, equity, and inclusion in cycling.��

The post Find Your Good This Giving Season appeared first on ���ϳԹ��� Online.

To honor Juneteenth, the day in 1865 when enslaved people were emancipated, we celebrate some of the amazing people working to advance diversity, equity, and inclusion in the outdoors.

We have a long way to go before the outdoors—and society at large—is truly equitable. But it’s the work of people like these (listed in alphabetical order by last name) that’s taking us in the right direction.

Rahsaan Bahati

Bahati grew up in Compton, California, amid gangs, drugs, and crime. Early exposure to cycling changed the course of his life. He created the Bahati Foundation in 2009 which runs youth cycling camps, mentorship programs, scholarships, and community outreach activities. Bahati’s goal is to engage and inspire young people from disadvantaged backgrounds and using cycling as a tool for personal growth, education, and positive life choices.

Follow Rahsaan Bahati on Instagram:

Teresa Baker

Baker is a co-founder of the , and the founder of the African American National Park Event and the Outdoor Industry CEO Diversity Pledge, which asks C-level executives at outdoor companies to commit to creating, promoting, and enforcing policies that expand the diversity, equity, and inclusion of their employees, board members, and customers. She is a self proclaimed “good troublemaker” who works tirelessly to promote inclusion in all outdoor spaces.

Follow Teresa Baker on Instagram:

Kareemah Batts

Batts is a cancer survivor, paraclimber, and diversity, equity, and inclusion professional who founded the nonprofit which is the U.S.’s largest nonprofit climbing group for people with disabilities. For her tireless work with brands, events, and guiding companies on accessibility issues, she received the 2019 Climbing Advocate Award from Access Fund. Hear more of her story–in her own words–on The Daily Rally podcast.

Follow Kareemah Batts on Instagram:

Faith Briggs

Briggs is an ultrarunner, intersectional environmentalist, former sprinter, documentary filmmaker, and co-host of . ��Her goal: use media as a tool to raise awareness, and ultimately to change lives. One of her recent projects includes a series called , a three-part short documentary series highlighting how communities of color can reclaim water as a healing and enjoyable experience for all through the lens of each subject.

Follow Faith Briggs on Instagram:

Patricia Cameron

Cameron is the founder of , a nonprofit that lowers the financial barrier to entry in outdoor recreation and teaches people the basics of hiking, camping, skiing, swimming, and more. Before founding Blackpackers, Cameron struggled as a single mother with the means to take her young son outdoors to enjoy nature. She saved up money working overtime as an EMT to buy her first set of backpacking gear—an experience that motivated her to help others find the means to get outside. Cameron recently achieved her Wilderness EMT certification and launched Blackpacker’s Outdoor Skills School to teach free Wilderness First Aid (WFA) and Wilderness First Responder (WFR) courses, free to her community.

Follow Patricia Cameron on Instagram:

Jamicah Dawes

Dawes is the founder Slim Pickins Outfitters (SPO), the first Black-owned outdoor gear shop in the U.S. Just three years after opening, the pandemic forced the Texas store to close. It might have been for good, but a digital media company decided to create a short documentary about Dawes, his family, and his store, which launched SPO into the big time. Dawes uses his platform (which has grown to almost 32K followers on Instagram) to share family stories, product highlights, inspiration, and to uplift marginalized voices.

Follow Jamicah Dawes on Instagram:

Alison Desir

Desir is a co-founder of the , a nonprofit that aims to unite the running industry to provide resources, measure progress, and hold the industry accountable to equitable employment, leadership, and ownership positions and improve inclusion, visibility, and access for Black, Indigenous, and people of color. She’s also the author of Running While Black: Finding Freedom in a Sport That Wasn’t Built For Us and the host of the Out & Back podcast. In 2022, Alison was recognized with an Award for Excellence by Running USA for demonstrably driving positive change in the running industry.

Follow Alison Desir on Instagram:

Latasha Dunston

Dunston is a trained in scientific and preparatory medicine illustration who specializes in plein air landscape painting. Through her work, she aims to challenge the underrepresentation of people of color in the outdoors. “I want to showcase myself and the people like me who spend time on trails,” she said of her art. “We are a reflection of nature, and nature is a reflection of us.” Here at ���ϳԹ���, Dunston is one of our favorite artists to work with. She recently created a beautiful for our Earth Month celebration.

Follow Latasha Dunston on Instagram:

Latria Graham

Graham is a writer, editor, and cultural critic with bylines in The New York Times, The Guardian, The Los Angeles Times, Harvard Law Today, and ���ϳԹ���. Her writing examines the dynamics of race, gender, class, and popular culture. Graham says she uses her talents to write for publications that are “invested in celebrating the diversity of the human experience.”

Follow Latria Graham on Instagram: .

Rahawa Haile

Haile is a queer Eritrean-American writer from Miami who currently lives and works in Oakland. “Going It Alone,” her riveting 2017 story in ���ϳԹ��� about hiking the Appalachian Trail during the summer before the 2016 presidential election, led to a forthcoming book called , which will present a wider examination of freedom of movement and race in modern America.

Follow Rahawa Haile on Instagram:

Ron Griswell

When Ron Griswell attended North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University (NCA&TSU), one of 107 Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), he lamented the fact his school didn’t have the opportunities for outdoor recreation that he had grown to love. So much so that he actually thought about transferring to the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, because of its robust outdoor program and giant gear library. “That’s when it clicked,” says Griswell. “These outdoor activities won’t come to my school unless I do something about it.”

So In 2018, Griswell founded his nonprofit HBCUs ���ϳԹ��� as a way to create more outdoor opportunities for Black students��and a more diverse pipeline of talent in the outdoor industry. Today HBCUs ���ϳԹ��� runs outdoor clubs on seven (and counting!) different college campuses, introducing hundreds of Black students to the joy of outdoor experiences and opening pathways to outdoor careers.

Follow Ron Griswell on Instagram:

Bobby and Angel Massie

Bobby Massie is a former American football player (offensive tackle) who played for the Denver Broncos, but had grown up fishing and hunting in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia. Angel Massie is a former journalist and TV producer with work appearing in BET (Black Entertainment Television), Complex, Vibe, and Essence, who grew up in urban Baltimore but always felt a connection to the outdoors. “We had a yard with this huge, huge tree,” she told CBS recently. “And I used to wonder to myself, I know that there has to be a place where there are more big trees like that.” Her love of hiking arose through an annual camping trip at her school, and as a young professional in Washington, D.C., she started a hiking group with destinations such as Shenandoah National Park. Today she hikes, fishes, and camps in the Rockies with her husband and their two children. After unsatisfying experiences with other outfitters, the two launched their own business, Wanderland Outdoors, in May. A guiding outfit with a diverse team (currently 11 guides and four wranglers), it is intended to make the outdoors more accessible through outings including fly-fishing trips, trail rides, mindfulness hiking—Angel is a certified Kripalu Mindful Outdoor Guide—and gourmet “excursion meals” cooked by Chef Bobby.

Follow Bobby and Angel Massie on Instagram: @wanderlandoutdoors

Eliot Jackson

Jackson is a former World Cup downhill mountain bike racer devoted to improving diversity in cycling. During his racing career, he was almost always the only Black competitor. Following the murder of George Floyd and time to reflect on his career during the Covid pandemic, he founded the nonprofit to promote education, access, and opportunities that advance diversity and inclusion in the sport he loves. One recent project, a 30,000 square foot pumptrack in Los Angeles, California, is set to open this summer. The pumptrack, which is a circular bike park with berms and rollers, will serve more than 150,000 kids and adults in the urban area who lack access to mountain biking opportunities.

Follow Elliot Jackson on Instagram:

Mercy M’Fon

M’Fon is the founder and executive director of , a Portland, Oregon-based nonprofit that leads outdoor adventures and education sessions for BIPOC and LGBTQ+ communities. Through their programs, they hope to foster personal connections between members of these communities and the natural world. M’Fon is an outdoor guide and community leader who founded the organization after feeling the effects of the outdoor industry’s lack of diversity firsthand. You can listen to their story on The Daily Rally podcast.

Follow Wild Diversity on Instagram:��

James Edward Mills

Mills has worked in the outdoor industry for more than 30 years as a guide, outfitter, independent sales representative, writer, and photographer. He is the founder of the Joy Trip Project, a news-gathering and reporting organization that covers outdoor recreation, environmental conservation, acts of charitable giving, and practices of sustainable living. He is the author of and the co-writer/co-producer of the documentary film . A recent project is an online book club called , an exploration of the intersection of the natural world and the cultural identities of the human beings that live within it.

Follow James Edward Mills on Instagram:

Kriste Peoples

Peoples is a guide, runner, writer, and mindfulness meditation teacher who serves on the board of the and and is the newly appointed executive director of Women’s Wilderness, which is a nonprofit in Boulder, Colorado. For years, Peoples has been on the front lines of fighting for equality and inclusion for women, girls, and non-binary people in nature. Here more of her inspiring story–in her own words–on The Daily Rally.

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Mirna Valerio

Valerio, a.k.a. The Mirnavator, is an ultrarunner, author, and educator who was named a National Geographic ���ϳԹ���r of the Year in 2018. Her memoir, , was a bestseller, and in 2017 she appeared on the cover of Women’s Running. A native of Brooklyn, New York, Valerio now lives in Vermont, where she has become obsessed with skiing and is working on her second book, a novel about a Black woman with Type 1 diabetes who embarks on a solo backpacking trip in the Appalachians, against the advice of her doctor and friends.

Follow Mirna Valerio on Instagram:

Nailah Blades Wylie

Wylie is the founder of , a nonprofit that helps women of color harness the power of the outdoors to create joy-filled lives. A communications strategist and community builder who has worked with businesses small and large—from startups to Fortune 500 companies—Wylie founded Color ���ϳԹ��� after moving from San Diego to Salt Lake City and feeling unmoored, without a community to support her. Color ���ϳԹ��� leads coaching, workshops and retreats to help fellow outdoor lovers feel welcome and joyful doing what they love.

Follow Nailah Blades Wylie on Instagram:

Rue Mapp

Mapp is the founder of , a nonprofit that celebrates and inspires Black connections and leadership in nature. In 2022, 60,000 people across the country participated in over 1,000 Outdoor Afro events to find joy and healing in nature. Last year, Mapp published her first book, .

Follow Rue Mapp on Instagram:

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Love and kindness are never wasted. They always make a difference. They bless the one who receives them, and they bless you, the giver. —

Hiking & Camping

takes inner city kids on transformative outdoor adventures. A $25 donation will provide essential medical and safety supplies for one youth trip.

leads wilderness trips for the queer ad transgender community and conducts inclusion training for educators. A $25 donation will buy food for one person for a 4-day backpacking trip.

Running

empowers and trains women around the globe to create safe, supportive running communities. A $25 donation will fund a training kit for one community coach.

connects Native American youth to the spiritual and cultural legacy of running through competitive and non-competitive programming. A $25 donation will provide a day of meals for one Wings Facilitator as they travel around the southwest coordinating Running & Fitness Camps for Tribal youth.

Climbing

protects public lands, restores climbing areas impacted by use, buys threatened land, and educates climbers and land managers about responsible stewardship and risk mitigation. A $25 donation buys 6 wag bags for the climbing community.

provides rock and ice climbing experiences and training for adaptive athletes and works with climbing facilities to help build local adaptive climbing programs. A $25 donation will cover a scholarship for an adaptive climber at a local skills clinic.

Cycling

provides inner-city youth access to bikes, gear, and training, along with resources and education to foster success on and off the bike. A $50 donation will provide three Student Cycling Club members with a club tee-shirt and baseball cap.

works to make the sport of cycling more diverse, equitable, and inclusive�� by providing education, access, and opportunities to ride to underserved communities. A $50 donation will help Grow buy bike helmets sized for little girls with lots of braids and curly hair.

Sustainability

trains and empowers youth across the globe to be leaders and take action for the environment and social justice.

connects people to climate justice movements in their local communities through storytelling and education. A $50 donation will buy three environmental justice books to give out to our community.

Healthy Living

offers food-based education to youth, using food, farming, and the culinary arts as a foundation for academic exploration, leadership, and pursuit of post-secondary pathways. A $25 donation will supply 5 students with growing starter kits.

offers healing yoga programs and training to incarcerated people and correctional facility staff to address the trauma, addiction, and mental health issues that lead to and arise from incarceration. A $50 donation will provide yoga books to five individuals who have been impacted by incarceration.

Snow Sports

unites outdoor enthusiasts, athletes, scientists, and Congress members in the fight to stop climate change. A $50 donation will fund online climate advocacy training for 7 outdoor enthusiasts.

eliminates barriers and gets underrepresented kids out on skis and snowboards by providing gear, instruction, and transportation. A $25 donation will buy a child a seat on the ski/snowboard bus.����

is how ���ϳԹ��� supports nonprofit organizations who work to protect the planet and grow outdoor participation among youth and underrepresented communities.

The post Your Daily Good Deed appeared first on ���ϳԹ��� Online.

In honor of Black History Month, we’re spotlighting 24 Black-owned businesses across the outdoor industry. Get to know these companies doing good work and making awesome gear of all kinds.

Owner:��Brittany Coleman

Year founded:��2019, started selling in 2022

What We Do

Tough Cutie is a USA-made company producing active lifestyle socks designed for women, by women. It is the first and only women-owned sock brand with a majority women-owned value chain, effectively positioning itself as one of the highest-impact brands in terms of economic equality in the outdoors industry. Our first sock, Eve, launched in 2022 after a rigorous and thoughtful design process that centered on feedback from women. The result is an innovative, dynamic, and durable sock that literally and figuratively supports women in their walk through life.

What Makes Us Special in the Outdoor Industry

“Tough Cutie is a woman-owned, Black-owned business that has invited women into the process of designing their own adventure and activewear apparel by centering on women’s feedback and functional needs. We continually strive to create equity in adventure and active lifestyle spaces through nonprofit partnerships and donations. Our company is structured to create opportunity and agency for communities that have historically been marginalized and neglected in the design room and the boardroom, specifically women and people of color. We are one of very few brands that can say one-hundred percent of our sales support women-owned businesses and our pledge to support equality and expand inclusivity is not simply marketing fluff or a top-down directive. When shoppers choose Tough Cutie, they truly have a chance to engage in mindful consumerism and impactful advocacy, with the added bonus of buying well designed, women-built socks.” – Brittany Coleman

Owner: Nate Elsey-Williams

Year founded: 2021

What We Do

Northside Bags makes outdoor packs and fanny packs for outdoor enthusiasts. Based in Duluth, Minnesota, Northside Bags is the second Black-owned hiking backpack business in the U.S. We strive to get more Black people and people of color outdoors. ‘The Survival Bag’ is our most popular bag—a hydration bag with a solar charging panel that can charge your devices while you explore the outdoors.

What Makes Us Special In The Outdoor Industry

“Northside Bags has a mission to protect public land and increase diversity in the outdoors. When you buy a fanny pack from Northside Bags, fifteen percent of our sales go to an organization called which helps the fight against sulfide-ore copper mining near the Boundary Waters area in Northern Minnesota.” – Nate Elsey-Williams

Owner: Lekisha Hamilton

Year founded: 2022

What We Do

Cycling Out Loud is a women’s cycling apparel company, that specializes in outfitting cyclists of all shapes and sizes in cycling skinsuits with unique, bold patterns with personality. We help cyclists feel comfortable and confident in their cycling apparel, regardless of their experience or skill level. We don’t believe cycling apparel is unisex and aim to bring custom cuts, measurements, and designs to meet the needs of women’s bodies.

What Makes Us Special In The Outdoor Industry

“Cycling Out Loud was born in 2020, the year of COVID. Many people were discovering cycling as a sport, and seasoned cyclists were spending more time on their bikes. I was a part of the latter, and as a result, I was shopping��for new cycling gear both online and in local stores and was extremely frustrated by the lack of options for women. Most of what I saw was majorly over-priced, lacked flavor and individuality, and simply wasn’t flattering to my body type and curves. The idea of Cycling Out Loud was born from this frustration. I wanted to bring bold, bright colors, designs, and personality to cycling apparel and ensure all cyclists had something they felt they looked great in, that was specifically designed with women’s unique physiques and curves in mind, and was available in non-traditional sizing.” – Lekisha Hamilton

Owners: Tony and Belinda Jones

Year founded: 2016

What We Do

South Carolina’s Morning Glory Homestead Farm is a small, Gullah family-owned farm, that uses regenerative agricultural and animal husbandry practices to provide the best quality produce, honey, eggs, and meats for our community and guests. We teach classes about farming, gardening, and beekeeping. We also offer guided recreational experiences that range from fishing and crabbing in the local waterways, hikes along our coastal trails, and RV and tent camping spaces for guests.

What Makes Us Special In The Outdoor Industry

“We are the first Gullah Geechee agritourism business on St. Helena Island to offer historical, cultural, culinary, and recreational experiences. Our unique monthly Gullah Campfire Supper with Stories and Songs events along with our St. Helena Island History and Culture Tours offer guests the chance to learn about the Gullah/Geechee culture while spending time in the beauty of the Sea Islands in South Carolina’s Lowcountry. We have hosted Women’s Camping Weekends to teach beginning and advanced camping and foraging skills. Our George Washington Carver Events center around the life and work of Dr. Carver, being a citizen scientist, beekeeping, mycology, art, and homesteading.

Visitors look forward to experiencing our historical programs and seeing us dressed in period clothing. They enjoy camping on-site, tasting Gullah cuisine, hearing our stories and songs, seeing the beautiful moss-draped oak trees and stately magnolias, watching the birds in their rookeries, and exploring the historical locations that make this area so special.” – Tony and Belinda Jones

Owner:��Karen D. Fultz-Robinson, Esquire

Year founded: ��2016

What We Do

ObservaMé manufactures and sells original designs of outdoor athletic apparel. We are the first active outdoor apparel line with a wrist opening for performance devices and watches. The product line has grown to include the signature shirts along with vests, performance pants, and a variety of accessories. The ObservaMé apparel line for men includes half-zip and crewneck shirts, hoodies, vests, full-zip jackets with hoods, and performance pants. Women’s athleticwear includes sports bras, half-zip and V-neck shirts, full-zip jackets with hoods, vests, hoodies, and long- and capris-style pants. Our high-quality sustainable fabrics have dry-wick properties to prevent chaffing and maintain the soft and supple feel expected by high-energy exertion performers. We offer compression designs for core support, increased endurance, and help with reducing fatigue.

What Makes Us Special In The Outdoor Industry

“In 2011, I decided to start running for my life. I was running from my overweight condition, potential diabetes, potential hypertension, and more importantly, for my mental health.��In my health journey, I became a marathoner and ran races around the world. The ObservaMé design concept was born during a 15-mile training run and after constant aggravation from tugging at the sleeve of the shirt to gauge my distance, heart rate, location, pace, and time. Access to fitness tracking devices should not be a distraction or obstacle. After a year of research and development, in 2016, I launched ObservaMé, a one-of-a-kind line of outdoor athletic apparel with a wrist opening for performance devices or watches.

ObservaMé focuses on giving people who are new or restarting a healthy lifestyle journey the tools needed to not quit. We take away the obstacle of measuring small wins along the way (i.e. whether its reaching the highest mountain side, running your fastest race, or walking the farthest distance) to keep you encouraged and turning motion into movement. We celebrate with people who see the positive impact of movement upon their mental health. The endorphins beat back the negative thoughts and our styles provide a positive self-reflection which is another confidence booster to help embolden our ‘whys’ for staying the course.” – Karen D. Fultz-Robinson, Esquire

Owner: Jade Akintola

Year founded: 2020

What We Do

ITA is the Yoruba word for “outside,” and is the first POC-led outdoor leisure brand in the United States. We’re inspired by our communities’ diverse cultures and ancestral connections to nature, but we’re also aware that these beneficial links have been damaged over time. Stirred by this unbalance, we’re dedicated to re-establishing those ties with nature. We create modern outdoor leisure products—like outdoor chairs, tables, totes, throws, beach towels, and apparel—and community-driven experiences to get people ITA. We’re also developing education and outreach programs that help people of color feel more comfortable and confident outdoors.

What Makes Us Special In The Outdoor Industry

“ITA is developing product collections for beach, park & trail, garden, and camping. We’re creating meaningful experiences that reduce barriers to entry, provide skills, and foster community. With educational content and impactful advocacy, ITA aims to be a catalyst for change and a promoter of the restorative power of nature.

Too many people feel like the outdoors is not for them. When I recognized my own feelings of not belonging and not feeling comfortable in the world of outdoor leisure, I channeled years of marketing expertise into understanding not only my own absence from this arena, but the absence of other people of color in many outdoor activities. Many external and internal barriers to participation soon came into focus, and ITA’s mission—to restore bonds with nature and set people up outside in comfort and style—was born. If more people in our communities, and beyond, are seeing outdoor leisure as a regular re-charging tool that’s beneficial for everyone, then we’re moving in the right direction! We hope you’ll join this empowering movement and get outside with us.” – Jade Akintola

Owner: Susan Clayton

Year founded: 2016

What We Do

WhitePaws RunMitts mittens are purpose-built to address the needs of runners, walkers, and outdoor sports enthusiasts. Our handwear features a pocket where you can stash a handwarmer packet, but the key design element is that you can flip open the top and push the mittens down over your wrist as you warm up. No need to peel them off and stuff them into a pocket. In the online shop, we offer a wide variety of running mitts, plus gaiters and face masks.

What Makes Us Special in the Outdoor Industry

“During the course of my coaching with Back on My Feet Baltimore, I saw a real need. I could never find mittens or gloves that kept both my fingers and thumbs warm when training in cold weather, so I sat down at the sewing machine and invented one. I honed my sewing skills which has really paid off: I create and test my own prototypes, so I’m constantly improving my designs. And each pair is hand-cut and sewn in Baltimore. I guess you could call me a hands-on founder!�� I look forward to working with specialty outdoor retailers who think WhitePaws would be a good fit in their shops.” —Susan Clayton

Owner: Janelle Sheppard

Year founded: 2018

What We Do

Sweat and Sunshine is a nature-based wellness business that provides outdoor adventures and fitness experiences designed to maximize the restorative benefits of sunshine and natural spaces. We lead five different outdoor hiking experiences including: a 3.8-mile moderate hike into Hidden Valley, 2.4-mile challenging hike of Piestwea Peak’s Summit Trail, a 2-mile naturalist-focused hike, and two kid-friendly hikes that focus on adventure and science.

What Makes Us Special in the Outdoor Industry

“Sweat & Sunshine is unique because each experience offers guests the opportunity to focus on both physical and mental health in the most stunning Sonoran Desert settings. No one can experience the mountains without deepening their connection to the natural world. There is no way to climb to the summit and miss your expanding chest with deep breaths; you’re always reminded that you’re alive and you’re part of the natural world. Guests nearly always learn or see something that expands their appreciation for our precious natural resources. They practice using their curiosity to see deeply and be present in the moment.” —Janelle Sheppard

Owner: Erik Saunders

Year founded: 2019

What We Do

Memory Pilot offers mountain bike fenders (both front and rear) made of high-density polyethylene resin in its Santa Barbara, California factory. Individuals, retailers, clubs, teams, and bike brands can choose from a slew of in-house designs or create a custom design of their own.

We also make compression cycling socks! We had a finicky relationship with socks, so we designed the perfect pair. Our Awesome Bike Riding Socks come in wool and synthetic versions. They have vertical ribs along the back to support the achilles and protect from pedal pins, thinner material across the ankle to alleviate pressure from shoe straps and buckles, and an open weave front for breathability.

What Makes Us Special in the Outdoor Industry

“First, our focus is on independent bike dealers because I believe it’s important to be at the right retailers who are a part of the scene. Second, we make high-quality products with low minimums and fast lead times, so we’re easy to work with. In the case of custom mudguards and socks, we offer retailers the chance to local-source customized goods, at low MOQs (minimum order quantity), without sacrificing quality or margin.” —Erik Saunders

Owner: Mark Boles

Year founded: 2019

What We Do

Intrinsic Provisions is an outdoor apparel and accessories store in Hingham, Massachusetts. Our goal is to introduce customers to new brands that they otherwise might not have a chance to discover. We carry a curated selection of brands, but a wider selection of product within those brands. This allows us to tell a fuller brand story and communicate our commitment to certain brands versus others.

Intrinsic Provisions utilizes a hybrid business model akin to pop-up and traditional retail. This model enables us to have a couple of what we call “anchor” (somewhat mature yet emerging) brands, like Stio, which we know will draw in customers. Then we can introduce those customers to what we call “discovery” brands like Vermont Glove, Purist, Corbeaux Clothing, Ruggette, Reima. The anchor brands lend a halo of credibility allowing customers to have some trust in trying the discovery brands.

What Makes Us Special in the Outdoor Industry

“We like to think of ourselves as brand storytellers, and the best stories happen outside. Intrinsic Provisions is more than just a store: it’s a place where passion lives. It’s a place where there’s a belief in community, where everyone is welcome. The items we offer are thoughtfully-curated because of a belief in those brands and the people behind them. Almost all of our brands are independently owned and have some element of sustainability and in several cases are certified B-Corps. We’ve taken the time to get to know these brands so we can convey their intrinsic value.” —Mark Boles

Owner: Livio Melo

Year founded: 2020

What We Do

Allmansright is an outdoor gear lab that specializes in ultralight gear including backpacks, cross bags, sacks, food bags, wallets, and more. We personally design and handcraft (to order) everything out of the Bronx and enjoy making things with the user in mind. Our name is inspired by a Swedish Law known as “The Right to Public Access,” because we believe access to nature is ‘allmansright.’ We donate two percent of our monthly profits to organizations that protect and diversify the outdoors.

What Makes Us Special in the Outdoor Industry

“As a BIPOC owner from the Bronx with a degree in industrial design, I bring a new perspective to the outdoor industry on ultralight gear which is still primarily a cottage industry. Functionality and purpose is very important to me, and it shows in the designs we offer. I strive to make each product exciting and appealing to a diverse group of people. My ultimate goal is to have our gear inspire more people (BIPOC and inner city folks) to connect with nature!” —Livio Melo

Owner: Brandale Randolph

Year founded: 2013

What We Do

ROCKDEEP��sells outdoor and athletic footwear and apparel, including hiking, running, and trail running shoes, winter boots, joggers, shorts, hoodies, and winter jackets. Our core mission is to provide quality, function, and style at an affordable price.

What Makes Us Special in the Outdoor Industry

“As a small company (based in Alexandria, Virginia), we don’t have the luxury of making products that aren’t comfortable the first time you wear them. If bigger companies make shoes that end up hurting your feet, you will give them another chance and maybe even several chances. We literally only get one chance to impress every customer. We differentiate ourselves by providing outdoor footwear which isn’t boring, and catches the eye, but also looks and feels good and is made of high-quality materials. We will proudly put our products up against anyone else in the industry and come out on top.” —Brandale Randolph

Owner: Jason and Joy Hunt

Year founded: 2015

What We Do

Elite Feet is a Delaware-based and family-owned retail specialty running store. Our staff is well trained in our Elite Fit Process. With this process, our goal is to provide an outstanding customer experience while striving to go the “extra mile” for our customers trying to live a more active and healthier lifestyle. We believe it is our duty to help educate our customers on the difficult shoe fitting process for walkers, runners, and growing kids.

What Makes Us Special in the Outdoor Industry

“We use gait analysis to choose the right shoe for walking, running, cross-training and organized sports. We measure both feet for length and width, evaluate both arches, observe the customer on the treadmill, and ask a series of questions to determine the proper footwear for the customer’s specific activity. Because all feet are NOT created equal, each customer is individually assessed and given a recommendation based on their unique set of feet. We’re eager to work with new brands and expand our roster of high-quality trail running shoes.” —Jason and Joy Hunt

Owner: Mike Carey

Year founded: 1984

What We Do

Seirus is an outdoor accessories company. We make items that protect your head, hands, and feet. Our mission is to deliver the best products to enable every outdoor enthusiast to enjoy the greatest comfort and performance during any cold weather activity. We use the most advanced technology and fabrics which has resulted in innovative products like rechargeable heated gloves, our award-winning magnetized convertible mittens, and our new Heatwave Base Layers.

What Makes Us Special in the Outdoor Industry

“I wanted to create the same thing for others that I wanted for myself, a business environment that provides the space to allow a collaborative being to flourish. What we are creating and working to preserve is a melting pot of stakeholders to build a more inclusive outdoors, filled with transformative experiences. All of this culminates into the development of innovative, high-quality essentials that support everyone to comfortably enjoy the outdoors.” —Mike Carey

Owner: Kevin Knight

Year founded: 2016

What We Do

Urban Events Global (UEG) is a travel company that cultivates adventurous events for professionals of color, like Urban Camp Weekend (UCW). UCW happens every year since 2011 in Canyon Lake, Texas, and draws 1,000 to 1,600 adults, making it the largest camping event in the country. UCW is all about networking, making new friends, and promoting unity while enjoying all nature has to offer.

What Makes Us Special in the Outdoor Industry

“Our family reunion-style camping trip welcomes outdoor lovers to engage and enjoy themselves with other like-minded individuals for an activity-filled weekend, which includes river tubing, games, DJs and dancing, barbecue, volleyball, and more. During the UCW weekend, we allow Black-owned businesses to vend for free as it’s our goal to empower and support their growth. As Urban Events Global camps and travels across the world, we hope to encourage our community to explore through group travel and adventure.” —Kevin Knight

Owners: Josh and Amber Gordy

Year founded: 2012

What We Do

Warthen RV Park sits on 27 acres and offers 50 full-hook up RV lots and 12 spacious tent sites. Our amenities include water and sewage hookups, a laundry facility, two shower suites, a volleyball court, a walking trail, and free wi-fi. Warthen is a place where guests can relax, unwind, connect with nature, and recharge whether they’re staying for a night or a month.

Forty-five minutes away is our sister property D&D Outdoor Retreat. Guests can stay in beautiful yurts overlooking a fish pond, as well as a shooting range and walking and ATV trails. Day passes and seasonal specials, like a chef-prepared dinner and special activities around a campfire, are available.

What Makes Us Special in the Outdoor Industry

“We like to provide not only a place to camp but an experience. Aside from relaxing by the campfire, many of our guests enjoy our guided ATV Trail rides, which gives them an opportunity to explore 27 acres of beautiful Georgia open land. They leave feeling as if they’ve just attended a family reunion thanks to our down-to-earth hospitality.” —Josh and Amber Gordy

Owner: Monica Garrison

Year founded: 2013

What We Do

Black Girls Do Bike (BGDB) exists to inspire more women, specifically women of color, to ride bikes, and we fund this work by sponsorship, contributions, and selling a variety of cycling swag in our shop designed to celebrate the body types and skin tones of women of color, including shorts, jerseys, jackets, and thermal bottoms. We are equally committed to creating more local BGDB chapters that invite new and old cyclists to join rides or cycling events at least once per month. We currently have 99 BGDB chapters all over the country, as far as Anchorage, Alaska, and we recently expanded beyond the U.S. to London and Antigua.

What Makes Us Special in the Outdoor Industry

“BGDB supports initiatives across the country to get more women and girls riding bikes, such as an annual national meetup in a new city each year that brings lady riders together to ride and engage in fellowship. While we are excited about new initiatives like forming a BGDB race team to compete nationally, our top priority is to help break barriers for women in cycling, to encourage women to be bike advocates for change in their communities, and to model this healthy outlet to loved ones.” —Monica Garrison

Owners: Jahmicah and Heather Dawes

Year founded: 2016

What We Do

Slim Pickins Outfitters is a specialty outdoor retailer focused on building up our outdoor community through education and community events. We are the first Black-owned outdoor independent retailer. However, we aren’t the only ones anymore, and we won’t be the last. Our aim is to be a relevant space for our local community and cater to creative outdoor enthusiasts, while diversifying the outdoor industry, as it pertains to ownership and positions of leadership.

“We aim to be a mentor to other Black-owned and minority businesses. In the past, we have reached out to outdoor associations, brands, and even business organizations about starting an incubator & accelerator for Black-owned and minority-owned businesses, brands, etc. It never gained any momentum, but we hope that will change in the future. We have always dreamed of having an intern program connected with Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) where we would have interns work at our company for 6 months. This would allow the interns to accompany us to trade shows and network with brands, companies, and other organizations. This is one of the ways we invest in our mission to diversify the outdoor industry as it pertains to ownership and leadership.” — Jahmicah Dawes

Owner: Patrick Robinson

Year founded: 2013

What We Do

Paskho sells high-performance and eco-friendly apparel for men and women, such as pants, shorts, tops, and outerwear. Patrick Robinson was a top designer for brands like Giorgio Armani and Gap. After a backpacking trip in Yosemite National Park, he was inspired by the durable, water-repellant, flexible, and multifunctional outdoor apparel and gear he used and decided to create his own line of sustainable clothes that were stylish and comfortable enough to go from work to play.

Nearly half of all fabrics used by Paskho are reclaimed and 85 percent are vegan. In addition to sourcing fabrics that use less water, energy, and toxic chemicals, the company offset its carbon footprint and donates a portion of profits to 1% for the Planet.

What Makes Us Special in the Outdoor Industry

“In summer 2020, Paskho launched a new ongoing project called Community Made. Through Community Made, Paskho is producing a small number of clothing items on-demand through a large network of individual homes of pattern makers and seamstresses who live in the U.S. Paskho has launched the project in the homes of skilled makers in New York, Connecticut, and New Jersey, with plans to extend to Detroit and California. I hope this project will allow Paskho to provide fair wages and better working conditions for American makers, many of whom are from underserved communities that suffered job loss in the pandemic. If all goes well, we may soon move all of our production from factories in Asia and be an all-American made brand.” —Patrick Robinson

Owner: Al Berrios

Year founded: 2013

What We Do

Since 2013, Outerthere.com has been working with tour operators, rental partners, and other guides collaboratively to host hundreds of small-group hikes, bike rides, paddling trips, and more for beginners in our local New York City market. We’re on a mission to help everyone gain access, feel welcome, and be included in the outdoors.

What Makes Us Special in the Outdoor Industry

“Outerthere is a mission-driven outdoor activities brand. We put our guests (aka ‘fam’) first. We don’t treat them like transactions. Rather, we invest heavily in access, support, and quality control of our experiences. That translates into programs that support our fam’s local communities so they can get outdoors easier. We create subsidies for fams going through financial challenges, and offer grants for local environmental conservation groups that include BIPOC feedback in their work. We have also created lending libraries for our fam because not having the fanciest gear shouldn’t be an obstacle to participating in outdoor activities. Most of our fam come from diverse backgrounds, are beginners in many of the activities on our calendar, and are concentrated in the New York/New Jersey area (though this fall we’re bringing our unique trips to Baltimore). We operate year round and about 30 percent of our fams book multiple trips per year.” —Al Berrios

Owners: Roland Burns and Ellie Lum

Year founded: 1998

What We Do

We launched R.E.Load over 20 years ago to design a better messenger bag. Today, we sell all types of cycling bags—basket, seat, and belted bags, as well as backpacks, saddlebags, and chain lock covers. All products are made by hand in Philadelphia. R.E.Load donates a percentage of sales from certain products, like the Lil Jawn Hip Pack, to a rotating selection of projects and groups that amplify Black cyclist voices.

What Makes Us Special in the Outdoor Industry

“Cyclists can customize their R.E.Load bag to fit their needs. Bags and accessories can be tailor-made based on features for organization, reflective options, and colorful or long-lasting materials. Even minute details such as the color of the thread can be selected. More notable, R.E.Load was the first company to offer personalized appliqué graphics on messenger bags and continues to be hailed as experts for this specialized service.” —Roland Burns and Ellie Lum

Owner: David Boone

Year founded: 2014

What We Do

The Towne Cycles is a community-based bike shop that specializes in custom builds for commuters. We reuse or upcycle older parts and personally design bike builds for their intended use—whether that’s a daily commute, a race, or riding down the coast of California. That ensures that each bike is fitted to the buyer and no bike goes unloved. We also offer a small selection of pre-built bikes, frames, and parts for purchase.

What Makes Us Special in the Outdoor Industry

“We care about community. We care about our buyers and what matters to them. We care that people (women, LGBTQ+, minorities, homeless people, etc.) are empowered and not shunned, neglected, or condescended to for who they are or what they know. The Towne Cycles serves many clientele at discounted rates, sometimes for free, and will work on bikes that other shops won’t. We love to solve a good problem and provide excellent service while doing so.” —David Boone

Owner: Abby Dione

Year founded: 2011

What We Do

Coral Cliffs is an indoor rock climbing gym in Ft. Lauderdale that offers 87 top-roped routes, 25 lead routes, bouldering, slabs, aretes, overhangs, arches, and roofs. The routes change on a weekly basis, so visitors never get bored and remain challenged. Coral Cliffs welcomes new and experienced climbers with classes, private instruction, gear rental, and single-day or seven-visit passes.

What Makes Us Special in the Outdoor Industry

“I became the first queer Black woman to own an indoor rock climbing gym when I opened Coral Cliffs 10 years ago. Since then, I’ve tried to make my gym a safe space for BIPOC, women, LGBTQ+, and young climbers. This has resulted in such things as a local youth rock climbing team and more women involved in the sport through our monthly Lady’s Night. During the pandemic, Coral Cliffs has struggled to stay open, but the nation rallied to save the gym, raising over $120K through a GoFundMe campaign.” —Abby Dione

Owner: Kokeb Kassa

Year founded: 2019

What We Do

At��Teffley, we make delicious Ethiopian plant-based snacks—crackers, barley kernels and bars—that contain all-natural ingredients like honey and cocoa, with no dairy or processed sugar. Teffley snacks are perfect to take on a bike ride, a hike, a weekend camping trip, or any adventure.

What Makes Us Special in the Outdoor Industry

“Barley Crunch (barley kernels) and Teff Crunch (crackers) are the favorite snacks of our world-famous Ethiopian runners. When these runners train in the high altitude mountains of Ethiopia, they count on these snacks to boost energy, increase immunity, and provide nutrients. Food is integral to any culture and our mission at Teffley is to connect cultures through food. These are snacks that we grew up eating in Ethiopia and now we are sharing them with the world.” —Kokeb Kassa

Article originally published on February 1, 2021 and updated on February 15, 2023

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Eagles Nest Outfitters Inc. (ENO), the leader in responsibly made hammocks and hammock accessories to help you explore, connect, and relax, unveils the , making its high-quality, bestselling hammocks more affordable and accessible than ever before. This hammock and straps combo, a first for the company, will quickly become your go-to hammock for any adventure.��

Inspired by the same hammock counterculture that ENO first introduced more than 20 years ago, the TravelNest Hammock + Straps Combo is designed to go wherever your adventures lead you. Featuring a simplified yet spacious single-panel hammock body, durable stainless-steel carabiners, bluesign-approved fabric, and patented no-knots-needed hammock straps, this versatile, responsibly made hammock is an excellent choice for beginner and seasoned hammockers alike. The hammock and straps pack into an attached stuff sack, storing everything you need to easily and quickly relax on the go, making this set the ideal travel companion.

“We are committed to building more sustainable and responsibly made products that enable more people to enjoy their time outside,” says Ryan Klinger, ENO’s chief product officer. “We hope that this economical and user-friendly hammock helps to remove barriers and inspires people to try hammocking for the first time.”

��The TravelNest Hammock + Straps Combo incorporates many of the features ENO users know and love, including:��

• Supremely comfortable, breathable, and fast-drying FreeWave 70D nylon fabric
• Spacious nine-foot hammock body with integrated stuff sack
• Stainless-steel carabiners quickly and safely connect to included hammock straps
• Patented strap design includes ten combined adjustment points
• No-Knots-Needed setup will have you relaxing securely in seconds
• Durable tree-friendly strap webbing with time-tested construction
• Compatible with all ENO hammock stands and accessories

��TravelNest Hammock + Straps Combo technical specifications:

• Weight: 28 ounces (794 grams)
• Capacity: 400 pounds (181 kilograms)
• Hammock Dimensions: 9 feet x 5 feet (2.7 meters x 1.5 meters)
• Hammock Strap Dimensions: 8 feet x 1 inch (2.5 meters x 2.5 centimeters)

The ($54.95) is available in three nature-inspired colorways: Charcoal, Marine, and Moss. It is compatible with all ENO hammock stands and accessories, including hammock stands, bug nets, rain tarps, insulation, and more. The TravelNest Hammock + Straps Combo is available and at specialty across the country.

About ENO

Founded in 1999 and based in Asheville, North Carolina, Eagles Nest Outfitters (ENO) is the leader in creating responsibly made hammocks and hammock accessories to help you explore, connect, and relax. ENO distributes its products online, at specialty outdoor retailers across the nation, and in more than 13 countries. As a bluesign System Partner, ENO is proud to be committed to the journey of building more sustainable and responsibly made products and to partner with an exemplary network of nonprofit organizations as a member. For more information, visit .

ENO is the leader in creating responsibly made hammocks and hammock accessories to help you explore, connect, and relax. As a , ENO is committed to building more sustainable and responsibly made products. ENO also donates 1 percent of sales to nonprofits as a member.

The post ENO TravelNest Hammock + Straps Combo Makes It Easier Than Ever to Hammock appeared first on ���ϳԹ��� Online.

The fall of 2022 was supposed to be a chance for bike retailers to catch their breath after two crazy years.

A month after lockdowns had them wondering about their future in the spring of 2020, they suddenly couldn’t keep up with demand. For a year and a half, staff worked overtime as Americans rolled out their dusty steads or bought new ones. A 50 percent increase in riding, plus supply chain snafus and factory lockdowns dwindled inventories. Then, just as supply and demand evened out last fall, a new challenge walked into stores dressed like a delivery person: a glut of bikes and parts arrived during the darkest days of the year.

“We’ve been waiting for this inventory for a year or more,” says Nick, the owner of two Utah bike shops, who asked that we not use his real name because he didn’t want to alienate his sales reps and dealers. “And we’re getting it all at once and at the worst possible time. No one is buying bikes or getting their bike serviced in the fall and winter.”

His shops received so much inventory that Nick ran out of space and had to rent 10 storage units.

“Worse than excess inventory is that it’s not the right mix of inventory,” he says. “We have too much of this, too little of some things, and did we even order that?”

When his main supplier launched a new gravel bike with a major marketing campaign, Nick didn’t have a single model in stock.

“We’re supposed to be a launch partner, but they had no bikes for stores at the same time they had every color and size available on their website,” he says.

But he can’t complain. “During the inventory shortage all the manufacturers gained a lot of power,” he says. “They decided who got inventory.” Now, he worries if he rocks the boat he’ll lose even more access to the bikes or get dropped as a dealer. That’s why we agreed not to use his real name.

It’s all costing Nick money—in storage fees, staff time and debt financing. And things may only get worse. All of the dozen people we talked to for this article say Nick’s situation is the norm. With bills piling up, bike retailers will start discounting what they can. Nick will have to match prices. With demand slowing—he says it’s already 10 percent lower than last year—he expects spring 2023 inventory to arrive long before he has sold most of the just-arrived 2022 models, which will lead to more storage issues, more discounts, slimmer margins. The vicious cycle could spin out of control. “It’s going to get more difficult before it gets better to the point some dealers are not going to make it,” he predicts.

But smart and creative independent bike shop owners are finding ways to work with the inventory challenges by doubling down on service, embracing the new pandemic cyclist, and finding ways to reach novel customers near and far. Despite a busting bike market, inflationary woes, and increased competition from their suppliers and the used market, these shops are optimistic about the future.

Bull whips and snake bellies

The pandemic-fueled inventory roller coaster is not news to any outdoor related retailer. Even other specialty niches like paddling shops are facing challenges with out-of-season inventory piling up, too much of this, and not enough of that. But in many ways the bike industry suffered more during the last three years than other verticals and thus its woes are more extreme, says John Williams, the former president of Live to Play Sports, the owner of Norco Bikes and the distributor of .

First, manufacturing is more concentrated. For instance, just a handful of factories in Taiwan and China produce most of the premium bike frames worldwide. The bike supply chain is also more complex. Even budget friendly bikes include dozens of parts. One unavailable component stalls delivery of the whole bike. And during the pandemic, bike riding boomed more than most outdoor activities. The U.S. Census department says participation increased by 50 percent in New York City. Nationwide bike industry sales jumped nearly 50 percent in 2020 and 2021, , according to NPD Group, a business research company.

The result is what’s known as a bull whip effect. As retailers saw demand for bikes surge, they ordered, say, 25 percent more inventory than normal. When the inventory didn’t arrive in time, they ordered the same amount from someone else and started hoarding what parts they did have. Distributors took that 50 percent order and added their own 10 percent bump. Brands did the same, asking factories to make 70 percent above what they would normally need. Two years later the whip is finally snapping. Missing parts arrived, factories caught up with back orders, cargo ships sailed, port strikes ended. Now all the inventory is arriving in warehouses and shops, at the same time that consumer demand is falling, recession and inflation talk is locking up wallets, and the used bike market, particularly online, is overflowing.

“It’s like the belly of a snake after a big meal,” Williams says. “It’s going to take time for the inventory bulge to move its way through the system.”

Some brands are helping retailers digest. , a Canadian company, has extended its payment terms to give shops more time to sell the bikes it just delivered. Some brands are allowing dealers to rewrite orders, says Williams, something they normally wouldn’t do. And SRAM, a components maker that rarely allows deviation from its minimum advertised price guidelines, gave shops permission to put 200 SKUs on sale.

“Our goal is to create demand so that our retailers, partners, and we at SRAM are in the best position regarding inventory going into next spring season,” said

To Williams, that shows retailers are in a power position. “All the product has to make its way through the supply chain and the majority of it will still sell at retail,” he says. But that doesn’t mean the next year or so won’t be tough for bike shops. Williams says it’s time to be creative, reimagine the in-store experience and offer something not available online.

It’s not all about sales

is a good example of what that could look like. There is almost no inventory at all in the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania store. And that’s exactly how Isaac Denham wants it.

“I managed a traditional bike store and watched $250,000 worth of inventory collect dust,” says Denham, who opened Befitting in 2018 with store manager Victoria Edwards. “I wanted to do everything in my power to keep our inventory dollars low.”

In fact, the duo prefers to call the store a fitting studio, not a bike shop. Instead of rows of bikes and walls of helmets, there’s a fit bike, which they can adjust to mimic everything from an extra small mountain bike to an extra large triathlon bike. Before the pandemic customers would come in for a fit appointment and then Denham or Edwards would order the bike and parts. With multiple distributors within a few hours of their shop, they would have everything the next day to build the custom bike and deliver it to the client within a week.

In the summer of 2020, once they could restart fit appointments, the landscape shifted during the 2020 lockdown and bike boom. Delivery was no longer an option and they couldn’t beat direct-to-consumer online prices. Rather than fight it, they went with the flow. Now after the fit appointment, they tell the clients what to order online. When the parts arrive, Edwards and Denham build the bike.

What seemed like a loss was actually good business. For a 90-minute bike fit appointment Befitting charges $300. An average $1,000 bike might put $250 in a store’s register, but that’s before subtracting the cost of shipping, storage, credit card fees and shop time to build and sell the bike.

“A bike sale looks good on paper, but bike fit is more profitable,” says Denham.

And it creates more loyalty, adds Edwards. “My fit clients are telling me stuff about their body they have never told anyone else,” she says. “That intimacy builds trust and creates clients, not customers. The difference in relationship is big.” Edwards says he has many “clients” who drive an hour to have their bikes serviced at Befitting.

Embrace the new riders

Obviously not every bike shop can focus on a luxury service like fit. But everyone can focus on building a community and Patrick Hogan, the senior research manager for the , thinks there is an untapped market of consumers looking for a welcome sign.

In late 2020, PeopleForBikes, which represents 320 bike-related suppliers, commissioned . Of the 2,803 respondents, a quarter got back on a bike for the first time in a year or more during the pandemic. The eight percent who were brand new riders were more likely to be women and minorities.

“The lesson, I think, is there is a lot of opportunity to grow the sport with audiences not typically targeted with marketing and communications,” Hogan says.

When the study asked what it would take to keep them riding, Hogan says the top two responses were infrastructure and community. Advocating for bike lanes is a logical move for some bike shops, he thinks, but it’s a long play. Finding ways to welcome new riders into the sport is a shorter term lever that any retailer can pull.

“If you engage them in the sport, they’re probably going to purchase more product,” says Hogan.

Befitting used to have beer and pizza night every Friday. But like group riders, movie nights, event sponsorship and other classic forms of community engagement, the party nights died during the pandemic and are slow to reemerge.

There are simpler options. Right from the beginning of the pandemic, bike shop in Cleveland, Ohio, concentrated on one thing: getting people on bikes, quickly. Instead of the five week service waits at most shops, staff worked overtime to keep turn-around time to three weeks or less, says manager Antoine Powell.

“Putting your nose to the grindstone makes a good lasting impression,” he says. “I think we got a lot of new faces in here with word of mouth about our service time.”

When they noticed new riders balking at the price of a bike, particularly e-bikes, they introduced financing. Offered through a third party, the retailer eats the interest on the payment plan. But it helps close sales, ensures customers don’t buy an inferior product, which might turn them off cycling, and gets them riding right away, rather than later with a layaway plan, says Powell. Customers are pleasantly surprised by the option.

“More people riding good bikes, means more people enjoying riding, which expands the bike culture,” he says. “We’ll benefit later.”

Every shop is national

Both service and engagement rely on the inherent challenge of selling bikes online: They are too complicated for most people to build and tune out of the box. It’s why traditionally bike shops have had very local markets. But locked stores and contactless services changed the behavior of cyclists just as much as any shopper. Tapping into this shift presents opportunities for retailers, says Cameron Simpson, the head of North America for BikeExchange, an online marketplace where hundreds of bike shops sell their inventory.

“Our retail spaces are becoming antiquated. But the people that are riding bikes stay youthful,” she says. “We need to keep up with the demographic.”

Part of Simpson’s role is engaging with the individual shops that partner with BikeExchange. To manage their inventory challenges some are tapping into niche markets, like working with hotels or cruise ships to supply rental fleets for their guests. Others, like Dallas, Texas-based Playtri, are buying shops and franchising to use economies of scale, like for balancing inventory between stores. But the most productive strategy is to expand online to find new customers beyond the neighborhood, says Simpson.

About 20 percent of all retail sales happens online, according to the U.S. Census department. The number for the bike industry is much lower, says Simpson, but it’s growing. Sales on Bike Exchange’s marketplace increased by 120 percent between 2019 and 2020 and another 60 percent in 2021. 2022 was flat, but conversion rates increased, says Simpson. More telling, the number of BikeExchange retail partners has increased from 130 nationwide in 2020 to more than 200 today, as more and more shops look for ways to move overstocked inventory, Simpson says.

Even on a more local level online is powerful, says Tuvi Mrakpor, a sales associate at Sweet Pete’s Bike Shop, a business with two locations in Toronto, Ontario.

For most of 2020 customers weren’t allowed in stores in Ontario. Sweet Pete’s had to pivot to digital and virtual. Now, even though there are no restrictions, they continue to conduct significant business online, he says. It’s not just customers in Toronto either. They’re selling bikes into other markets where customers can’t find the specific model they want locally.

“The store is functionally a warehouse,” says Mrakpor.

The challenge is delivering the bikes. For out of town customers, Sweet Pete’s builds the bikes up like they would with an in person sale, carefully rebox it, and pay to ship the bike with Canada Post or a courier company. That still requires the customer to put the bike back together. Simpson says other stores bought vans and bike trailers so they could deliver ready-to-ride bikes. And BikeExchange saw this as an opportunity and started an offshoot business, Kitzuma Cycling Logistics, that specializes in delivering fully assembled bikes from shops to customers across the country.

“The industry has flat out tried to avoid online,” says Simpson. “They can no longer put off that this is where consumers want to shop.”

Bike service online?

The advice seems to pull retailers in two directions. Service and engagement is all about offering something that’s unavailable online. But it also points to a potential future where the bike shop is more of a showroom. With bikes still dominating most retailers’ sales and revenue stats, according to the National Bicycle Dealers Association, that’s a hard move to make.

John Williams has some simpler advice for retailers: Look for ways to embrace new customers and don’t panic. There will be chaos. There will be disruption. But when the snake stops looking like a beach ball there will still be bicycle retailers.

“People have been calling for the death of the independent bike dealer for 30 years,” Williams says. “But they are the fabric and soul of the industry. Brands need them. Consumers need them.”

And that won’t change until someone figures out how to tune gears or change a tire online.

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In 2005, Mystery Ranch received a box of worn-out backpacks from a group of United States Forest Service (USFS) wildland firefighters in Southern California, otherwise known as “hotshots.” The box came with a challenge. “Here’s what we are currently using in the field. Can you do better?”

Hotshot crews are the first line of defense against wildfires threatening lives and property. In the fire 2022 season, more than 750,00 acres of forest burned. Working dawn till long after dark, hotshots rely on a critical set of equipment, including their backpacks.

With proven experience building backpacks for enthusiast and military markets, Mystery Ranch’s team set to work and designed prototypes, then sent them out to fire crews for real-world field testing.

“There weren’t ,” recalled Marcus Cornwell, fire management officer in New Mexico.“I have scars on my hips from the old packs, and that’s how bad they were.”

Before Mystery Ranch’s involvement in the wildland fire market, firefighters used military style backpacks that lacked durability and had very limited ability to customize for their specific gear hauling needs.

The Bozeman, Montana, company launched its first wildland fire-specific backpack, The Hotshot, in 2007 (retail prices start at $319). Since then, the line has expanded to include seven packs specifically designed for hand crews, fire engine crews, helicopter teams, and medical personnel, plus women-specific models. By 2010,115 hotshot crew members were equipped with Mystery Ranch packs.

Luke Mayfield is the brand’s fire program manager. His prior experience included 18 seasons working with the United States Forest Service, and twelve of those years were spent with hotshot crews.

Since the Hotshot’s launch, sales have grown at least 20 percent year over year. That growth increased to 30 percent in 2021-2022. The Hotshot and Engine models sell over 6,000 units, respectively each year. “It’s safe to say that we have 80 percent of the hotshot market,” Mayfield said.

“Mystery Ranch listened to our feedback, then gave us gear that was designed for people specifically in our line of work,” said Ben Strahan, a hotshot superintendent in region five, which covers national forest land in the North Cascades, the Sierra Nevada, and more. “They’re paying attention to what this niche consumer wants.”

Mayfield’s emotional and professional commitment to his former hotshot colleagues burns as hot as a wildfire. “I firmly believe that we provide and build the best load-bearing packs in the world for wildland firefighters,” he said. “I want to do everything I can to see all firefighters have the best gear possible to keep them as comfortable as possible in uncomfortable situations.”

“Everybody on the hotshot crew is asked to carry extra weight like a hose or medical equipment,” said Jeremiah Jacks, hotshot squad leader in the Pacific Northwest. “The Hotshot has a beefed up suspension system to handle heavy loads up to 50�� to 60 pounds, plus so many different buckles and attachment points so we can attach any type of gear.

Season by season, Mayfield keeps in touch with a network of current and former hotshot crew members, prodding them for their insights and suggestions to fine-tune pack designs. One complaint he heard frequently was frustration with the positioning of the fire shelter pouch, which the USFS requires all wildland firefighters to carry. The 5-pound fire shelters, constructed of fiberglass and aluminum, serve as a “last resort ” method to escape a life-threatening fire situation.

Typically, fire shelters are stored in a pouch at the bottom of the pack for easy access. Firefighters complained of bruised and chafed legs from the pouches bouncing around as they worked a fire line.

So Mystery Ranch changed the design and moved the pouch away from the body. “The new design is now completely off your butt housed in a rugged, secure box,” said Jacks. “This was a much-needed change, and they took time to give us the fix we needed.”

Product design isn’t the only way Mystery Ranch supports hotshot crews. Strahan points out that loyalty for Mystery Ranch packs is fueled by more than just good gear. “They’re helping and supporting the [wildland firefighter] community, and that speaks volumes about who they are. They’re not just selling stuff; they are also an active member of the community.”The company’s Backbone Scholarship Program has awarded more than $12,000 for professional development, and ten percent of proceeds from selling special edition packs fund the scholarships. The company is also heavily involved in wildland fire policy issues. Mystery Ranch supports Mayfield’s work as vice president of the Grassroots Wildland Firefighters, a nonprofit advocacy group focused on improving working conditions for wildland firefighters.

“My number one priority is doing everything I can to provide packs that keep hotshots as comfortable as possible in uncomfortable situations,” says Mayfield.

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the international leader in PFC-free high-performance technical cleaners and waterproofing products for outdoor apparel, footwear, and gear, has introduced the world’s highest-performing waterproof downs. Nikwax Hydrophobic Down+ (NHD+) and Nikwax Hydrophobic Down Recycled (NHD Recycled) offer brand partners the highest-performing waterproof down insulation while also being completely free of all PFCs.

Nikwax Hydrophobic Down+

The world’s highest-performing waterproof down fill:

• �� �� �� �� Completely PFC-free formula
• �� �� �� �� Exceeds 10,000 minutes on the IDFB 18a Shake Test
• �� �� �� �� Responsible Down Certified (RDS)
• �� �� �� �� Available in 650–900 fill powers
• �� �� �� �� Keeps users dry more than 600 percent longer than competing waterproof down products
• �� �� �� �� Designed for lasting performance with Nikwax aftercare products

Nikwax Hydrophobic Down Recycled

The world’s highest-performing waterproof recycled down fill:

• �� �� �� �� Completely PFC-free formula��
• �� �� �� �� Exceeds 1,000 minutes on the IDFB 18a shake test
• �� �� �� �� Composed completely of recycled down fill
• �� �� �� �� Global ��Recycled Standard (GRS) certification available
• �� �� �� �� Available in 650–800 fill powers
• �� �� �� �� Keeps users dry more than 900 percent longer than untreated down
• �� �� �� �� Designed for lasting performance with Nikwax aftercare products

With 45 years of experience in high-performing PFC-free aftercare products, Nikwax is able to deliver the highest-performing hydrophobic down products to outdoor-industry brands. Nikwax understands its fundamental responsibility to preserve the natural environment while preventing further damage to the planet and its people. The company continues to lead with innovative, sustainable, ethical, authentic, and fair practices.

“Our industry partners have been searching for high-performing, PFC-free, sustainable hydrophobic down fill options, and we’ve been able to deliver two that are not only PFC-free but perform better than anything else in their respective categories,” says Nikwax North America President Brian Davidson. “Nikwax is known for being a leader in PFC-free chemistry, sustainability, and high performance, and we’re looking forward to elevating our brand partners with these new insulation options.”

Founded in 1977, is the trusted global leader in environmentally safe cleaning and waterproofing solutions that extend the performance life of outdoor clothing, footwear, and equipment. The brand’s 45-year commitment to clean chemistry means never using PFCs or aerosols and not testing on animals. Its product line is water-based and non-persistent, and all product bottles are made from 100 percent postconsumer recycled plastic that can be recycled again. Nikwax has carbon-balanced all 45 years of its operations and recently became an employee-owned trust.

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The Outerwear and lifestyle clothing company continues to bring its direct-to-consumer model into the brick-and-mortar reality with the scheduled opening of three new stores in 2023.

The Jackson, Wyoming-based company announced it was launching three new storefronts in California, Montana, and Massachusetts, its first in those states. These new stores will bring Stio’s total retail locations to ten.

“We started in Jackson Hole with a goal to be an authentic mountain lifestyle brand,” founder and CEO Stephen Sullivan told ���ϳԹ���. “Our apparel has resonated so far beyond the Tetons, and now we’re excited to offer the brick-and-mortar experience to those across the U.S.that have shopped online with us for so many years.”

The Boston, Massachusetts, store is scheduled to open Jan. 6 in the Seaport neighborhood where it will join Helly Hansen, Everlane, Lululemon, Filson, and Outdoor Voices storefronts. The South Lake Tahoe, California store is expected to open in spring 2023 at Heavenly Mountain Resort.

“What attracted us to South Lake Tahoe is its location,” said Megan Odom, director of retail at Stio. “You can access the lake, incredible singletrack trails, resort and backcountry skiing just minutes from our storefront.”

The Bozeman, Montana, store is expected to open in late 2023, the company said.

Called Mountain Studios, these Stio stores are in addition to 58 Stio Outpost kiosks within other outdoor stores and ski shops across the country.Stio was founded in 2011 by Stephen Sullivan as an online direct-to-consumer brand. Sullivan previously founded the brand in 1997 with Brian Cousins, and in 2005. Cloudveil had more than 600 retail stores and $25 million in revenue when it was sold.

“My years with Cloudveil taught me a great deal in growth strategy, which I’ve translated into Stio’s expansion plans slowly and steadily over the years,” Sullivan said. “Stio is actually 4 times larger in annual sales than Cloudveil was at its height of sales.”

As for goals of seeing Stio’s pinecone logo as ubiquitous on slopes and trails as other brands such as Patagonia and The North Face, Sullivan said it’s more important to him to keep Stio’s brand “true to its mountain roots.”

“I’m extremely proud of how successful the brand has been and how much we continue to grow,” he said. “We have over 150 employees and are broadening our omni-channel approach by expanding our wholesale base, increasing our owned retail storefronts, and growing our corporate and group business.”

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