Issues
Archive
The outdoor industry is mourning the loss of the athlete and PR professional who emitted coolness and compassion in every situation
The DEI activist writes how we all play a role in bettering the outdoor industry, following mistakes made by the Boulder-based organization
The state became the 13th to establish a government-level office charged with promoting outdoor recreation and business
The company's Gearheads talk to millions of customers every year, so they decided to do something with their feedback—make their own gear
A seven-part research series analyzed outdoor consumers from a psychological standpoint
New Mexico establishes an outdoor recreation division and equity fund for diversity outdoors
Plus, nominate someone you know to add to the growing list of lady-led businesses
There are more outdoor influencer opportunities than ever—particularly for underrepresented populations. But getting paid for that work is another story
With sophisticated Asian factories and Amazon, it’s easier than ever to launch a low-cost gear brand. Are companies that prioritize price over innovation a boon to the outdoor industry—or a threat?
What can the outdoor industry do to better engage communities of color?
As skiers and snowboarders travel more to distant mountains, the gear rental market is booming to keep up
The Pledge, announced to a packed house at Outdoor Retailer Snow Show, was intended to bring the industry together, but ignited a wave of skepticism and criticism instead
When a Brit named Nick cooked up an environmentally-friendly wax for his boots, he had no idea he was building a company that would help legions of hikers stay dry
The Canadian outdoor co-op's CEO wrote a letter about the lack of diverse representation in their advertising and his promise to do better
The brand has significant stakes in Montana and Nevada—too many to stay silent
Today is Indigenous Peoples’ Day—a day that precedes over Columbus Day
The Buena Vista store co-founded a festival for outdoor enthusiasts, and caters to locals and tourists alike
The Native American advocate is passionate about bridging the gap between native people and the outdoor industry
The ultrarunner, writer, and Merrell ambassador teaches us to love our bodies and overcome negativity
Big Agnes employees are testing 18 products and advocating for access to public lands while hiking 740 miles of the Continental Divide Trail
The champion of the outdoor industry in Colorado weighs in on recreation's influence, Outdoor Retailer's impact, and his plans post governorship
The outdoor industry was once seen as a sleeping giant in the fight for public lands, according to author Timothy Egan. Not anymore
The industry has made strides in recent years, but there’s much work still to be done
The Farm to Feet global ambassador, author, and endurance hiker dishes on designing her own sock, her best endurance tip, and her next big project
"Confluence" gathering works toward debut of national platform to strengthen and align state-level efforts
Founder of the advocacy organization African American Nature and Parks Experience, Teresa Baker, is asking outdoor industry CEOs to sign her Diversity Pledge
What if your rain jacket could retain its DWR infinitely without the use of PFCs, chemicals, or water? Could this be the panacea the outdoor industry has been looking for?
African-American women will steer black spending power to $1.5 trillion by 2021. Here are six ways that the outdoor industry can invite more millennial women of color into outdoor adventure
Collaboration is key as brands and organizations think outside the box for more creative and sustainable packaging options for its products
One thing seems clear. Hikers and hunters are in this together
New women-specific stores, the "Move Mountains" campaign, Girl Scouts badges, and more
Utah State and other colleges offer students the chance to get a step ahead in the outdoor industry
Patagonia's Christie Fong divulges why the outdoors is such a major part of her life
These companies keep women front and center, whether their leaders are making comfy clothes for the trail or empowering the next generation of girls
The pro snowboarder, gear-maker, and climate activist talks about his latest "love story," the power of social media, and how he's gearing up to fight Trump in 2020
The recipients of the Outdoor Inspiration Award for Lifetime Achievement, the pioneering couple has pushed Burton, snowboarding, and our entire industry to higher heights
Official Outdoor Recreation Industry Offices are blooming across the U.S. How can you—and your state—become part of the movement?
As online shoppers demand ever-swifter delivery options, vendors and retailers must work together to compete with the likes of Amazon. When they do, the “last-mile” distribution problem disappears for brands while local stores land the sale
Polar explorer Vincent Colliard represents a new breed of sponsored athlete: instead of just notching rad exploits, he’s inspiring environmental give-back on a global scale
Two and a half years after opening his unique, B-Corp certified mountain town shop, Travis Underwood, owner of Chopwood Mercantile, is considering getting out. With his big ideas on how to move the bar for specialty retail, was he too far ahead of his time? Here, he offers lessons learned and some ideas on how to revitalize retail
Smith discusses why Cotopaxi is so focused on poverty reduction, why the brand still uses Kickstarter, and where he wants Cotopaxi to be in ten years
One lousy fit for Phil Oren turned into a revolutionary way of fitting shoes for all hardcore hikers
Out There ϳԹs founder Elyse Rylander has been working hard to bring more visibility to the queer community. Here are her suggestions to make your business more inclusive
NEMO founder Cam Brensinger spent three days working the sales floor at Sunlight Sports in Cody, Wyoming, to get back in touch with specialty outdoor retail. In this three-part series, Brensinger and Sunlight Sports owner, Wes Allen, will brainstorm on how specialty outdoor shops and brands can better collaborate and work together for the ultimate health of the outdoor industry
This rare family-owned specialty outdoor retail shop represents five generations of serving its local McCall, Idaho community
In his first interview as Mountain Hardwear's new president, Joe Vernachio talks about the brand's relationship with retailers, diversity in the industry, and a renewed focus on climbing
Partnering with an organization that helps underrepresented young adults find internships is surprisingly simple. And it's likely to be highly effective
Partnering with organizations, founder of Himalayan Stove Project, George Basch, is creating healthier living environments for families in Nepal
When Kickstarter was young, fresh, and newsworthy on its own, at the dawn of crowdfunding, Peak Design founder Peter Dering decided to take a chance. He was sick and tired of slinging his DSLR over his shoulder or neck while hiking, only to have it slam into his body at…
Can Beyond Surface solve the industry’s DWR problem? Find out why Patagonia is banking more than $1 million on it
The best formula for environmental-friendly practices and products is to make them profitable, says Patagonia's director of environmental strategies
Critics claim the industry's go-to water repellent needs a makeover. Brands race to find an eco-friendly, high-performance formula
OBJ talks to new Patagonia CEO Rose Marcario to find out where she sees the brand heading
Ted Manning tells OBJ his plans for Ibex, where he recently took the post of CEO
Trekking, ski and Nordic pole company Leki lost its passionate owner and CEO Klaus Lenhart on Monday following his death in a plane crash