As travel becomes increasingly hectic, expensive and hassle-filled, Timbuk2 aims to make life on the road a little easier with its new Timbuk2 Travel Collection of luggage. The San Francisco-based company, renowned for its bicycle messenger bags, has desi
Category: Outdoor
Common Ground
Outdoor industry executives come together to create a sustainable legacy. At the 2007 Outdoor Retailer Winter Market show, the Outdoor Industry Association launched the Eco Working Group as a formal response to the outdoor industry’s interest in addressin
Navigating in Fast-Moving Waters
Entrepreneurial boat brands thrive in a corporate world. Ten years ago, the paddlesports industry went through a period of intense consolidation. The jury is still out on whether consolidation has helped or hurt the overall industry…
Creating a Community Online
eMarketer estimates marketers will spend $1.6 billion on advertising on social networking sites in 2008. Although accounting for just a fraction of that total, outdoor brands like Timex, ClifBar, ProBar, La Sportiva and Timbuk2 are exploring ways to use s
A Matter of Gravity, Petzl Turns the Vertical Environment Into Bold Opportunity.
Since the 1970s, Petzl equipment has played a part in every major mountaineering, climbing and caving achievement. From revolutionary caving equipment to the ubiquitous Grigri self-breaking belay device, Petzl is synonymous with the quality that climbers,
On the Upswing
Climbing gear gradually gets greener. Despite industry-wide efforts to embrace green operations in the last few years—such as incorporating organic materials into gear, switching to solar energy, purchasing carbon offsets and rethinking packaging—the clim
Rack it Up
Vendors are making it easier to fit, order and mount once-tedious gear transport systems.
Ecco Launches Biom Running Shoes
In a nod to the growing ‘barefoot running” movement based on natural motion, Ecco is introducing Biom, a collection of performance road and trail running shoes that the company hails as “category-changing running product.”…
IronmanPower.com Provides 29-week Ironman Training and Nutrition Program
PowerBar has partnered with Ironman to launch a unique online destination for triathletes. The site will provide the latest nutrition information as well as interactive tools to help train for their event…
Nike Names VP of Product
Nike, Inc. promoted Eric Sprunk to the newly created role of vice president for product…
PowerBar First Annual “Specialty Retailer of the Year” Award Deadline Nears
In April, PowerBar announced the introduction of its first annual “Specialty Retailer of the Year” Award. Open to all independent sports specialty retailers…
New Balance Names General Manager for Running and Outdoor
New Balance named Tom Carleo as general manager for the running and outdoor business units. Carleo has more than 20 years of experience working in the global footwear industry, including his most recent role as SVP product for Saucony…
Saucony Launches New Campaign: “We Know… Because We Run”
Saucony announced the launch of a new brand campaign, called “We know… Because we run,” slated to break in national vertical running publications in November. The integrated multimedia campaign includes print, online, retail and event initiatives…
Asics Introduces Limited Edition Kayanos for NYC Marathon
In celebration of the 15-year anniversary of the Gel-Kayano, Asics will introduce an authorized ING New York City Marathon limited-edition during the 2008 race. The model will feature an image of runners crossing the Verrazano-Narrows bridge, specially em
K-Swiss Sponsors The Ford Ironman World Championship
K-Swiss, making a big push to get back into the running category, signed on as the official run course sponsor for the recently completed Ford Ironman World Championship in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii…