New Balance Football Boots Charge the Field
The brand launched two styles of boots designed for attack-minded players but differentiated by style-of-play and outlook. The Visaro Boot is for players who “Make Chances,” and the Furon Boot is for players who “Take Chances.” Visaro features a Vari-zone Ariaprene upper for ball manipulation, a Super-Flex soleplate for ground contact and a low-pressure zone […]
Eagle Creek Celebrates 40 Big Years
The founders of Eagle Creek – Steve and Nona Barker – have a lot to celebrate this summer. This year marks the 40th anniversary since the couple first started Eagle Creek in the San Jacinto Mountains of Southern California, where they built and tested backpacks by hand. “It seems like a lifetime ago that Nona […]
A Brave New World of Wearables
If you already feel lost when you hear the word “wearables,” don’t sweat it. The term at the moment is a catch-all. Wall Street calls a GoPro a “wearable,” even though seeing how an Apple Watch and a POV action-sports camera fit under the same heading is a bit of a mental stretch for anyone […]
Osmo’s Sweet Women-Specific Fuel
Osmo Nutrition puts to bed the last shreds of belief that any old hydration and protein products will work “just fine” for today’s active woman. Their lines of scientifically reviewed products, including the sweet and newly released Strawberry Hydration and White Mocha Protein, have been formulated around the physiological and hormonal fluctuations unique to a […]
Generous Sole Beneath Balega Socks
In 2003, the same year as the company’s founding, Balega, now a leader in run and outdoor specialty socks, founded the Lesedi Project Fund, the company’s official nonprofit charity foundation. Lesedi is a Zulu word meaning “light and enlightenment.” Balega’s entire product line is made at its South African production facility in Cape Town, utilizing […]
Find the Perfect Outdoor Sandal
Versatility continues to be the buzzword that dominates outdoor sandals. Consumers want a mix of comfort and performance, and they are gravitating toward durable styles they can wear on a variety of terrains. Just as athletic influences have crossed over into outdoor in recent years, design sensibilities rooted in everyday fashion are evident in many […]
Ortovox Mountainwear Comes to America
SGB was first exposed to the latest in Ortovox mountain apparel after Outdoor Retailer Winter Market in January in anticipation of its fall launch into the U.S., and we finally had a chance to sit down with Ortovox U.S. Brand Manager Tom Mason to gain a better understanding about what this apparel means to retailers, […]
SUP Brands Inflate with Popularity
It was in the late 1990s, when this combination of surfing, kayaking and paddleboarding began its modern renaissance as an adventure sport. Although the modern upsurge began off the shores of Hawaii and California, the practice has traceable roots dating back hundreds and maybe thousands of years. Richard Ohman, founder, Point 65, a company that […]
Brunton Expands Power-On-The-Go
Go to any networking event and one of the hot topics for retailers is going to be portable power. Both from an environmental standpoint (charging via solar or USB instead of using batteries) and the fact that we are ever-more connected in the backcountry, portable power is a growing market for good reason. Brunton is […]
Shedding Light on Compression Gear
Compression gear rides a strange duality: the highly visible arm sleeves and tights are often seen on high-profile athletes in both individual and team sports, but many people don’t know exactly what benefits compression actually provides. Even explaining compression apparel can be tricky. For many, it fits into that category between fad and magic beans, […]
USA Pro Challenge Rests and Raves at Copper Mountain
Copper welcomes the USA Pro Challenge cyclists and supporters in the only way the authentic mountain community knows how—a festival party. Copper Mountain plans to offer action and cycling-centered activities for the family to enjoy, along with free music concerts and screening of the Aspen finish line. Although cyclists won’t pedal from Stage 3 until […]
Running Apparel, a Runway Success
This year, wellness items (athletic apparel, soul cycle, green drinks) gained significantly in the race against the prescription drug industry. Estimates from the Global Wellness Summit are that while the pharmaceutical industry tops out at an estimated one trillion dollars, the wellness industry has achieved a personal best, more than tripling that number. Saucony Apparel […]
LEKI Enters Camping Market
Hikers, trekkers and skiers know the importance of strong, stable poles to get up the mountain, and a way to relax at the top. LEKI, known in the outdoor industry as the “pole experts,” put two and two together by inventing new products that use existing pole technology in a whole new way – camping […]
MSR Unveils Military-Grade Water Purifier
Seattle-based legacy outdoor brand MSR released at Outdoor Retailer Summer Market what the company is calling the world’s most advanced portable water purifier, the Guardian, $350. In 2009, the U.S. military selected MSR and its bio safety Level II water lab to create a device capable of keeping its service members safe from waterborne illnesses. Five […]
Columbia Reinvents Rainwear
For Spring 2016, Columbia Sportswear is introducing OutDry Extreme, which it touts as the biggest breakthrough in the rainwear category since Gore-Tex introduced conventional waterproof breathable construction more than 40 years ago. In an interview at its New York City showroom, Blaine Perrin, director of product marketing for Columbia, said OutDry Extreme basically brings OutDry, which […]
