Insights and Resources for Your Team
Welcome to this month’s Outdoorist. The 2026 Outdoor Participation Trends Report is here, and it tells a more nuanced story than ever about who is getting outside and how often.
This issue also brings new sustainability resources, active policy deadlines, and fresh learning opportunities to help your team stay ahead. Thank you for being part of our community and for the work you do to grow our industry.
The 2026 Outdoor Participation Trends Report Is Here
Now in its 15th year, the Outdoor Participation Trends Report is the most comprehensive resource on who is getting outside and how often. This year’s report shows that outdoor recreation reached a record 183.2 million Americans and has added nearly 30 million participants since 2019. However, people are getting outside less frequently, and that reality has major implications for our industry.
The 2026 Outdoor Participation Trends Report covers participation by activity, demographic, region, income, and age, and shows standout gains among children, adults 65+, and Hispanic participants. Download the Executive Summary for an overview of the key findings.
>>READ THE SUMMARY
Explore the Participation Report Data in More Detail
Want to hear directly from the researcher behind the 2026 Outdoor Participation Trends Report? Join OIA Senior Director of Research Kelly Davis on Wednesday, July 8 at 10 a.m. (PT) for a webinar covering the report’s most important findings.
Kelly will walk through the key takeaways and what they mean for brands, retailers, suppliers, and the outdoor industry as a whole. Get in touch to learn how you can get access to these conversations and the full slate of OIA member resources.
>>CONTACT US
A Look Back at Switchback Spring 2026
The OIA team just returned from Switchback Spring in New Orleans, and it was great to connect with the brands, retailers, and partners that make our industry what it is. From the education sessions to the exhibit hall, the energy throughout the show was a reminder of how much our community accomplishes when we come together.
A big thank you to the Switchback team for putting on another standout event. Stay tuned for more details on what’s ahead.
Save the Date for the 2026 Catalyst Conference
The 2026 OIA Catalyst Conference is set for Monday, October 26 in Portland, Oregon, and this year we’re partnering with PERFORMANCE DAYS® to kick off Day 0 of Functional Fabric Fair.
The Catalyst Conference brings the sustainability community together to tackle the hardest problems facing the outdoor industry.
We have a full day of sessions planned on new regulations, 2030 climate targets, durability and circularity, AI’s role in sustainability, and more. We’ll share registration details in the coming weeks, but you can preview the full lineup today.
>>SESSION LINEUP
Q1 Retail Data Shows Where Demand Is Holding
Outdoor product sales opened 2026 in a precarious position. Dollar sales held nearly flat in the Athletic Specialty and Sporting Goods (ASSG) retail channel, but unit sales fell 7.3% across every category while average retail prices climbed 6.7% year over year.
With consumer sentiment at decade lows and households cutting back on discretionary spending, the Q1 2026 Outdoor Retail Trends Report shows which products are still moving and which are cooling fast. The full report is available to select members, and anyone can view the Executive Summary.
>>GET THE DATA
What Camping’s Growth Means for Outdoor Recreation
When camping grows, the entire outdoor industry grows with it. In our recent webinar, OIA Senior Director of Research Kelly Davis broke down the latest camping participation data and the 2026 outlook for outdoor businesses.
She discussed why camping’s growth leads to momentum across the industry, the structural headwinds facing some segments, where the consumer base is expanding, and the biggest opportunities for reaching new and casual campers. Get in touch to learn how you can access OIA’s single-sport resources.
>>CONTACT US
Make Your Voice Heard on Section 301 Tariffs
OIA is filing formal public comments with the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR), urging that outdoor industry products be excluded from the proposed new Section 301 tariffs. The deadline to submit comments is Monday, July 6 at 11:59 p.m. (ET), with a second comment period on China trade mechanisms closing Friday, July 10 at 11:59 p.m. (ET).
In our direct meetings, USTR officials have been clear that this comment period is the industry’s best opportunity to secure product-specific tariff exclusions. Individual company comments that document real supply chain impacts and sourcing costs carry weight in the final determination.
If your company sources outdoor products, please submit comments with USTR using Docket USTR-2026-0265 before the July 6 deadline.
>>SUBMIT COMMENTS
Get Ready for the EU’s New Green Claims Law
The EU’s Empowering Consumers for the Green Transition (ECGT) Directive, also known as “EmpCo,” governs environmental marketing and green claims. It applies to any company selling to consumers on the EU market, including those headquartered elsewhere. Enforcement begins on September 27, 2026, and there is no grace period for existing stock.
Our new policy brief gives outdoor companies a detailed overview of the law, including blacklisted claims, point-of-sale requirements for durability and repairability, who must comply, and practical steps to take now. Get in touch to discuss how your team can access this brief and our other sustainability resources.
>>CONTACT US
Register With California’s Textile EPR PRO by July 1
Does your company have over $1 million in global annual turnover and sell apparel or textile articles into California? If so, you are required to register with the approved producer responsibility organization (PRO), Landbell USA, by Wednesday, July 1 to remain compliant with California’s Responsible Textile Recovery Act (SB 707).
The regulation requires all obligated producers, brand owners, and importers to register with the state’s approved PRO. Covered products include apparel and accessories intended for regular wear, formal occasions, or outdoor activities, as well as textile articles such as blankets, curtains, towels, linens, and bedding.
>>REGISTER WITH LANDBELL USA
A Guide to Tier 1 Certification
The OIA Content Claim Standard Task Force has released a new guide to help Tier 1 vendors achieve certification to Textile Exchange standards. Developed with input from suppliers, certification bodies, and Textile Exchange, it clarifies a process that can be complex for first-time users.
The guide walks through determining your scope, finding a certification body, building management systems, preparing for audits, and applying for transaction certificates, along with product-specific guidance for footwear, hard goods, and organic materials. Read the full guide today.
>>READ THE GUIDE
Join a Webinar on the Tier 1 Certification Guidance
Want to learn more about the new Tier 1 certification guidance? Join us for a webinar that will introduce the guidance, explain how it came together, and show you how to access it.
We’re hosting two identical sessions to accommodate suppliers in different regions, on Thursday, July 16 at 8 a.m. (PT) and Tuesday, July 28 at 8 p.m. (PT). Registration is open to all.
>>JULY 16 WEBINAR
>>JULY 28 WEBINAR
New Courses in OIA Learning
We’re excited to announce two new certification courses in OIA Learning.
The first is “From Footprint to Future: Climate Action in the Outdoor Industry.” This course gives teams practical knowledge they can immediately apply to their work and provides greater leverage in the global fight to reduce our industry’s impact on the environment.
The second is “From Compliance to Competitive Advantage: Chemicals Management in the Outdoor Industry.” Many brands have set goals around chemical management and communicated them to suppliers, but far fewer have put real systems in place to act on those commitments. This course is designed to close that gap and drive real change.
Check out our entire catalog of 25+ courses today.
>>START LEARNING
