PORTLAND, Maine (February 11, 2025) – Switchback Spring, the education and business gathering for the outdoor industry community, today released the initial list of confirmed exhibiting brands. The debut event will be held June 16-18, 2025, in Nashville, TN.
The growing list of Switchback Spring exhibitors ranges from outdoor industry bellwethers The North Face, Arc’Teryx, and Darn Tough, to emerging brands Heat-it, Ignik Outdoors, and Artilect.
To view the Switchback Spring exhibitor list, visit this page. Additional brands will continue to be added as contracts are finalized and as space is available.
“What we’re hearing from these brands is that while there’s certainly a strong urge to reconnect with the outdoor community, the main driver for attending Switchback Spring is supporting their core business,” said Christina Henderson, Switchback Event Director.
“Rumpl is a young brand and we’re prioritizing our wholesale partnerships in support of our next phase of growth,” said Josh Simpson, General Manager, Rumpl. “As the outdoor industry has stumbled coming out of the pandemic we see Switchback as a key strategy to support our industry community and participate in a new approach to bringing us back together in person to share, learn, and get business done.”
“As a brand committed to delivering accessible, bold adventure and outdoor gear, we see this as a key opportunity to strengthen relationships with partners, gain firsthand knowledge of emerging consumer preferences, and stay ahead of evolving market demands. By engaging in these meaningful discussions, we aim to enhance our product offerings and align with the latest advancements that meet the needs of outdoor enthusiasts,” said Lindsay Shumlas, Cotopaxi CEO.
Other confirmed Switchback Spring exhibitors include:
- Altra
- Asics
- Biolite
- Birkenstock
- Body Glide
- Bridgedale
- Chaos Headwear
- CLIF Bar
- Cotopaxi
- Eagle Creek
- Eagles Nest Outfitters
- eVENT
- Helinox
- HeyDude
- Howler Bros
- Komperdell
- Liberty Mountain
- Life Is Good
- LifeStraw
- Marmot
- Merrell
- Mountain Equipment
- Mountain Hardwear
- Nikwax
- Nite Ize
- Peppers Performance Eyewear
- Rossignol
- Rumpl
- Scarpa
- Smartwool
- Sockwell
- Sunski
- SUUNTO
- Swiftwick
- Teva
- Toad and Co
- Wigwam
- Wrightsock
Switchback Spring begins on June 16, 2025, with Day One featuring educational programming including keynote presentations, leadership and executive insights, and various other informational sessions targeted to outdoor specialty retailers and their teams.
On Days Two and Three (June 17-18, 2025) the exhibit hall will be the main focus, where retailers, brands, media, and industry professionals can connect to discover new products, share trends, and explore both established and emerging brands. Visit this page to see the schedule-at-a-glance.
All Switchback Spring events will be hosted within a dedicated portion of the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center, a spacious venue with 12 restaurants and an attached premium hotel. With all attendees staying and meeting in a single location, the focused environment will enable both private planned meetings as well as organic meetups and run-ins.
Brands interested in exploring exhibiting opportunities can contact Switchback Event Director Christina Henderson at chenderson@divcom.com.
Registration for retailers, media, and outdoor industry professionals is available here.
For more information about Switchback, please visit www.switchbackevent.com/switchback.
About Switchback
Switchback is the twice-a-year business and education gathering for the outdoor industry owned and operated by Diversified Communications, a leading international media company with a portfolio of face-to-face exhibitions and conferences, online communities, and digital and print publications. Scheduled at optimal times for discovery and buying conversations, Switchback is held each fall in conjunction with The Running Event and each spring as a standalone event. Blending an accessible format with a schedule of education, peer connection opportunities, and business meetings, Switchback is a dedicated gathering place for all sectors of the outdoor industry community. Upcoming dates for the event include Switchback Spring (Nashville, TN; June 16-18, 2025) and Switchback at TRE (Dec. 2-4, 2025; San Antonio, TX). To learn more about Switchback, please contact Michael Collin (michael@palemorning.com) or visit www.switchbackevent.com.
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