Ignik Unveils the Next Generation of Battery Powered Heat

Ignik, the Bainbridge Island brand on a mission to help people stay outside longer, takes its lineup to the next level with the new Backside Heated Seat Pad. Representing the next generation of battery powered heat, the Backside offers portable, customizable heat built for the outdoors.

The Backside Heated Seat Pad is a lightweight accessory that turns any chair into a cozy heated seat. Made with a weather-resistant, bluesign®-approved 100% recycled fabric outer and premium dense foam, it provides durable comfort for any outdoor setup. The newly designed smart controller maximizes battery usage by allowing the user to customize the heat level and includes heat level memory and an automatic shutoff after 90 minutes. The Backside is compatible with USB-C power banks and other 12V batteries. It is also available in XL, which offers warmth for one person’s seat and back, or two people when laid flat. The Backside is ideal for a wide variety of outdoor activities, from fall/winter camping to hunting and fishing trips to tailgating before a game.

“We are so excited to launch the next generation of active outdoor heating products,” says Peter Pontano, Ignik’s Marketing and Product Development Director. “The Backside Heated Seat Pad and Backside Heated Pad XL build off our new battery powered heating platform, using the latest technology to safely and efficiently provide and control personal heat. Our new hand-held controller has an integrated OLED display (an industry first) that lets you actually see the heat level and fine-tune to your perfect temperature. This takes the guess work out of heating—no more wondering what the color of a push button means. Just set the controller to the level you want, just like a home thermostat, and the technology does the rest!”

The Backside Heated Seat Pad and Backside Heated Pad XL are available now at ignik.com and other retailers. MSRP: $79.99 (Backside)/$99.99 (XL). For more information, please contact suzanne@darbycommunications.com.

About Ignik

Our journey started on a family sailboat in the Arctic, where we saw the impact of climate change and human jetsam on the landscapes we love. We decided to “be the change” by creating products that actually work—and work for the planet. Today Ignik makes high quality, environmentally thoughtful heating products for the wilderness. We enable more folks to get outside earlier and remain outside longer. Ignik is a proud member of 1% for the Planet. For more information, visit Ignik.com.

prAna Names Brianna Showell Vice President of Marketing

prAna, a premium outdoor apparel brand and leader in functional, stylish and sustainable products, has appointed Brianna Showell as its new vice president of marketing. Showell brings two decades of extensive experience in the performance apparel industry to prAna where she will focus on the consumers’ pursuit of wellness to create a healthier mind, body, planet.

“I am thrilled to welcome Brianna to the prAna team,” said Monica Mirro, president of prAna. “Brianna brings a sharp focus on the customer along with a passion for brand building and storytelling. I look forward to partnering with Brianna to deeply connect with our customers and elevate prAna’s products and stories.”

Before joining prAna, Showell spent more than 17 years at Nike® in product development, merchandising and global brand strategy. Most recently, she served as vice president of marketing for Nike Swim, a division of Perry Ellis International.

“I am honored to be joining prAna, a brand that has built such a strong loyalty with its consumers and a product line dedicated to beautiful and sustainable products,” said Showell.

Showell assumes her role as vice president of marketing today.

 

About prAna
We inspire you to chase adventure, thrive, and stay active in your unique way. We strive to responsibly outfit those adventures with respect for the planet and its people. We commit to education and exploration in the name of progress. Whether you’re commuting to work or wandering the globe, rest assured we’ve been there and used those moments to design better and sustainably made product. prana.com

DPS Skis Strengthens Product and Marketing Teams with New Hires

DPS Skis, the U.S.-based ski manufacturer pairing space-age carbon technology with groundbreaking shapes, announces the hiring of Stu Gleason as ski and process engineer and Zach Clayton as global marketing manager. These additions round out DPS Skis’ product and marketing departments as the company pushes ski innovation and design in new directions and expands into global markets. 

Gleason joins the DPS team with almost two decades of product engineering experience to help guide the next generation of DPS ski innovation. Gleason was most recently with Black Diamond, where he was the design and development engineer specializing in avalanche backpacks, transceivers, and composite design for special projects in the ice axe and helmet category. Prior to Black Diamond, Gleason was program manager and designer for Rock West Composites, a full-service composite technology company, where he specialized in the aerospace and drone business.

“Gleason’s experience will be a tremendous asset to our ski engineering team and we’re confident he will push DPS’s design progression forward. His deep knowledge of the composite space will be a valuable contribution to our research and development process and he’s already working hand-in-hand with Peter [Turner, DPS’s co-founder] to build the next generation of models,” says Thomas Laakso, vice president of product and operations at DPS Skis.

In addition to Gleason, Zach Clayton joins DPS as global marketing manager. Clayton brings a decade of sports marketing experience with him and will focus his efforts on DPS growth, strategy and expansion into markets. Clayton joins DPS from CAKE 0 Emissions, where he was the brand manager, leading the brand marketing strategy for the company in North America.  Before his time at Cake, Clayton spent seven years at POC Sports, specializing in snowsports and sports marketing, leading brand marketing programs and initiatives

“Together, Stu and Zach’s experience will add great value to DPS as we continue to strengthen our team and enter a new phase of growth. It’s an exciting time to be at DPS as we scale for demand and continue to introduce new, innovative and sustainably-minded skis to the market. We’re thrilled to have these two join us on our journey,” says Steve Kropf, vice president of sales and marketing at DPS Skis.

DPS also welcomes two new dealer services team members. Harry Brown joins DPS as dealer services manager and Bridger Royce accompanies Brown as dealer services coordinator.  

For media and brand inquiries, please contact senior PR account manager Maria Brickman at maria.brickman@rygr.us.

About DPS Skis: Located at the base of the Wasatch Mountains in Salt Lake City, Utah, DPS designs the world’s most advanced ski products by fusing space-age carbon technology with groundbreaking shapes. DPS is responsible for the world’s first and only pure pre-impregnated carbon fiber sandwich ski, the first 120mm-waisted powder pintail, the first rockered ski with sidecut, and PHANTOM, a paradigm-shifting permanent, one-time application base-coating that forever eliminates the need for waxing skis and snowboards. DPS products are sold on five continents and are the trusted brand of choice for serious skiers worldwide. www.dpsskis.com

REI Co-op opens first Nebraska store on September 23 with a three-day celebration

REI Co-op opens the doors of its first Nebraska location though a new Gretna store on Friday, September 23. The outdoor retailer invites local members and the community to join a three-day celebration scheduled for September 23-25. REI Gretna’s address is 21201 Nebraska Crossing Drive, just off I-80, Exit 432. 

The 22,000 square-foot store features a wide assortment of top-quality outdoor gear and apparel for camping, cycling, running, fitness, hiking, snow sports, climbing and more. A specialty bike shop is staffed with certified mechanics to tune or repair equipment.

 

Doors open at 10 a.m. on Friday and Saturday, and 11 a.m. on Sunday during the celebration. Giveaways will be available each day while supplies last. An outdoor social is scheduled every afternoon from 1 to 5 p.m. with music, nonprofits and outdoor brands including Altra, Black Diamond, Brooks Running, Cascade Designs, Darn Tough, ENO, Gregory Mtn Products, Küat, Mountain Hardwear, Nikwax, Oboz Footwear, Osprey, Sea to Summit and Smartwool.

 

“REI aspires to be at the center of people’s active lifestyles,” said Josh O’Connell, REI store manager. “Our team of 57 associates have a passion for the outdoors and we are ready to be a resource to the community.” 

 

REI is country’s largest consumer co-op with 21.5 million lifetime members. Anyone is welcome to shop at REI and tap into the company’s resources in support of their active lifestyle, but members enjoy a range of benefits. Member perks include free shipping; a used gear trade-in program in exchange for REI gift cards; free bike flat tire repair and discounts on shop services, special pricing on REI experiences (classes, day trips and multiday adventure travel); a share of the co-op’s annual profits based on qualifying purchases; early access to gear and apparel; and more. Before the outdoor retailer opens its doors, there are nearly 21,000 residents across Nebraska who have an REI membership, of which more than 14,000 members are in Gretna, Lincoln, and Omaha.

 

REI believes deeply in supporting the long-term health of the outdoors in the communities where it has a presence. The co-op annually invests millions of dollars in local nonprofit organizations to steward trails, waterways and parks and connect people to the outdoors. The company is investing a total of $20,000 in three regional nonprofits – Fontenelle Forest, Keep Omaha Beautiful, and THOR (Trails Have Our Respect) – in celebration of REI Gretna’s grand opening.

 

About the REI Co-op
REI is a specialty outdoor retailer, headquartered near Seattle. The nation’s largest consumer co-op, REI is a growing community of more than 21 million members who expect and love the best quality gear, inspiring expert classes and trips, and outstanding customer service. REI has 177 locations in 41 states and the District of Columbia. If you can’t visit a store, you can shop at REI.com, REI Outlet or the REI shopping app. REI isn’t just about gear. Adventurers can take the trip of a lifetime with REI’s active adventure travel company that runs more than 100 itineraries across the country. In many communities where REI has a presence, professionally trained instructors share their expertise by hosting beginner-to advanced-level classes and workshops about a wide range of activities. To build on the infrastructure that makes life outside possible, REI invests millions annually in hundreds of local and national nonprofits that create access to—and steward—the outdoor places that inspire us all.

Research Roundup: August 2022

Here at OIA, our research team focuses on providing you with insights into the outdoor consumer: what drives their choices, what gear they choose, and what they value about their outdoor experiences. With our new monthly newsletter — Research Roundup — we aim to deliver the best data from our partner, CivicScience, who can reach hundreds of thousands of consumers in real-time to ask questions and gather insights that give you clear insights. You’ll also gain easy access to the full catalog of research reports we offer as well as trends we are tracking.

Happy reading!

 

Kelly Davis

Director of Research

 

Outdoor Participants are Worried About Inflation

Overall, outdoor recreation consumers are significantly concerned about inflation, but their concern appears to have reached a plateau.  Outdoor participants are less concerned about inflation than the average U.S. consumer.

Source: CivicScience. 78,305 responses MoE= +/- 1%

Outdoor recreation consumers say they do not plan to spend more next month on groceries, at bars, or toys and hobbies (including outdoor gear).

Keep in mind, outdoor recreation participants tend to spend more than the average American adult across most categories with the notable exception of groceries. When budgets need to be tightened, outdoor participants literally tighten their belts by cutting spending on groceries.


Source: CivicScience. 62.363 responses MoE= +/- 1%

This data indicates that outdoor consumers will continue to spend on outdoor gear, but they do not plan to increase their spending on the category. We should expect flat to slightly declining sales in the outdoor market in August and September.

 

Who is Willing to Adjust Their Lifestyle to Help the Environment?

I just finished reading “Is Outdoor Recreation Associated with Greater Climate Change Concern in the United States?” by Kyle Knight and Feng Hao. The authors start with the hypothesis that is often repeated in discussions about climate and outdoor that persons who participate in “nature-based leisure activities” have more pro-environmental attitudes than those who don’t. The data and analysis presented in that study is robust and showed a positive significant effect between the frequency of outings and climate change concern. If you have another excellent data source, it never hurts to see if your data jibes with an interesting finding. I decided to take a look at our CivicScience data to see if it told the same story. Spoiler alert, it did.

Overall, outdoor recreation participants are more likely to adjust their lifestyle to help the environment. This is particularly remarkable because we found relatively even distributions of political affiliation across major outdoor recreation categories including hiking, bicycling, camping, running, fishing, and hunting. Political affiliation, overall, had the most significant impact on responses to the question “Do you try to adjust your lifestyle to help the environment?”  Even while controlling for political affiliation, people that participate in outdoor recreation are more likely than non-participants to adjust their lifestyles at least occasionally to help the environment.

One of the major advantages of CivicScience data is the size of response. In this case, we are looking at more than 200,000 responses and margins or error under +/-1%. This data gives us a more granular look at outdoor activity and attitudes about the environment. In fact, the question “Do you try to adjust your lifestyle to help the environment?” is even more powerful because we can examine it by outdoor category. Additionally, we can compare it to segments of the general population.

 

Overall, cyclists are most willing to adjust their lifestyles to help the environment. Bicyclists are being chased by the camp/hike/fish category in second place and runners in a close third. Hunters report that they are less likely to make any lifestyle changes to help the environment than other outdoor recreators, but hunters were no more likely than Democrats (generally) to say they would never adjust their lifestyle to help the environment. Additionally, hunters contribute more than $1.6 billion each year for conservation programs through license fees and contributions to conservation groups. Republicans (generally) are least likely to say they would make any adjustments in their lifestyle to help the environment. In fact, in this survey alone, out of 160,662 Republicans surveyed, more than 88,000 indicated they would never adjust their lifestyle to help the environment.

The hypothesis that people who participate in outdoor recreation are more likely to make changes in their lifestyle to help the environment is correct. The data indicate that this holds true across political affiliations. Maybe outdoor recreation offers a platform for civil discourse across political lines about environmental issues that will help us conserve and protect public lands and mitigate impacts of climate change for future generations.

Trend Spotter: Meet the Upcycler

No, this is not about riding bikes uphill! Upcycled clothing may recall visions of DIY fashion projects gone awry, but today luxe apparel designers are presenting upcycled fashion in their collections. This trend is a nod to sustainable manufacturing and awareness of the environmental impact of apparel manufacturing. Sustainability is key to this trend and consumers of all ages are integrating concerns about the environment into their fashion statements and their decisions about what they will purchase. Read more about outdoor brands with repair, resell & upcycled gear programs.

Research Grab Bag

You can now download the Outdoor Industry Workforce Assessment which looks to identify major trends in workforce hiring and retention, help further educational and up-skilling initiatives, and provide a snapshot of where the industry stands in its efforts to increase diversity, equity, and inclusion. Key findings from the survey include the following:

  • New hires: The industry expects to hire for a high volume of entry and skilled professional positions over the next year.
  • Work/life balance: Outdoor companies are prioritizing flexible work arrangements and work-life balance as attraction and retention strategies ahead of employee benefits and financial rewards.
  • Qualified applicants: 66% of survey respondents report having difficulty finding qualified applicants. The largest barriers to recruiting hard-to-fill jobs are finding qualified applicants, and lack of affordable housing options proximal to the job location.
  • Increasing DEI: Companies who have a diversity plan in place are utilizing a wide variety of methods and tactics to achieve their goals. However, companies that do not currently have a diversity plan in place largely do not plan to implement one or do not know where to start.

If you don’t want to read about it, you can watch our panel discussion about it here.

You can also download the new State of the Outdoor Market report, which shares exclusive insights on participation, consumer trends, and economic and social forces impacting our industry. Key findings from the report include:

  • Outdoor economy: Outdoor recreation accounted for 1.8% of the U.S. GDP in 2021 with $689B in gross output and 4.3M jobs.
  • Increasing diversity: Diversity in age and ethnicity is accelerating in the U.S., but the outdoor participant base is less diverse than the population.
  • Outdoor growth: New participant entries into outdoor recreation are 26% since January 2020. Skateboarding, hiking, kayaking, and surfing had the highest growth rates across outdoor categories.
  • Post-COVID effects: Patterns in how we return to work will affect outdoor participation. Remote work allows many to participate outdoors for the first time, during hours when they would have been in an office or commuting, and across more outdoor activities.
  • Rising inflation: High inflation, 9.1% in June and 8.5% in July, is likely to reduce spending in the outdoor market.
  • Fashion trends: Several fashion trends are currently red hot including “Cottage Core” and “Coastal Grandmother.” Read about and see images related to these and more hot trends that are likely to impact outdoor apparel.

Mountain Towns 2030 Welcomes Industry Leaders for September Climate Solutions Summit

Registration is now open for the MT2030 Climate Solutions Summit – Breckenridge

Mountain Towns 2030 is proud to announce the return of the MT2030 Climate Solutions Summit, the annual gathering of key stakeholders from mountain and outdoor communities working together to implement bold ideas to meet the zero-carbon commitment. Taking place in Breckenridge, Colorado on September 20-22, this year’s Summit will bring together local government elected officials, staff and sustainability teams, ski resorts, business and community leaders, and nonprofits for three days of keynotes, conversations and hands-on workshops with some of our nation’s foremost climate, community and business voices. The Summit will be held at Breckenridge’s Riverwalk Center and at various small group locations throughout the Breckenridge Downtown Arts District. 

The unique format of the Summit will facilitate conversation, collaboration and action. Following the first day of passionate keynotes and climate conversations, the second day of the Summit is devoted to collaborative workshops with experts and peers to provide tools and tangible solutions to tackle some of the  toughest climate challenges facing  our mountain communities. 

Attendees will leave the Summit with a renewed perspective of what real climate leadership is, as well as a network of colleagues and the tools that will accelerate their climate action planning.

The Summit will feature a number of prominent speakers including keynotes from Dr. Michael Mann, Distinguished Professor of Atmospheric Science at Penn State University and Pete McBride, National Geographic Photographer and Filmmaker. Featured speakers also include: Sam Adams, the former Mayor of Portland, Sara Axelrod, Director of Sustainability at the Ball Corporation, Rob Thomas, co-founder of Climate Candidates, as well as many others. 

“We are incredibly excited to bring the MT2030 Climate Solutions Summit to Breckenridge,” said Luke Cartin, Mountain Towns 2030’s co-founder. “The opportunity to convene such a large and diverse group of community leaders to collaborate on real climate solutions is so important, now more than ever.”

MT2030 is proudly sponsored by the Alterra Mountain Company, Boyne Resorts, Powdr, Vail Resorts, as well as Hosts Communities, the Town of Breckenridge, Town of Frisco, Summit County, and the towns of Dillon, Silverthorne and Blue River.

For more information about the MT2030 Climate Solutions Summit and to check out the Summit agenda, speakers, and to register, please click here.

About Mountain Towns 2030

Mountain Town 2030 (MT2030) empowers mountain and outdoor communities to accelerate their progress to zero carbon emissions by uniting diverse stakeholders, providing the forum for collaboration, and placing actionable and proven tools in the hands of community leaders. Founded in Park City, UT in 2019, the organization has built a movement of mountain communities all facing similar impacts and a feeling sense of urgency from the increasing threat of climate change. By sharing expertise, tools, and data, we are building capacity in communities where it otherwise did not exist and accelerating our collective action towards a zero-carbon future. For more information, visit MT2030.org.

OUTDOOR INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION RELEASES STATEMENT REGARDING BEARS EARS AND GRAND STAIRCASE-ESCALANTE LAWSUIT

BOULDER, CO (August 29, 2022) — Outdoor Industry Association today released a statement regarding the state of Utah’s decision to file a lawsuit over the Biden Administration’s decision to reinstate the boundaries of the Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante national monuments under the Antiquities Act:

“We share the disappointment and concern of many regarding this unfortunate legal action by the Utah state government,” said OIA interim executive director Kent Ebersole. “Time and again, the outdoor industry has come together as one in defense of public lands and waters when they have come under threat. This time is no different. We will continue to strongly advocate for these critical federal protections for Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante to ensure that every generation of Americans – present and future – are guaranteed access to these special places.”

# # #

About the Outdoor Industry Association

Based in Boulder, Colo., with offices in Washington, D.C., Outdoor Industry Association (OIA) is the leading trade association for the outdoor industry. For more than 30 years, OIA has served as the trusted convenor, resource, and voice of the outdoor industry. OIA unites and serves manufacturers, suppliers, sales representatives, and retailer members through its focus on trade and recreation policy, sustainable business innovation, and outdoor participation. The association provides its members with insights, advocacy, and opportunities for action that support the long-term success of outdoor businesses and ensure the outdoor experience for all. For more information, visit outdoorindustry.org.

Canadians McBride and Britton Take the Pot in the First TransRockies Gravel Royale

Panorama, B.C. (August 26, 2022) — TransRockies Race Series just completed a successful inaugural TransRockies Gravel Royale presented by Felt gravel stage race. The event brought 200 athletes from eight countries and 22 states/provinces with all different riding experience and abilities to enjoy the Kootenay Mountains on two-wheels. 

The course created by the TrainsRockies team contained a large variety of terrain from pavement to technical singletrack. In total, the full four-day course covered 400 km (200 miles) and around 7,500 m (25,000 ft) of climbing. The routes were 84% gravel road, 10% pavement, 5% doubletrack and 1% singletrack.

After kicking off at Panorama Mountain Resort the course took athletes on remote logging roads, over steep mountain passes, by clear blue rivers and fun fast gravel. The other host communities Nipika Mountain Resort, Village of Canal Flats and the Town of Fernie were very inviting and a great backdrop for this one-of-a-kind gravel event.

“This was my first gravel stage race and the group from TransRockies did a heck of a job taking care of us. Done and dusted and happy to get a win at this race and my first win as a gravel pro.” Rob Britton, overall winner for the men’s division. 

“This race is definitely unlike anything else I have experienced in gravel racing so far. The courses, the multi day aspect and the tent camping, it really all has been a fantastic experience and so fun to be surrounded by the gravel community all week.” Rach McBride, overall winner for the women’s division. 

Women’s Division – 

1st: Rach McBride, of Vancouver, British Columbia, with a time of 14:20:47

2nd: Lauren Cantwell, of Reno, Nevada, with a time of 15:13:11

3rd: Lindsay Glassford, of Panorama, British Columbia, with a time of 15:37:41 

Men’s Division – 

1st: Rob Britton, of Victoria, British Columbia, with a time of 12:05:38

2nd: Caleb Swartz, of Missoula, Montana, with a time of 12:14:45

3rd: Josiah Middaugh, of Vail, Colorado, with a time of 12:17:53

The TransRockies Race Series team will be back here in Fernie in a week for the start of Singletrack 6 running from Sept. 6 – 11. 

For more on Gravel Royale follow along on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter. 

For any additional information, please visit transrockiesgravelroyale.com. 

It has been nearly 20 years since the first TransRockies Challenge mountain bike stage race first rolled out of Fernie, BC for an epic 7-day adventure taking riders over the Canadian Rockies to finish in Canmore, Alberta, helping to kick start the global mountain bike stage racing craze and the face of cycling in the Rockies. TransRockies Gravel Royale is the latest event produced by the company that brings endurance athletes the TransRockies Run and Singletrack 6, among others iconic events. 

About TransRockies Race Series

The TransRockies Race Series operates 10 events over 32 days annually in the Western U.S. and Canada. Specializing in multi-day and endurance cycling and running events, TransRockies serves over 3,500 participants annually. The organization has operated over 200 days of stage racing since it was founded in 2002.

Outdoor Industry Association Announces Interim Executive Director Kent Ebersole

The OIA Board of Directors is confident in naming Kent Ebersole interim ED.  

BOULDER, CO [August 25, 2022] — The Outdoor Industry Association board of directors has named Kent Ebersole as interim executive director during the organization’s continued search for a permanent executive director, following the resignation of Lise Aangeenbrug earlier this month.

Ebersole has deep roots in the outdoor industry, with a wide range of experience in advertising, management, and non-profit consulting.

“The criteria set by the OIA Board Executive Committee for an interim Executive Director position focused heavily on leadership, industry connections, sales/development experience, and an understanding of the need to help OIA with its journey to amplify members and grow the outdoor community. Through Kent’s long career in the outdoor industry he has garnered all of these abilities,” said Phyllis Grove, OIA Board Chair. “Spending the last six years on the Camber Board of Directors, he comes equipped for his role as interim Executive Director. Kent has a deep passion for the outdoor industry and we are confident that under his leadership, OIA’s value to the industry will continue to grow.”

Kent’s consulting specialty of reformatting non-profit business models will help OIA evaluate its practices and gain perspective on growth for the industry and association.

“I am deeply honored to be named interim executive director of OIA, but this has less to do with me than the mission of OIA, the team, and the impact of both. OIA’s leadership position in the outdoor industry is more important than ever,” said Kent Ebersole, interim executive director of OIA. “For more than 30 years, OIA has served and united the industry. With the many challenges the world and our industry face today, we are in a unique position to expand on our core mission and deliver more impact for our members.”

Under Ebersole’s leadership, OIA is ready and tasked to grow current member offerings, open doors to more outdoor recreation users, and advocate for the outdoor industry nationally.

 

About the Outdoor Industry Association

Based in Boulder, Colo., with offices in Washington, D.C., Outdoor Industry Association (OIA) is the leading trade association for the outdoor industry. For more than 30 years, OIA has served as the trusted convenor, resource, and voice of the outdoor industry. OIA unites and serves manufacturers, suppliers, sales representatives, and retailer members through its focus on trade and recreation policy, sustainable business innovation, and outdoor participation. The association provides its members with insights, advocacy, and opportunities for action that support the long-term success of outdoor businesses and ensure the outdoor experience for all.  For more information, visit outdoorindustry.org.