Type: OIA Press Room

Washington, D.C. (April 15, 2025) — In a recent letter to Congress, Outdoor Alliance and 74 partners representing the outdoor recreation community addressed the issue of insufficient funding for outdoor recreation on America’s public lands. This issue has been compounded by recent hiring freezes and widespread layoffs at the Forest Service (USFS) and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), followed by years of declining funding at land management agencies. The letter specifically calls on lawmakers to fully fund recreation budgets in its Fiscal Year 2026 budget, asking Congress to fund BLM’s Recreation Resources Management program at $100 million and the Forest Service’s Recreation, Heritage, and Wilderness at $70 million.

In 2024, a record 175.8 million Americans ventured outdoors (2024 Outdoor Trends Report Executive Summary, Outdoor Industry Association) a significant increase in recreation visits over the past two decades and another reason Congress needs to support the national outdoor recreation economy. Outdoor recreation as a whole contributed $1.2 trillion to America’s economy, supported 5 million jobs, and accounted for 2.3% of the U.S. Gross Domestic Product in 2023 (U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, BEA 24-53, Outdoor Recreation Satellite Account, U.S. and States, 2023 (2024). The letter points out that funding is vital to improve the visitor experience on public lands and is necessary to help both agencies implement the Expanding Public Lands Outdoor Recreation Experiences (EXPLORE Act), legislation passed through Congress unanimously in December 2024.

EXPLORE, is a first-of-its-kind package of outdoor recreation policy that would improve and expand outdoor access on America’s public lands in many ways, including creating more long-distance bike trails, safeguarding climbing in Wilderness, streamlining recreational permitting for guides and outfitters, expanding public/private partnerships for recreation infrastructure, and increased programs for youth, veterans, and service members. Without adequate funding, land management agencies will not be able to implement these directives, and Americans will not be able to realize the full benefits of this historic bipartisan legislation.

“Issues related to public safety, parking, trash, unwanted fire starts, erosion, and other maintenance issues are all concerns that will directly impact the visitor experience as a result of the funding declines at both BLM and USFS. Additionally, these cuts have delayed partner-led efforts to complete recreation infrastructure projects, such as trail systems due to a lack of capacity by agency staff — bottlenecking outside resources that could be deployed in supporting public lands,” said Jamie Ervin, Senior Policy Manager at Outdoor Alliance.

“The outdoor recreation economy is a powerful engine for job creation and economic growth nationwide, and it relies on well-resourced public land agencies to thrive. If Congress is serious about supporting jobs, local businesses, and healthy communities, it must prioritize investment in the recreation programs of the Department of the Interior, Forest Service, and BLM. These aren’t just budget lines, they are the foundation of the outdoor economy,” said Kent Ebersole, President of the Outdoor Industry Alliance (OIA).

“At NEMO, we build gear to help people connect with nature — but those experiences rely on well-managed public lands. Without investment in recreation infrastructure and staffing, we risk degrading the very places that inspire our customers and our mission. Congress has a chance to ensure these treasured landscapes remain welcoming and accessible for generations to come,” said Theresa McKenney, Director of Sustainability and Government Affairs, NEMO.

“Public lands managed by the Forest Service and BLM are a cornerstone of the bikepacking experience across the country, offering incredible opportunities for adventure, inspiration, and solitude. Without adequate funding and staffing, the opportunity to experience these cherished places responsibly, and the health of the landscapes themselves are increasingly at risk. We’re proud to stand with Outdoor Alliance and others in calling on Congress to invest in the future of sustainable recreation on our public lands,” said Noelle Battle, Executive Director at Bikepacking Roots.

“Our nation’s rivers and public lands are seeing record visitation, but agency budgets haven’t kept pace. Without adequate staffing and funding at BLM and the Forest Service, even basic river access, signage, and maintenance suffer—putting safety and recreation at risk. We’re proud to join Outdoor Alliance in urging Congress to invest in the infrastructure that sustains outdoor experiences for millions of Americans,” said Evan Stafford, Communications Director at American Whitewater.

Along with Outdoor Alliance, 74 other organizations are calling on lawmakers to fully fund recreation and are included in this letter.

To learn more, please visit www.outdooralliance.org.

About Outdoor Alliance

Outdoor Alliance is the only organization in the U.S. that unites the voices of outdoor enthusiasts to conserve public lands. A nonprofit coalition comprised of 10 national advocacy organizations, Outdoor Alliance’s members include American Whitewater, the American Canoe Association, Access Fund, the International Mountain Bicycling Association, Winter Wildlands Alliance, the Mountaineers, the American Alpine Club, the Mazamas, the Colorado Mountain Club, and the Surfrider Foundation. By working with its member coalitions and helping mobilize the involvement of individuals to protect public lands and waters, OA helps ensure public lands are managed in a way that embraces the human-powered experience. Outdoor Alliance — conservation powered by outdoor recreation. Learn more at OutdoorAlliance.org.

 

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Outdoor Industry Associations’s 2025 Outdoor Retail Sales Trends Report reveals shifting consumer behavior and sales patterns

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

BOULDER, CO (April 15, 2025) — Outdoor Industry Association (OIA) today released its 2025 Outdoor Retail Sales Trends Report, showing a modest 1% rebound in outdoor retail sales in 2024, totaling $28 billion. The report reveals that casual consumers, not core outdoorists, are driving the majority of growth, signaling a continued shift in purchasing behavior and product demand.

While participation in outdoor activities continues to grow, data from the new report indicates a market in transition. Apparel sales stayed flat, equipment sales dipped slightly, and the strongest gains were seen in accessories and footwear, particularly in lifestyle-oriented products. Casual outdoor consumers are prioritizing versatile gear, higher-value footwear, and sustainable accessories, like tote bags, over technical equipment. In 2024, large retailers in the athletic specialty and sporting goods (ASSG) channel maintained steady growth, independent specialty retailers saw slight declines but showed positive momentum late in the year, and the retail e-commerce channel continued a multi-year decline.

“The center of gravity in the outdoor industry has shifted. Growth isn’t being driven by core users anymore. It’s the casual outdoorists: the weekend hikers, the car campers, the folks who wear trail runners to the office and a puffy to the coffee shop who are showing up in the numbers,” said OIA president Kent Ebersole. “Casual consumers are driving growth in new ways, and that presents big opportunities. But we also need to keep investing in our core community. The long-term health of our industry depends on both. At OIA, we’re helping our members make sense of these shifts with data and intelligence, so they can navigate market trends, focus their strategy, and stay ahead.”

Key findings from the report include:

• Outdoor market retail sales totaled $28 billion in 2024, up 1% compared to total sales in 2023.

• Footwear and accessories saw the strongest gains in 2024, while equipment declined, and apparel stayed flat.

• Casual product categories are driving more sales than technical gear, reflecting a broader shift in consumer behavior.

OIA provides trusted research and market intelligence, including consumer insights, participation trends, retail sales data, and industry benchmarking, to help outdoor brands and retailers make data-driven decisions and stay ahead of change. This report features exclusive data from OIA’s partnership with Circana (formerly NPD), offering a detailed look at retail sales trends across chain, e-commerce, and specialty channels in key outdoor categories like apparel, footwear, equipment, and accessories.

An executive summary of the Outdoor Retail Sales Trends Report is available free to download here. Gain access to the full 2024 Outdoor Retail Sales Trends Report, along with all member benefits and resources, when you join OIA. OIA also invites the industry to join its free live webinar this Thursday at 1:00 PM MT to hear report findings and what the data means for outdoor retail and brand strategy in 2025.

(Minneapolis, MN // April 10, 2025) – ‍Cold, the sustainability management platform that leverages AI to streamline compliance for leading outdoor and apparel brands, and Outdoor Industry Association (OIA), a member-based collective of business leaders, climate experts, policy makers, and outdoor enthusiasts, today announced an official partnership to bring Cold’s solution to more OIA members at a time of mounting regulatory complexity and burden.

In response to regulatory rollback at the federal level, states are stepping in to fill the void by enacting their own environmental legislation, creating a patchwork of regulations that has become increasingly challenging for businesses to navigate. As a result, sustainability leaders are spending more and more of their time on compliance, which comes at a significant opportunity cost. Cold launched its platform in early 2024 to provide organizations with a more efficient alternative to manual regulatory tracking and reporting.

The OIA partnership comes just as Cold is rolling out an end-to-end Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) compliance solution for its customers, helping companies to meet deadlines and requirements in Oregon, California, and Colorado with more states to follow. ‍

“Manual compliance and reporting takes time and resources, which are precious commodities for small and midsize companies, especially in today’s challenging economic environment,” said Eric Dayton, founder and CEO at Cold. “Cold solves this problem by centralizing and automating compliance so that business leaders can focus on the work that matters most.”

Prior to Cold, Dayton founded Askov Finlayson, a climate positive winter outerwear company and only the fourth in the outdoor apparel industry to achieve B Corp certification. Cold’s co-founder, Dan Lindquist, brings extensive experience creating innovative SaaS solutions as the co-founder and former Chief Product Officer at Mainstreet.

“In our conversations with OIA members, we consistently hear about the mounting pressure of compliance and reporting as they navigate new regulations,” said Julie Brown, Director of Sustainable Business Innovation at OIA. “We have confidence in Cold’s solution to this challenge, and the feedback from our members who are already using the platform has been overwhelmingly positive.”

Leading brands in the apparel and outdoors industries — including Bombas, Topo Designs, Outdoor Research, Faherty, and Peak Design — trust Cold to streamline compliance and automate their sustainability reporting. The platform helps organizations save valuable time, unlock new markets, and protect against risk.

“As the pile of compliance requirements grow, I have found myself spending more time filling out reports than doing the actual work of making Peak a more sustainable company,” said Annie Nyborg, Head of Environmental and Social Impact at Peak Design, an OIA member. “Cold allows me to focus on driving progress while they take care of the reporting.”

Cold is backed by a strong team of advisors and investors with deep retail industry backgrounds, including Doug Baker, former CEO of Ecolab and current Target board member, Michael Francis, Target’s former CMO, and Archie Black, who served as the longtime CEO at SPS Commerce. Cold’s $2.65M pre-seed round in 2024 was led by York IE, with participation from Better Ventures.

Visit www.coldclimate.com to learn more and schedule a demo.

ABOUT COLD

Cold Climate PBC is a sustainability management platform that streamlines compliance for organizations of all sizes. Leading brands trust Cold to automate reporting so that they can focus on the work that matters. Visit www.coldclimate.com to learn more.

ABOUT OUTDOOR INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION

Based in Boulder, Colo., with offices in Washington, D.C., Outdoor Industry Association (OIA) is a catalyst for meaningful change. A member-based collective, OIA is a passionate group of business leaders, climate experts, policy makers and outdoor enthusiasts committed to sustainable economic growth while protecting – and growing access to – the benefits of the outdoors for everyone. For more than 30 years, OIA has catalyzed a thriving outdoor industry by supporting the success of every member company across four critically aligned areas: market research, sustainability, government affairs, and inclusive participation. OIA delivers success for its members through education, events, and business services in the form of solutions and strategies, consultation, collaboration, and opportunities for collective action. For more information, visit outdoorindustry.org.

Media Contacts

Eric Dayton

Cold

eric@coldclimate.com 

 

Andriana Rogers

Outdoor Industry Association
arogers@outdoorindustry.org

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BOULDER, CO (April 3, 2025) —Newly announced tariffs will make it more expensive to make and sell outdoor gear in the U.S., hurting American businesses, workers, and consumers, says Outdoor Industry Association. The outdoor industry is a key economic engine in the U.S., generating $1.2 trillion in consumer spending and supporting over 5 million American jobs. Last year alone, 175.8 million Americans participated in outdoor recreation, an all-time high. But now, many of the products that make those experiences possible are about to get much more expensive.  

“These tariffs will raise costs for American manufacturers, retailers, and families,” said Kent Ebersole, President of OIA. “That’s going to slow growth, put pressure on small and mid-sized outdoor companies, and could force some to close their doors. These tariffs also make it more difficult for global outdoor brands to operate in the U.S. and maintain their American workforce.” 

In a recent survey, 84% of OIA members surveyed said they will be impacted by new tariffs, resulting in millions of dollars in financial losses and affecting hundreds of outdoor products.  “These rising costs could lead to fewer jobs, less innovation, and fewer options for consumers,” Ebersole said. “This will especially impact vital businesses that make American’s access to the outdoors possible.” 

“We urge policymakers to consider the broader economic impact of these trade decisions,” Ebersole said. “Outdoor recreation matters to millions of Americans and thousands of businesses. We need a balanced trade policy that keeps outdoor gear affordable, supports U.S. jobs, and helps our industry continue to grow.”  

OIA encourages support for the bipartisan Trade Review Act of 2025, introduced by Senators Chuck Grassley (R-IA) and Maria Cantwell (D-WA), which would create greater transparency and oversight in U.S. trade policy, both critical steps to protecting the outdoor recreation economy. 

Outdoor businesses are also encouraged to join OIA’s Trade Policy Town Hall webinar on April 8 at 12 PM MT, where policy experts will share more about the latest tariff policies and what businesses can do to stay ahead of impacts.  

 

About Outdoor Industry Association

Based in Boulder, Colo., with offices in Washington, D.C., Outdoor Industry Association (OIA) is a catalyst for meaningful change. A member-based collective, OIA is a passionate group of business leaders, climate experts, policy makers and outdoor enthusiasts committed to sustainable economic growth while protecting – and growing access to – the benefits of the outdoors for everyone. For more than 30 years, OIA has catalyzed a thriving outdoor industry by supporting the success of every member company across four critically aligned areas: market research, sustainability, government affairs, and inclusive participation. OIA delivers success for its members through education, events, and business services in the form of solutions and strategies, consultation, collaboration, and opportunities for collective action. For more information, visit outdoorindustry.org.

BOULDER, CO [Tuesday, February 18, 2025] — OIA President Kent Ebersole today released the following statement in response to recent staffing cuts at the U.S. Forest Service and the Department of the Interior, which threaten the safety, maintenance, and overall visitor experience on America’s public lands.

“The recent workforce reductions at the U.S. Forest Service and the Department of the Interior are deeply concerning, especially as these agencies are already operating with historically low staff-to-visitor ratios,” said Kent Ebersole, OIA President. “The stewards of our national parks, forests, and public lands—park rangers, maintenance crews, and visitor service staff—are the backbone of these treasured places. They keep trails open, respond to emergencies, educate the public, and ensure that millions of visitors not only experience the outdoors safely but also feel welcomed and inspired by the landscapes they explore.

With fewer staff, we risk longer emergency response times, neglected trails and facilities, and disruptions to the experiences that make these places so special. OIA stands with these dedicated professionals and urges policymakers to prioritize sustainable staffing solutions. Our public lands and the people who care for them deserve better.”

 

About Outdoor Industry Association

Based in Boulder, Colo., with offices in Washington, D.C., Outdoor Industry Association (OIA) is a catalyst for meaningful change. A member-based collective, OIA is a passionate group of business leaders, climate experts, policy makers and outdoor enthusiasts committed to sustainable economic growth while protecting – and growing access to – the benefits of the outdoors for everyone. For more than 30 years, OIA has catalyzed a thriving outdoor industry by supporting the success of every member company across four critically aligned areas: market research, sustainability, government affairs, and inclusive participation. OIA delivers success for its members through education, events, and business services in the form of solutions and strategies, consultation, collaboration, and opportunities for collective action. For more information, visit outdoorindustry.org.