The Rock Fight: Outdoor Industry & Adventure Sports Commentary

What's next for Backcountry? And are direct-to-consumer outdoor brands making a comeback? Today on The Rock Fight, Colin welcomes back Outdoor Unfiltered host and Rock Fight consigliere Eoin Comerford to check in on the changing landscape of outdoor retail. First, they examine Backcountry's efforts to reinvent itself through acquisitions, new brand partnerships and an enormous online assortment. C...

The light hiker is coming back. At least that's Colin's prediction. On this week's Parting Shot, Colin welcomes Gear Abby host Shawnté Salabert to debate his latest outdoor industry prediction: 2027 will be the year of the light hiker. He makes his case by looking at footwear's fashion cycles, an increasingly saturated running category, emerging retail trends, and why shoes like the Merrell Moab m...

The outdoor industry depends on public lands. So why does it sometimes seem reluctant to fight for them? Chris Keyes, founder and executive director of public lands newsroom RE:PUBLIC, returns to The Rock Fight to talk with Colin about the industry's response to the growing number of threats facing America's public lands. Chris and Colin discuss what brands can do beyond posting another carefully...

Big box retailers drive a massive amount of outdoor industry revenue. So which ones matter most and which are best positioned for the future? Today Colin is joined by Outdoor Unfiltered host and Rock Fight consigliere Eoin Comerford to power rank the biggest players in outdoor retail. And, as you might expect, Colin and Eoin don't exactly agree on the rankings. Plus, Colin answers a listener quest...

Friday is for The Parting Shot! To close out The Rock Fight's big return week, Colin welcomes back two Rock Fight Hall of Famers, Producer Dave and Shawnté Salabert, to chuck four rocks aimed squarely at the outdoor world. First, Colin defends the Satisfy x Adidas Circle Pit and wonders why runners get so worked up whenever a brand tries something different. Producer Dave then weighs in on Mammut'...

What happens when you can DoorDash a pair of trail runners as easily as an order of pad thai? Locally founder and CEO Mike Massey joins Colin to talk about the company's new partnership with DoorDash and why getting outdoor gear delivered in an hour could be about much more than convenience. They also dig into the health of specialty outdoor retail, the shift toward at-once buying, how real-time l...

It's the day you've been waiting for because The Rock Fight, the best outdoor culture podcast, is back! And we're starting things back up with some spice as host and outdoor industry veteran Colin True returns with five rocks for the outdoor industry. Is the hype around trail running finally peaking? Does the industry need to rethink what “outdoor participation” actually means? Is REI exactly what...

Let’s not beat around the bush. If you’ve listened to The Rock Fight in the past you know that we’ve never minced words on this podcast. So why start now? Here’s the deal: On Monday September 28th, The Rock Fight returns! Why, you ask? Because the voice of the outdoor industry has been quiet for long enough. And because the people demanded it. And because we still have rocks to throw! And lastly,...

Don't call it a comeback! No, seriously, don't call it a comeback. The Rock Fight just needed to let Eoin Comerford weigh in on Outdoor Retailer! Today Colin dusts off the mic and welcomes Eoin to answer one question: Is Outdoor Retailer back? Fresh from OR 2026 in Minneapolis, Eoin reports on surprisingly strong crowds, actual buyer activity, new brands, influencers, and some genuine buzz around...

On this special bonus episode of Outdoor Unfiltered, Eoin welcomes the founders of The Rock Fight -- Colin True and Producer Dave Karstad. Colin and Dave share why they decided to go out on top with the Rock Fight at its peak, what drew them to their new roles at Oboz, and what lies ahead for them and the brand.

Today on Outdoor Unfiltered , Eoin Comerford breaks down the news that REI is cutting pay and benefits for employees as the co-op struggles to return to profitability. After four straight years of losses REI is facing some tough financial realities — and payroll is squarely in the spotlight. Eoin digs into what’s driving the decision, why payroll costs at REI are significantly higher than other re...

Tired of the PR spin and LinkedIn platitudes? Outdoor Unfiltered is a new podcast hosted by industry veteran Eoin Comerford that digs into what’s actually driving the outdoor business. In this trailer, Eoin lays out the mission: honest conversations with insiders and experts about the forces shaping the industry — from innovation and branding to affordability, sustainability, and the real stories...

This is it; the final episode of The Rock Fight . In one last, wide-ranging conversation, Colin True, Eoin Comerford, and Producer Dave take a final look at the outdoor industry they’ve spent three years questioning, criticizing, and celebrating. From the state of outdoor media and the resilience of specialty retail to brand sameness, authenticity, and the growing influence of algorithms and AI, t...

In the penultimate episode of the podcast, Colin True explains why it’s time to bring The Rock Fight to a close and why ending things at their peak feels like the right call. Drawing parallels to sports dynasties, iconic artists, and cultural moments that knew when to walk away, Colin reflects on the three year run of the show, what it became for the outdoor industry, and the realities of podcasti...

Today on The Rock Fight Colin, Eoin Comerford and Producer Dave talk about some recent headlines to come out of the outdoor industry including recent comments made by some of the industry's more notable CEO's. For the Lightning Round they do quick hits on J Crew, JD Sports, and OR's new athlete team. Then they unpack the launch of Stoke Footwear , a running-inspired shoe brand built for “real Amer...

This week on The Rock Fight , the crew digs into a round of reactions to some of the latest headlines to emerge from the outdoor industry! From Fleet Feet’s growing footprint, to the maturation of the hydration category and what it means for brands like Hydro Flask and YETI, the conversation spans retail scale, category fatigue, and where real opportunity still exists. The episode also explores wh...

Today on The Rock Fight Colin and Producer Dave help break down Eoin's ten predictions for the outdoor industry in 2026! From tariffs and retail shakeups to REI’s membership future, used gear going mainstream, peak trail running culture, and AI becoming your next gear buddy. Then for The Parting Shot presented by Garage Grown Gear, Colin calls out Timberland’s latest boot , using it as a case stud...

In this special episode, Colin, Owen, Shawnté, and Producer Dave hand out the 2025 Rock Fight Awards , recognizing the outdoor industry’s biggest wins, painful missteps, strangest products, and standout brands and individuals of the year. From trail running’s continued dominance to zombie brands, WTF products, creative breakthroughs, and a few well-earned shots across the bow, this is a no-filter...

Today on The Rock Fight , the crew runs a temperature check on the outdoor industry national trade show scene! From fragmentation to event fatigue, Colin, Eoin Comerford, and Producer Dave break down whether outdoor still needs a single “north star” gathering; and who should be responsible for making it happen. But first they hit a rapid-fire six-pack of industry stories, including: ANTA’s push in...

In this episode, Colin, Shawnté, Eoin, and Producer Dave deliver their on-the-ground, end-of-show breakdown of The Running Event and Switchback 2025 — recorded moments after the TRE Retailer Awards wrapped in San Antonio. The crew dig into what worked, what surprised them, and what the outdoor industry should take away from a trade show that knows exactly what it is . On The Docket! The TRE Retail...

From San Antonio, TX it's The Rock Fight LIVE! Colin, Shawnté Salabert, Producer Dave and Eoin Comerford take the stage at The Running Event & Switchback 2025 for a fast, funny, high-energy conversation on the annual trade show. On The Docket! The Future of TRE & Switchback: Christina Henderson and Kent Ebersole discuss where the event is heading, how outdoor fits in, and whether an awards...

It's an action packed episode of The Rock Fight as Colin, Eoin Comerford, Producer Dave are joined by Gear Abby herself, Shawnté Salabert to preview and offer their predictions for this week's edition of The Running Event & Switchback! They also dig into Dick's Sporting Goods plans for Foot Locker and respond to a listener email about the profitablity of resale economics. Lastly it's the final...

Today on The Rock Fight, Colin, Eoin Comerford, and Producer Dave break down two major outdoor-industry storylines: Nike’s push into trail running and Sierra’s rapid suburban takeover. Plus listener feedback, The Lightning Round, and The Parting Shot! On The Docket! Mailbag: A listener response to the Patagonia Impact Report and how they make their stuff. Nike Targets Trail Running: Does a Hoka lo...

Today on The Rock Fight, Colin, Eoin, and Producer Dave sit down with Tony Post, founder and CEO of Topo Athletic, live from GOA Connect in Kansas City, to talk about the booming trail running market and Topo’s big year. Topo has quietly become one of the most talked-about brands in trail running. Growing 70% last year and expanding into 25 countries all while staying true to its specialty roots a...

Today on the show Colin, Eoin, and Producer Dave return with a full-tilt breakdown of the outdoor industry’s latest developments. From trade show energy to tariff fallout to brands making questionable product choices. On The Docket! Functional Fabric Fair Recap: Dave reports from Portland with notes on increased exhibitor energy, better layouts, stronger innovation hubs, and heritage insulation br...