The Rock Fight: Outdoor Industry & Adventure Sports Commentary

Today the various hosts, producers, and consigliere's of The Rock Fight gather to once again rank the top outdoor brands! And this time it's all about gear. Coming off of last months episode where they ranked the top 5 outdoor footwear brands, Colin, Justin Housman, Producer Dave, and Eoin Comerford come back together to do the same for outdoor gear. They try to learn from their missteps (try bein...

Today on the show Colin and Producer Dave are joined by the most unlikely of guests... someone from Outside, Inc! Chris Jerard (aka CJ), Outside's VP of Marketing and Executive Director of The Outside Festival and Summit heard Colin's thoughts about a recent press release regarding the 2025 edition of the festival on Monday's episode of The Rock Fight and is here today to return fire and shed a li...

Today Colin and Justin pop into Housman's House to talk about Justin's big break down of the BOLT Act which is just one element of what's inside the seminal piece of conservation legislation known as the EXPLORE Act. Then the guys resurrect Gear & Beer to do a round of Overrated, Underrated or Properly Rated. The items being evaluated? Gaiters, insulated hiking boots, and snowshoes. They wrap...

Today Colin opens the show by talking about the amount of outdoor industry events scheduled to be held in just a few months (aka Junepocalypse) as well as the recently announced details for The Summit at the Outside Festival. Then he is joined by outdoor industry insider and consigliere to The Rock Fight, Eoin Comerford and "Producer" Dave to react to the recently launched Speed Loafer from Hoka....

Today on the show Colin and Justin are joined by journalist Rachelle Schrute, who offers insights into the world of hunting. The conversation explores the walls we build between outdoor categories and examines hunting in terms of conservation and ethical food sourcing, emphasizing how these principles can resonate with human powered outdoor enthusiasts. Rachelle also shares her experiences taking...

Today Colin and Justin break down some recent headlines to come out of the outdoor adventure community. First up is the news that Black Diamond is partnering with Rainier Mountaineering, Inc to help with their product development. This is a reunion between BD president Neil Fiske and RMI owner Peter Whittaker who teamed up at Eddie Bauer to create First Ascent. Next the boys make a stop at Housman...

Today on the show, outdoor retailer Wes Allen returns to talk about the article he wrote for Rock Fight about the fallout of Altra giving REI exclusivity on the newest version of the popular Lone Peak trail running shoe. The Altra Lone Peak Plus is the first version of the iconic trail runner to feature a Vibram outsole, and will be available exclusively at REI for five months. This move has spark...

Today on the show Colin and his guest talk about an overlooked opportunity for inclusivity and revenue in the outdoor industry. Outdoor apparel brands are missing a significant opportunity by not offering more sizes. Andrea Kelly, founder of Make Plus Equal , joins The Rock Fight to emphasize the importance of size inclusivity in the outdoor industry but also how a lack of information and awarenes...

Today on the show we're reacting to breaking news coming out of the outdoor industry as Colin and outdoor industry insider Eoin Comerford give their instant reactions to the CEO shake up at REI. Earlier today it was announced that REI CEO Eric Artz is retiring at the end of March, making way for former Nike executive Mary Beth Laughton to take the helm of the outdoor retailer. Colin & Eoin ref...

Today Colin and Justin start the show with a conversation about the use of xenon gas by climbers on Mt. Everest as a means to reduce risk at high altitudes. Haters take note: is it really any different then fixed ropes or supplemental oxygen? Then they are joined by outdoor journalist and writer Doug Schnitzpahn, the host of Open Container , aka the newest podcast on The Rock Fight Podcast Network...

Today on The Rock Fight (an outdoor podcast that aims for the head) Colin opens the show by lamenting how outdoor brands never really figured out what to do with TikTok including a look at the one brand that actually does: Gnara . Then he and Producer Dave are joined by outdoor industry insider and Rock Fight Consigliere, Eoin Comerford to talk about the rumors that Canadian outdoor retailer MEC h...

Join Colin True and his team on the Rock Fight a podcast that isn’t afraid to tackle the tough issues and challenge conventional wisdom. The Rock Fight is here to provide listeners with a refreshing perspective on the outdoor industry. Every week, the crew explores the latest headlines, shares hot takes, and features special guests, all while encouraging open discussions that might not align with...

Today on The Rock Fight (an outdoor podcast that aims for the head) author, journalist, and Los Angeles resident Shawnté Salabert returns to the show to talk about her experience during the worst of the LA wildfires. Shawnté recounts the surreal moments leading up to the fire, including her frantic drive home amidst chaos and uncertainty. The discussion highlights the broader implications of urban...

Today on The Rock Fight (an outdoor podcast that aims for the head) Colin and Justin run through several of the stories that are dominating the current conversation in the outdoor community. First on the list is the significant impact of the ongoing wildfires in Los Angeles. Colin and Justin discuss their personal connections to LA as well as the alarming frequency of such events, emphasizing the...

Today on The Rock Fight (an outdoor podcast that aims for the head) we're once again breaking news! Outdoor blanket maker Rumpl has announced a significant management change, with founder Wiley Robinson shifting from CEO to chairman of the board, while Josh Simpson steps in as general manager. And The Rock Fight has the scoop as both of them join Colin and outdoor industry insider Eoin Comerford o...

Today on The Rock Fight (an outdoor podcast that aims for the head) Colin & Producer Dave are joined by legendary outdoor industry analyst Matt Powell. Over the course of his five predictions for 2025, Matt highlights the need for a shift in the outdoor industry's business model and emphasizes that the current approach of relying heavily on winter sports is unsustainable. The discussion touche...

Today on The Rock Fight (an outdoor podcast that aims for the head) Colin and Justin get caught up on some of the headlines to come out of the outdoor adventure community over the past few weeks. Today's topics include: The Park City Ski Patrol Strike! The topic of the moment that needs to be discussed because resort skiing has some brand problems. (06:02) Are ' Gravel Shoes ' coming? Dear lord we...

Today on The Rock Fight (an outdoor podcast that aims for the head) Colin is joined by Rock Fight regulars Justin Housman, Eoin Comerford, and Producer Dave to power rank the current top 5 outdoor footwear brands! This episode presents a (sorta) thorough examination of the outdoor footwear market, as The Rock Fight crew rank the top five footwear brands currently shaping the outdoor industry. They...

Today on The Rock Fight (an outdoor podcast that aims for the head) Colin & Justin Housman run through the top 10 episodes from 2024 that focused on the outdoor adventure community. Running down the top episodes from the past year from 10 to 1, each episode explored significant topics, including the impact of outdoor media on small towns, the controversial legal issues surrounding athletes lik...

Today on The Rock Fight (an outdoor podcast that aims for the head) Colin is joined by industry insider Eoin Comerford and Producer Dave to run down the top 10 outdoor industry rock fights from the past year. Going from 10 to 1 they provide their updated thoughts on the most popular industry focused episodes of 2024 and make predictions about what to expect in the future. This past year The Rock F...

Today on THE ROCK FIGHT (an outdoor podcast that aims for the head) Jessica Turner from the Outdoor Recreation Roundtable returns to the show to talk about finally getting the EXPLORE Act through congress! The passage of the EXPLORE Act marks a significant milestone for the outdoor recreation community, as it is the first comprehensive recreation package to be enacted without being tied to other l...

Today on THE ROCK FIGHT (an outdoor podcast that aims for the head) Colin opens the show with his reaction to Gear Patrol's mention of THE ROCK FIGHT in their recent best products of 2024 list. Colin and Producer Dave use this mention to pump the tires of an outdoor media scene who has way more clout than many realize when it comes to how they cover the brands that drive the conversation in the ou...

Today on THE ROCK FIGHT (an outdoor podcast that aims for the head) Colin is joined by the founder of LIVSN , Andrew Gibbs-Dabney, who shares his compelling journey from personal struggle to building an outdoor brand focused on sustainability and quality. Andrew discusses the challenges of launching a new brand in a saturated outdoor market and highlights the need for innovation that aligns with e...

Today on THE ROCK FIGHT (an outdoor podcast that aims for the head) Colin and Justin run through some stories to come out of the outdoor community from the past week. First up they respond to emails received about last weeks episode which featured a story about how outdoor media and enthusiasts can possibly ruin unknown mountain towns. Then they talk about a hiker was rescued from quicksand and im...

Today on THE ROCK FIGHT (an outdoor podcast that aims for the head) Colin opens the show by talking about how the outdoor industry steadily operates from a position of fear. Then Eoin Comerford joins Colin to analyze the dynamics of big box retailers like Dick’s Sporting Goods and Academy, looking at their struggles and strategies in a competitive landscape, and what specialty retail can learn fro...