The Rock Fight: Outdoor Industry & Adventure Sports Commentary

Today on THE ROCK FIGHT (an outdoor podcast that aims for the head) Colin is joined by the founder and editor in chief of Blister , Jonathan Ellsworth, to talk about making the backcountry a safer and more affordable place for outdoor enthusiasts. Outdoor enthusiasts face significant risks when engaging in their favorite activities, and having the right insurance coverage can be a game changer; wh...

Today on THE ROCK FIGHT (an outdoor podcast that aims for the head) Colin & Justin hit on a few of the more interesting and notable stories to come out of the outdoor community over the past week. The show kicks off by delving into a discussion about the complexities of brand loyalty in outdoor gear, based on the news that Rocky Mounts has been acquired by Clarus. The guys contemplate when bra...

Today on THE ROCK FIGHT (an outdoor podcast that aims for the head) outdoor industry insider Eoin Comerford joins Colin and Producer Dave to recap his time at the ISPO trade show in Munich! Eoin discusses the notable decline in participation and booth sizes at the show and how the changes seen at ISPO can tell us what to expect at future shows in the US. He also talks about his time touring Munich...

Today on THE ROCK FIGHT (an outdoor podcast that aims for the head) Colin sits down with the founders of Fuel Goods, a new nutrition fulfillment brand looking to change up an entire category. Fuel Goods is reshaping the nutrition landscape within the outdoor industry by offering a subscription service that emphasizes the importance of proper fueling for athletes, outdoor enthusiasts as well as eve...

Today on THE ROCK FIGHT (an outdoor podcast that aims for the head) Colin and Justin break down some of the more notable stories to come out of the outdoor industry and community. They start with the implications of new legislation in California that will ban single-use propane canisters in 2028. They also talk about a man who got lost while camping in BC and was recently found after 50 days. And...

Today on THE ROCK FIGHT (an outdoor podcast that aims for the head) Colin starts the show by taking a look at the sheer number of outdoor apparel brands that are all making pretty much the same products and have the same brand messaging. He and Producer Dave talk about how this situation has created an upside for differentiation and success for the brand who is bold enough to try something differe...

Today on THE ROCK FIGHT (an outdoor podcast that aims for the head) Colin sits down with Toby Ryston-Pratt, the founder and CEO of Australia's Adventure Entertainment. Do you know about Adventure Entertainment? If you do, you are one up on Colin. AE was founded by Toby in 2016 and has made remarkable strides since its inception, acquiring multiple outdoor magazines, creating it's own streaming pla...

Today on THE ROCK FIGHT (an outdoor podcast that aims for the head) Colin & Justin run through some of the more notable headlines to come out of the outdoor industry and community over the past week. The episode kicks off with a discussion about French brand Millet announcing their intention to enter the US outdoor marketplace and the challenges faced by the European brands have tried before t...

Today on THE ROCK FIGHT (an outdoor podcast that aims for the head) Colin & Producer Dave offer their thoughts on their time at last weeks edition of The Running Event/Switchback. Then Eoin Comerford makes his debut as a weekly regular on THE ROCK FIGHT! Eoin will be appearing each Monday on the show to offer his unique insights into what is happening in the outdoor industry. This week Eoin lo...

Today on THE ROCK FIGHT (an outdoor podcast that aims for the head) professional adventure athlete Sunny Stroeer joins Colin to talk about how there continues to be a gender gap in the way the outdoor media covers women's outdoor accomplishments. The outdoor gender gap is a pressing issue that continues to impact women in adventure sports, as discussed by Stroeer, a professional adventurer and the...

Today on THE ROCK FIGHT (an outdoor podcast that aims for the head) Colin opens the show taking a closer look at this weeks big story: YETI telling retailers they will be sunsetting Mystery Ranch after 2025. YETI's decision to phase out Mystery Ranch's consumer-facing business while retaining its military operations has raised eyebrows in the outdoor industry. Colin looks at the implications of th...

Today on THE ROCK FIGHT (an outdoor podcast that aims for the head) Aaron Provine, the president and owner of Geartrade, returns to discuss the evolving landscape of secondhand gear and recommerce in the outdoor industry. Aaron highlights the growing momentum toward secondhand products and picks a fight with Colin's criticism of brand recommerce platforms as he believes that these brand initiative...

Multiple sources have reached out to THE ROCK FIGHT from the GOA Connect show happening in Kansas City this week with the news that after acquiring the brand just this past January, Yeti will be sunsetting the consumer arm of Mystery Ranch after 2025 while retaining their military business. Colin & Justin talk about the implications of this move and then address the other big news story of the...

Today on THE ROCK FIGHT (an outdoor podcast that aims for the head), Colin opens the show discussing Polartec's recent announcement of their Shed Less fleece, a fabric that, according to the brand, reduces microfiber shedding by up to 85%. Drawing on his experience, Colin offers insights into the challenges ingredient brands face when developing innovative products, especially given the outdoor ap...

Today on THE ROCK FIGHT (an outdoor podcast that aims for the head) outdoor industry insider Eoin Comerford returns to give Colin and Producer Dave his perspective on some of the topics that we've been covering lately. Eoin discusses the loss of identity and authenticity brands deal with after being acquired by larger corporations. Using Marmot, Mountain Hardwear, and Columbia's new creative push...

Today on THE ROCK FIGHT (an outdoor podcast that aims for the head) Colin & Justin run through topics and headlines to come out of the outdoor adventure community over the past week or so including a French ski resort that has closed due to climate change, grades for Congress when it comes to National Parks, and Hipcamp's acquisition of BookOutdoors. Here's the full list of topics with time co...

Today on THE ROCK FIGHT (an outdoor podcast that aims for the head) Colin opens the show reflecting on the latest earnings report from Crocs that details how their $2.5 billion investment, HeyDude, has not been faring too well. Then he and producer Dave explore how HeyDude's limited demographic and marketing could end up making the whole thing a risky investment for Crocs. They then comment on a l...

Today on THE ROCK FIGHT (an outdoor podcast that aims for the head) Colin and Producer Dave are joined by the founders of SENIQ ; a new brand focused on making outdoor apparel for women. It's not a secret that for much of the Outdoor Industry's history the primary directive when it came to apparel or footwear for women was to take something made for men and 'shrink it and pink it'. Even though the...

Today on THE ROCK FIGHT (an outdoor podcast that aims for the head) Colin & Justin continue their annual Halloween tradition by taking in an outdoorsy horror flick. Last year it was The Blair Witch Project this year? The original Friday the 13th! They start the show by talking about a couple of headlines to come out of the outdoor community in the past week including an Australian hiker was ca...

Today on THE ROCK FIGHT (an outdoor podcast that aims for the head) Colin opens the show reacting to last weeks earnings report from Newell, owner of Marmot, that shows how the once great outdoor brand is sliding further into mediocrity. Then Colin and Producer Dave discuss the historical significance of Marmot and its innovative past, contrasting it with mistakes that were made by their various o...

Today on THE ROCK FIGHT (an outdoor podcast that aims for the head) environmental fashion journalist Sophie Benson returns to talk about the latest sustainability topics to come out of the outdoor industry. Sophie joins Colin & Producer Dave to share her insights on the recent upcycling and recommerce initiatives from various outdoor brands. The episode also delves into the implications of new...

Today on THE ROCK FIGHT (an outdoor podcast that aims for the head), Paddy O'Connell returns for his record setting 6th appearance! He joins Colin & Justin to talk about the production of season 2 of his show "PaddyO Sucks At..." and sticks around to chat about some adventure headlines to come out of the outdoor community. Three hosts means three Parting Shots. And for his, PaddyO saves the be...

Today on THE ROCK FIGHT (an outdoor podcast that aims for the head) Colin kicks off the show talking about the decision by Red Wing to sunset the Vasque brand. Colin and Producer Dave delve into the historical significance of Vasque, a company that since 1964 has played a crucial role in shaping outdoor footwear in the US. They examine the trajectory of the brand, from its early innovations, such...

Today on THE ROCK FIGHT (an outdoor podcast that aims for the head) it's all about outdoor specialty retail! Specialty retailers play a crucial role in the outdoor industry, serving as community connection points and acting as tastemakers essential for brand legitimacy and consumer engagement. Today on THE ROCK FIGHT Gabe Meyer, president of the Grassroots Outdoor Alliance, joins Colin to talk abo...

Today on THE ROCK FIGHT (an outdoor podcast that aims for the head) Kent Ebersole, the president of the Outdoor Industry Association (OIA), joins Colin to discuss the recent shift from its long-standing trade show relationship with Outdoor Retailer to a new partnership with Switchback. Kent talks about the rationale for moving on from OR and why they decided Switchback was the right move at this t...