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What does it actually take for a new outdoor brand to earn a spot on the shelves of a specialty retailer? Today on The Rock Fight, Colin is recording from GOA Connect in Kansas City, where he welcomes back Sunlight Sports owner Wes Allen for a little experiment. After exploring the show's Discovery Marketplace, Colin selected five promising outdoor brands and decided to pitch them to Wes. The goal? Find out which brands have what it takes to succeed at specialty retail and which ones might have a tougher road ahead. Five brands. One retailer. Some surprising answers. Who makes the cut? Want to pick a fight with The Rock Fight? Send your emails to [email protected]. The Rock Fight is a production of Rock Fight, LLC.

It's Friday, which means it's time for The Rock Fight's Parting Shot! This week, Colin welcomes back Gear Abby host Shawnté Salabert for two very different takes on the outdoor industry. First, a severely jet-lagged Colin delivers his immediate reaction to the newly reinvented ISPO trade show in Amsterdam. Did ISPO deliver enough to make the outdoor industry believe in its comeback? Then Shawnté takes aim at a recent Backpacker essay suggesting that hiking is losing part of its soul as traditional boots give way to trail runners. While she appreciates the author's love of hiking boots, she questions why footwear preferences so often turn into rules about who belongs outdoors and how they should participate. All that plus, Colin's growing frustration with Halloween. It's Friday on The Rock Fight... time for the parting shot! Want to pick a fight with The Rock Fight? Send your emails to [email protected]. The Rock Fight is a production of Rock Fight, LLC.

Today on The Rock Fight, Colin welcomes Outdoor Retailer show director Matthew Mathiasen to make the case for why OR should once again become the outdoor industry's premier national event. With Outdoor Retailer and Switchback competing for the industry's attention (and exhibitor dollars), the future of the national outdoor trade show is anything but settled. Colin and Matthew dig into what brands actually want from these events, why the traditional focus on retail buyers might be outdated, and the challenge of convincing major outdoor brands to return. Plus, can Outdoor Retailer and Switchback coexist? And can OR embrace its legacy without getting trapped by it? Send your feedback to [email protected] 04:06 – Outdoor Retailer's New Ownership Under Forge 06:38 – Does the Outdoor Industry Need a National Trade Show? 12:54 – How Committed Is Forge to Outdoor Retailer's Future? 15:34 – Sponsor Break 19:25 – Can You Sell a Trade Show Based on Vibes? 24:11 – Turning Influencer Content Into Business Results 27:10 – Can Outdoor Retailer and Switchback Coexist? 27:57 – Can Outdoor Retailer Escape Its Past? The Rock Fight is a production of Rock Fight, LLC.

What if the outdoor influencer recommending your next backpack wasn't actually a real person? Today on The Rock Fight, Colin welcomes back independent outdoor journalist Kyle Frost to talk about how AI is already disrupting the outdoor industry. Kyle recently uncovered Brook Wilder, an AI-generated outdoor influencer publishing gear reviews built from content created by actual outdoor journalists. And while the technology might still have some obvious flaws, it's improving quickly. They also debate whether trusted independent creators are better positioned for the future than legacy outdoor media companies, the role of influencer marketing platforms like Popfly, and why human experience might become more valuable as AI-generated content becomes increasingly common. Send your feedback to [email protected]. Timestamps: 05:53 – Why AI Is Becoming Impossible for the Outdoor Industry to Ignore 07:30 – The Fake Outdoor Influencer Reviewing Real Gear 13:53 – Is AI a Threat to Legacy Outdoor Media? 16:42 – What Outdoor Brands and Retailers Should Be Preparing For 21:43 – Sponsor Break 24:54 – Are Influencers the Future of Outdoor Product Reviews? 27:07 – Are Individual Creators More Valuable Than Media Brands? 28:05 – Why Traditional Journalism Still Has an Advantage The Rock Fight is a production of Rock Fight, LLC.

Today Colin is joined by Patagonia's Aileen Ottenweller, Senior Director of Impact Marketing, Policy and Communications, to discuss the company's decision to integrate its Worn Wear secondhand marketplace directly into Patagonia.com. It's a significant shift in how an outdoor brand approaches resale. Instead of sending shoppers to a separate website, Patagonia is putting used products alongside new ones and giving consumers the choice. But why did it take four years to make the change? And does keeping resale separate from a brand's primary e-commerce business undermine the environmental message behind offering secondhand products in the first place? Send your feedback to [email protected] 05:17 – Why Patagonia Is Bringing Worn Wear Into Its Main Website 17:11 – Do Brand-Owned Resale Platforms Have a Future? 20:17 – Can Secondhand Become a True Retail Distribution Channel? 21:00 – Sponsor Break 23:00 – Does the Outdoor Industry Make Too Much Stuff? 27:36 – The Contradictions of Growth and Environmental Responsibility 29:55 – Patagonia's Leadership on Public Lands The Rock Fight is a production of Rock Fight, LLC

What's the greatest outdoor activity of all time? And if you could assemble the ultimate team of outdoor pursuits, what would make your roster? Today on The Rock Fight, Colin welcomes Outdoor Unfiltered host Eoin Comerford, Gear Abby host Shawnté Salabert, and Garage Grown Gear co-founder Lloyd Vogel for The 2026 Outdoor Activity Draft! The rules are simple: Each competitor must draft seven outdoor activities across categories including trails, wheels, water, snow, climbing, science, and one wild card. No duplicate picks, plenty of questionable strategy, and absolutely no guarantee that everyone will agree on what qualifies. Along the way, Colin declares war on camping, Lloyd makes some truly unexpected selections, Shawnté defends the activities she loves, and Eoin attempts to assemble the coolest outdoor roster imaginable. Four competitors. Seven rounds. Twenty-eight picks. One winner. What would your team look like? Send your feedback on this and every episode of The Rock Fight to [email protected]! Time Stamps: 01:32 – Welcome to The Rock Fight's Outdoor Activity Draft! 03:15 – The Rules: Seven Categories, Four Teams 06:21 – Is Camping Actually an Outdoor Activity? 07:09 – Setting the Draft Order 08:32 – The Outdoor Activity Draft! The Rock Fight is a production of Rock Fight, LLC.

Can one of the outdoor industry's most iconic trade shows reinvent itself? And what does its comeback mean for the future of industry gatherings? Today on The Rock Fight, Colin welcomes ISPO Managing Director Tracy Bebbington to discuss the major changes coming to the legendary European trade show as it prepares for its first event in Amsterdam under new ownership. After years of declining relevance and questions about its future, ISPO is getting a fresh start. Tracy explains why Raccoon Media Group moved the show from Munich to Amsterdam, how a million-euro hosted buyer program is bringing retailers back, and what attendees should expect from the revamped event. Send your feedback to [email protected]! Topics / Chapters 03:15 – ISPO's Decline, New Ownership & Move to Amsterdam 08:16 – What's Different About ISPO 2026? 11:58 – Are the Buyer Numbers Real? 12:58 – Why Have Outdoor Trade Shows Lost Their Relevance? 17:13 – Is Connecting Brands With Buyers Still Enough? 21:38 – Sponsor Break 22:45 – Are Outdoor Trade Shows Different From Other Industries? 26:40 – What Will Success Look Like for ISPO 2026? 30:29 – Can ISPO Bring the Biggest Brands Back? The Rock Fight is a production of Rock Fight, LLC.

YETI makes jackets now. And apparently, everyone else wants in on the apparel business, too. On this week's Parting Shot, Colin welcomes Gear Abby host Shawnté Salabert to ask a simple question: Does the outdoor industry really need more clothes? First, Shawnté takes aim at YETI's new technical apparel collection and the suggestion that a cooler and drinkware company is suddenly coming for Patagonia and The North Face. Then Colin expands the conversation to NNormal and MiiR, two more brands making moves into technical apparel. More jackets. More brands. More stuff. Do we really need any of it? That's this weeks parting shot. Send us your emails! [email protected] The Rock Fight is a production of Rock Fight, LLC.

What if one of the outdoor industry's fastest-growing brands was already generating more than $50 million in annual revenue and most traditional outdoor retailers barely knew it existed? Today on The Rock Fight, Colin welcomes Brian Davis, co-founder of Hollow Socks, to explore how a seven-year-old alpaca sock brand built a massive direct-to-consumer business before making a serious push into traditional outdoor retail. Topics / Chapters 06:15 – How Hollow Became a $50 Million Brand 10:19 – Why It's Never Been Easier to Start a Brand 11:18 – Do You Need Deep Pockets to Build a D2C Business? 15:03 – How Hollow Built a Million-Dollar Monthly Ad Budget 20:04 – Sponsor Break + ISPO 2026 22:57 – Why Hollow Wants Wholesale After Succeeding Without It 27:25 – How Many Other Multimillion-Dollar D2C Brands Are Out There? Send your feedback and question to [email protected]! The Rock Fight is a production of Rock Fight, LLC.

The outdoor industry stock market is open for business! So which brands and trends are worth buying, and which ones are headed for a crash? Today on The Rock Fight, Colin welcomes back Outdoor Unfiltered host and Rock Fight consigliere Eoin Comerford for a game of Buy or Sell. Each brings three buys and three sells from across the outdoor industry, making their cases for the brands, business models, and trends they believe are headed for big things or headed for trouble. Twelve picks. Two opinionated podcasters. Absolutely zero investment advice. Welcome to The Rock Fight's Outdoor Stock Market! Send your own outdoor buy and sells to [email protected]. Topics / Chapters 03:25 – The Outdoor Stock Market: Buy or Sell? 04:00 – Is the Snow Sports Industry in Trouble? 06:31 – Are Season Passes Hurting Skiing? 09:43 – Can On Running Challenge Nike? 14:35 – A Comeback Story in Outdoor Equipment 17:43 – Selling Legacy Outdoor Media 22:26 – The Trouble With Dick's Acquisition of Foot Locker 24:52 – Sponsor Break 27:44 – Buying Into the Creator Economy 30:26 – Why YouTube Matters for Outdoor Brands 32:36 – Is Big Box Retail Losing Its Appeal? 36:14 – Has Arc'teryx Become a Luxury Brand? 39:30 – Can a National Outdoor Trade Show Make a Comeback? 41:47 – El Niño and the Future of Winter Retail The Rock Fight is a production of Rock Fight, LLC.

Should we put an end to commercial high-altitude mountaineering? And why is the fly fishing community losing its mind over an OnlyFans creator? It's time for The Parting Shot! Colin welcomes Gear Abby host Shawnté Salabert for two outdoor hot takes. First, after watching the new K2 documentary The Last First: Winter K2, Colin argues that commercial mountaineering has gone too far. When inexperienced climbers can buy their way onto some of the world's most dangerous mountains, who's responsible when things go wrong? Then Shawnté takes aim at the fly fishing community's outrage over rod maker Winston gifting gear to an OnlyFans creator. Why does someone's career outside the sport determine whether they deserve to participate? And shouldn't the industry be more concerned with welcoming newcomers and supporting women in fishing? Two controversies. Two parting shots. One Rock Fight. Send your feedback on this and every episode of The Rock Fight by sending an email to [email protected]. Topics / Chapters 02:58 – The Parting Shot with Shawnté Salabert 03:31 – Colin's Parting Shot: Cancel Commercial Climbing! 08:36 – Shawnté on the Business of High-Altitude Guiding 10:33 – Lessons From Climbing Kilimanjaro 12:14 – Shawnté's Parting Shot: OnlyFans Meets Fly Fishing 15:37 – Colin Weighs In on Sex Work and Outdoor Gatekeeping 16:55 – The Double Standards Facing Women in Outdoor Sports The Rock Fight is a production of Rock Fight, LLC.

Everybody dies. But if you could choose how you go, wouldn't you rather have a great story? Longtime Rock Fight co-host Justin Housman returns to join Colin to debate the five best ways to die in the outdoors. From big wave wipeouts and wild animal attacks to falling rocks, volcanoes, and lightning strikes, Colin and Justin rank the outdoor demises they'd choose if dying peacefully in their sleep were somehow off the table. What do you think the best way to die in the outdoors would be? Send your vote to [email protected]! 03:23 – Justin Housman Returns! 06:53 – Introducing the Five Best Ways to Die Outdoors 12:28 – The Outdoor Death Rankings Begin 16:11 – Falling Rocks and Other Mountain Hazards 20:00 – Big Wave Surfing: The Ultimate Way to Go? 24:51 – Wild Animal Attacks and Outdoor Fears 36:01 – Lightning Strikes and Mountain Summits 37:03 – Producer Dave, Shawnté & Friends Weigh In The Rock Fight is a production of Rock Fight, LLC.

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. Can the longtime e-commerce player regain its former momentum, or has the increasingly competitive digital marketplace put a ceiling on its growth? Then Colin and Eoin dig into the surprising success of D2C outdoor brands that most industry insiders have never heard of. What's changed since the last D2C boom went bust? How are these brands finding customers and growing without traditional retail? And do they even need wholesale anymore? Plus, Colin explains why gravel running shoes are a sham, clears up the rumors about Marmot selling at Costco, and comes to terms with Bedrock Sandals finally making a proper shoe. Topics / Chapters 02:00 – Welcome to The Rock Fight + Programming Updates 03:15 – Mailbag: Is Lowe Alpine Officially a Zombie Brand? 06:00 – Why Gravel Running Shoes Are a Sham 08:15 – The Truth About Marmot at Costco 09:15 – Bedrock Sandals Finally Makes a Shoe 13:54 – Eoin Comerford Joins The Rock Fight 14:27 – The Sierra vs. REI Debate Continues 16:05 – What's Next for Backcountry? 17:31 – Backcountry's Strategy Under New Ownership 20:14 – Can Backcountry Compete With Amazon and REI? 22:07 – Will Acquisitions Move the Needle? 23:24 – Is Direct-to-Consumer Making a Comeback? 24:50 – Why Some D2C Outdoor Brands Are Thriving 26:49 – The Outdoor Brands Making Millions You've Never Heard Of 29:21 – Do DTC Brands Still Need Specialty Retail? 32:50 – Could Kickstarter Produce the Next Big Outdoor Brand? Pick a fight with The Rock Fight! Send your emails to [email protected]! The Rock Fight is a production of Rock Fight, LLC.

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 might be poised for a comeback. Will running shoes finally lose their grip on casual footwear or is Colin just trying to make dad shoes cool again? Send your feedback to [email protected]. The Rock Fight is a production of Rock Fight, LLC.

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 workshopped statement on social media, why encouraging people to vote might be the industry's most effective move, and how RE:PUBLIC's first year is demonstrating that good old-fashioned outdoor journalism can still make a difference. Topics / Chapters 02:08 – Why the Outdoor Industry Needs to Get Loud 06:32 – Chris Keyes Joins The Rock Fight 07:50 – One Year of RE:PUBLIC 09:27 – Is the Outdoor Industry Doing Enough? 10:59 – Why Brands Have Been Reluctant to Speak Up 13:44 – How Corporate Ownership Changed Outdoor Activism 14:42 – The Business Case for Defending Public Lands 16:50 – One Thing Every Outdoor Brand Can Do 17:57 – Why Today's Public Lands Fights Are Harder to Communicate 19:09 – Stop Posting Links and Start Driving Action 20:33 – Why You Can't Compare Every Brand to Patagonia 22:12 – If You're Going to Speak Up, Say Something 23:24 – How Journalism Can Actually Create Change Read RE:PUBLIC's job performance review for Doug Burgum here. Want to pick a fight with The Rock Fight? Send your comments or questions to [email protected]. The Rock Fight is a production of Rock Fight, LLC.