Sustainability has become increasingly important in the outdoor industry in recent years. Statista’s global consumer survey showed that 22% of the consumers would stop buying a product or brand due to sustainability issues. Top 3 sustainability criteria in purchase are durability, environmentally friendly materials and environmentally friendly packaging.

Outdoor activities are increasingly going digital driven by advances in technology. Approximately 78% of outdoor activities usually use technical devices during their activities, in most cases a smartphone. It satisfies the consumers’ desire to stay connected and share their experiences. Apps are increasingly important and used in 53% of outdoor activities to keep track of activities and record performance data.

Covid-19 impacted the industry drastically and had an impact on the people’s mobility and lifestyle. Throughout the pandemic outdoor recreation activities increased significantly resulting in record high sales number for companies operating in the outdoor sector and not being solely dependent on retail sales. However, research from the Outdoor Industry Association indicates that about one-quarter of new participants say that they don’t want to continue their new outdoor activities – a number that may grow sharply as consumers return to pre-pandemic habits.