Outdoor Sportswire (2026)

10/06/2026

United Wheels has officially announced the grand opening of its newly expanded Canadian headquarters in Newmarket, Ontario!

The parent company behind iconic cycling brands like Huffy, Batch Bicycles, Niner Bikes, and Buzz E-Bikes has relocated to a newly renovated, 7,500-square-foot facility.

Designed to support its growing network of Canadian retail partners, the building features an optimized parts warehouse and a dedicated showroom.

Company leadership joined Newmarket Mayor John Taylor for the official ribbon-cutting ceremony to mark the brand's long-term commitment to the market.

Read the full industry update to learn more about the new facility and corporate strategy: https://www.outdoorsportswire.com/united-wheels-opens-expanded-canadian-headquarters

10/06/2026

The Dyrt reveals that 3 out of 5 U.S. campers are finding ways to camp for free!

Data from the newly published 2026 Camping Report shows that 59.8% of the community secured free campsites last year.

Dispersed camping on public land led the trend at 79.1%, followed closely by free overnight parking for RVers and vanlifers, and free established campgrounds.

With over 600 million acres of public land available, the camping platform is utilizing its community-driven app to map out these less-documented destinations for responsible travelers.

Read the full report summary on our site to explore the latest trends and insights mapping the outdoor hospitality space: https://www.outdoorsportswire.com/free-camping-the-dyrt-finds-3-out-of-5-campers-camp-for-free

10/06/2026

Sustainable apparel brand PAKA has launched a new transparency-focused campaign featuring actor and environmental activist Nat Kelley!

The campaign highlights the origin of PAKA’s everyday Essentials Collection, tracking the journey of responsibly sourced Peruvian natural fibers—including Organic Pima Cotton and Royal Alpaca—from the Andes to the finished product.

Kelley, who is of Quechua descent, traveled to Peru to chronicle the traditional craftsmanship and alpaca herding communities behind the garments.

As a Certified B Corp, PAKA aims to encourage more thoughtful consumption by providing fully traceable daily wear.

https://www.outdoorsportswire.com/nat-kelley-explores-the-origin-of-paka-essentials-collection-through-new-campaign-centered-on-natural-fibers

10/06/2026

Snaplinc Consulting and Snowsports Industries America Launch Tracebound, First Personalized ESG Compliance Platform Built for Product-Based Companies

Snaplinc Consulting and Snowsports Industries America have launched Tracebound, a new B2B SaaS compliance intelligence platform that helps product-based companies navigate the rapidly evolving global sustainability regulatory landscape. Built around three core capabilities — Guidance, Monitoring, and Regulatory Visibility — Tracebound delivers customized assessments across ~200 regulations in ~75 jurisdictions and centralizes legal, sustainability, and operations intelligence so leadership teams can proactively plan and scale with confidence.

Tracebound serves apparel, footwear, outdoor & sporting goods, home goods, beauty, and broader consumer products brands. The platform is available now; request a demo at Tracebound.com. 🌍📈🛡️
Read the full press release: https://www.outdoorsportswire.com/snaplinc-consulting-and-snowsports-industries-america-launch-tracebound-first-personalized-esg-compliance-platform-built-for-product-based-companies/

What regulatory challenge is keeping your team up at night? Share in the comments.

10/06/2026

Grassroots Outdoor Alliance names winners of 2026 Outdoor Specialty Awards

🏆 MASSIVE CONGRATULATIONS to the 2026 Grassroots Outdoor Specialty Awards winners! 🎉

Grassroots Outdoor Alliance has officially announced the winners, and the top honors go to:

🥇 **RETAILER OF THE YEAR:** Skinny Skis (Jackson, Wyo.)
This nordic skiing heritage shop reinvented itself in the face of market headwinds by embracing their roots. Co-owner Taylor Hall said, "We made a decision to just be ourselves and not worry too much about the marketplace." Humbling words from a shop that stood out for vendor feedback, store wow factor, merchandising, and responsible business ownership! 💪

🥇 **VENDOR OF THE YEAR:** Smartwool
The apparel manufacturer was recognized for excellence in sales & service, collaboration with specialty retail, product quality, and marketplace conduct. Smartwool General Manager Margot Hannaford credited reps and retailers: "We attribute a huge amount of success to our reps for the work they do every day, and for the retailers who help get our brand in front of consumers." 🧦

🏅 **ADDITIONAL 2026 WINNERS:**
🔹 Retailer Growth Award — Casual Adventure (Arlington, Va.)
🔹 Community Giveback Award — Footsloggers (Boone, N.C.)
🔹 Retailer Wow Award (merchandising & store design) — Bill Jackson's (Pinellas Park, Fla.)
🔹 Excellence in Apparel — Patagonia
🔹 Excellence in Footwear — Salewa
🔹 Excellence in Hardgoods & Accessories — Hydrapak
🔹 Conservation Championship Award (Retailer) — Mountain Sports (Flagstaff, Ariz.)
🔹 Conservation Championship Award (Vendor) — Grayl (water filtration)

🌟 **TOP 25 INDY REP AWARD:** 25 independent sales representatives were recognized for professionalism, service, partnership, and commitment to the specialty channel — the conduits between outdoor brands and retailers!

Gabe Maier, President of Grassroots Outdoor Alliance, emphasized why these awards matter: "The winners should feel very proud that these awards reflect very tangible results of hard work, because they're informed by real-world information that our community shares with us. The strength of Grassroots Outdoor Alliance has always come from partnership — retailers, vendors, reps, and industry leaders working together to build something stronger than any one business alone." 🤝

These awards were announced at the Spring 2026 Grassroots Connect buying show in Reno, Nev. (June 7-11), where 150+ retail businesses and 290 exhibiting manufacturers gathered! 📊

👇 Want to see the full list of Top 25 Indy Reps and learn more about each winner? Click the link below!

🔗 https://www.outdoorsportswire.com/grassroots-outdoor-alliance-names-winners-of-2026-outdoor-specialty-awards/

💬 COMMENT BELOW: Which of these award-winning retailers do you shop at? Or what's your favorite outdoor brand? Share your thoughts! 🏔️

09/06/2026

Premium independent outdoor brand KÜHL is expanding to the East Coast with its first retail store in Boston, Massachusetts! 🏙️🥾

Located at 343 Newbury St., the new storefront marks the brand's sixth U.S. location.

Built on a foundation of performance and functional design, the independent apparel company will celebrate its official Grand Opening weekend from June 12–14, inviting the local community to stop by, check out the new layout, and connect with the team.

Read the full retail announcement on our site for store hours and location details: https://www.outdoorsportswire.com/kuhl-opens-first-east-coast-retail-store-in-boston

09/06/2026

Community Update: The First Try Collective has officially launched its free summer outdoor event series across Greater Pittsburgh! 🌳🚴‍♂️

A project under the national Thrive Outside Pittsburgh designation, this collaborative initiative is specifically designed to eliminate common barriers to recreation like a lack of introductory instruction or having "no one to go with."

The series offers low-pressure, beginner-friendly opportunities to explore local green spaces through diverse activities—including yoga, forest bathing, mountain biking, ecosystem exploration, and disc golf.

Participants can even track their summer progress with a First Try Punch Pass to earn local rewards, like free Millie's Ice Cream at the upcoming Outdoors for All Day on August 15!

See the full registration details, partner organizations, and accommodation request info here:

https://www.outdoorsportswire.com/first-try-collective-launches-free-summer-outdoor-series-across-greater-pittsburgh

09/06/2026

hestoutdoors expands its premium adventure collaboration with electric vehicle maker to debut the custom-fit "Foamy for R2" mattress!

Designed specifically for the all-new, mid-size electric R2 SUV, this high-performance sleep system utilizes two layers of temperature-resilient memory foam and custom cutouts to fit seamlessly around the vehicle's interior wheel wells.

The innovative design allows users to camp effortlessly inside their vehicle with options to link two single pads together to create a double bed.

Read the full industry update on our site to learn more about the partnership and design specs ahead of the summer camping season: https://www.outdoorsportswire.com/hest-and-rivian-expand-collaboration-with-custom-mattress-for-rivian-r2

09/06/2026

11-time world champion surfer Kelly Slater partners with premium bottle manufacturer Purist!

The organic partnership highlights a shared commitment to pure taste and daily health.

Unlike standard stainless steel vessels that can trap odors and shift flavors, Purist bottles utilize a patented, micro-thin layer of silicon dioxide to create a non-porous, glass-like interior.

Slater sought out the brand specifically for this technology to ensure his hydration remains entirely uncompromised.

Read the full corporate update on our site to learn more about the multi-year collaboration: https://www.outdoorsportswire.com/only-essentials-make-the-bag-kelly-slater-just-added-purist-collective

09/06/2026

World-renowned angler Carter Andrews joins Ross Purnell on the latest episode of the Fly Fisherman Loop to Loop podcast! 🎙️🌊

The episode details Andrews' extensive history guiding in Jackson Hole, his time with Fly Fishing Team USA, and his passionate perspective on modern pressure and fish handling across iconic waterways like the South Fork of the Snake River.

This deep dive comes just ahead of his highly anticipated new program, "Gone Fishing with Carter Andrews," premiering Monday, July 6 at 9 p.m. ET on Outdoor Channel.

Check out the full industry feature on our site to learn more about the episode and where to stream it: https://www.outdoorsportswire.com/carter-andrews-featured-on-the-fly-fisherman-loop-to-loop-podcast

Outdoor Sportswire

10/06/2026

10/06/2026

10/06/2026

10/06/2026

10/06/2026

09/06/2026

09/06/2026

09/06/2026

09/06/2026

09/06/2026

Address

Website

Alerts

Contact The Business

Shortcuts

Share