Outdoor Unfiltered

This episode of Outdoor Unfiltered dives into the data behind retail relationships and the future of industry gatherings. Host Eoin Comerford reveals the latest Partnership Scores for 32 major outdoor brands—including Patagonia, Hoka, Black Diamond, and Keen—measuring how effectively they support local retailers versus their own D2C channels. We also explore a unique opportunity to own Mountain Laurel Designs (MLD), as founder Ron Bell offers a "management to ownership" track for the iconic ultralight brand.The headliner features Sean Smith, Event Director for Switchback, who discusses the show's strategic move to New Orleans in June 2026. Sean breaks down the growth of the show, the importance of the specialty outdoor retailer, and the robust educational programming featuring Outdoor Industry Association (OIA). We also get an inside look at specialized floor sections like Pathfinders, in partnership with Garage Grown Gear, and the vital role of nonprofits like the Conservation Alliance and Leave No Trace.Show Notes:0:00 – Introduction Host Eoin Comerford previews today’s topics: updated partnership scores, a chance to own Mountain Laurel Designs, and a deep dive into the Switchback trade show with Sean Smith.0:45 – The Partnership Score Explained Eoin breaks down his 100-point scoring system that tracks how outdoor brands balance D2C sales with retail partner support.2:40 – Winners and Movers: Patagonia, Hoka, and More A look at the massive 27-point industry improvement in partnership scores, highlighting big moves from Black Diamond, Keen, and the return of local dealer links on Patagonia’s site.4:45 – Top Tier Brands Shoutouts to the brands consistently scoring 90–100 points: Brooks, Nemo, Oboz, and Rab.5:40 – Own Mountain Laurel Designs (MLD) Ron Bell is looking for a successor for his 25-year-old ultralight brand. Eoin explains the "no money down" management-to-ownership track.8:18 – Interview: Sean Smith on Switchback Sean Smith discusses his transition to Switchback and the show’s mission to serve as the heart of the specialty outdoor retail industry.10:30 – Why New Orleans in June? Addressing the "swampy" elephant in the room: why the June timing in NOLA serves the buying calendar of the outdoor industry.13:10 – Growth and Capacity Switchback is expanding, targeting 230 brands and over 40,000 square feet of booth space, featuring industry giants like Arc'teryx, Fjallraven, and Cotopaxi.15:00 – The 20x20 Booth Cap Why Switchback limits booth size to "save brands from themselves" and keep the focus on products rather than massive displays.17:35 – Supporting Emerging Brands: Pathfinders Details on the Pathfinders section for emerging and women-owned brands like Halfdays and Soul Sisters, curated with Garage Grown Gear.20:10 – The Role of Nonprofits and SOBA The importance of the State Outdoor Business Alliance Network (SOBAN) and why nonprofits are the "401k of the outdoor industry."23:25 – Education and Networking A preview of Education Day (Tuesday) and the Trailheads Theater, featuring 47 speakers covering everything from risk management to participation research.26:50 – How to Attend Sean provides details on the retail scholarship program and how to register for the June 2026 event.Our SponsorsENDVR: The network that connects brands, retailers, and frontline associates to power sell-through across your wholesale channel. www.endvr.ioCrux Retail: Creating bold retail displays for bold brands. www.crux-retail.comConnect With UsWe would love to hear your thoughts on the show, inside intel, guest ideas, sponsorship inquiries or whatever’s on your mind.Eoin Comerford: LinkedIn ProfileEmail: outdoorunfilteredpod@gmail.comOutdoor Unfiltered is a production of Rock Fight, LLC.

Join host Eoin Comerford on Outdoor Unfiltered for an inside look at the business of the outdoors. In this episode, we tackle the viral news of Allbirds pivoting toward AI infrastructure and GPU-as-a-service, and what that really means for the brand. We also dive into Backcountry.com’s launch of Backcountry Garage, a new outdoor brand incubator and fund that kicked off with the acquisition of Salt Lake City-based CoalaTree.Later, we review the innovative Universal Collection from The North Face, featuring adaptive camping gear like the Universal One Sleeping Bag, the Wawona 3 Tent, the Universal Daypack, and Traction Mules. Finally, Eoin sits down with Eric Haberman, President and Founder of Mountain High Sales & Marketing, to discuss the evolving role of the outdoor sales rep and the critical relationship between brands and retailers.00:00 – Introduction00:54 – Allbirds’ surprising pivot to AI computing infrastructure and GPU-as-a-service.08:31 – Backcountry.com launches Backcountry Garage and acquires CoalaTree.10:50 – A look at past outdoor incubators: Moosejaw Outdoor Accelerator and REI’s Path Ahead Ventures.16:03 – The North Face Universal Collection: A deep dive into adaptive design for the Wawona 3 Tent, Universal One Sleeping Bag, and more.21:50 – Interview with Eric Haberman, President of Mountain High Sales & Marketing, on the modern role of the sales rep.27:10 – The importance of trust and the "balancing act" between brands and retailers.33:20 – Advice for emerging brands on navigating the wholesale landscape and working with reps.Connect With UsWe would love to hear your thoughts on the show, inside intel, guest ideas, sponsorship inquiries or whatever's on your mind:Email: outdoorunfilteredpod@gmail.comLinkedIn: Eoin Comerford

Is the classic outdoor gear shop model dead? In this episode of Outdoor Unfiltered, host Eoin Comerford explores why iconic retailers like Wilderness Exchange, Summit Hut, and Midwest Mountaineering are facing new challenges. We look at why expanding specialty chains like Gearhead Outfitters, Half-Moon Outfitters, and Mountain High Outfitters are shifting toward apparel and footwear over technical hard goods.Eoin is joined by industry legend Wes Allen, President of Sunlight Sports and former leader at REI, Chacos, and the Grassroots Outdoor Alliance (GOA). Together, they break down the critical delineation between the "Outdoor Economy" (activity-based) and the "Outside Economy" (lifestyle-based). They discuss why brands like Vuori, On, Patagonia, The North Face, Marmot, Hoka, and Merrell are navigating a complex landscape of technical authenticity versus mass-market appeal. We also dive into how OIA participation data can be misleading and how Amazon and ecommerce has impacted out the equipment business.Timestamps:00:00 – Intro: The closing of iconic shops like Wilderness Exchange and Midwest Mountaineering.01:30 – The shift from hard goods to apparel: Insights from Town to Trail Outfitters.03:15 – 5 factors killing the equipment-centric model.09:40 – Introducing Wes Allen: A life spent at REI, Chacos, and Sunlight Sports.12:15 – Defining the Outdoor Economy vs. the Outside Economy.15:00 – The "Lifestyle" giants: How The North Face and Patagonia paved the way.18:30 – The rise of Vuori and On: Why lifestyle brands are winning the floor space.22:15 – The Sustainability Gap: Why eco-friendly tech often loses at the register.25:40 – Debunking OIA data: The questionable $271 billion sales number.30:20 – The Big Agnes Down Jacket Lesson: Don’t build for the wrong channel.33:50 – Closing thoughts: Can REI find its way back to the core? Should it?Connect With Us:We would love to hear your thoughts on the show, inside intel, guest ideas, sponsorship inquiries or whatever's on your mind!Host: Eoin ComerfordLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eoincomerford/Email: outdoorunfilteredpod@gmail.comOutdoor Unfiltered is a production of Rock Fight, LLC.

In this episode of Outdoor Unfiltered, host and former CEO Eoin Comerford dissects the collapse of Eddie Bauer and the "vampire" licensing model that is hollowing out iconic brands.Eoin also takes a hard look at the slowdown of athleisure, exploring whether the category has reached peak saturation and what outdoor brands can learn from the rise of Vuori and Alo Yoga.Later in the show, Kent Ebersole, President of the Outdoor Industry Association, joins the podcast to discuss the reboot of OIA Rendezvous 2026, where industry leaders gathered to tackle shared challenges and rebuild collaboration across the outdoor community.Timestamps0:00 – 1:07 | Introduction Eoin introduces the episode's themes: Eddie Bauer's retail closure and the state of the athleisure market.1:08 – 4:40 | The Eddie Bauer "Vampire" Model A breakdown of Eddie Bauer’s third bankruptcy and how Authentic Brands Group’s licensing model sucks brands drink leaving debt-laden "husks."4:41 – 8:43 | Has Athleisure Peaked? Analysis of Lululemon and Athleta’s struggles versus the rise of Vuori and Alo Yoga. Eoin discusses why "technical stories" are failing while comfort and social-media-driven "cool factors" are winning.8:44 – 11:45 | The OIA Rendezvous 2026 Recap Kent Ebersole joins to discuss the reboot of the OIA Rendezvous in Denver and the importance of leadership coming together to solve shared industry challenges.11:46 – 14:32 | Key Takeaways from the Summit Discussion on the impact of AI (with insights from Microsoft), financial stress on P&Ls, and the core pillars of sustainability and participation.14:33 – 17:15 | The Soul of the Industry Highlights from Ryan Gellert (Patagonia) and Neil Fisk (Black Diamond) on innovation, stewardship, and the "energy in the room" when the industry collaborates.17:16 – 20:30 | What’s Next for OIA? Kent outlines the call to action, the upcoming April Town Hall, and why the Rendezvous will likely remain an intimate, leadership-focused annual event rather than a massive trade show.20:31 – End | Closing Remarks How to stay involved with the OIA and where to follow the podcast for future updates.Outdoor Unfiltered goes beyond the headlines to explain what’s happening in the outdoor industry and why it matters.Connect with Eoin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eoincomerford/Email the show: outdoorunfilteredpod@gmail.comOutdoor Unfiltered is a production of Rock Fight, LLC.

Move past the PR speak and into the boardroom. In this episode of Outdoor Unfiltered, host Eoin Comerford breaks down the latest strategic shifts from the industry’s biggest players before sitting down with the "unofficial mayor of the outdoor industry," Lloyd Vogel.On the Business Desk:Amer Sports & Anta: A deep dive into the $6.6B powerhouse. Why are they raising $750M despite 27% growth? We look at the debt, the margins, and the "Arc’teryx effect."The North Face vs. Merrell: Analyzing the pivot away from "misery marketing." Why TNF is taking a run at owning "Hiking" and what Merrell’s "Secret Garden" approach means for inclusivity.The Insider Interview: Lloyd Vogel (CEO, Garage Grown Gear)The Ultralight Takeover: Why "Ultralight" isn't a niche anymore—it's just the new standard for backpacking.The "Boomer" Impact: How lighter gear is extending the longevity of the industry’s most loyal demographic.The Trade Show Tug-of-War: An unfiltered look at Switchback vs. Outdoor Retailer. Can small, cottage brands save the traditional trade show model?Follow Outdoor Unfiltered on Apple Podcasts and Spotify to stay a step ahead of the competition.Connect with Eoin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eoincomerford/Learn more about GGG: www.garagegrowngear.com

Tired of the PR spin and LinkedIn platitudes? Outdoor Unfiltered is a new podcast hosted by industry veteran Eoin Comerford that digs into what’s actually driving the outdoor business.In this trailer, Eoin lays out the mission: honest conversations with insiders and experts about the forces shaping the industry — from innovation and branding to affordability, sustainability, and the real stories behind the headlines.If you want to understand where the outdoor industry is headed — and why — Outdoor Unfiltered delivers the straight talk.Follow now and get ready for the first episode dropping March 2.Outdoor Unfiltered is part of the Rock Fight podcast network.