The Rock Fight: Outdoor Industry & Adventure Sports Commentary

Hosted by Rock Fight, LLC

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457

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Nov 2026

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About the show

Tired of the same old outdoor industry narratives? If your post-adventure chats are filled with laughter over mishaps, commiseration about broken gear, and celebrating real triumphs (and epic fails), then The Rock Fight is your new tribe. Imagine this: you're no longer stuck in echo chambers. After listening in, you'll be part of honest, unfiltered discussions that mirror the conversations you have with your closest outdoor buddies. You'll gain fresh perspectives and feel more connected to a community that speaks your language. On The Rock Fight we get into the topics others shy away from – the real, sometimes messy, and always engaging aspects of the outdoor industry and culture. Ever debated the best layering system for an imaginary ice planet adventure? We're there. Concerned about the true environmental impact of outdoor brands beyond the marketing spin? We're digging in. We're not afraid to challenge the conventional and offer the candid insights you crave. We're those voices around the campfire, on the chairlift, and at the pub who aren't holding back. Our diverse discussions are fueled by a genuine love for the outdoors and a healthy dose of skepticism towards the status quo. Our goal is to create meaningful conversations and a stronger sense of community for outdoor lovers who are ready for something real. So grab your rock, hit play, and get ready to step up and participate in The Rock Fight.

Listen to episodes

60 recent

November 10, 202642 min

I Pitched 5 Outdoor Brands to a Retailer. Here's What Happened.

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 myrockfight@gmail.com. The Rock Fight is a production of Rock Fight, LLC.

November 6, 202616 min

The Soul of Hiking Isn't in Your Boots & ISPO Instant Reaction

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 myrockfight@gmail.com. The Rock Fight is a production of Rock Fight, LLC.

November 5, 202631 min

The Outdoor Trade Show Wars: OR Makes Its Case

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 myrockfight@gmail.com 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.

November 3, 202632 min

AI Influencers, Fake Gear Reviews & the Future of Outdoor Media

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 myrockfight@gmail.com. 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.

October 30, 202637 min

Patagonia Just Put Used Gear Next to New. Why Isn't Everyone Else?

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 myrockfight@gmail.com 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

October 28, 20261 hr 6 min

The 2026 Outdoor Activity Draft!

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 myrockfight@gmail.com! 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.

October 27, 202634 min

The Reinvention of ISPO: Can The Show Find Its Mojo Again?

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 myrockfight@gmail.com! 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.

October 23, 202618 min

Does the World Really Need YETI Jackets?

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! myrockfight@gmail.com The Rock Fight is a production of Rock Fight, LLC.

October 22, 202636 min

The $50 Million Outdoor Brand You've Never Heard Of

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 myrockfight@gmail.com! The Rock Fight is a production of Rock Fight, LLC.

October 20, 202646 min

The Outdoor Industry Stock Market: What Are We Buying & Selling?

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 myrockfight@gmail.com. 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.