Outdoor gear industry facing challenges after recent boom

The independent stores are getting the worst of it

Across 30 years in downtown Golden, Colorado, Bent Gate Mountaineering has withstood three economic downturns including the Great Recession of 2008 and the pandemic recession of 2020.

The store, at 1313 Washington Ave., attracts customers ranging from serious mountaineers to tourists who buy T-shirts and rain ponchos for shows at Red Rocks Amphitheatre, but it's facing increasing competition in the outdoor retail world.

A banner that hangs out front hints at the market pressures confronting it and other independent outdoor retail stores: “HUGE HUGE HUGE SALE” it says in big letters and vibrant colors.

That sign, a semi-permanent fixture, is an example of fallout from turbulence the outdoor industry experienced during the pandemic and its aftermath. Following boom years in 2021 and 2022, outdoor retail sales saw a 3% decline last year to $27.5 billion, and independent specialty shops got hit hardest. Half of them endured double-digit declines, according to the Outdoor Industry Association's annual retail sales trends report, and on average they declined 9.7%.

So, Bent Gate finds it necessary to run continuous sales to compete with directto-consumer marketing from outdoors manufacturers and vendors, other e-commerce outlets and used gear sellers. “That sale banner does a good job telling the story,” said Bent Gate general manager Ryan Mayer. “We had to get a new one, since it was up all the time and our old one deteriorated. Not our favorite, but does the job for now.”

Industry experts say the distortions of the outdoor industry market started during the pandemic when people were desperate to get outside, including many who rarely gave it a thought before. The surge was felt at Bent Gate, as well as the Golden Bike Shop (which Bent Gate owns), and stores across the country.

“People would walk into the bike shop and say, `I'll take whatever you've got,' whether it was a $5,000 bike or a $15,000 bike,'” Mayer said. “Those (2020) numbers were gigantic and unrealistic. A lot of retailers maybe bought (inventory) off those 2020 numbers for '21 and '22.” OUTDOOR >> PAGE 8

PHOTOS: AARON ONTIVEROZ — THE DENVER POST Louisa Kelly purchases used ski touring gear as Isabel Gourley rings her up at Feral mountain gear this week. Many independent outdoor retailers saw sales declines in 2023, but Feral is thriving thanks to buying and selling used gear.

Taylor Spaeth takes inventory of newly acquired used gear at Feral mountain gear, which is finiding its sales niche..