Any true gear nut will know instantly what is meant by the words ‘The Mecca of Outdoor Equipment’. Of course, I would never use such a tired cliché (!) but anyone who did would be referring to Outdoor Retailer, or “the leading outdoor sports business event in North America” as it’s drily described on their website. Oh, but it’s so much more! It’s a glorious explosion of paraphernalia. It’s the newest kit in the world dedicated to hiking, biking, paddling, trail running, climbing, etc. It’s any wilderness pursuit you can imagine, and every associated outdoor product, large and small, from 4x4 rigs to titanium folding sporks. It’s gadgets, it’s colours, it’s fabrics, it’s tastes and smells and feelings. It’s famous faces, it’s freebies, it’s panel discussions, it’s demos, it’s keynote speakers, it’s post-show parties, it’s … it’s Outdoor Retailer, baby, and it’s gonna blow your face off!
At least, that’s what it was like in my head.
I’d been dreaming of going to OR for at least a decade. At first, it was the boyish thrill of being surrounded by new toys. As my appreciation and knowledge of equipment grew, a measured enthusiasm took over. Then, when I became a gear reviewer and columnist as well as a user, a professional interest developed, but tethered to the unbridled excitement of those early days. Outdoor Retailer—for so long those two words have represented the glowing centre of my chosen industry, the shining light towards which any dedicated outdoorsperson is drawn, from shop assistant to manufacturer to journalist to end user. If you’re into gear, you want to be here. And finally, I was.
of my employer, an importer, distributor and retailer of hiking and climbing gear. The group consists of our outdoor stores—Trek & Travel and Mountain Equipment—and our commercial entity—Southern Cross Equipment—of which I am the
