Can Run Outpace Outdoor? Plus: Are U.S. Outdoor Brands at Risk Abroad?

It's Monday on The Rock Fight! Which means that Colin is joined by outdoor industry insider Eoin Comerford and brand & creative expert Producer Dave to run through the following topics that have emerged over the past week (or so): • Comeback brand feedback & Eoin's surf brand game: We discuss the listener feedback to last weeks episode where we nominated the candidates for 2026 comeback brand of the year and Eoin quizzes Colin & Producer Dave about their knowledge of current up and coming surf brands. (04:05) • Topo has themselves a quarter (https://sgbonline.com/exec-tony-post-discusses-topos-blowout-second-quarter/) and continues the trend of running brands showing big growth which begs the question, can run overtake outdoor like outdoor once overtook surf and ski? (14:56) • Adidas releases a new shoe (https://www.gearpatrol.com/fitness/adidas-treadflow-running-shoes/?utm_source=brevo&utm_campaign=ESW+Tuesday+992025&utm_medium=email) designed just for running on the treadmill. No really, they did that. (21:55) • The Rock Fight Lightning Round! This weeks fast acting topics: Glamping over (https://sgbonline.com/survey-glamping-demand-matches-tents-for-first-time/) camping, are outdoor retailers missing (https://athletechnews.com/fitness-wearables-to-hit-190b/?utm_source=brevo&utm_campaign=ESW%20Wednesday%209102025&utm_medium=email) the boat on the grow wearable tech category, and Combat Flip Flops (https://www.outdoorsportswire.com/combat-flip-flops-joins-spartan-for-merchandise-collaboration/) ! (26:26) • Support those who support The Rock Fight! This weeks partners: Ibex (https://ibex.com/) , Fjallraven (https://www.fjallraven.com/us/en-us/) , Royal Robbins (https://www.royalrobbins.com/us/en-us/) , Lems Shoes (https://www.lemsshoes.com/) , Conatus Counsel (https://www.conatuscounsel.com/) . (30:37) • Pre-holiday blues? Three surveys dropped (https://sgbonline.com/exec-pwc-forecasting-first-holiday-spending-pullback-since-2020/) this past week painting a relative gloomy picture of the upcoming holiday shopping season. (35:32) • Are US outdoor brands at risk overseas? A new article (https://www.theguardian.com/fashion/2025/sep/08/are-us-fashion-brands-at-risk-of-growing-anti-american-backlash-over-trump-policies) from The Guardian details challenges being faced by US fashion brands, are outdoor brands facing the same challenges? (39:20) For The Parting Shot Producer Dave offers an update on the roll out of Columbia's campaign and rebrand. (44:42) Thanks for listening! The Rock Fight is a production of Rock Fight (https://my.captivate.fm/rockfight.co) , LLC. Sign up for NEWS FROM THE FRONT, Rock Fight's semi-weekly newsletter by heading to www.rockfight.co and clicking Join The Mailing List. Please follow and subscribe to The Rock Fight and give us a 5 star rating and a written review wherever you get your podcasts. Want to pick a fight with The Rock Fight? Send your feedback, questions, and comments to myrockfight@gmail.com (mailto:myrockfight@gmail.com) .