Host Eoin Comerford breaks down why the White House pivoted on IEEPA tariffs, offering a guide for brands to claim their share of the potential $166 billion in refunds through the CBP’s CAPE portal. We also celebrate Lowa’s record-breaking 2025 sales and growth in the trail running sector.

The headliner features Kevin Lenau, President of Backcountry, who reveals the strategic transformation of the outdoor e-commerce giant since its acquisition by CSC Generation. From the launch of the Summit Club+ loyalty program and a new digital ad network with AllGear, to the acquisitions of Level Nine Sports, VeloTech, and CoalaTree, Kevin shares how Backcountry is prioritizing "pursuits" like bike, climb, and ski to win in a competitive market.

Topics and Timecodes:

0:00 – Introduction Host Eoin Comerford introduces the episode’s agenda: Trump’s pivot on tariffs, Lowa’s record year, and an exclusive interview with Backcountry President Kevin Lenau.

0:44 – The Tariff Turnaround Analysis of the administration’s decision to accept a court order to refund IEEPA tariffs and what it means for outdoor brands.

3:20 – How to Claim Your Refund A practical walkthrough of the CAPE (Consolidated Administration and Processing of Entries) portal and the 60-to-90-day refund window.

6:17 – Lowa’s Record Success Celebrating Lowa’s 242 million Euro year and their 5% increase in shoe sales despite a tough retail climate.

8:18 – Interview: Kevin Lenau on the "New" Backcountry Kevin Lenau discusses the "post-COVID whiplash," inventory management, and the transition following the CSC Generation acquisition.

13:17 – Pricing Strategy: E-commerce vs. Brick and Mortar A look at the pressures of Google PLA and why the "sales cadence" online differs from physical stores.

15:05 – The Summit Club+ Loyalty Program Kevin breaks down the 10% cash-back model, the $50 annual fee, and how it compares to competitors like REI.

19:28 – Building a Digital Ad Network Backcountry’s partnership with AllGear and the focus on "native" brand advertising for tourism and high-end gear.

21:18 – Strategic Acquisitions: Level Nine Sports, VeloTech, & KoaTree The rationale behind buying specialized retailers to bolster Backcountry’s authority in skiing, cycling, and sustainable apparel.

28:09 – The Garage Brand Incubator How Backcountry is helping emerging brands through streamlined onboarding and marketing support.

30:58 – The Future of Physical Retail and Private Brands Why Backcountry is focusing on "experiential retail" and the evolution of the Backcountry Gear & Apparel line.

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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.

• Eoin Comerford: LinkedIn Profile
• Email: outdoorunfilteredpod@gmail.com

Outdoor Unfiltered is a production of Rock Fight, LLC.

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 – Introduction
• 00:54 – 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 Us

We would love to hear your thoughts on the show, inside intel, guest ideas, sponsorship inquiries or whatever's on your mind:

• Email: outdoorunfilteredpod@gmail.com
• LinkedIn: Eoin Comerford

Host Eoin Comerford breaks down critical first-quarter sales data from Academy Sports + Outdoors and discusses the legal pressures facing Lululemon and Fabletics regarding consumer tariff refunds. We analyze the acquisition of Allbirds by American Exchange Group and explore how current consumer sentiment is being shaped by inflation and the war in Iran. 

Our main topic is the impact of the Trump administration's policies on the outdoor industry from a business perspective, along with a potential positioning strategy for outdoor brands.

Later, Eoin is joined by Seth LaReau, founder of Trail Waves, to discuss the "Trailcore" trend, Nike’s strategic pivot to ACG in the trail space, and the sponsorship power rankings of brands like Hoka, Salomon, Nordas, Speedland, and Mount to Coast.

Show Notes:

Episode Summary

In this episode, we tackle the hard numbers and political headwinds facing outdoor brands today. From the retail expansion of Academy Sports to the "brand licensing" fate of Allbirds, we look at what’s driving the market. Special guest Seth LeRoux provides a masterclass on the culture and economics of trail running, explaining why major players and indie challengers alike are racing for a piece of the "Trailcore" pie.

Timeline

• 01:03 – Academy Sports + Outdoors: Analyzing Q1 sales growth and expansion plans through 2030.
• 01:52 – Lululemon & Fabletics: The $240 million class-action lawsuit over passed-on tariff costs.
• 02:35 – Allbirds Acquired: The $39 million deal with American Exchange Group and the "broken" licensing model.
• 03:41 – Consumer Sentiment: How inflation and gas prices are squeezing the outdoor participant.
• 04:30 – The Unfiltered Upside: How GLP-1 drugs (Ozempic/Wegovy) could drive a $13B boost in apparel.
• 05:40 – Sponsor Spotlight: Empowering frontline associates with ENDVR.
• 07:15 – Policy Deep Dive: The impact of the second Trump administration on public lands, the EPA, and DEI initiatives.
• 13:10 – Guest Interview: Seth LaReau on the "Trailcore" lifestyle and the mental health benefits of the sport.
• 17:05 – Nike’s Pivot: Why Nike is leaning into the ACG (All Conditions Gear) brand for trail credibility.
• 18:55 – Sponsorship Rankings: Assessing the performance of Hoka, Salomon, Nordas, and Mount to Coast.

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.

• LinkedIn: Eoin Comerford
• Email: outdoorunfilteredpod@gmail.com
• Newsletter: Check out Seth LaReau’s Trail Waves for more trail running business insights.

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 Comerford
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eoincomerford/
• Email: outdoorunfilteredpod@gmail.com

Outdoor Unfiltered is a production of Rock Fight, LLC.

In this episode of Outdoor Unfiltered, we break down the high-stakes merger attempt between Rip Curl and Paul Naudé’s StokedHouse Unlimited, revealing why KMD Brands (owners of Kathmandu and Oboz) ultimately passed on the deal.

Eoin examines the cautionary tale of Solo Brands (Solo Stove, Chubbies, and Oru Kayak), analyzing how an "addiction" to D2C discounting and the fallout from their Snoop Dogg campaign impacted their valuation and wholesale relationships with giants like REI and Dick’s Sporting Goods. On the "Unfiltered Upside," we highlight the success of Youer, a Montana-based brand winning with a US-based supply chain. Finally, we sit down with Todd Buckley, owner of Town to Trail Outfitters, to discuss why a 1,900 sq. ft. specialty store with a full-service bar is the future of local retail.

[00:00] Introduction Eoin introduces the mission of the show: looking at the "why" behind outdoor industry headlines.

[00:46] The Rip Curl & StokedHouse Unlimited Merger

• Analysis of Paul Naudé’s bid to merge StokedHouse (Vissla, Sisstrevolution) with Rip Curl.
• Why KMD Brands Chairman David Kirk rejected the offer as "immaterial" and "misaligned."
• The history of Billabong’s debt and the lessons of private equity in surf.

[08:05] The Solo Brands D2C Trap

• How Solo Brands (Solo Stove) saw a 44% sales drop after retreating from aggressive D2C discounting.
• The impact of the Snoop Dogg "giving up smoke" campaign vs. real retail conversion.
• Why REI and Dick’s Sporting Goods pull back when brands undercut them on price.

[12:35] The Unfiltered Upside: Youer

• Celebrating Mallory Ottariano and her Missoula-based brand, Youer.
• The "drop-model" strategy that eliminates the need for 50% off coupons.

[15:15] Interview: Todd Buckley of Town to Trail Outfitters

• Why Todd opened a specialty store in Brighton, Michigan, in 2024.
• The importance of the "Milk of the Store": Why adding Lems and Danner footwear changed the business.
• Operating a full-service bar (serving Michigan beers) inside a 1,900 sq. ft. retail space.
• Collaborating with local peers like Running Lab.

Connect With Us:

We would love to hear your thoughts on the show, inside intel, guest ideas, sponsorship offers or whatever's on your mind.

• LinkedIn: Eoin Comerford
• Email: outdoorunfilteredpod@gmail.com

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.

Timestamps

1. 0:00 – 1:07 | Introduction Eoin introduces the episode's themes: Eddie Bauer's retail closure and the state of the athleisure market.
2. 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."
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. 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.
6. 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.
7. 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.
8. 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.com

Outdoor Unfiltered is a production of Rock Fight, LLC.

After four straight years of losses REI is facing some tough financial realities — and payroll is squarely in the spotlight.

Eoin digs into what’s driving the decision, why payroll costs at REI are significantly higher than other retailers, and why a healthy REI still matters to the broader outdoor industry.

Also in this episode:

• Vail Resorts’ historically bad winter season
• Why ski resorts are still making money despite poor snow
• Eoin is then joined by Rock Founder and Outdoor Industry veteran, Colin True, to discuss the outdoor recreation economy’s “$1.3 trillion” headline number (and why it’s misleading) as well as the new brand campaigns from The North Face and Merrell.

Outdoor Unfiltered looks past the PR spin to explore what’s really happening in the outdoor industry and why it matters.

Connect with Eoin:https://www.linkedin.com/in/eoincomerford/

Email the show: outdoorunfilteredpod@gmail.com

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

Host Eoin Comerford is joined by industry icon Kristin Hostetter (former Editor-in-Chief of SNEWS) to pull back the curtain on why sustainability is currently under fire and what the "Trump Tariffs" reversal actually means for your wallet.

In this debut episode of Outdoor Unfiltered, we move past the PR fluff to give you the "why" behind the headlines.

What we’re digging into today:

• The Supreme Court vs. The Tariffs: Eoin breaks down how brands might get their refunds and why your gear probably won't get cheaper anytime soon.
• Earnings Season Reality Check: What do the latest results tell us about where the market is heading? Why are footwear brands like Hoka and Birkenstock winning while the rest of the US market lags?
• Sustainability Under Attack: Kristin Hostetter shares her raw take on the repeal of scientific findings and why Patagonia’s latest "transparency report" is being called greenwashing by some and a blueprint by others.

Connect with us:

• Follow Eoin Comerford: www.linkedin.com/in/eoincomerford
• Email the show: OutdoorUnfilteredPod@gmail.com
• Rate & Review: If you enjoyed this deep dive, please leave a 5-star review!

Outdoor Unfiltered is part of the Rock Fight podcast network.

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.