Outdoor Retailer 2026: Did the Reboot Deliver?

Eoin Comerford breaks down whether Outdoor Retailer 2026 delivered after its move from Salt Lake City to Minneapolis and its shift to an August date. He shares his own read on the show floor, then sits down with OR show director Matthew Mathiason to talk buyer registration numbers, the Wild Reach creator partnership with Popfly, and what's next for the show.

Eoin also catches up with three brands from the Moosejaw Outdoor Accelerator: Georgia Grace Edwards of Gnara on the GoFly zipper and collaborations with LIVSN and Burton; Scott Jensen of Near Zero on his lightweight backpacking bundles; and Kara Hardman of Thicket Adventure on plus-size outdoor apparel and the Brecken pant.

This episode is sponsored by ISPO, relaunching in Amsterdam November 3-5, and Crux Retail, which builds custom retail fixtures for brands like Yakima, Dometic, Wahoo, and Clif Bar.

Show Notes

0:00 - Eoin previews the episode's coverage of Outdoor Retailer 2026, Matthew Mathiason, Gnara, Near Zero, and Thicket Adventure.

0:48 - A look back at OR 2025's struggles in Salt Lake City and the rise of Switchback.

1:48 - Emerald's new leadership team announces the move to Minneapolis and an August date.

2:42 - How OR 2026 actually turned out on the show floor with buyers and brands.

4:25 - A recap of the pre-show education day sessions.

5:05 - Eoin's macro assessment of the timing change, location, and overall buzz.

6:18 - A word from sponsor ISPO on its Amsterdam relaunch.

7:27 - Eoin sits down with OR show director Matthew Mathiason.