Claim OwnershipThe Rock Fight: Outdoor Industry & Adventure Sports Commentary
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Tired of the same old outdoor industry narratives? If your post-adventure chats are filled with laughter over mishaps, commiseration about broken gear, and celebrating real triumphs (and epic fails), then The Rock Fight is your new tribe.
Imagine this: you're no longer stuck in echo chambers. After listening in, you'll be part of honest, unfiltered discussions that mirror the conversations you have with your closest outdoor buddies. You'll gain fresh perspectives and feel more connected to a community that speaks your language.
On The Rock Fight we get into the topics others shy away from – the real, sometimes messy, and always engaging aspects of the outdoor industry and culture. Ever debated the best layering system for an imaginary ice planet adventure? We're there. Concerned about the true environmental impact of outdoor brands beyond the marketing spin? We're digging in.
We're not afraid to challenge the conventional and offer the candid insights you crave.
We're those voices around the campfire, on the chairlift, and at the pub who aren't holding back. Our diverse discussions are fueled by a genuine love for the outdoors and a healthy dose of skepticism towards the status quo. Our goal is to create meaningful conversations and a stronger sense of community for outdoor lovers who are ready for something real.
So grab your rock, hit play, and get ready to step up and participate in The Rock Fight.
Imagine this: you're no longer stuck in echo chambers. After listening in, you'll be part of honest, unfiltered discussions that mirror the conversations you have with your closest outdoor buddies. You'll gain fresh perspectives and feel more connected to a community that speaks your language.
On The Rock Fight we get into the topics others shy away from – the real, sometimes messy, and always engaging aspects of the outdoor industry and culture. Ever debated the best layering system for an imaginary ice planet adventure? We're there. Concerned about the true environmental impact of outdoor brands beyond the marketing spin? We're digging in.
We're not afraid to challenge the conventional and offer the candid insights you crave.
We're those voices around the campfire, on the chairlift, and at the pub who aren't holding back. Our diverse discussions are fueled by a genuine love for the outdoors and a healthy dose of skepticism towards the status quo. Our goal is to create meaningful conversations and a stronger sense of community for outdoor lovers who are ready for something real.
So grab your rock, hit play, and get ready to step up and participate in The Rock Fight.
458 Episodes
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It's Friday, which means it's time for The Rock Fight's Parting Shot! This week, Colin welcomes back Gear Abby host Shawnté Salabert for two very different takes on the outdoor industry.First, a severely jet-lagged Colin delivers his immediate reaction to the newly reinvented ISPO trade show in Amsterdam. Did ISPO deliver enough to make the outdoor industry believe in its comeback?Then Shawnté takes aim at a recent Backpacker essay suggesting that hiking is losing part of its soul as traditional boots give way to trail runners. While she appreciates the author's love of hiking boots, she questions why footwear preferences so often turn into rules about who belongs outdoors and how they should participate.All that plus, Colin's growing frustration with Halloween. It's Friday on The Rock Fight... time for the parting shot!Want to pick a fight with The Rock Fight? Send your emails to [email protected] Rock Fight is a production of Rock Fight, LLC.
Today on The Rock Fight, Colin welcomes Outdoor Retailer show director Matthew Mathiasen to make the case for why OR should once again become the outdoor industry's premier national event.With Outdoor Retailer and Switchback competing for the industry's attention (and exhibitor dollars), the future of the national outdoor trade show is anything but settled.Colin and Matthew dig into what brands actually want from these events, why the traditional focus on retail buyers might be outdated, and the challenge of convincing major outdoor brands to return. Plus, can Outdoor Retailer and Switchback coexist? And can OR embrace its legacy without getting trapped by it?Send your feedback to [email protected]:06 – Outdoor Retailer's New Ownership Under Forge06:38 – Does the Outdoor Industry Need a National Trade Show?12:54 – How Committed Is Forge to Outdoor Retailer's Future?15:34 – Sponsor Break19:25 – Can You Sell a Trade Show Based on Vibes?24:11 – Turning Influencer Content Into Business Results27:10 – Can Outdoor Retailer and Switchback Coexist?27:57 – Can Outdoor Retailer Escape Its Past?The Rock Fight is a production of Rock Fight, LLC.
What if the outdoor influencer recommending your next backpack wasn't actually a real person?Today on The Rock Fight, Colin welcomes back independent outdoor journalist Kyle Frost to talk about how AI is already disrupting the outdoor industry.Kyle recently uncovered Brook Wilder, an AI-generated outdoor influencer publishing gear reviews built from content created by actual outdoor journalists. And while the technology might still have some obvious flaws, it's improving quickly.They also debate whether trusted independent creators are better positioned for the future than legacy outdoor media companies, the role of influencer marketing platforms like Popfly, and why human experience might become more valuable as AI-generated content becomes increasingly common.Send your feedback to [email protected]:05:53 – Why AI Is Becoming Impossible for the Outdoor Industry to Ignore07:30 – The Fake Outdoor Influencer Reviewing Real Gear13:53 – Is AI a Threat to Legacy Outdoor Media?16:42 – What Outdoor Brands and Retailers Should Be Preparing For21:43 – Sponsor Break24:54 – Are Influencers the Future of Outdoor Product Reviews?27:07 – Are Individual Creators More Valuable Than Media Brands?28:05 – Why Traditional Journalism Still Has an AdvantageThe Rock Fight is a production of Rock Fight, LLC.
Today Colin is joined by Patagonia's Aileen Ottenweller, Senior Director of Impact Marketing, Policy and Communications, to discuss the company's decision to integrate its Worn Wear secondhand marketplace directly into Patagonia.com.It's a significant shift in how an outdoor brand approaches resale. Instead of sending shoppers to a separate website, Patagonia is putting used products alongside new ones and giving consumers the choice.But why did it take four years to make the change? And does keeping resale separate from a brand's primary e-commerce business undermine the environmental message behind offering secondhand products in the first place?Send your feedback to [email protected]:17 – Why Patagonia Is Bringing Worn Wear Into Its Main Website17:11 – Do Brand-Owned Resale Platforms Have a Future?20:17 – Can Secondhand Become a True Retail Distribution Channel?21:00 – Sponsor Break23:00 – Does the Outdoor Industry Make Too Much Stuff?27:36 – The Contradictions of Growth and Environmental Responsibility29:55 – Patagonia's Leadership on Public LandsThe Rock Fight is a production of Rock Fight, LLC
What's the greatest outdoor activity of all time? And if you could assemble the ultimate team of outdoor pursuits, what would make your roster?Today on The Rock Fight, Colin welcomes Outdoor Unfiltered host Eoin Comerford, Gear Abby host Shawnté Salabert, and Garage Grown Gear co-founder Lloyd Vogel for The 2026 Outdoor Activity Draft!The rules are simple: Each competitor must draft seven outdoor activities across categories including trails, wheels, water, snow, climbing, science, and one wild card. No duplicate picks, plenty of questionable strategy, and absolutely no guarantee that everyone will agree on what qualifies.Along the way, Colin declares war on camping, Lloyd makes some truly unexpected selections, Shawnté defends the activities she loves, and Eoin attempts to assemble the coolest outdoor roster imaginable.Four competitors. Seven rounds. Twenty-eight picks. One winner.What would your team look like? Send your feedback on this and every episode of The Rock Fight to [email protected]!Time Stamps:01:32 – Welcome to The Rock Fight's Outdoor Activity Draft!03:15 – The Rules: Seven Categories, Four Teams06:21 – Is Camping Actually an Outdoor Activity?07:09 – Setting the Draft Order08:32 – The Outdoor Activity Draft!The Rock Fight is a production of Rock Fight, LLC.
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