SNEWS best outdoor reads from around the web

What did the SNEWS team read this week that other outdoor industry insiders might find interesting? Well, read on to find out.

• If people keep burning down all the places where your customers go to recreate outdoors, what will become of our industry? Perhaps there needs to be a bit more stringent punishments for those who start wildfires in order to set some sort of precedent, because two days in jail for starting Arizona’s largest wildfire in history doesn’t seem fitting. Check out this MSNBC story on the punishment two cousins got for accidentally starting the fire.

• We are still spinning from Outdoor Retailer Summer Market earlier this month, and apparently we aren’t the only ones. Check out this story in the Salt Lake Tribune about some of the hottest gear spotted at the trade show. Some newcomers, like BioLite, got shout outs, as well as some veteran companies like Black Diamond. Were you in the story? Read it to find out!

• We recently reported that this summer is shaping up to be a good one for outdoor retailers, and turns out that translates into good business for campgrounds as well, especially in Missouri. The Branson Tri Lakes News recently reported that area camgrounds saw a 30 percent increase in the number of people utilizing them since last year. Officials say it’s because of gas prices – people are more willing to camp locally versus driving for a longer hotel vacation elsewhere.

• One of the biggest concerns on people’s mind in our nation is the lack of exercise among youngsters according to a national survey reported by USA Today. And its a worldwide problem. Take a look at this story out of Australia that reports youngsters don’t know how to walk in the wilderness, and calls them “outdoor illiterate”. Yikes. It’s time to promote workshops and programs, like this one in Wichita Falls, Texas, to get youth educated on the outdoors. 

• After running the TransRockies Run a few weeks ago, we had a lot of different types of aches and pains. Good thing we had both ice packs and heating pads because according to this Dispatch article, whether you put ice or heat on a pain depends on what type of pain it is. Ice, the article said, is for reducing swelling while heat is for relaxing stiff muscles. Remember to pass that information onto your customers, especially people new to the trails who might experience some soreness after their outings.

• News of a Hantavirus outbreak in Yosemite National Park has been all over the news lately, and here’s one Washington Post story that warns campers to stay safe, especially after a second death from the rodent-borne illness. This Newsday story explains further there are about 1,700 people who stayed at the national park during the months of June, July and August who may have been exposed.

• With running being the booming market that it is, we think a lot of people are rolling into your stores looking for entry-level wrist instruments to get them started with tracking their trail runs. Timex is targeting those consumers with its Marathon GPS watch, but so is Garmin, according to this Gizmodo review, which introduces the under-$200 Garmin Forerunner 10.

• The Mercer Island Reporter recently wrote a nice story on hometown hero company Mountains Plus Outdoor Gear, which was recently recognized by Inc. Magazine as one of the country’s fastest growing private companies. Kudos to you, Mountains Plus Outdoor Gear! 

• Retailers, no doubt you’re gearing up for a busy weekend of sales, as according to this Steamboat Today story, Labor Day is the “last hurrah” for some families who want to go camping. Officials say this is because families want to spend one last outdoor adventure together before school is in full swing for most kids. So tell us whether your Labor Day sales were up or down this year! 

• Who doesn’t want to have naked adventures? Read this Adventure Journal post about the world’s 10 best naked outdoor events like Naked Hiking Day and Bay to Breakers. We are in on Naked Hiking Day and England’s Prince Harry is surely on board! And don’t worry, retailers, though naked hikers won’t be buying apparel from you for this very special occasion, they will still need boots and packs.

• There’s nothing more special than family time, and even more special is strengthening the bond between fathers and sons. Outdoor Pursuits Centre in New Zealand recently announced a new program, Father and Son Adventure Weekend, from October 13 and 14. Have any of you retailers sponsored any type of family bonding event? Let us know!

Have you read anything interesting you’d like to share with us? Maybe we’ll include it next week’s column with a little shout out to you. Send a link to the story with the subject line “SNEWS Reads” to be considered.

–Compiled by Ana Trujillo