Spring Outings Heat Up Driving Strong Sales in Outdoor Gear

As temperatures rise, the outdoor sports boom is reigniting, with sales of outdoor gear such as waterproof jackets, hiking shoes, and camping equipment continuing to grow. Recently, a reporter from Securities Daily visited several shopping malls in Beijing and found that outdoor brand stores are experiencing a significant increase in foot traffic, with some popular styles even sold out. Meanwhile, outdoor equipment companies are accelerating their expansion, ushering in a new wave of industry development opportunities.

High Popularity of Offline Stores

On March 24, the reporter visited Hui Ju Shopping Mall in Beijing and saw that stores for outdoor brands like The North Face, Columbia, and Arc’teryx were bustling with customers. “In the past two weeks, foot traffic has clearly increased, and we often have to queue on weekends,” a staff member at an outdoor brand store told the reporter. The bestsellers are spring outdoor clothing such as waterproof jackets and lightweight down jackets, with some popular color options already out of stock.

“People used to only come on weekends, but now the stores are crowded even on weekday afternoons. Many customers are specifically here to buy waterproof jackets,” revealed a store employee. Softshell and three-in-one waterproof jackets that combine warmth and portability are favored by daily commuters.

Outdoor gear specialty stores are also very popular, with camping equipment and hiking gear sections attracting many visitors. A customer choosing a portable tent told the reporter that with the weather warming up, they plan to go camping in the suburbs with their family on the weekend. They came early to buy a full set of gear, including tents, outdoor tables and chairs, and portable stoves. “Now, outdoor leisure is trendy among my friends, and the gear needs to be practical and lightweight.”

Zhang Yi, CEO of Guangzhou Ai Media Data Technology Co., Ltd., told Securities Daily that the current surge in the outdoor market is driven by consumption upgrades and springtime scene adaptation. The popularization of nationwide fitness has shifted outdoor activities from professional to mainstream, with cycling, camping, and other light outdoor activities becoming popular, boosting sales of equipment. Spring outings, combined with social media promotion, are accelerating the “全民户外” (全民 outdoor) trend. It is expected that over the next three years, China’s outdoor market will grow at a compound annual rate of over 15%, with performance and lightweight design becoming key competitive factors.

Multiple Brands Compete in the Outdoor Race

Against the backdrop of overall industry improvement, major brands are accelerating their layout in the outdoor sector, aiming to secure advantageous positions in this rapidly growing market.

For example, Nike has relaunched its high-end outdoor brand ACG (All Conditions Gear), focusing on trail running, hiking, and outdoor exploration. The first “ACG Base Camp” store has opened in Sanlitun, Beijing. Fitz Paccione, General Manager of Nike Greater China’s ACG brand, told Securities Daily that the Chinese market is crucial. The brand is confident in the potential of outdoor sports development in China and will continue investing and growing alongside the outdoor community.

Domestic brands are also speeding up their breakthroughs, leveraging local advantages and high cost-performance ratios to capture market share. Li Ning continues to pursue a “single brand, multiple categories, multi-channel” strategy, opening an independent outdoor store called “COUNTERFLOW” that focuses on urban outdoor and professional outdoor scenarios, balancing functionality with Chinese trendy design to quickly reach young consumers and the mass market.

Overall, domestic and international brands form a multi-layered, differentiated competitive landscape. Professional outdoor brands like KAILAS focus on hardcore technical routes, continuously investing in high-performance fabrics and professional climbing gear, establishing a distinct presence in high-altitude and high-intensity outdoor scenarios. International brands like The North Face and Columbia rely on mature product lines to strengthen their presence in mass outdoor and urban commuting markets. Brands like Camel actively expand into lower-tier markets with high cost-performance and full-category coverage to meet the needs of a broader consumer base.

The high growth potential of the outdoor sector has also attracted significant capital attention. Recently, several outdoor companies have gone public, further confirming the industry’s prosperity.

On February 10, the world’s largest fishing gear manufacturer, Laxin Outdoor International Limited, listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange’s main board, with its stock price soaring over 100% on the first day. In November last year, Boshihuo Outdoor Sports Group Co., Ltd., which specializes in high-performance outdoor apparel and has Tencent as a strategic shareholder, also filed for listing on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. Capital recognizes the long-term value of the outdoor track.

Xu Xiongjun, founder of Jiude Positioning Consulting, told Securities Daily that China’s outdoor sports industry has entered a golden period of mass participation, high growth, and regulation. The spring peak season, combined with the Qingming and May Day holidays, is expected to sustain rising sales.