The Rock Fight: Outdoor Industry & Adventure Sports Commentary
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.
Episodes
Should we put an end to commercial high-altitude mountaineering? And why is the fly fishing community losing its mind over an OnlyFans creator?
It's time for The Parting Shot!
Colin welcomes Gear Abby host Shawnté Salabert for two outdoor hot takes.
First, after watching the new K2 documentary The Last First: Winter K2, Colin argues that commercial mountaineering has gone too far. When inexperienced climbers can buy their way onto so...
Everybody dies. But if you could choose how you go, wouldn't you rather have a great story?
Longtime Rock Fight co-host Justin Housman returns to join Colin to debate the five best ways to die in the outdoors.
From big wave wipeouts and wild animal attacks to falling rocks, volcanoes, and lightning strikes, Colin and Justin rank the outdoor demises they'd choose if dying peacefully in their sleep were somehow off the table.
What do yo...
What's next for Backcountry? And are direct-to-consumer outdoor brands making a comeback?
Today on The Rock Fight, Colin welcomes back Outdoor Unfiltered host and Rock Fight consigliere Eoin Comerford to check in on the changing landscape of outdoor retail.
First, they examine Backcountry's efforts to reinvent itself through acquisitions, new brand partnerships and an enormous online assortment. Can the longtime e-commerce player reg...
The light hiker is coming back. At least that's Colin's prediction.
On this week's Parting Shot, Colin welcomes Gear Abby host Shawnté Salabert to debate his latest outdoor industry prediction: 2027 will be the year of the light hiker.
He makes his case by looking at footwear's fashion cycles, an increasingly saturated running category, emerging retail trends, and why shoes like the Merrell Moab might be poised for a comeback.
Will ru...
The outdoor industry depends on public lands. So why does it sometimes seem reluctant to fight for them?
Chris Keyes, founder and executive director of public lands newsroom RE:PUBLIC, returns to The Rock Fight to talk with Colin about the industry's response to the growing number of threats facing America's public lands.
Chris and Colin discuss what brands can do beyond posting another carefully workshopped statement on social media...
Big box retailers drive a massive amount of outdoor industry revenue. So which ones matter most and which are best positioned for the future?
Today Colin is joined by Outdoor Unfiltered host and Rock Fight consigliere Eoin Comerford to power rank the biggest players in outdoor retail.
And, as you might expect, Colin and Eoin don't exactly agree on the rankings.
Plus, Colin answers a listener question about whether outdoor brands can d...
Friday is for The Parting Shot!
To close out The Rock Fight's big return week, Colin welcomes back two Rock Fight Hall of Famers, Producer Dave and Shawnté Salabert, to chuck four rocks aimed squarely at the outdoor world.
First, Colin defends the Satisfy x Adidas Circle Pit and wonders why runners get so worked up whenever a brand tries something different. Producer Dave then weighs in on Mammut's latest streetwear-heavy campaign an...
What happens when you can DoorDash a pair of trail runners as easily as an order of pad thai?
Locally founder and CEO Mike Massey joins Colin to talk about the company's new partnership with DoorDash and why getting outdoor gear delivered in an hour could be about much more than convenience.
They also dig into the health of specialty outdoor retail, the shift toward at-once buying, how real-time local data could change inventory deci...
It's the day you've been waiting for because The Rock Fight, the best outdoor culture podcast, is back!
And we're starting things back up with some spice as host and outdoor industry veteran Colin True returns with five rocks for the outdoor industry.
Is the hype around trail running finally peaking? Does the industry need to rethink what “outdoor participation” actually means? Is REI exactly what we need it to be? And wi...
Let’s not beat around the bush. If you’ve listened to The Rock Fight in the past you know that we’ve never minced words on this podcast. So why start now?
Here’s the deal: On Monday September 28th, The Rock Fight returns!
Why, you ask? Because the voice of the outdoor industry has been quiet for long enough. And because the people demanded it. And because we still have rocks to throw! And lastly, because&hell...
Don't call it a comeback! No, seriously, don't call it a comeback. The Rock Fight just needed to let Eoin Comerford weigh in on Outdoor Retailer!
Today Colin dusts off the mic and welcomes Eoin to answer one question: Is Outdoor Retailer back?
Fresh from OR 2026 in Minneapolis, Eoin reports on surprisingly strong crowds, actual buyer activity, new brands, influencers, and some genuine buzz around the longtime outdoor industry trade s...
Today on Outdoor Unfiltered, Eoin Comerford breaks down the news that REI is cutting pay and benefits for employees as the co-op struggles to return to profitability.
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 healt...
Tired of the PR spin and LinkedIn platitudes? Outdoor Unfiltered is a new podcast hosted by industry veteran Eoin Comerford that digs into what’s actually driving the outdoor business.
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 ...
This is it; the final episode of The Rock Fight.
In one last, wide-ranging conversation, Colin True, Eoin Comerford, and Producer Dave take a final look at the outdoor industry they’ve spent three years questioning, criticizing, and celebrating.
From the state of outdoor media and the resilience of specialty retail to brand sameness, authenticity, and the growing influence of algorithms and AI, this episode serves as a candid ...
In the penultimate episode of the podcast, Colin True explains why it’s time to bring The Rock Fight to a close and why ending things at their peak feels like the right call.
Drawing parallels to sports dynasties, iconic artists, and cultural moments that knew when to walk away, Colin reflects on the three year run of the show, what it became for the outdoor industry, and the realities of podcasting, media, money, and burnout ...
Today on The Rock Fight Colin, Eoin Comerford and Producer Dave talk about some recent headlines to come out of the outdoor industry including recent comments made by some of the industry's more notable CEO's.
For the Lightning Round they do quick hits on J Crew, JD Sports, and OR's new athlete team.
Then they unpack the launch of Stoke Footwear, a running-inspired shoe brand built for “real American men” that’s al...
This week on The Rock Fight, the crew digs into a round of reactions to some of the latest headlines to emerge from the outdoor industry!
From Fleet Feet’s growing footprint, to the maturation of the hydration category and what it means for brands like Hydro Flask and YETI, the conversation spans retail scale, category fatigue, and where real opportunity still exists.
The episode also explores why more brands are opening their ...
Today on The Rock Fight Colin and Producer Dave help break down Eoin's ten predictions for the outdoor industry in 2026! From tariffs and retail shakeups to REI’s membership future, used gear going mainstream, peak trail running culture, and AI becoming your next gear buddy.
Then for The Parting Shot presented by Garage Grown Gear, Colin calls out Timberland’s latest boot, using it as a case study in what happens when le...
In this special episode, Colin, Owen, Shawnté, and Producer Dave hand out the 2025 Rock Fight Awards, recognizing the outdoor industry’s biggest wins, painful missteps, strangest products, and standout brands and individuals of the year.
From trail running’s continued dominance to zombie brands, WTF products, creative breakthroughs, and a few well-earned shots across the bow, this is a no-filter temperature check on wher...
Today on The Rock Fight, the crew runs a temperature check on the outdoor industry national trade show scene!
From fragmentation to event fatigue, Colin, Eoin Comerford, and Producer Dave break down whether outdoor still needs a single “north star” gathering; and who should be responsible for making it happen.
But first they hit a rapid-fire six-pack of industry stories, including:
- ANTA’s push into the U.S. marke...
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