After OutDoor is before OutDoor: After the European Outdoor Group (EOG) and Messe München presented plans for fundamental changes to the format of the trade fair at this year's event, there are now further details on the new concept.
Since the announcement of the basic concept, the trade fair partners have intensified the dialog with brands and retailers. The new concept is being developed in close coordination with the main advisory board of OutDoor and a newly founded retailer advisory board is being developed.
The feedback so far has been overwhelmingly positive and shows the industry's strong interest in intensive cooperation. A survey conducted by the EOG among its members confirms this: for a large proportion, the future of the international trade show is important and unity in the industry is essential for the success of the event.
We have been really encouraged by the level of engagement and enthusiasm that there has been for our vision to reshape OutDoor. Crucially, this has come from all parts of the industry, and from all over Europe. Brands, retailers and other shareholders in the show have all offered positive feedback, along with constructive suggestions of how to enhance the concept even more. The consultation will continue and is a key element of finalising the format of the show, which will be ready to launch in full in October.
- Tobias Gröber, Director ISPO Group
Everyone who has contributed to this process so far has recognised that the agreed mechanism for addressing major topics such as the European outdoor industry’s international trade show, is through collaboration and unity. It has been clear so far that colleagues recognise how important OutDoor is to our sector and want it to succeed. That can only be achieved by working together and the threat of fragmentation has much wider and more serious implications. We are keeping our promise to fully engage and consult, and so far, the overall response to that from across the trade has been very positive
- Matt Gowar, EOG President
In the first phase of concept development, the trade fair partners presented concrete goals that they want to achieve with the changes at OutDoor. These include
Brands and retailers agree that OutDoor can remain a significant platform for all parts of the outdoor trade if the right changes are implemented. There is a consensus that the trade show needs to offer more return on investment, better efficiencies, a more balanced financial burden and stronger brand and retailer representation.
The feedback on the radically new design of the trade fair environment is very positive. Brands welcome the new hall format, which aims to improve the visitor experience and make participation more accessible for many exhibitors. Changes include 'freestyle' areas with size restrictions and a focus on smaller presentations showcasing innovations and product concepts as well as deeper brand stories.
All participants have approved the plans to introduction of numerous additional meeting rooms including pre-built rooms that can be booked by the hour, day or for the entire trade show. This development has been well received by retailers, who previously had no place for their teams to meet at the trade show. The new proposals allow them to rent a comfortable workspace away from the main areas of the halls. The introduction of additional meeting rooms is also part of a wider strategy to better spread the financial burden and to ensure that everyone doing legitimate business at the trade show contributes to the financial stability of the event.
Retailers have also made it clear that they want to attend an event that will help them increase sales and service levels, and not just as a shopping opportunity. Plans to expand the conference program within the trade show, with more retail-focused topics and practical ideas and solutions, have been well received. Topics of particular interest - which are also relevant to other visitors and exhibitors - include Retail technology/digitalization, social media know-how and the latest insights and ideas on the in-store experience and point of purchase.
In addition to the changes in format, a key part of the project will be the introduction of a new approach to customer relationship marketing. This will enable trade show organizers to directly address different target groups within the industry with relevant, tailored information about the trade show and their participation. This change is not just about new software or a larger database, but is a targeted attempt to create an ongoing dialog between the trade show and all its key stakeholders.
The first steps have been taken - but this is just the beginning, the development process is in full swing. The main advisory board and the newly founded retailer advisory board are intensively involved in developing the concept. Transparency is an important factor here: further details on the new concept will follow shortly.
The final concept for OutDoor 2025 will be presented in full in October - in good time for all stakeholders to plan their participation and set budgets.
Insights on the topic can also be found here:
Inventor of the hashtag #vanlife, treehouse dweller and creative jack-of-all-trades Foster Huntington refuses to be pigeonholed. Even though he has a huge following on social media, where it's usually about finding your niche. In this interview, he talks about his influences, why he is not a fan of likes and clicks and what role his inner child plays in his projects.
"Vanlife for me is usually linked to something, such as an activity I want to do. A lot of my tips center around surfing, for example," says Foster Huntington, describing his view of vanlife, a lifestyle he helped shape through his Instagram channel. The action sports influences of his teenage years calibrated his inner compass: "Music and imagery from snowboard or skate movies determined what I found cool and what I didn't." Surfing is now his favorite sport. "But snowboarding probably had the biggest influence on me. Apart from that, I like skateboarding and have my own bowl at home."
He has also turned his back on full-time van life. "I've had a home for ten years, where the tree houses are. I now travel maybe two months a year, whereas I used to be on the road all the time."
There are now many different definitions of the outdoors - not to mention vanlife, microadventures and classic outdoor sports. For Foster Huntington, outdoor primarily means surrounding yourself with nature. "I'm more of an immersive outdoor guy. For me, it's all about living directly in the forest. But I don't live super remotely. My home is an hour away from Portland and it takes me 25 minutes to get to the nearest supermarket."
He doesn't like the idea of "nature as our playground", because: "We live in nature. I like living in a more rural area because it makes me feel more connected to nature in a way that's a little less hedonistic." This goes hand in hand with understanding nature better. "For me, being outdoors also means realizing that nature has an overwhelming power and that humans are less powerful. That's what I like about it."
Someone like Foster Huntington, who likes to surround himself completely with nature and spends a lot of time outdoors, also has ideas with regard to the current sustainability debate in the outdoor sector. "There is definitely a demand for companies that make things that last forever or repair them. But we mustn't lose sight of the fact that buying new always has a greater impact than re-impregnating, repairing or simply reusing what we already have." Of course, he believes that brands that produce functional clothing definitely have their place, as they are in constant use at home, where he puts on his snowshoes and weatherproof jacket to chop wood in winter. Nevertheless, he also sees the need for change: "Consumption must change in a meaningful way. Companies need to change, produce less and produce things that last much longer."
Foster doesn't just see the challenge on the brand side: "It will also be difficult from the consumer's point of view, because we are trained to get something cheaper on Amazon or hit the Black Friday sale. The most sustainable jacket is always the one we already have." From a marketing and branding perspective, this still requires a real shift. But there are also good opportunities for brands to position themselves here.
In Huntington's view, the really important thing for brands and people in the sports world is not to lose sight of who you are: "If you're a skateboard brand, you're about skateboarding. If you're a snowboard brand, it's about that. Nowadays, brands try to have something for everyone in their program. I don't think that works. It's better to get back to your core and focus on what you're really about. Collabs are cool if you do one or two, but not if your whole business is based on them."
In his view, the same also applies to content creators or people who are just starting out in the media. "Do something that's really unique to the current situation you're in. What are you really interested in, what is your background? Use modern technology to realize your goals instead of looking at who's shouting the loudest. I would pay attention to that."
He takes a rather critical view of social media and the developments on the platforms. As well as their impact on loneliness and mental health. "I spend an incredible amount of time alone, mostly camping alone - except for my dog, which does make a difference. But being alone was the reason I started photography. I wanted to share the things I've experienced," says Foster. "I send the pictures to my parents, my brother or my friends to show them what I've just discovered. I like that about social media too, it connects us on that level." At the same time, no one is immune to falling into a rather negative cycle.
"There's always the constant comparison with others. Especially if you perceive things differently and aren't camping with a bunch of friends. This can quickly lead to loneliness or even depression."
Not getting into this cycle is easier said than done. According to Foster, it takes a lot more self-reflection and understanding of the media to prevent this, which probably doesn't hurt anyone.
When it comes to creativity, Huntington has a rather skeptical view of social media and the fact that we are globally networked. "There are no longer any local silos where special things can be created." Although he also sees the advantages of always being up to date. "But just looking at how many likes I get is not good for creativity. Great ideas never work straight away. You have to develop a perspective and keep going until it works. That's something I really struggle with. I don't have a solution for it, except to be very conscious of what you create."
For his own creative process: "Oh, my inner child would love this", instead of "others do this to get likes, so I have to do it too." In order to get in touch with his inner child better, he also provides direct tips. "That's exactly why I built the tree house. I want to wake up every day and think, awesome, I'm in a tree house. For my eight-year-old self, that would be the coolest thing ever."
He applies this approach to his other projects. "At the same time, it's important to have friends who help you assess whether it's just nonsense or really worth the time. Many of my friends helped me build the tree house, for example."
Work hard, keep going even if you don't get it right first time, don't be too perfectionist and keep creating new things, Huntington lists other tips. "Force yourself to create things. That's important for creatives."
As a creative jack-of-all-trades, Huntington particularly values the process in his own creative work: "I love research. There are thousands of books and magazines and movies in my house. I'm oldschool, I'll look at a photo book or buy a bunch of old heavy metal magazines on Ebay to look through their designs when I'm working on a project. That's also something I like about stop-motion, because it's all in the preparation and pre-production." It's also important for him to work with people towards a goal, to connect. "As soon as it degenerates into a result thing, where I just have to press a button or install something, I'm less interested in creating things." Nevertheless, he is certain that AI will drastically change many things in the coming years, such as how films are created.
Speaking of wishes for the future, does Foster Huntington have any in relation to the sports and outdoor community? "I hope that things will move back towards the community." This statement also has to do with how he himself came into contact with sports culture:
"Getting together and watching the latest Warren Miller movie in a theater in Portland once a year had a big impact on me when I was young. Today, it's all much more fragmented. That may sound nostalgic, but I hope that things will move back in the direction of emphasizing shared experiences and celebrating the moment as a community."
From the ruined city of Machu Picchu in Peru to the Schrecksee in the Allgäu - travel influencers on Instagram or TikTok have a huge influence on their audience's holiday plans. If they declare a destination to be "hot" in "Lonely Planet" style and post dreamlike pictures, it can happen that the planet there is very quickly anything but lonely. Is it still responsible to share your favourite spots and possibly cause overtourism? How do you handle this carefully?
Anyone who discovers something beautiful, such as a beautiful lake in the South Tyrolean Alps or the best mandarin cheesecake in the world in Lisbon, is happy to share it with other people. Because: "Sharing is caring". In the past, such tips were passed on to family and friends. Today, the target group is thousands or even more Insta followers. "Many people now travel solely or mainly to take the perfect picture for Instagram," says tourism researcher Markus Pillmayer from Munich University of Applied Sciences.
The desire to share your discoveries is part of human nature. And after all, that's exactly what the internet is made for: to communicate, to exchange ideas, to give each other tips.
Today, however, completely overcrowded hotspots such as Hallstatt in the Salzkammergut region, Lake Braies in South Tyrol and Maya Bay in Thailand spoil the joy of "sharing and caring". In the Thai resort, crowds of tourists attracted by the film "The Beach" have caused irreparable damage to the coral reefs there. There are examples like this of the bad effects of overtourism all over the world. Expert Markus Pillmayer from Munich therefore calls in the ZDF interview calls for a "new form of tourism in which locals have a much greater say and, above all, a say in decision-making".
Instagram & Co. play a decisive role in this. Biologist Henning Werth, who researches the optimal balance between nature conservation and tourism at the Alpinium in Obermaiselstein in the Oberallgäu region, the "Zentrum Naturerlebnis Alpin", is well aware of this. One of the hotspots here in the area is the Schrecksee - a picturesque turquoise high mountain lake that is literally haunted by up to 900 visitors on peak days. Werth has found that Instagrammers and TikTokies in particular are difficult to convince changing their behaviour: "Instagram tourists in particular are not repeat offenders in very many cases. They come once and take their photo. That's what makes it so difficult to educate and inform these people." On the ground, the biologist told the Bayerischer Rundfunk it's already too late: "You should actually be able to reach these people at home on the computer."
There are now thousands upon thousands of Instagram photos of hotspots such as the completely overcrowded Hallstatt in the Salzkammergut, which reminds Asian tourists in particular of the backdrop to Disney's "Ice Queen". If you search Insta for hashtags like #Hallstatt or #Hallstattaustria you will now find over a million posts. The municipality is fighting tooth and nail against the overtourism and has now erected wooden walls as a self-defense measure to block the view of the most popular motifs.
Other hyped destinations such as Lake Braies are also restricting access by car, requiring online reservations for day tourists or limiting visits to certain days of the week. Anyone looking at the figures in South Tyrol will understand the seriousness of the situation. In 2022, there were around 34.4 million overnight stays per 530,000 inhabitants. Intelligent visitor management is therefore required. Tourism researcher Markus Pillmayer assumes that the rush to the mountains will even increase: "We can assume that the extreme weather events in the Mediterranean region will probably lead to a shift in travel flows." He advocates "degrowth", the healthy shrinking of excessive tourism, from which both local people and visitors will benefit.
Smart and responsible travel influencers realize that no one needs more pictures of Hallstatt or the Allgäu Schrecksee on Instagram. They focus on exciting new locations that are still largely undiscovered, that could still use support - and that hopefully won't fall victim to overtourism.
If you follow the most important influencer rule, you can help prevent this from happening: Think about what you post - and be aware of the impact of your posts and online actions! Travel influencers should also always ask their fans and audience to behave responsibly: Respect the places you visit and leave them as you found them!
French photojournalist Sophie Planque and her partner Jérémy Vaugeois biked from Alaska to Tierra del Fuego. Along the way, they not only experienced many ups and downs, but also shot a documentary film of their journey. A 30-minute short version of the film is running in the current program of the European Outdoor Filmtour 2023. At the premiere in Munich, we had the opportunity to meet the two adventurers in person and elicit their tips for long bike trips.
Jérémy: My passion for being outdoors had existed for a long time. I wanted to keep it as simple as possible, so I hiked a lot. The only tool I had to get around was my own body. On my long hikes, however, it always happened that I didn't have certain practical equipment with me due to lack of space. A bicycle is a great help there. You no longer have to carry luggage on your shoulders and you can cover longer distances. And yet the physical experience is just as intense as hiking.
Sophie: My first longer bike tour was our trip from Alaska to Patagonia. I'd never done multi-day bike tours before. I hiked a lot, even for several weeks, but it would never have occurred to me to get on a bike for this. It wasn't until we both made the plan to do "The Great Traverse" that I realized we couldn't do it on foot. So we did a few bike tours together in the Pyrenees. It wasn't easy for me at first, but the big goal was a huge motivation.
Jérémy: Above all, your bike must be robust and equipped as simply as possible. That's why we opted for Genesis Bikes equiped with Longitude steel frames. We put a lot of weight on the bike and a steel frame is flexible, unlike a carbon frame. And if it breaks, you can weld it. That's what actually happened to me in Peru when I rode through a pothole. In the next town there was a bike store where they welded me the frame again without any problems.
Sophie: My tip: Pick a bike that fits your trip! Do you ride mainly on the road? Or mainly on dirt roads? Or a little bit of everything? Then it is of course also a question of budget. A bike for 800 euros may be a perfect fit for you, and a bike for 2000 euros may not be suitable for your adventure at all. So the most important questions are: What do I want to do with the bike and where should it go?
Sophie: We have been advised in various bike stores and talked to many people about our planned trip. At the Cycles13 bike store in Paris we met a very passionate salesman who took a lot of time for us and together with us has put together frame, components and all attachments.
Jérémy: He was also the first to make sure that the components were also available as spare parts in North and South America. An important point that you should definitely consider on long bikepacking trips.
Sophie: We were pretty pragmatic about that. First, we laid out the equipment we wanted to take with us. Then, in the next step, we thought about which bags we needed in which size. Beforehand, however, we also did a lot of research on the Internet and on other travel blogs. We also set a rule during the trip in order to not overpack or bring unnecessary things: "If an item is not used at least once a month, there is no reason to carry it from then on".
Jérémy: I started out with panniers on the front and rear wheels. But over time, I realized that the bike is very heavy and unwieldy with the weight on the front tire. The trick is to mount the luggage as centrally as possible on the bike. It makes a big difference whether you attach a heavy tent to the handlebars or on the front rack. With the weight on the rack, the whole bike becomes much more unwieldy.
Sophie: On this trip, we planned our stages from week to week. Depending on the route, we then had to take along food for two to three days because we didn't pass through any cities along the way. So the route planning had to be designed in such a way that we would pass through cities again within a week so that we could get supplies there.
Sophie: Almost. Right at the beginning, there was a stage in Alaska where we were on the road autonomously for ten days. And later, in Bolivia, another week. That was really intense.
Jérémy: Bread, cheese, sausage and pasta. Lots of pasta. And soups. Also vegetables, fruit and for breakfast especially porridge. You can also dry fruits and vegetables and eat them well during the stages when you don't have any supplies.
Sophie: To eat sensibly, the most important thing is a good stove. We had one from Primus with us, which worked great in any weather and at any altitude. There is nothing more annoying than sitting hungry in front of your stove and the part does not start or burns only on low flame.
Sophie: I had a little Bluetooth box with me that I didn't use once. I thought maybe I'd turn on some music while I was driving, but somehow I didn't need it. It is much more pleasant to hear and listen to the music of nature if you pay attention to it. It fills the senses and makes you more aware of everything.
Jérémy: Every two months, we went through all our luggage to find things we hadn't used before. So little by little, our spare parts stock got smaller. We had really packed too much stuff. For example, you don't need 20 spare spokes, 5 are enough here.
Sophie: The easiest way is on Vimeo. And on our website we publish all screening dates or festivals where the film will be shown.
The vanlife community has grown considerably over the past year and, in addition to lonely spots with a sea view, shares one thing in particular on social networks: the expansion of their mobile holiday homes. Whether it's a disused van, an old school bus or a nostalgic van - even the smallest van has room for big ideas. From pretty low-budget builds with a double bed and a small kitchen to luxury features with a solar-powered camping shower, there's nothing that doesn't exist. Here are the 10 most original ideas for van conversions.
