Three days of networking, exchanges on the most pressing topics in the sports and outdoor industry, updates on the latest gamechanger products and of course fun, sun and outdoor vibes are over. OutDoor by ISPO 2023 proved that the trade show concept is here to stay. And no one can judge that better than the community itself. We asked exhibitors, athletes and organizers what they were most excited about at OutDoor by ISPO.
Thibaud Durivaux and Pierre Gaillard were probably among the happiest exhibitors at OutDoor by ISPO 2023. "The trade show was a complete success for us. Thanks to the ISPO Award, we reached our Kickstarter goal within 24 hours," reported the two young founders of Trail Hoppers. Their "3-in-1 Cape" is a rain poncho that can also be used as a hammock, tarp or lounger. "So many people came to our booth, got information or ordered a 3-in-1 Cape right away. Now it's time for us to ramp up production."
Also happy? David Schiel and Lukas Hartz of Hezo Cycling, who won the ISPO Award's Public Choice Award for their custom "Helu One" road cycling shoe: "We are totally surprised and happy. As a start-up, we are currently looking for partners and investors who want to further develop the product with us. Winning the award is a nice push in this regard."
But it was not only young companies that were satisfied with their trade show presence. Large brands such as LOWA also recorded high visitor numbers and many contacts. "Our booth was always well attended and was noticeably even more crowded on the second day of the trade fair. All in all, we are very satisfied with the way this year's OutDoor by ISPO in Munich went," said CEO Alexander Nicolai.
Martin Axelhed, CEO of Fjällräven, praised the combination of exhibition and showroom at the MOC in Munich. "This mix was successful, especially for the German-speaking region, which is very important for us." This was also confirmed by Jan Lorch, CSO of VAUDE: "The combination with two touchpoints works well for us. We had constant frequency and also good conversations in the aisles."
"We were very pleased to be able - together with ISPO - to strengthen the backbone of the outdoor community again, even under the current not easy conditions," said Michael Schupp, Senior National Account Manager DACH for Berghaus. "In discussions with many partners and friends, we were able to work on solutions and develop strategies for the future. OutDoor by ISPO is simply the ideal meeting place for this." It was also a successful few days for Nadja Mühlhauser, Export Sales Manager at Scott: "The trade show was top organized. We were very satisfied with our booth, with which we were able to convey our brand image very well."
Even brands outside the classic sports and outdoor community were enthusiastic. Daniel Raabe, for example, who represents the French knife brand Opinel with Herbertz GmbH, said: "OutDoor by ISPO was very different from the household trade shows at which we are usually represented. The atmosphere was much more relaxed. It was a great togetherness, very authentic."
Andreas Bartmann, Managing Director of Globetrotter, found clear words after the OutDoor by ISPO: "Procrastinators and doubters were taught better. No, trade shows are not dead and no, trade shows are not superfluous either. Personal exchange, networking, partnerships and strategies were the focus, which are so important right now in challenging times."
His fellow exhibitor Pieter de Bodt, central buyer at Yonderland, was pleased with the wide range of brands exhibiting: "We noticed above all that - despite the difficult market conditions we are all facing at the moment - you can sense an absolutely energetic and good atmosphere at the trade show!"
German biathlon legend Laura Dahlmeier was invited by Osprey to attend OutDoor by ISPO for the first time and was also impressed by the atmosphere: "Trade shows are usually exhausting. But at OutDoor it was really cool," said the double Olympic champion. "I was at some exhibitors to look around, make contacts and cultivate friendships. Unfortunately, that hasn't been possible very often in the past few years. It's nice to refresh these connections again."
An old ISPO acquaintance also did the honors. Reinhold Messner visited the Jack Wolfskin showroom and stated: "I have been an outdoor person for almost 80 years. As such, I'm very interested in seeing what innovations are out there." The mountaineering icon quickly touched on a key issue at the trade show: "The crucial question is: How seriously are sustainability and recycling really taken? Sooner or later, everyone will have to get on board with this, because there's no other way, both practically and emotionally, if you want to get people on board with these issues."
The all-encompassing theme of sustainability took place primarily around Sustainability Hub, where the European Outdoor Group, as a trade show partner, had organized many well-attended presentations and workshops. "Since last year, the European Outdoor Group has worked closely with our partners at ISPO to make the event even better, and it has paid off. OutDoor by ISPO impressed our industry with a concept that clearly demonstrated how a trade show can be successful at this time," said Matt Gowar, president of EOG.
And one more person was really happy at the end of the three days of the trade show: Lena Haushofer, Exhibition Director ISPO Munich and OutDoor by ISPO. Her summary: "Almost twice as much exhibition space as last year, the return of countless important industry players and the participation of many interesting newcomer brands have shown us that we are on the right track. And with our main theme - the circular economy - and the corresponding conferences and projects, we hit the nail on the head. We're really looking forward to OutDoor by ISPO 2024 in Riem, where more space and opportunities will inspire us to further excellence."
What does a good trade show need? Full halls. Good conversations. Lots of inspiration. Business and community. There was all of this on the second day of OutDoor by ISPO 2023. The trade visitors crowded the booths of the 661 exhibitors, in the atriums, the halls and the outdoor area on a total of 35,000 square meters - and then celebrated a successful day at the legendary OutDoor party. Here are the highlights of Monday in a nutshell.
Monday also saw the start of the ISPO Award Gathering went into the second round and thus the second half of the award-winning brands were presented with their trophies outside in high spirits. The cherry on top at the ISPO Award Gathering Vol. 2: The coveted Public Choice Award was announced and presented.
Award Angel Nadine Wallner and the ISPO team handed over the special award to the great cheers of ISPO Award Winner Hezo Cycling. The German start-up manufactures computer-aided custom-fit road cycling shoes - thanks to innovative 3D printing and modular three-piece system with magnetic Fidlock closure for fine adjustment, Hezo Cycling's Helu One fits perfectly to the feet of every male and female rider.
Find out more about the ISPO Award Gathering here!
In the afternoon, visitors gathered for the exclusive presentation of the Consumer Insights Report. What makes outdoor fans particularly happy is that the outdoor boom continues unabated! Not surprisingly, adidas was among the top brands alongside ON, Dynafit, Nike and Patagonia. And even at number 1.
Above all, camping and van life continue to be hot topics in the industry. However, with a twist. Consumers already have the basic equipment. Now they are Now it's the turn of higher-quality equipment or specialized products! The trend report also provides exciting insights into the preferred point of sale and surprises with a "renaissance" of stationary retail. "renaissance" of brick-and-mortar retail.
The latest trends in retail and relevant tips for outdoor retailers for the customer experience offers the eCommerce Experience Report by creativstyle, which Benedikt Marl presented on the ISPO Award stage in the afternoon. "Customers* don't care about the technology behind an online store, they want to have a positive shopping experience. And this doesn't stop when a product is in the shopping cart," said the co-author of the report, for which the eCommerce agency analyzed the top 20 German sports and outdoor stores. More content from the report can be found in several articles here on ISPO.com.
The European Outdoor Group (EOG) also came up with interesting findings from various studies on sustainability. First, Jane Turnbull presented the results of a survey among EOG members on the circular economy in the Sustainability Hub. Particularly noteworthy were the figures on "Wash&Care": almost half of the companies do not yet offer a service for washing and caring for textiles - partly because the effort is considered too high, partly because there is no demand or it is suspected. "That surprised us, because this is an area where brands can still leverage a lot of potential," said Jane Turnbull.
Next, student Nina Neundorfer showed data from her bachelor's thesis. Her question: How do people use and care for their outdoor jackets? The big surprise was the difference between expected and actual wear time. While many respondents said they wanted to wear the new jacket for around ten years, they ended up buying a new product after just under five years. Many gave fashion reasons for this, with care of the products - washing and waterproofing - also not particularly taken to heart.
Katy Stevens followed, presenting a case study on the EOG's Carbon Reduction Project. This coalition of brands aims to identify common suppliers to discuss steps with them to decarbonize the supply chain. According to the study, a supplier supplies an average of three to four brands. CO₂ reductions of 50 to 60 percent are achievable in the relatively short term, Katy Stevens said. "The good news is that suppliers are highly willing to take action."
If you love innovation, you couldn't miss the Guided Tour through the ISPO Award Exhibition and the ISPO Brandnew Area. In the ISPO Award Exhibition, Christina Rabl guided visitors through 34 impressive products that could be experienced, felt, and looked at up close. Also present: Award Angel Nadine Wallner.
The tour continued with a guided tour by Christoph Rapp, who presented exciting newcomers in the ISPO Brandnew Area. 20 start-ups presented their innovations here. Among them: OAK 25, LARG, rrat's or Wølmark. People are looking forward to ISPO Munich, where not only will significantly more startups present their solutions and products, but also compete in exciting live pitches for the ISPO Brandnew Award.
The Young Talent Tour also focused on the next generation of outdoor industry professionals. After a sunny breakfast, trainees and young professionals gained insights into the different ways of perceiving and living outdoor. Participants* got a behind-the-scenes look at the ISPO Collaborators Club and ISPO Award and learned about different brand strategies, from fast-packing tents to glamping hype. "The goal of the tour is to give the next generation of the industry an opportunity to exchange ideas and to point out training opportunities. In the same way, the focus is on innovations and the option to experience first-hand how trends are discussed in the industry - such as the topic of sustainability, which is moving everyone at the moment," says Carsten Schürg.
Scandinavian Outdoor Group: Sustainability as a unifying factor
At the Scandinavian Outdoor Group press conference, member companies presented their innovations and strategies in the perfect setting - surrounded by tents and outdoor equipment in the Outdoor Area. The all-connecting trend: sustainability combined with functionality. For example, sustainable linen with insect protection or a biodegradable tent.
Important here: the traceability of the supply chain, where every component of a product can be traced back to its origin, and the use also the recycling of fabric scraps for new products.
German outdoor specialists: products rethought
German brands Deuter, LEKI, Maier Sports and Meindl shared a joint press conference. And it showed how innovative even a 125-year-old company can be: They had reinvented themselves during the pandemic, rethought products and opened up new target groups, said jubilarian Deuter. For 2024, Deuter announced twelve new product series. Eleven of them with the bluesign seal and eight with a recycled content of over 50 percent.
LEKI was also innovative, developing increasingly lighter, more sustainable and more intelligent poles some 50 years after the first hiking pole was made - including from regionally produced hemp. Meindl also focuses on sustainability in its shoes - combined with comfort, convenience and durability. Here, he says, it is a major challenge to produce all 97 components of a Meindl hiking boot sustainably.
Maier Sport focuses on the top trend of circularity in its pants, using NFC chips, for example, to track materials and effectively add them to recycling. Maier also offers a repair service that extends the life of outdoor products in the spirit of sustainability.
Trail running is booming and booming - as a nucleus for technological development, also by athletes who never started on the road. Monday afternoon at the Run & Trail Summit by Runners World, the community not only discussed the definition of trail running, but also came together for athlete input and market and brand insights. From VIP coach Kirsten Dehmer, attendees learned about the influence body language has on running performance. And there was also exciting input from athletes: Montane athlete Jenny Tough told of her fast-packing adventures from Kyrgyzstan and New Zealand. Adidas Terrex athlete Janosch Kowalczyk and The North Face athlete Henri Aymonod talked about projects, training and goals.
From the brand side, the focus was on innovation and sustainability. While Sidas presented its close collaboration with athletes in sole and sock development, Icebug CEO David Ekelund appealed to the industry to work together in the spirit of sustainability to build shoes that are as durable as possible.
The rain over the outdoor area at the MOC on Monday was fortunately absent. A cooling down from above might even have been welcome - so hot was the outdoor-affine crowd after an intense day at the fair for the party evening. But instead of being held back by a storm, the revellers preferred to storm the area themselves, enjoyed the vegetarian catering and then danced to thundering bass until shortly before midnight.
Drive down, take a deep breath, stroll through the halls and the OutDoor area once again, have relaxed conversations, soak up inspirations and feel the unique atmosphere of OutDoor by ISPO for the last time: The third day of the trade show traditionally has a special quality. It was also full of content highlights, which we briefly summarize here - and which are already making us look forward to OutDoor by ISPO 2024 at the exhibition center in Riem.
"OutDoor by ISPO 2023 was a huge success", said a satisfied Tobias Gröber at the end of the three-day trade show at the MOC. "While 2022 was still a 'post-Corona edition', this year showed that the international brands and retailers are happy to come to Munich again." The Head of ISPO Group was also happy about the atmosphere: "It was just as the industry loves it: familiar, friendly, professional." In this sense, the last day of the trade show was a little quieter, as usual, but this also allowed the public time for more intensive conversations - and a few familiar faces also made an appearance...
Bénédicte Herbout and Marie Queneuille begin their Climate Pitch with a simple question: What makes you happy? The answers are unsurprising for the outdoor-loving audience: biking, hiking, surfing. The point of the question becomes clear at the end, when the speakers point out that it's not necessary to consume a bunch of CO₂ for these activities. And it is more than urgent that individuals and companies finally act and minimize their CO₂ footprint. The consequences otherwise are fatal: heat waves, forest fires, flooding, sea level rise and many other disasters await in the future. Bénédicte and Marie make it clear in their Climate Pitch: "Every action matters, every bit of warming matters, every year matters, every choice matters!"
Celebrity magnet OutDoor by ISPO: On day three, two sports legends took a look at the latest products and trends: Mountaineering legend Reinhold Messner and former ski racer Christian Neureuther. Messner reports: "I've been an outdoor person for almost 80 years. I'm very interested in seeing what innovations are out there. Sustainability is, after all, now an important topic here at the trade show. The crucial question is: How seriously are sustainability and recycling really taken? Sooner or later, everyone will have to get on board with this, because there's no other way, both practically and emotionally, if you want to get people on board with these issues." Trail run pro Janosch Kowalczyk also had a look around and was a guest at the Run & Trail Summit by Runner's World.
Brands can benefit massively from the growing popularity of sports tourism. This is reported by Maurici Carbó, sports tourism consultant. Sports tourism is booming again and continuing to grow after the sector slumped in the Corona pandemic. The global sports tourism market was estimated at $587.87 billion in 2022 and is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 17.5% from 2023 to 2030. Among them, Europe is the largest market by revenue share, with 38%. It is observed that sports hotels are increasingly specializing in one sport rather than targeting the large mass of tourists, e.g. hotels with tennis or golf camps, hotels specifically targeting bike and MTB riders*, but also niche sports such as rugby. "People want their vacations to be active - whether young or old," says Carbó.
Sports brands and retailers can create synergies with outdoor sports tourism hotels, destinations and businesses. For example, through partnerships with major hotel chains or tourism regions, as well as partner marketing programs. Major sporting events, competitions for professionals and amateurs (e.g. triathlon) are also areas that show great growth potential and benefit from sports tourism. Here, too, brands can position themselves visibly and benefit from growth.
On the third day of OutDoor by ISPO, numerous visitors gathered around Anna Rodewald and Cira Riedel. The two founders of GreenroomVoice gave daily tours of the extensive exhibition in the Sustainability Hub at 11 am. And every day there was great interest in the creative solutions of 30 brands, organizations and service providers on decarbonization, climate protection, circular economy, preferred materials and design.
Many aspects were not only addressed, but also illustrated with concrete best-practice examples. For example, Icebug used a solar installation for a factory in Vietnam to show how costs and CO2 emissions can be saved at the same time. With their Material Facts program, Rab and Lowe Alpine have found a way to communicate important environmental data about a product to consumers in a comprehensible and comparable way. Exped, on the other hand, extends the useful life of its sleeping mats by using a clever inflation method. Initiatives such as "Green Button" and "myclimate" also made presentations. "Some of them are small steps, but they are encouraging and can show the industry possible solutions for the feasibility of a circular economy," said the two initiators. To learn more about the projects, visit GreenroomVoice.
Bright sunshine - that was the start of OutDoor by ISPO 2023, and it wasn't just the weather that put exhibitors, visitors and organizers in a good mood. The mood made it very clear: The outdoor boom continues. This was also confirmed by the figures at the EOG press conference. Other highlights of the trade show Sunday: the brand-new Cross Industry Session of ISPO and IFAT, awards in a triple pack, and a big focus on sustainability.
How Tobi Gröber would describe OutDoor by ISPO in three words? BETTER EVERY YEAR. And he is absolutely right. The first day of the trade show was already filled to the brim with innovative products and exciting presentations that inspired the audience - a motivating outlook for the next few days. We asked Lena Haushofer, Tobias Gröber and Chris Beaufils, some of the makers of OutDoor by ISPO, what you can't afford to miss. For Chris, it's clear: The ISPO Award Gathering is the place-to-be for innovative products that will change the industry. Tobi recommends the presentations of the Innovation Lab. Lena's insider tip is the entire program in the Speakers Corner in the Sustainabilitiy Hub! One of her highlights today: The Cross Industry Session with the sister fair IFAT.
How can the major problems of our time, such as climate change, waste and pollution, be solved? With new ideas and visionary networks. This was kicked off on the first OutDoor by ISPO day with the first IFAT Munich Cross Industry Session on the topic: "Recycling strategies in the sporting goods industry - what's going on? Status quo, opinions and solutions". And that's exactly what the industry needs to create solutions for the future: a cross-industry exchange of knowledge. Dr.-Ing. Julia Hobohm, Executive Board IFAT Worldwide, explained that good recycling of textiles does not yet exist in the outdoor industry: "You never get clothes from clothes." Metals, plastics, sensor technology are often processed together in clothing, making recycling incredibly costly. The solution of the future: "Design for Recycling" and consider the cycle from the very beginning. Close cooperation along the entire production chain and between industries is the only chance. In addition, brands must take responsibility, because "waste management is always money." For companies, the earlier in the cycle they think about recycling, the less they have to invest in recycling downstream.
At the press conference, European Outdoor Group (EOG) and Messe München confirmed the outdoor boom with excellent figures. With 661 exhibitors, OutDoor by ISPO 2023 more than doubled the number of participating companies compared to the previous year.
Positive news from the sales side as well: the European outdoor industry turned over around 6.1 billion euros in 2022, according to the EOG's "State of Trade" report. A growth of 11.5 percent compared to 2021.
The advance announcement of the day: In 2024, OutDoor by ISPO will move back to its traditional location at the trade show in Munich Riem - with 70,000 square meters, twice as much space will then be available as this year.
Packaging optimization can save millions - both money and CO2. Optimized packaging improves supply chain efficiency, helps control costs, and supports the achievement of corporate sustainability goals in the process. Often, instead of filling 75% of a space - be it containers, warehouses or individual packages - 90% can be filled. This reduces the overall number of shipping containers.
Adam Sarama, packaging optimization expert, identified three important factors in his presentation at OutDoor by ISPO:
Louisa Smith is a textile and fashion expert as well as a leading jury member of ISPO Textrends. Her presentations at ISPO Munich and OutDoor by ISPO are groundbreaking for the textile industry. The trends for the Spring/Summer 2025 season have already been published. At OutDoor by ISPO 2023, she gave an exclusive sneak peek at the upcoming trends for the Fall/Winter 2025/26 season: it will all be about Big Data, fine-tuning current manufacturing techniques, and an even stronger focus on sustainability.
Just in time for the ISPO Award Gathering, the sun disappeared behind clouds. But the ISPO Award trophies stood out all the more radiantly. These were presented to the winners in the evening at the Award Gathering Vol. 1.
What was special this year was that the jury was supported by two female movers and shakers from the industry. Louisa Smith, textile and fashion expert, examined the award submissions with a critical eye on sustainability. So there's guaranteed to be no greenwashing among the winning products! In addition, the new Award Angel appeared on stage: professional athlete Nadine Wallner. In the future, the Vorarlberg native will scrutinize the submitted products with her expertise and represent the coveted quality seal as an ambassador. To give the winners enough time to celebrate and to give them their well-deserved glory at the trade show, the ISPO Award Gathering will be split into two sessions. So, if you missed it today, don't miss the spectacle tomorrow at 5pm!
She is a double Olympic champion and multiple world champion in biathlon and a special guest: Laura Dahlmeier. On Monday she visited Osprey at the booth and inspired fans, visitors* and exhibitors. We caught her and asked her what her impression of OutDoor by ISPO was: "This is my first time there and trade shows are usually exhausting. But at OutDoor it's really cool. I was with some exhibitors to look around, make contacts and maintain friendships. Unfortunately, that hasn't been possible very often in recent years. It's nice to refresh those connections again." And how would Laura describe the atmosphere of the event in three words? "Community, fun, looseness."
When the brands of the Scandinavian Outdoor Group met in the Scandinavian Village, there was only one motto: It's time to celebrate! The winners of the Scandinavian Outdoor Awards. The winners were chosen in six categories: Sustainability, Apparel, Footwear, Hardware, Kids and Technology. There was also a well-deserved Overall Winner: the Lodur down jacket from Nordisk - a balanced combination of lightness (300 g), waterproofness and breathability. The winner of the Hardware category also took home two awards from Outdoor by ISPO 2023: Dometic also received an ISPO Award for its GO Hydration Water Faucet - a water-saving, rechargeable electric faucet.
The highlights of the first trade fair day of Outdoor by ISPO 2023, but just make your own impression!