6 outdoor gear trends in China
Outdoor camping and sports are among the fastest growing categories in China. Unlike many consumer goods which are dominated by domestic brands, many subcategories of outdoor gear remain the realm of foreign brands for now. It is a fascinating category that taps into the many Chinese trends such as health and fitness, emotional escapes, accessible entertainment, sustainability, integrated tech and spoiling oneself.
The ISPO Shanghai 2024 Asia (Summer) Sports Goods and Fashion Exhibition opened grandly on June 28th, at the Shanghai New International Expo Center, and China Skinny was there to see what is on offer for this important category. As a key collaboration of the Shanghai Sports Consumption Festival, this edition of ISPO spanned three days, featuring over 600 exhibitors from around the world. Brands covered climbing and hiking, urban sports, running and cycling, outdoor leisure, as well as sports technology, cosmetics and new materials suppliers. Covering an expansive 40,000 square meters, the event showcases the cutting-edge trends and developments in the domestic and international sports market for industry professionals and enthusiasts alike.
Compared to previous years, this year's ISPO was more international. International brands account for approximately 30% of the exhibitors at this ISPO, representing 22 countries and regions. The UK Department for International Trade made its debut appearance at ISPO, showcasing a national pavilion featuring well-known brands in riding, rugby, outdoor fashion and more. Brands from Japan, Canada, France and other countries also presented their latest cutting-edge achievements.
This year's exhibition also connected the upstream and downstream sectors of the industry, focusing on industry hot topics such as marine conservation, environmental education, and sports trends, striving to promote the joint development of sports, fashion, and sustainability. Below are six trends observed by China Skinny this year.
1. No best, only better. Whether it's jackets for hiking, down coats, or mountaineering wear, brands are striving to develop products that meet multiple criteria such as warmth, wind and waterproofing, and lightweight design. Lightweight construction has become a key highlight for mega brands.
2.Human-Gear Integration. Represented by brands like Insta360 and LANGSDOM, sports equipment aims to create a seamless "human-gear integration" experience for sports enthusiasts through features such as wearable AI assistance, high-performance waterproofing, and Swift deployment. This allows more people to enjoy a deeply synchronized experience between technology and human activity.
3. Sustainable and high-performance textiles. The theme of this expo centres around the trend of "sustainable development". Suppliers from Jiangsu and Zhejiang in China, along with many overseas brands have introduced high-performance fabrics that are more durable and biodegradable, making a greater contribution to green sports.
4.Popularity of niche indoor and extreme sports. With advancements in technology and growing demand for recreational activities, indoor surfing, dry ski slopes, pickleball, and other sports are increasingly gaining popularity, offering urban dwellers more possibilities to be active.
5.Skincare for extreme sports lovers. The emerging French personal care brand iLab has developed skincare products tailored for harsh environments like the scorching sun, blowing sand, strong winds, and blizzards. They use ingredients such as marine SPA formulations and rare botanical extracts to nurture the skin.
6.Camping lifestyle: compatible, ultra-lightweight, cozy mini-home atmosphere. Camping tents come in various sizes and are designed for diverse applications. Tents cater to individuals, couples, groups and pets. Multi-functional needs such as outdoor mobile SPAs and water amusement parks are increasingly flooding the market. More and more brands are leaning towards designing lightweight equipment. Additionally, some camping brands have launched a coffee series (coffee stoves, coffee funnels, grinders), outdoor aroma lamps, portable ice makers, high-pressure showers, and other products, providing outdoor enthusiasts with a home-like cozy environment.
Below is a video that captures how we saw the event, we hope you find it valuable.
Extreme-sport specific cosmetics, tents for pets, outdoor coffee gear and urban sports are just some of the outdoor industry trends China Skinny identified at the ISPO 2024
Outdoors presents plenty of opportunities for brands to tap into Chinese urban consumer needs, not just the direct brands, but also other brands looking to connect emotionally by playing to their interests. Contact China Skinny to learn more about
