Outdoor Activities in the Spring Breeze... Shoes and Gear Selling Like Hotcakes

Enjoying Hiking and Trekking as a Hobby Across All Generations
Black Yak's Q1 Footwear Sales Surge 68% Year-on-Year
Nepa Grows 10%, K2 8%

Black Yak '343 Pitch GTX'

[Asia Economy Reporter Eunmo Koo] As hiking has become a hobby enjoyed by all generations beyond a fleeting trend, sales of outdoor shoes and gear have steadily increased. With social distancing measures lifted and outdoor activities gaining momentum, this growth trend is expected to continue.

According to the industry on the 2nd, Black Yak's footwear sales in the first quarter of this year grew by 68% compared to the same period last year. While sales declined by 36% in the first quarter of 2020 when COVID-19 first intensified, the company benefited from a low base effect with a 278% growth last year, and recorded nearly 70% sales growth this year as well. During the same period, Nepa and K2 also showed sales growth of 10% and 8%, respectively. Sales of hiking and camping gear such as backpacks and sticks also increased.

The industry views shoes as the first item that people become interested in after starting hiking. Since over 70% of Korea's mountainous terrain consists of rocky mountains, the more hiking increases, the more people recognize the need for hiking boots to replace the sneakers or running shoes they usually wear. Recently, the demand for trekking shoes has also contributed to the rise in shoe sales, as light exercises that can be done near home have gained attention.

NEPA 'High Flow Gore-Tex'

A Nepa representative explained, "Trekking is a hobby that anyone can easily enjoy without specialized knowledge or skills, so it has high accessibility," adding, "Because it involves traversing various terrains, it is a good area for outdoor brands to demonstrate their unique expertise by considering functionalities such as grip." Additionally, the fact that trekking shoes can be comfortably worn in daily life also influences demand.

The outdoor industry is also responding to this trend by continuously launching trekking shoes emphasizing functionality. Black Yak released the ‘343 Arc GTX’ trekking shoes highlighting breathability, and Nepa introduced the ‘High Flow’ emphasizing high-elastic cushioning. In addition, K2 launched the new ‘Flyhike Cloud’ in its Flyhike series, and Kolon Sports upgraded and released its tech sneakers ‘Move’ this year.

As hiking and trekking become established lifestyles, the related shoe and gear market is expected to continue growing steadily. In particular, as the types of outdoor activities diversify, the market will segment according to activities, and products with stylish designs that can be used in everyday life will gain popularity due to the increase in young outdoor enthusiasts. An industry insider predicted, "Outdoor activities will continue to be popular as a form of play through which people in their 20s and 30s seek health, enjoyment, and validation, and the related market is expected to grow alongside."