Today on The Rock Fight, Colin, Eoin, and Producer Dave return with Outdoor Industry Buy or Sell as they name what’s hot (and what’s not).

Here's the rundown!

• Rough Q4 on the way? Multiple reports this past week paint a less than rosy picture for the end of the year. (06:44)
• A new survey names what is trending with teens. Spoiler: it's not Puffin Drinkwear. (12:17)
• The Rock Fight Lightning Round! Rutabaga changes course, Runnin' and Gunnin' in our National Parks, and On sued for their squeaky shoes. (18:50)
• Support those who support The Rock Fight! Ripstop By The Roll, Fjallraven, Lems Shoes, and Ibex! (22:47)
• Outdoor Industry Buy or Sell! Each host brings outdoor brands, trends or products and make the case for why they are either buying or selling. (26:50)

Lastly for The Parting Shot presented by Garage Grown Gear, Colin has a note for a recent cycling study. (49:00)

Thanks for listening! The Rock Fight is a production of Rock Fight, LLC.

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Today on The Rock Fight, Colin is joined by Shawnté Salabert to break down her trip to Title Nine’s Pitchfest 2025, where women founders are reshaping the outdoor industry from the ground up.

Since 1989, Title Nine and its founder Missy Park have been putting money behind women-led brands; more than $1.7 million in Pitchfest investments and $72 million in total purchasing power.

Shawnté attended this year's edition and shares what makes this event different: collaboration over competition, community over ego, and a focus on solving real problems.

The conversation covers:

• How Pitchfest is rewriting the rules of outdoor entrepreneurship.
• Standout brands from this year’s event.
• Why representation in design and leadership still matters.
• The growing movement to fund women founders, not just feature them.

Thanks for listening! The Rock Fight is a production of Rock Fight, LLC.

Sign up for NEWS FROM THE FRONT, Rock Fight's semi-weekly newsletter by heading to www.rockfight.co and clicking Join The Mailing List.

Please follow and subscribe to The Rock Fight and give us a 5 star rating and a written review wherever you get your podcasts.

Want to pick a fight with The Rock Fight? Send your feedback, questions, and comments to myrockfight@gmail.com.

Introducing The Rock Fight Deep Dive! A new series where we team up with a partner for a deeper look at an outdoor industry topic.

Today Colin takes an unfiltered look at the state of fabric innovation in the outdoor industry by heading to the Functional Fabric Fair in Portland, Oregon.

Prompted by a listener letter asking whether the industry’s obsession with lifestyle over performance has killed innovation, Colin hits the trade show floor to find out for himself.

He’s joined by:

• Charles Ross, performance material expert, who defines true innovation as “solving real problems — not just changing colors.”
• Michelle Rose, designer and founder of Structure Society, who argues that imagination and play—not process—drive breakthroughs.
• Greg Garrigues, Director of Innovation at Mountain Hardwear, who insists innovation is about diligence and iteration, not just creativity.
• Mya Franklin of LifeLabs, a new textile company pushing thermal-regulation fabrics born from Stanford research.
• Stewart Sheppard, sustainability veteran, who explains that consumers don’t dream of “green products” — they dream of great gear that works and feels good.
• And Ben Ryan, formerly of The North Face and Salomon, who reminds us that the spark of excitement and curiosity still fuels every real innovation.

What did we find when we dove deep? Innovation isn’t dead — it’s just not where you used to look for it.

Thanks for listening! The Rock Fight is a production of Rock Fight, LLC.

Sign up for NEWS FROM THE FRONT, Rock Fight's semi-weekly newsletter by heading to www.rockfight.co and clicking Join The Mailing List.

Please follow and subscribe to The Rock Fight and give us a 5 star rating and a written review wherever you get your podcasts.

Want to pick a fight with The Rock Fight? Send your feedback, questions, and comments to myrockfight@gmail.com.