Every year again there are a few events which the major players in the outdoor industry have us think we should attend, or at least listen attentively to the news heralded. We have the ispo and Outdoor Retailer in the spring, and now the OutDoor fair in the middle of July. And every year again, companies ask if I will be there, if we could meet. Every year my answer is the same: No, I'm not going.
Fairs a stressful. Running 12 hours for three days around the place, meeting new people, having small talk with strangers who will tell you about the latest and greatest "innovation" in their product line, exchanging business cards and the promise to "getting back in touch" later on. Sleeping in rented tents on camping places, next to those snorring outdoor journalists - Well, #!&@≤ that.
Newsflash: A new colour and a slightly different cut to your jacket is no innovation. Shaving 200 gram of your 3 kg internal frame backpack is no "major improvement in comfort". Saying you are now "ecological" because your product is now made out 30% recycled plastics, while it is still made in China and is shipped half way around the globe, well, go back to the drawing board & read up on the term sustainability before you trumpet such garbage out. Also your hyper-duper-steam-breathing material is no major improvement, and your plutonium powered stove surely is no improvement over a simple cat stove what-so-ever.
Of course I might be alone with this opinion. Because increasingly you read about Bloggers who get "Press Passports" and travel hundreds of kilometers to a fair, just to be the first to report on a new jacket or tent, shake hands with marketing folks and get free gear for testing. A quick look at these "outdoor" bloggers shows that they're not that much outdoors at all, but have a review about the latest gear up every other week.
Newsflash: Walking to the supermarket ≠ backpacking. And those who think I'm hypocritical because I too write reviews about relative new gear:
Meh.
Instead of going to fairs, squeezing myself through hordes of people, looking at a new colour, hearing about a new "feature", I go and do what an outdoor blogger should do. I go out
backpacking. Afterwards I might check what
Roman has to say about his finds, but that's it.
What is your take on outdoor fairs in general? Great events for us hikers, backpackers, paddlers & cyclists or a waste of time? Add your voice & let us know!
Every year again there are a few events which the major players in the outdoor industry have us think we should attend, or at least listen attentively to the news heralded. We have the ispo and Outdoor Retailer in the spring, and now the OutDoor fair in the middle of July. And every year again, companies ask if I will be there, if we could meet. Every year my answer is the same: No, I'm not going.
Fairs a stressful. Running 12 hours for three days around the place, meeting new people, having small talk with strangers who will tell you about the latest and greatest "innovation" in their product line, exchanging business cards and the promise to "getting back in touch" later on. Sleeping in rented tents on camping places, next to those snorring outdoor journalists - Well, #!&@≤ that.
Newsflash: A new colour and a slightly different cut to your jacket is no innovation. Shaving 200 gram of your 3 kg internal frame backpack is no "major improvement in comfort". Saying you are now "ecological" because your product is now made out 30% recycled plastics, while it is still made in China and is shipped half way around the globe, well, go back to the drawing board & read up on the term sustainability before you trumpet such garbage out. Also your hyper-duper-steam-breathing material is no major improvement, and your plutonium powered stove surely is no improvement over a simple cat stove what-so-ever.
Of course I might be alone with this opinion. Because increasingly you read about Bloggers who get "Press Passports" and travel hundreds of kilometers to a fair, just to be the first to report on a new jacket or tent, shake hands with marketing folks and get free gear for testing. A quick look at these "outdoor" bloggers shows that they're not that much outdoors at all, but have a review about the latest gear up every other week.
Newsflash: Walking to the supermarket ≠ backpacking. And those who think I'm hypocritical because I too write reviews about relative new gear:
Meh.
Instead of going to fairs, squeezing myself through hordes of people, looking at a new colour, hearing about a new "feature", I go and do what an outdoor blogger should do. I go out
backpacking. Afterwards I might check what
Roman has to say about his finds, but that's it.
What is your take on outdoor fairs in general? Great events for us hikers, backpackers, paddlers & cyclists or a waste of time? Add your voice & let us know!
Why I'm not going to the OutDoor Fair
Personally, waste of time. I'm far removed from outdoor markets and fairs, the disconnect of me going out for a quality hike and fondling fresh gear on a vendor table is a very expansive distance, the latter has very little to do with what I enjoy in the outdoors, therefore very little value in my eyes. Gear serves as a tool in my interaction with wild places, but is never the focus or the end, merely a means. Qualitative vs. Quantitative. While the outdoor industry places great emphasis on the material, I'm far more concerned with things that can't be purchased, experiences. However.... for those individuals who's bread and butter is wrapped up in the lucrative outdoor biz, it makes complete sense to be hip onto the trends, to have their compass dialed in the direction of relevancy, or otherwise be left behind in the constant reinvention of gear.
ReplyDeleteAs a retailer there is value in going to industry tradeshows. It provides the opportunity to meet in person with vendors who you frequently converse with via email. It allows you to see the gear you wish to sell in the upcoming year in person - to touch it and get a feel for whether its the right match for your shop or not. I wholeheartedly agree with most of your sentiments, Hendrik regarding the lack of innovation and the over abundance of hype but keep don't underestimate the value of a face-to-face conversation between seller and buyer.
ReplyDeleteI agree. Besides, as a blogger - is it not a good idea to visit such shows to quiz the gear companies and say your thoughts as you've mentioned Hendrik? If they thought enough of you, they'd perhaps not want to displease you my friend. Such is the power of social networking nowadays. Other than that - well, I concur with most your sentiments! My point is there are pros and cons - alas, such is life, no? Anyway, I aint going - well I might go to one tradeshow in the English Lake District. I'm on a promise there to have a go at destroying a 'special fabric' to see how tough it really is
ReplyDeleteSam, Retailers have a definite place and raison d'être to be at a trade show - personal connection is what counts in business, in any business, be it environmental consulting or selling lightweight gear. Which is why I also visit trade shows in my field (conveniently located not further away as a 2 hour train ride!).
ReplyDeleteMy rant was more aimed at outdoor bloggers who visit said shows, write reviews, but don't seem to spend any time outdoors. I find that questionable, at best. They also are partly responsible for said hype. And I don't see much reason in travelling hundreds of km just to see a jacket in a new colour (as the only right colour is black, as we know =)
I will let that sink in and answer tomorrow morning - it's too late at the moment and I wouldn't be able to write a adequate answer to your fine comment!
ReplyDeleteThanks a lot for those great words!!!
ReplyDeleteSome people push the latest gear in their own way in their own blogs.
ReplyDeleteYou push gear manufacturers you believe in by doing giveaways where people have to "Like" a certain company on Facebook and where the same company has to be "Followed" on Twitter. Don't take me wrong, I definitely think these companies and yourself are being very generous indeed giving away these things. It's just that different people have different ways of guiding people towards their (the bloggers) preferred things/companies.
Regarding the big tradeshows, I agree with you. Particularly on the hypocrisy on being ecological (or rather not).
And still this is probably the gear manufacturers best way of meeting their customers and getting a direct feedback from the field. Can't blame them for that.
You can blame lame bloggers for not doing proper testing of gear though, I completely agree on that.
I think you should take the invitations as a personal positiv critics and as a sign that your blog is indeed very successful.
Haven't ever visited a real outdoor trade show, though I'd like to visit some time. I use some of my weekends for a lot more useless stuff than trade shows seem to be. The problem is that the shows are far away and travelling costs. And in general I try to prioritize my travel (had only one flight in the last 10+ years) to the important things i.e. the big trips.
ReplyDeleteGear is problematic. I like it - but it's bad. Even good gear is bad, as I would very likely manage without it using some old second hand stuff and thus consuming less. Trade shows would be interesting because of the gear but maybe it's better to stay out from them? And maybe it would be also good not to blog much about gear? But gear seems to be also big thing interesting many people so why not offerig my insight on it?
Interesting thoughts Hendrik. I haven't been to a trade show for the last two years (having been to one every year bar one since 1977!) but I am going to Friedrichshafen for a couple of days this year. Trade shows used to be essential for keeping up with trends and new gear for those of us to whom this was important. The internet makes this unnecessary now. Products are launched throughout the year not just at shows. This is why I could skip a couple of years and not miss anything. However shows are useful for face to face meetings - some people are wondering if I still exist!
ReplyDeleteI agree with you completely on cosmetic changes masquerading as innovation. I am extremely intolerant of this! I am not going to spend hours at a trade show looking at realigned studs, new collars and reconfigured buckles. There's usually something worth seeing though, even if it takes some digging out.
I am planning on going to OR this summer, and I am looking forward to it. I have never been to one before, so I may come away with a different impression than I have going into it. In addition to checking out the gear, I am also interested in making more personal connections. As a blogger in both the minimalist footwear world and the backpacking world, I communicate with a lot of different people. I am looking forward to finally meeting some of them in person.
ReplyDeletePretty much agree that they are waste of time, especially for more experienced people. However tradeshows could be useful for beginners and a chance to give direct feedback. But beginners should be critical too.
ReplyDeleteI've been a couple of times in the Finnish bicycle and outdoor tradeshow and some retailers were more interested to talk themselves than with potential customers...
Good writing Hendrik, I like your straightforward style and that you are not afraid to not give your honest opinions.
Plutonium powered stowe! ftw. :)
ReplyDeleteHendrik wrote:"...My rant was more aimed at outdoor bloggers who visit said shows, write
ReplyDeletereviews, but don't seem to spend any time outdoors. I find that
questionable, at best..."
I had a similar opinion like Hendrik for quite a while but changed it a goof while ago.
So this fat overweight guy is riding a 5000 Euro bike. Fat ass, get off the road as it belongs to me being young and fit. Get off the trail old Nordic walking b*tch as Nordic walking is not a sport but a disease. Stay away from trade fairs gear freak who never ventures in the outdoors because I´m the real adventurer....
I hope you get the point.
Nowadays I don´t judge people that much any more because there is usally still something positive in the actions of those people I used to dislike.
...nordic walking grannies still work out and do something for their health
...overweight rich cyclists help bicycle retailers stay in business and still ride their bikes
...armchair adventurerers going to fairs still post articles and pictures in their blogs making it easier for other people surfing the internet to decide which gear they might want to buy for their next adventure.
Isn´t it awesome that you don´t have to go to trade fairs if you only want to find about the newest gear etc.
This year I will show up in Friedrichshafen again as I´m going to work there and probably have a couple of beers with all the armchair bloggers :-)
Kind regards
Carsten
Not that I'd really mean this all but just to provoke some thoughts:
ReplyDelete... what about doing something useful instead of working out? (e.g. chop fire wood, gather berries in the forests)
... is it good thing to help bicycle retailers to stay in business? (we don't need new and cool, just some and very durable)
... do we really need to buy new gear for our next adventure? (see my first question)
... and maybe no one should go to trade fairs? (see my second guestion)
Hei Terry, I think what for example Terra Nova did with you, Martin and James was ace. Inviting three backpackers over to have a close look, discuss with the people at TN, get a good look at the cuben tents and stuff; and all within good distance of you three (I reckon none of you guys flew there ;).
ReplyDeleteRegarding displeasing companies and visiting them to tell them my feedback, I might as well do so in writing or in a video ;) Saves me the trouble of traveling there.
Though as you said, there are pros & cons.
The buying and selling of goods is ultimately what gives us the standard of living we have. It is people's desire for the latest and newest and lightest gear that drives technology. If it weren't for the ultra-rich/extravagant elite with their expensive yacht races, we wouldn't have cuben fiber for our UL gear. If nobody produced anything and nobody consumed anything, we would all be living in grass huts gathering berries to stay alive. No cameras, no packrafts, no pre-packaged convenience food.
ReplyDeleteDon't be so quick to judge someone else's consumption until you have fully examined your own life.
Nah Carsten, I never had these kind of sentiments. Nordic walkers, overweight cyclists, armchair adventurers, all have their place.
ReplyDeleteI'm more concerned about OBs (Outdoor Bloggers =) whose sole purpose is doing reviews. Sure, Gear Junk-ism is a wide spread substitute for going into the outdoors, though that doesn't mean I need to approve of it. And I won't.
Enjoy Friedrichshafen - I will accept you going as you're working there (and apparently you have walked a bit in the past as well ;)
Thanks Karl!
ReplyDeleteI think if manufacturers really want honest feedback, invite a few users, randomly, have them use your stuff and then let them tell you what they think of it. Do it over a weekend, where you invite them for a hike to test the gear, for example, and at the same time can experience the outdoors.
On the other hand, I am a strong believer of Steve Jobs' principle that people don't know what they want/ need. So instead of listening to feedback, which likely will be very different depending on whom you talk with, just create your product yourself, sell it, and then adapt those things which also make sense in the companies eyes.
An article on lame bloggers doing reviews, something in that direction is in the writing =)
The "pushing gear" and liking/ following is a good point. It still is voluntary, though - you didn't need to do any of them in order to participate.
If I'd live in Munich or surroundings, then a visit to the OutDoor or ispo fair would be a possibility. But travelling to Germany/ USA is out of the question. So I decline, grab my backpack and head outdoors!
Agree totally,mate. Admittedly I test kit for Terra Nova but asked if I could bring along James and Martin thinking it be good for everyone involved - bring different perspectives etc. Was a good day and we gave them a good grilling - believe me! But we can't say anything about it all really until July 13th. Even so, if I thought it be much as you describe then I wouldn't have gone along - such is the nature of things. I know not all companies are the same. So, we were lucky in that respect
ReplyDeleteI'm going to OR this year for the first time.
ReplyDeleteI'm mainly interested in talking to people and hearing what they have to
say - attendees and exhibitors. I agree with Chris Townsend - there is
usually something worth going for at shows like this, even if you have to do some digging
to uncover it. I am a journalist after all. I do investigative and educational journalism.
I can tell the difference between innovation and marketing twaddle, so I doubt I'll get sucked into the hype. I hate that crap. I want to help people see through the marketing lies and think for themselves. As bloggers, this is our obligation, no? Going to the show lets me cut off the hype at it's origin.
As for backpacking product reviews and why I publish them, I hope your jabs at people who do this on a regular basis are not aimed at me. I think I do a lot more backpacking than most other backpacking bloggers (and backpackers!) What pisses me off are people who write about products and never test them or that just copy hacked manufacturer product descriptions.
Why exactly do you get so worked up about the product review issue Hendrik? Chris Townsend and Will Reitveld have been writing product reviews in a steady stream, for years. Why does it piss you off that they come out on blogger sites?
We should try to meet up in Salt Lake City (finally and of all places!). I arrive on Thursday afternoon.
ReplyDeleteDamien, partly agreed. And as I said "not that I'd really mean this all but just to provoke some thoughts." But I'm still not sure if we should just go on endlessly consuming more and more materials and stuff. On a very long run it's nearly impossible and I'm not sure if it's the right way to go even on the shorter run called life. There should be options, sad that most of them haven't worked out too well. Honestly, not having a cuben tarp doesn't seem to have big effect on the quality of my life, even though I'd really want one. I.e. happiness is more than GDP - and which one is more important?
ReplyDeleteI don't disagree with you. I don't like needless consumption either, even though I still do it more than I would like.
ReplyDeleteThat would be fun! I will email you once I know a little more about my schedule (in the next week or so).
ReplyDelete"An article on lame bloggers doing reviews, something in that direction is in the writing =)"
ReplyDeleteI'm really looking forward to that. As to all of your writings.
"The
"pushing gear" and liking/ following is a good point. It still is
voluntary, though - you didn't need to do any of them in order to
participate."
I appreciate that. If that's how my message came through, then I chose my words poorly and apologise. It was more meant as a point on how different bloggers choose different means/methods to push for their chosen gear manufacturers/activities.
"If I'd live in Munich or surroundings, then a visit
to the OutDoor or ispo fair would be a possibility. But travelling to
Germany/ USA is out of the question. So I decline, grab my backpack and
head outdoors!"
I'd do the same in your shoes.
great - we can take this offline. I'll give you my cell number.
ReplyDeleteGood discussion going on here. I wrote earlier that tradeshows could be a chance to give some direct feedback to manufacturers, and retailers too. Yes, you can also email them, write to your own blog about bad experiences and so on, but some companies are so arrogant that they don't reply. On the other hand, if that is the case, it's of course better to not deal at all with those companies and let their business die.
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion the blogosphere is a fantastic thing, and apparently I have avoided most of the lame blogs...
Nicely expressed Hendrik :)
ReplyDeleteIt's really frustrating when trying to identify new gear options to find that so much of what is there is really nothing but hyped old gear but in this season's colourway... and don't even get me started on retailers that sell at different prices depending on whether you want this colour or that colour for the same item - that is surely daylight robbery? I don't think I'd ever be minded to attend a trade fair - I'm too much into researching what I might consider as gear options based on the opinion of those whose opinion I value - those who are actually out there using them in real-world scenarios - Colin Ibbotson's review of the MLD Trailstar was the clincher for me ordering one for example. Your blog is one such useful source of what I consider reliable advice :)
A good post Hendrik.
ReplyDeleteThere are some professional looking blogs out there, that can fool the unwary..
I've seen some folk posting 'newbie' questions on outdoor forums, then a year later they are giving advice on their own blog, despite never having even backpacked!! I've used gear for years that a certain blogger said is useless! :)
Folk are so conditioned to believing the written word, that they assume the blogger knows what they are talking about. A publisher wouldn't give a book commision to an unknown person. Folk like Chris Townsend have walked thousands of km's all over the world, so you can assume he knows what he is talking about.
A well presented blog can give that feeling of authority, yet all it really demonstrates is the bloggers technical pc knowledge.
Should people trust your views on forums Mike as you claim to have walked blog free over mountains for thirty years and used kit? Can that be proven? Maybe some bloggers you seem to have a dim view of have done more walks than you give them credit. You slate outdoor blogs on forums and insult bloggers who post on them and then comment on outdoor blogs. I am puzzled.
ReplyDeleteHendrik I like the post. I do also think many kit reviews on blogs are of kit not used and tried on any walks. Which sadly leads to the kit not being reviewed fully, or honestly. First looks are fine and as Joe wrote a while back perk the interest. But full kit reviews need miles on the trail for me to be honest and worth trusting.
Many reviews I read are on the back of trail miles and good walks done by bloggers. Which with an honest review is great. Anyone who writes an outdoor blog and has a lot of kit reviews on the back of miles walked going to the shows I am sure will note things and write a good post as a result. Well I hope they do.
I've never posted a review of any kit on a forum, Martin. I might join in a discussion on a thread about gear, if i feel i can add something.
ReplyDeleteIf you read what i have written about blogs, i am agreeing with Hendrik. I don't slate outdoor blogs. I slate 'some' outdoor blogs.
I don't care if folk believe anything i write. I'm not trying to make a living from my writing, so i don't need to embelish my 'feats'.
My concern about some blogs/bloggers is that their technical pc skills enable them to seem very experienced. How often do you read 'blogger X recommends item A', so it must be good?
I'll say it again. I like good blogs that are honest and up front. I actually enjoy reading yours Martin. ;)
Just heading to the mountains for a couple of days, believe it or not. :)
Korpijaakko - you have said it! Some time ago I decided to never buy any new gear just because it is "major improvement in comfort" or "revolutional redesign", but only when I have no equivalent. Gear reviews... well, everyone has to earn some money, everyone draws own border between what is acceptable and what not. Gear reviews are certainly on the better end of what people can do for living...
ReplyDeleteHendrik, thanks for posting this. I'm sometimes getting so much pissed off at people who consider themselves hikers" or whatever, while in reality they have just found a place to store some feeling of own importance in the gear. Like some others find in cars. Especially sad is the fact that this is a production, which negatively impacts the nature like any modern production, and which is not needed for anything but showing off.
ReplyDeleteI'm in fact interested to find how much the "environmental statements" of outdoor companies are something honest (not like in your example of "ecological product"). Heard that VauDe and Hilleberg have some; but I have no idea how to see whether there is something real behind these words.
got completely switched off by trade fairs 5 years ago and havent been to one since. As a professional brewer, having worked with marketing and sales people on launching beer and cider products over the past 10 years, I can tell you that there is a lot of hype around shows, adverts and the products themselves (not all the time of course!). Points of differentiation are what companies are looking for to sell their gear, niche spots in a maturing market place. People are trying to make a living but as Hendrik says, changing the colour of last year's shirt doesnt necessarily need hordes of people descending down upon a show to marvel at the way the sunlight glints off its zippers....
ReplyDeleteOn the subject of bloggers and gear, I quite often post reviews myself on stuff I have got but I try to be objective and always try to have a field trip report to see how it faired in actual use. I would love to get free stuff all the time to review though :) I suppose the question is whether the blogger is blogging for themselves or for others to impart information. I agree that poor information or flawed opinion is sometime worse than none at all