Outdoor Insight

Backcountry will be increasing its emphasis on boots and shoes with outdoor roots and lifestyle cred from players like Forsake, Danner and Timberland, and shoulder-season styles from brands including Sperry Top-Sider and Vans. "We're continuing to see a nice blend of outdoor and lifestyle [ele- ments] being built into product lines," Nuelle says. M e l a n i e G i l b e r t , manager and buyer at The Moose's Tooth in Lincoln, NE, says her shop has done well with heritage boots from Vasque, and based on the continuing strong sales of Chaco sandals is considering bring- ing in some closed-toe styles from the brand as well. "People who are fans of the lifestyle want the look but don't want to wear stiff, heavy uncomfortable boots," she says. Jonathan Goldberg, owner of True North Adventureware in Bethel, ME, says neoprene styles and pack boots from vendors including Kamik and Merrell have been selling well at his shop, but that he, too is looking to diversify for the next go-round. "The winter has been good so far, but then again, the business is much more weather dependent than I like to admit to myself," he says. "I'd love to be able to add in some more casual styles and actually something [I'm looking at adding] is slippers." Timber Trails' Sexton says he is taking a similar tack. "We do typically offer a few lifestyle pieces — who doesn't want to look good in the winter as well as the summer?" he says. He's planning to add his typical five to 10 percent to his overall buy for next year, including casual styles from players like Chaco and Keen that are proven winners in the space. Part of that casual trend will be in the steadily hotter Chelsea boot category. Both Backcountry.com's Nuelle and Gear Exchange's McNell highlight the style – especially Blundstone's popular iterations – as a key growth item for 2018. "We have been killing it with [Blundstone's waterproof insulated slip-on] for both men and women," McNell says. Which is not to say the growth opportunities are all in casual. McNell says true performance trail styles like the Bridger Mid from Oboz has been selling through — in fact, on the strength of it the brand has overtaken Merrell and Keen in-store. And Nuelle says Backcountry.com is seeing solid sales in hiking and backpacking product for both men and men — "even despite the notion of fast and light," she says. But even after being spoiled with a deep freeze and, in some cases, deep snow – bomb cyclone related or not – retailers say hedging their bets with lifestyle will be the key. "Snow is the magical ingredient — when we have snow, our business tends to do quite well," Timber Trail's Sexton says. "But when there's no snow — it's just the opposite." O 40 • Outdoor Insight • February 2018 outdoorinsightmag.com Oboz Juniper 6-inch Kamik Velox Timberland FlyRoam Trail Keen Portsmouth Chukka Adidas Terrex Heron Mid Garmont Karakum Mid GTX FOOTWEAR "People who are fans of the lifestyle want the look but don't want to wear stiff, heavy uncomfortable boots." "Who doesn't want to look good in the winter as well as the summer?"

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