Is The Outdoors Trendy? (Pt. 1)
The internet is an amazing resource when it comes to outdoor-related topics. However, what was once a niche market has now become a trendy activity or style on various platforms. Will the outdoors become saturated with TikTokers and YouTubers? Will the outdoor gear market become inundated with apparel and equipment that is considered more "fashionable?" Will traffic to outdoor spaces become so great that it will ultimately damage the environment and the experience? We're going to take a look at some potential answers to these questions.
Exposure
In the early 2000s, documentaries on thru-hikes were a rarity. Occasionally, someone, that nobody has ever heard of, went off to hike a couple thousand miles and took a camera with them to share the experience. It was a special treat to watch such accomplishments because, for the most part, thru-hiking was an elite and rare activity. After the height of the COVID-19 lockdown in early 2020, the outdoor industry struggled to keep up as production failed to meet the high demand for outdoor goods, and stores were quickly overwhelmed with service requests. On a more personal note, during the spring of 2020, I was one of the first wave of REI employees to return to work before in-store shopping was permitted again, so I was able to see this spike in popularity firsthand.
It didn't take long for everyone with a backpack to start recording their thru-hike attempt and uploading it to TikTok, YouTube, and other platforms. I can't say that no one has anything left to offer in sharing their experience, but nearly every video follows the same format, and it’s getting old fast. The flood of unchanging content has caused many to brush off these activities, as exposure has led to an oversaturation of the same "come along with me as I hike such and such trail." Thru-hiking was not the only activity affected by this exposure, it simply serves as a good example, but it begs the question; what will happen in the future, and can we do something about it?
With all things that come into the spotlight of social media, they witness a spike in popularity and suddenly, sometimes overnight, disappear for the next trendy sensation. Outdoor recreational activities and lifestyles such as van-living, thru-hiking, etc., have been practiced for decades so it isn't likely they will simply disappear. What is most likely to happen is a large spike in certain activities followed by a prolonged decline back to normal. The hardcore community will always be there but it may be difficult to deal with the repercussions such as higher demand for equipment, inaccessible parks or trails, and a less peaceful experience with higher visitor numbers.
Be Supportive and Patient
The outdoors is for everyone and we can all remember our first few camping trips with our 60 lb. packs and our obliviousness to trail etiquette, so the best thing we can do is be supportive of first-timers. Now I don't mean stop and tell every person you find what they're doing wrong but offer help to someone struggling to roll a tent up, say something kind to a passerby when they're on the ascent, or any number of small acts of kindness. Patients, at least in this case, will go a long way. While certain activities hit the limelight of various socials, it's important to remember that trends don't last forever, even though mullets have come back for some reason. Give it time for the sudden wave of newcomers to pass or take the opportunity to discover less traveled parks and recreation areas. These little niceties will add up and encourage people to learn and be more respectful as well as maintain the image of the outdoors; that we are welcoming to all who seek adventure.
