Discover how consumers are participating in outdoor recreation in the US with this report. Covering outdoor recreation and sporting activities, this report provides a robust foundation for brands in the sports and outdoors industry—to understand how and why consumers enjoy outdoor activities.
Below, we provide the key topics covered and offer select findings from the report.
Key Topics Covered
- Consumers’ outdoor recreation participation and interest.
- Activity participation frequency and locations.
- Influential sources and primary motivations.
- Attitudes towards outdoor recreation and sporting activities.
Outdoor Recreation Consumer Statistics
- More than four out of five consumers take part in outdoor activities. Since pandemic restrictions, consumers have recalibrated their participation in outdoor recreation. Many are now showing enthusiasm.
- Almost three-quarters trust speciality stores to be knowledgeable. Most consumers participating in outdoor recreation trust retailers to provide the expertise they need—a reason to leverage this in communication.
- Running or walking outdoors is the most popular activity. In fact, it’s two to three times more participated in than other outdoor activities. For outdoor sports, basketball leads participation with its accessibility and affordability.
Despite certain activities leading participation, many are highly engaged in other activities, signifying the importance of maintaining reach beyond the most popular. For example, younger adults show notable interest in activities like snow sports and hunting.
Outdoor Recreation Market Opportunity
Millennials are the biggest generation in the US and show the most interest in outdoor recreation and sporting activities. This means it will be pivotal for brands to connect with this demographic segment. First-time promotions, training courses, and incentive programs could appeal to this group if offered.
For a complete analysis of consumer trends in outdoor recreation, buy the full report. You may also be interested in browsing our leisure time consumer research.
Brands Analysed
The competitive landscape of brands in outdoor recreation is covered in this report. Brands analysed include Wilson, Dick’s Sporting Goods, PacSun, PUMA, LaMelo Ball, Sketchers and more.
Additional Features Included in Your Report
- Different Digital Formats: PDF for conveniently sharing with your team, PowerPoint for quickly including in your presentations.
- Custom PowerPoints: Incorporate our consumer research data into your own work so you can win over your clients and stakeholders. Select insights from your report to create a custom presentation that is ready to download in minutes.
- Interactive Databook: Each Databook is provided as an interactive website where you can deep dive into our consumer research data on your chosen topic so you can draw your own conclusions.
- Mintel’s Clients Portal: Our portal provides instant access to actionable analysis, podcasts, and trend pieces relevant to your industry that are published almost daily, as well as our annual Global Consumer Trends. You can also browse our extensive library of market research reports.
Expert Analysis
Leading analyst Gabe Sanchez delivers expert insights with this report.
Outdoor recreation and sporting activities remain popular, but it will become increasingly important for brands and retailers to combat barriers to access.
Gabe Sanchez
Mintel Analyst
Collapse All
-
- Key Issues Covered in this Report
-
Executive Summary
-
Consumer Insights
- Consumer fast facts
- Outdoor activity participation
- Graph 1: outdoor activity participation, 2023
- Graph 2: type of outdoor and sporting activity participation, 2023
- Graph 3: type of outdoor and sporting activity participation, runners/walkers vs overall, 2023
- Graph 4: attitudes toward specialty stores (% any agree), 2023
- Graph 5: type of outdoor and sporting activity participation, by age, 2023
- Graph 6: type of outdoor and sporting activity participation, men vs women, 2023
- Outdoor team sports participation
- Graph 7: outdoor team sports participation, 2023
- Graph 8: attitudes toward outdoor spaces and meeting people (% any agree), team sports participants vs overall, 2023
- Graph 9: outdoor team sports participation, men vs women, 2023
- Outdoor recreation & sporting activities interest
- Graph 10: consumer interest in outdoor activities, 2023
- Graph 11: attitudes toward outdoor activities (% any agree), by age, 2023
- Graph 12: consumer interest in outdoor activities, by age, 2023
- Participation frequency
- Graph 13: participation frequency, 2023
- Graph 14: barrier-related attitudes toward outdoor activities (% any agree), by age, 2023
- Graph 15: participation frequency, by age, 2023
- Graph 16: participation frequency, by household income, 2023
- Participation locations
- Graph 17: participation location, 2023
- Graph 18: agreement with “I tend to participate in outdoor activities less often now that indoor activities are safer again”, by age, 2023
- Graph 19: participation location, by age, 2023
- Graph 20: participation location, men vs women, 2023
- Graph 21: participation location, parents vs overall, 2023
- Graph 22: participation location, by area, 2023
- Influential sources
- Graph 23: influential sources, 2023
- Graph 24: influential sources, men vs women, 2023
- Graph 25: influential sources, by age, 2023
- Graph 26: influential sources, moms vs dads, 2023
- Motivations
- Graph 27: reasons for participation, 2023
- Graph 28: reasons for participation (select), by age, 2023
- Graph 29: reasons for participation (select), by age, 2023
- Attitudes toward corporate social responsibility
- Graph 30: attitudes toward outdoor brands, by age, 2023
- Graph 31: attitudes toward outdoor brands, by race and Hispanic origin, 2023
-
Competitive Strategies
- Opportunities
-
The Market
- Market context
- Market drivers
-
Appendix
Market Intelligence Made Easier With Mintel
The first Mintel Market Intelligence report was published over 50 years ago. Since then, we have provided our unique insights and understanding of consumers, innovation and global markets to thousands of customers worldwide. Here’s why our customers rely on Mintel:
- Gain a comprehensive, 360-degree view of the market: Mintel reports blend consumer research, market forecasts, product innovation tracking, and competitive analysis, allowing businesses to see every angle of their industry and identify new opportunities quickly.
- Make decisions with confidence, grounded in robust data: Each report draws on up-to-date, reliable information from trusted sources and industry experts, ensuring your strategies are based on solid evidence rather than speculation.
- Benefit from expert analysis and practical recommendations: Mintel’s reports are written by experienced analysts who interpret complex data and provide clear, actionable insights you can trust to guide your next moves.
- Stay ahead with actionable intelligence on market trends and consumer behaviour: By combining fresh research with long-term market monitoring, our reports help businesses anticipate changes and adapt strategically. So you’re prepared to make informed decisions and drive growth.
What goes into a Mintel Market Intelligence Report?
Curious about how a Market Intelligence report comes together? We like to think of it as building a detailed puzzle. We start with individual pieces: data from consumers, market statistics, industry trends, and online conversations. Then our expert analysts add world-class human insight and industry knowledge. The pieces are assembled to reveal a clear, comprehensive picture of a market.
The Four Pillars of Our Research
We use a combination of four main research methods when creating our reports, each adding a valuable perspective:
- Consumer Research: Direct surveys with real people, giving us clear, current insights into what people think and do.
- Desk Research: In-depth review of trusted data sources. We use this rich database, plus powerful internal tools that track new products and market sizes, to detect trends and guide forecasts.
- Trade Research: Insights from conversations with industry experts. Their real-world experience helps us understand what’s happening behind the scenes.
- Brand and Social Media Research: Analysis of online opinions and trends. This lets us spot trends, measure brand sentiment, and capture feedback in real time, adding further depth to our research.
Bringing It All Together
Each of these four pillars provides a different piece of the puzzle. Consumer research tells us what customers think, desk research provides the factual framework, trade research offers an insider’s view, and social media analysis reveals public sentiment.
Our expert analysts are skilled in weaving these diverse data streams together. They apply a range of quantitative and qualitative analysis techniques to uncover the deeper story, connecting the dots to deliver clear, actionable insights. This comprehensive, multi-layered process is how we transform raw data into a market intelligence report you can trust to inform your most important business decisions.
£ 3,695 (Excl.Tax)
-
Download today with instant access
Pay via credit card or invoice (net 30 payment terms)
-
Multiple formats provided
We send a PDF, Powerpoint and Excel Databook straight to your inbox. An interactive version of the report is also available on our online platform
-
Interactive databook included
Focus on the data that matters most to you with a customisable databook avaliable on our platform
-
Save up to 20% when you purchase multiple reports
Discount automatically applied in basket
Next Starts Here
Whatever your business needs, we have the solution. From market intelligence reports to customised growth strategies.
Learn moreTrusted by global industry leaders
Working in a customer-obsessed organization means that data and insights have to be at our fingertips. Mintel’s reports help us support anecdotes with real quantifiable insights. The summary sections (which I really like) helps save time by giving a birds eye view of the content before spending time combing through the pages.
Our business review discussions are strengthened by the relevancy of the reports to help us better understand our customers. In addition, the customer service received from the team (especially in crunch periods) makes the process of understanding customer behavior even better.
Ngozi Ngonadi-Nkwoji, Senior Marketing Manager, Amazon
We use Mintel to inform our thinking and reinforce strategy. If you’re presenting new ideas, it’s essential they are underpinned by robust data and evidence, and clearly rooted in fact.
Mintel gives us all that. It’s a great brand and one that is trusted by clients.
Marie Stafford, European Director, The Innovation Group, VML
One of the biggest challenges we face is the need to get smart on a business or category real quick.
We are talking to clients who live and breathe their category every day and the expectation is that we will be able to get caught up very quickly, and bring the thinking that can help them.
We need to do that often in a matter of days, so it’s not a small ask. Mintel gives us a very articulate view of category conditions and does so at the speed we need it.
Jeff White, Business Development Director, Deutsch
We have such a great working relationship with Mintel on lots of different levels. As an insight partner, they have helped us to develop our business planning in specific categories as well as supporting our creative process but they’ve also been super helpful with facilitating our events in their inspirational offices near St Paul’s.
They’re an innovative company, with a client-focused team that always delivers.
Abby Carvosso, Group Managing Director, Bauer Media Group
We’ve found it so useful working more closely with Mintel. They helped support our recent flagship event for our top suppliers by providing a really unique viewpoint on the future of online retailing.
Nick Carroll from their Retail Team was also an excellent panelist, sharing useful and actionable consumer insights. We definitely look forward to working with Mintel again on future projects.
Zac Steele, E-Commerce Trading Development Manager, Waitrose & Partners
Next Starts Here
Whatever your business needs, we have the solution. From market intelligence reports to customised growth strategies.
Learn more
