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 toward 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 specialty 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 Analyzed

The competitive landscape of brands in outdoor recreation is covered in this report. Brands analyzed 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,, Automotive Analyst

 

Gabe Sanchez
Mintel Analyst

Collapse All
    • Key Issues Covered in this Report
  1. Executive Summary

  2. 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
  3. Competitive Strategies

    • Opportunities
  4. The Market

    • Market context
    • Market drivers
  5. Appendix

About the report

Below is a sample report, understand what you are buying.

Please Note: This is a sample report. All of the figures, graphs, and tables have been redacted. Our reports are available to download in PDF and PPT formats.
$4,995 (Excl.Tax)
  • Save up to 20% when you purchase multiple reports
Add to Cart

Want to know which report is right for you?

Check our pricing page

Pricing

Other Popular Reports

US Advertising in Gaming Market Report 2023

$4,995 (Excl.Tax)

Advertising in gaming is an effective way to reach a wide audience, and young adult gamers are willing to play along, if it’s a fair and respectable exchange.

Find out more

US Mobile Gaming Market Report 2023

$4,995 (Excl.Tax)

Mobile gaming presents great opportunities, but new regulations and tough competition require knowledge of the latest trends and strategies to ensure success. Brian Benway, Research Analyst, Gaming and...

Find out more

US Family Entertainment Market Report 2023

$4,995 (Excl.Tax)

“The types of activities and experiences families can enjoy together continue to evolve thanks to emerging technology and immersive in-person offerings. That said, at the core, it’s all...

Find out more

US Streaming Video Market Report 2023

$4,995 (Excl.Tax)

Streaming services rethink business models to generate more revenue. Consumers remain overwhelmed by choice, instead opting for old favorites or social video. A Mintel Analyst, Global Analyst ...

Find out more

US Emerging Gaming Technology Market Report 2023

$4,995 (Excl.Tax)

VR is slowly catching on but still requires costly support. Many gamers are interested in VR, but new tech is expensive. Holiday deals may boost older models sales.

Find out more

Trusted by global industry leaders

Tenth Wave logo

“Mintel helps us when we want to know something quickly – it provides fast answers to our questions. If we need to get a view of what’s going on in a particular market it’s very useful.

When carrying out background research, I find Mintel an excellent starting point.

The fact that it covers so many markets is a big plus for me– instead of having to buy specialist products in each area we are interested in, especially when we only require a brief view on a particular market, we can go to Mintel for help as a one-stop shop. I find Mintel a useful and valuable resource.”

Ben Zeidler, Director - Research and Analytics, Tenth Wave
Deutsch logo

“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
Wunderman Thompson logo

“We also 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, Wunderman Thompson
Jackman logo

At Jackman, we believe that powerful strategies are based on human insight. Mintel’s leading-edge reports and insights into consumer attitudes and behaviors are an important input as we develop and execute strategy.

Alana Gavin, VP Research and Insights, Jackman
Amazon logo

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, Sr. Marketing Manager, CE, Amazon

Want to know which report is right for you?

Check our pricing page

Pricing