Kasia Davies
Research expert covering global shopping behavior market
Outdoor recreation & sporting goods in the United States - statistics & facts
Outdoor recreation and sports are an important part of many peoples' lives as they can serve not just as a hobby but also as a way to keep fit. Almost 60 percent of the U.S. population said they had partaken in outdoor sports at least once in 2024. Outdoor activities can range from climbing and camping to fishing and skiing. One of the country's most popular open-air activities was hiking, which was enjoyed by roughly 63 million people that year.
The outdoor and sporting goods market is growing, although there is a common perception that many people favor hobbies such as video gaming instead of doing something in nature. The reality is that video gaming has grown in popularity and is currently ranked as the second most popular hobby in the United States, however outdoor activities are not far behind a number five.
The outdoor goods market
Given the large number of people interested in staying active in the great outdoors, there is naturally an outdoor equipment industry, dedicated to the production and sale of specific outdoor recreation and sporting gear. The U.S. outdoor equipment market, which is part of the over-arching sports equipment market, generated some 4.4 billion U.S. dollars in 2025 and is projected to grow to over five billion annually by 2029. The total U.S. sports equipment market generated about 20 billion U.S. dollars in 2025. Total sporting goods store sales across the entirety of the United States reached almost 64 billion U.S. dollars in 2022, a slight drop compared to the previous year.Major retailers and brands
In the world of outdoor goods, there are many well-known brands and retailers Although the Columbia and Bass Pro Shops are some of the best-known outdoor brands among online shoppers in the United States. VF Corporation, which is an American enterprise responsible for outdoor recreation and footwear brands like The North Face and Timberland, generated over five and a half billion U.S. dollars from its outdoor segment in its 2024 financial year.The outdoor and sporting goods market is growing, although there is a common perception that many people favor hobbies such as video gaming instead of doing something in nature. The reality is that video gaming has grown in popularity and is currently ranked as the second most popular hobby in the United States, however outdoor activities are not far behind a number five.
