Camping Gear Market Set for Steady Expansion Through 2035, New Industry Outlook Finds

A newly published industry outlook projects continued growth for the global camping equipment market through 2035, driven by a convergence of consumer trends: rising interest in wellness-oriented travel, growing environmental awareness among buyers, and a wave of portable, mid-priced product innovation reaching consumers through both online and brick-and-mortar channels.

The report, which spans a 2026–2035 forecast window, highlights how camping has evolved beyond a niche outdoor pursuit into a broader lifestyle category. Wellness travel — the pairing of outdoor getaways with health and relaxation goals — has widened the customer base for tents, sleeping systems, coolers, and camp furniture, while eco-conscious shoppers are pushing manufacturers toward sustainable materials and responsible production practices.

Distribution is also shifting. The outlook emphasizes an omnichannel model in which consumers research and purchase gear across e-commerce platforms, specialty outdoor retailers, and mass-market chains. Mid-priced products occupy a particularly important position in this landscape, offering accessible entry points for casual campers without sacrificing perceived quality.

Publicly Traded Exposure

Among the companies profiled in the report, several have public-market connections. V.F. Corporation owns The North Face, one of the three featured brands, within its Outdoor segment. Shares of VFC traded at $12.93 in the latest session, down 0.54% from a prior close of $13.00, valuing the apparel maker at roughly $5.18 billion. The Denver-based company, classified in the Consumer Cyclical sector under Apparel Manufacturing, operates through two segments — Outdoor and Active — selling branded apparel, footwear, and accessories across the Americas, Europe, and Asia-Pacific.

Coleman and Decathlon, the other two profiled brands, are held privately — Coleman within diversified conglomerates’ portfolios and Decathlon as a privately owned French retailer — meaning investors seeking exposure to the category through listed equities are largely limited to names like V.F. Corporation and its peers in the outdoor apparel space.

Industry Context

The camping equipment category has benefited in recent years from post-pandemic habits that normalized outdoor recreation, alongside social media-driven interest in car camping, overlanding, and “glamping.” The report’s authors suggest that brands combining portability, sustainability credentials, and accessible pricing are best positioned to capture growth across the forecast period, with competition intensifying as both heritage outdoor names and private-label retail brands vie for shelf space and search visibility.

For V.F. Corporation, The North Face remains a centerpiece of its Outdoor segment strategy, and category-level demand trends like those outlined in the report feed directly into the company’s branded apparel and equipment sales.

What to watch

• V.F. Corporation’s next quarterly earnings report and any commentary on Outdoor segment demand and The North Face performance.
• Broader discretionary-spending trends that could affect mid-priced outdoor gear purchases.
• Updates to the market forecast as the 2026–2035 outlook period progresses.

Source: original release.