Top Sports & Outdoors Trends of 2023
Our hand-picked collection of the top sports & outdoors trends of 2023. The topics in this report on today’s emerging sports & outdoors trends are selected for their high growth across sites including Google, TikTok, Instagram, Reddit, Twitter, YouTube, and Amazon. Read more about how we track global trends.
Pickleball Paddle
A Pickleball paddle is a tool used in the game of Pickleball. The paddle is made of wood or composite materials and is used to hit the ball over the net. The paddle is also used to block the ball from the other player. … Read more
Pickleball Shoes
Pickleball shoes are shoes that are specifically designed for the sport of pickleball. The shoes are typically made of a lightweight material and have a rubber sole that provides traction on the court. … Read more
SBD Belt
The SBD belt is a weightlifting belt that is designed to provide support and stability to the back and abdominal muscles. The belt is made of durable materials and is adjustable to fit most body sizes. It is meant to be worn during weightlifting exercises to help prevent injuries. … Read more
Grip Socks
Grip socks are socks that are designed to improve traction and prevent slipping. The socks are made of a non-slip fabric and often have a textured surface to provide extra grip. They are ideal for activities such as yoga, Pilates, and barre. … Read more
Hoka Shoes
Hoka shoes are shoes that are designed to provide extra cushioning and support. The shoes are popular among runners and athletes who are looking for a shoe that will help them to cover more distance without experiencing fatigue or pain. … Read more
Gozney
Gozney is a company that designs and manufactures outdoor pizza ovens. Gozney offers a wide range of wood-fired ovens from portable to built-in and freestanding ovens. … Read more
Car PPF
A Car PPF is a car protection film that is designed to protect a car's paint from scratches, chips, and other damages. The film is made of a durable material that can be applied to the car's exterior and is meant to last for years. … Read more
Wing Foiling
Wing foiling is a water sport that involves using a wing-shaped foil to ride the waves. The foil catches the waves and allows the rider to glide across the surface. … Read more
Cargo Pants
Cargo pants are pants that have large, pleated pockets on the sides. The pockets are typically used to store tools, equipment, or other items that may be needed while on-the-go. … Read more
Ebike Lock
Ebike Locks are locks that are designed to secure ebikes. The locks are typically U-shaped and attach to the frame of the bike and the wheel. They are made of hardened steel and are resistant to cutting and sawing. … Read more
Golf Joggers
Golf joggers are a type of jogger that is designed to be worn while playing golf. The joggers feature a number of pockets that can be used to store golf balls, tees, and other golf-related items. The joggers are also designed to be lightweight and breathable, to allow the wearer to stay comfortable while playing. … Read more
Temperature Bottle
A temperature bottle is a bottle that is designed to keep liquids warm or cold for an extended period of time. The bottle is made of a material that is meant to maintain a consistent temperature, such as stainless steel or copper. … Read more
Oofos
Oofos is a footwear brand that offers shoes designed for recovery. The shoes are made with a foam sole that is said to be beneficial in relieving pain and swelling. The shoes are also said to be helpful in promoting better circulation and faster muscle recovery. … Read more
Padel Racket
A padel racket is a type of racket that is used in the sport of padel. Padel is a racquet sport that is a combination of tennis, badminton, and squash. The padel racket is smaller and lighter than a tennis racket and has a larger head size. … Read more
Jackery
Jackery is a brand of portable battery packs that are designed to provide extra power to electronic devices. The battery packs come in a variety of sizes and colors, and some include built-in cables for charging devices. The company also offers solar generators, solar panels, and accessories. … Read more
Yeezy Slides
Yeezy slides are a type of sandal that was created by Kanye West and Adidas. The sandals are made with a thick, foam sole and a strap that goes across the foot. They are designed to be comfortable and easy to wear. … Read more
Water Bottle With Straw
A water bottle with straw is a water bottle that has a built-in straw that allows the user to drink from the bottle without having to remove the lid. The straw is typically located on the top of the bottle so that it can be easily accessed. … Read more
Vessi
Vessi is a brand of waterproof shoes or sneakers that are designed to be lightweight and 100% waterproof. The sneakers are made of breathable knit fabric with a patented waterproof technology. … Read more
Cargo Joggers
Cargo joggers are a type of jogger pants that have cargo pockets on the sides. The pockets are often large and roomy, making them ideal for storing items such as keys, phones, and wallets. … Read more
Waterproof Tote Bag
A waterproof tote bag is a bag that is made out of a water resistant material and is meant to be used for carrying items while outside in the rain or at the beach. The bag is typically spacious enough to fit a number of items and is often equipped with a number of pockets. … Read more
Naturehike
Naturehike is a Chinese outdoor gear company that specializes in backpacks, tents, and other camping gear. The company has become popular in recent years for their affordable and high-quality products. … Read more
Ooni
Ooni is a brand of portable wood-fired ovens that are designed for backyard cooking. The ovens are made of durable materials and can be used to cook a variety of foods, including pizza, bread, and meats. … Read more
Composite Toe Shoes
Composite toe shoes are shoes that have a composite toe cap, which is made from non-metallic materials. The toe cap is designed to protect the toes from impact and compression injuries. … Read more
Smokeless Fire Pit
A smokeless fire pit is a fire pit that is designed to minimize the amount of smoke that is produced. The pit is often made of materials that do not produce smoke, such as ceramic or stone, and the fire is contained in a metal bowl. … Read more
Kneeling Pad
A kneeling pad is a foam or fabric pad that is meant to be placed on the ground while kneeling to provide cushioning and protection to the knees. The pads are often used while gardening, doing home repairs, or while cleaning. … Read more
Hooded Beach Towel
A hooded beach towel is a towel that is designed to provide extra coverage and warmth. The towel has a hood and a long body that can be wrapped around the user like a robe. The towel is ideal for use on the beach or at the pool. … Read more
Electric Moped
An electric moped is a two-wheeled vehicle that is powered by an electric motor. The vehicle is typically used as a mode of transportation, as it is more efficient and environmentally-friendly than a traditional gasoline-powered moped. … Read more
Trend Highlight – The Rise of Wing Foiling: A New Sport
Wing foiling, a variant of windsurfing, is a sports trend so early the equipment is being sold only on Alibaba, not yet on Amazon.
Part of why high-performance water sports products have had relatively small markets is they require such high skill—a product like a wing foil can help grow the market, introducing people to these sports in an easier context.
Wing foiling is similar to pickleball–the fastest growing sport in the US– in the sense that by lowering a game’s difficulty to play, the market can be significantly grown.
Pickleball doesn't offer a big edge to people who are at a particular level of fitness or experience. Wing foiling also benefits from having a larger available market than kitesurfing; since it needs less wind, there are more beaches where it can work and more days when it's an option.
Trend Highlight – Why Motorsport Shoes Are Rising In Popularity
In 2017, a Private Equity firm bought the entire sport of Formula One for $4.6B, thinking the sport had huge untapped potential. One strategic change they made, to expand to a younger demographic, was simple: adding shorter races.
The new races are 1/3rd the duration of a traditional Grand Prix and have driven a surge in interest among the youth: F1 is now the fastest-growing large-scale sport on social media in terms of follower count.
The industry has also been pushing for more Hollywood marketing. The popular Netflix series “Drive to Survive”, in partnership with F1, was seen as a move to help sell the European sport to an American audience.
Unlike most other sports though, a surge in viewership doesn’t mean a corresponding surge in participants, as racing is prohibitively expensive for nearly everyone who watches it, especially the newly adopted youth demographic. This has led to a rise in driving simulators, which cost just a few hundred dollars; equivalent to the average price to race on a track for just a few hours.
Racing simulator products, including motorsport shoes, are consequently taking off. Even when racing in a simulator, many say the shoes are necessary – their thin and flexible soles help maximize the driver’s feel of the petals and give them better control.
Some reviewers even say they bought it because they drive long hours for Uber and the shoes help them extend their comfortable working hours, letting them earn more in a given day.
Trend Highlight – Why Spiked Golf Shoes Are Such A Popular Trend
Rainfall across the US has grown considerably since the 1900s and the current decade is the wettest, according to NOAA data.
And when a golf course is even slightly wet, it’s far easier to slip during the downswing. Many golfers, as a result, have turned to spiked golf shoes. Maintaining weather conditions outside and across such a large scale is not realistic, so, as expected rainfalls grow, spiked golf shoes may become even more relevant to the future of golf.
Golf is seeing a boom among a younger, less experienced demographic, and spiked shoes help compensate for poor balance when swinging, lowering the barrier to entry in the traditionally less-accessible sport.
Trend Highlight – The Rise of Temperature Bottles
When Hydro Flask’s B2B sales reps were first selling their product – water bottles that kept cold water cold – they filled the stainless steel bottles with ice and mailed them to prospective accounts in hot climates, demonstrating how long they kept their contents cold.
In 2015, the hardware company grew to $54M in sales 6 years after starting out and yet they hadn’t invented anything necessarily new - in fact, they were selling century-old technology to a new generation of consumers by flipping the marketing around to focus on keeping liquids cold rather than hot — a growing need as outdoor activities like camping become more popular.
Another factor some attribute to Hydro Flask’s success is the size of the bottles, though it’s the opposite of what most would expect: their large size was a benefit. Not only were they large enough to fit ice cubes, but unlike their competitors, the bottles could not fit inconspicuously into backpacks. Instead, young consumers carried them separately, which made them highly visible.
Now, as batteries get more compact and far cheaper (97% price decline over 30 years), several brands are selling water bottles with built-in temperature regulators.
Trend Highlight – Why Smokeless Fire Pits Are On The Rise
In many cities, like NYC, it’s illegal to use a fire pit, regardless of balcony size. But as the pandemic plays out, consumers are looking everywhere for easy ways to add substance to the space where they now spend all their time (sales for plants and paint, for example, have soared).
In cities, smokeless fire pits let residents more easily avoid detection and contention among close-quarters neighbors. And for those waiting out the pandemic in rural areas, the backyard has become the new living room. As social distancing has put a premium on outdoor social spaces and summer is intensifying demand, smokeless fire pits are on the rise.
The product also has itself to thank— it naturally brings groups together, literally as the center of the social gathering, so it’s inevitably part of the conversation.
Trend Highlight – Why Changing Robes Are So Popular
In the 1880s, people used wheeled shacks called "bathing machines" to give themselves a private enclosure at the beach. Now there's a more compact option: the changing robe, also known as the surf poncho.
As the latter name makes clear, these were originally pioneered by surfers. A pain point often faced by surfers is getting changed in the parking lot or on the beach. Surf ponchos act as a towel, wind-braker, and privacy shield while getting into and out a wetsuit.
Social media can help to dampen the otherwise turbulent ride of selling highly seasonal products like swimwear. On Instagram, summer is year-round: since winter in the Northern Hemisphere is summer in the Southern, posts from Australia, Africa, and South America infiltrate new feeds while the US is in winter, which makes summer gear easier to market for holiday purchases.
This outfit has a paradoxical relationship with privacy: changing robes are often brightly colored, and they're a large, attention-grabbing garment. Since they’re so visible, they end up promoting the product in person and online merely by being a high-visibility billboard for the changing robe concept. So they create an oasis of privacy even though they grab people's attention—and a marketing channel, too.
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