Packability plays a key role, as lightweight performance items protect, but without bulk. Less is best in terms of weight, as camping and exploration from hiking to hitting the trail on a mountain bike becomes more prevalent. Lightweight and durable products, from cooking equipment to coverage manage to deliver the same level, if not a higher level, of performance and protection, with more sustainable ingredients compared to their previous counterparts.

Sustainability is core, but it is no longer the “raison d’être” of a product. Brand developers and designers have put their skill back into product design and how it benefits the consumer in terms of fit, performance and efficiency. Adjustability, women-centric design, versatility and responsibility are considered in the design process.

Modular designs offer consumers a value-based option, with 3-in-1 modular outer shell designs appealing for their adaptability. The efficiency and diversity consumers want was clear in apparel brands at OutDoor by ISPO, with products perfectly suited for the great outdoors, but easily crossing over to the urban arena.

Both Vaude and Rab highlighted their repair capabilities, reassuring retail and the consumer, that they are manufacturing product built to last. Both brands kept communication simple to ensure consumers aren’t overloaded with data. Brands are opting for a sprinkle of common sense, more so than an abundance of hangtags and data.

ISPO Award Winners

The ISPO Award, the jury-based competition for the sports and outdoors sector, earmarked some of the latest innovations. British-based Ventete received an award for its groundbreaking inflatable, micro collapsible bicycle helmet, that once deflated can easily slip into a backpack or bag, perfect for urban mobility.

The Keen Hyperport sandal, a combination of shock absorbing PFAS-free foam and eco anti-odor technology, offered amazing comfort and versatility for the end-consumer. It’s a product that looks just as good on the urban sidewalk as it does on a mountain slope.

Other outstanding outdoor products included G-Form’s chest and back protector, incorporating RE ZRO technology, fully biodegradable pads that offer the same level of protection as conventional pads. Rab’s pioneering backpack combined comfort and functionality in an eco-conscious design utilizing recycled materials and PFAS-free protection. With a 30 liter volume, the Veil XP 30 backpack weights only 0.545 kilograms, certainly lightening the load for the consumer.

Outdoor equipment — from tents to mats and sleeping bags — have been reengineered to lighten the load. Naturehike has developed the Featherbone Yugu — an ultralight inflatable mat that is nearly 50 per cent lighter in weight, packing incredibly small and weighing 490gms.

ISPO Textrends

While outdoor brands showcased their wares in the main halls and atrium, over at ISPO Textrends, the awarded textile developments for Spring/Summer 2026 were on display. Sustainable credentials were notable in all of the products. Performance and creativity were the focus.

Spinning innovation was a highlight. Often ignored, it was clear to see that the textile industry has plenty of ingredients, from natural fibers, synthetics including bio and recycled near and far ocean waste, to the manmade cellulosics. Innovation in spinning is creating some interesting effects, including a single knit recycled wool/lyocell blend from the Südwolle Group, awarded Best Product in the Base Layer category.

Polyester took center stage in the synthetics arena, with a wide range of variations from recycled, microencapsulated and bio-based; the use of this robust fiber is a sign of the times from a cost point of view. Polyester is like a chameleon; It can change characteristics and performance and comes from a wide range of sources.

Mono fabrics emerged, bringing mechanical stretch and an easier end-of-life solution. New ingredients included apple, banana, and cherry, bringing a touch of the exotic, with cotton delivering a newly energized bid to gain more ground in the performance sector.

Material Lab

Parallel to the ISPO Textrends forum was the Material Lab, an innovative display of what is to come if scaled up — from mushroom to cacti and natural waste products including sunflowers. Novel bio-based, biodegradable and elastic materials made from waste products from the food industry — such as olive pits, banana or walnut shells featured from Kuori. The potential for new ingredients with a low impact on the environment is there, but it will take time to scale up to industry volume.

What shouldn’t be overlooked is that change takes time. The textile industry is one of the oldest industries in the world, dating back thousands of years. Even if we track it back to when it became automated, we are talking 200 years. What is clear from Outdoor by ISPO, is that the industry has already started to adapt, and must continue to do so.