As the outdoor industry convenes in Salt Lake City for the Outdoor Retailer show, one thing is clear: 2025 is a pivotal year for brands looking to strengthen their digital presence. From AI to omnichannel personalization, outdoor gear and lifestyle brands are selling more than just products, they're selling seamless, data-driven experiences.
If you're a digital leader, eCommerce manager, or CMO in the outdoor retail industry, here are the 8 most important eCommerce trends that will shape your world this summer.
1. AI-powered personalization gets tactical in Outdoor eCommerce
Outdoor shoppers expect personalized experiences, not just based on gender or age. They want recommendations based on activity type, local weather, and past purchases. Shopify and Bloomreach now enable dynamic personalization using AI-driven behavioral data that adapts in real time.
Why it matters: Higher conversion rates and fewer returns for activity-specific products, such as trail shoes, hydration packs, and gear bundles.
2. Omnichannel inventory: an eCommerce advantage
Since 70% of outdoor purchases are still influenced by in-store browsing, brands that use real-time inventory visibility across retail, eCommerce, and wholesale channels are gaining an advantage.
Use case: A customer tries on boots in the store, but their size is out of stock. Your platform immediately offers them the option to order online with next-day delivery.
3. Mobile optimization now means AI-assisted UX
Being mobile-friendly is no longer enough; you need to be mobile-intelligent. Leading outdoor retailers are using AI to test and optimize layouts, load times, and mobile checkout processes based on individual user behavior.
What to watch: Google’s AI-powered search favors fast-loading, adaptive mobile pages with clear intent signals (e.g., “compare gear” or “fit finder”).
4. "Fit for You" sizing tools finally convert Outdoor Shoppers
From climbing harnesses to women’s trail apparel, accurate sizing can determine whether a sale is made. AI-powered fit tools integrated into product detail pages (PDPs) are reducing returns by up to 30% for performance apparel brands.
Pro tip: Add user-generated content and reviews from similarly sized customers to boost trust.
5. First-party data is the new loyalty program
As cookies become less reliable, brands are turning to loyalty programs that offer real value, such as early access to product releases, members-only trail guides, and AI-personalized newsletters.
Trend in action: Shopify brands that integrate Bloomreach's CDP (Customer Data Platform) use quiz and post-purchase survey data to provide personalized product recommendations.
6. Sustainability Messaging moves to the PDP
Consumers want more than vague claims; they want carbon footprint data, information about material sourcing, and facts about repairability where it matters most—the product page.
Why it matters: Outdoor shoppers, especially Gen Z and Millennials, base their purchase decisions on brand transparency.
7. Voice & Visual Search: Emerging trends in Outdoor eCommerce
More shoppers are using voice and visual search to discover products. For example, you could say, "Show me waterproof hiking boots under $150," or upload a photo of a friend's backpack to find a match.
How to prepare: Use structured data markup and visual AI to power these experiences. Both Shopify and Bloomreach enable this today.
8. Retail media isn’t just for big box stores anymore.
Outdoor brands are creating their own micro media networks and monetizing site traffic by featuring paid partner content, such as co-branded gear drops or expert-led product stories.
Action step: Evaluate how your direct-to-consumer (DTC) storefront can generate revenue, not just sales.
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The outdoor brands that will succeed in 2025 are embracing the complexity of modern eCommerce and transforming it into seamless, personalized, trust-driven shopping experiences. At O2 Commerce and ZaneRay, we help brands like Arc'teryx, Thor Industries, Yeti Cycles and Black Diamond achieve this by combining advanced commerce technology with user-centered design to drive meaningful results.
With decades of experience working with the most respected names in the outdoor industry, we understand your customers, seasonal cycles, and tech stacks. Whether you’re navigating omnichannel growth, replatforming to Shopify or Bloomreach, or looking to unlock the power of your data, we’ve done it before and are ready to help you do it better.
Join us on June 19 in Salt Lake City during Outdoor Retailer week, where we will delve deeper into these topics alongside Shopify and Bloomreach. RSVP here to save your spot:
