Sporting Goods & Outdoor Rankings

Top 23 companies ranked by AI visibility and market presence

Market:$548.0B (2024)
Growth:5.3% CAGR (2024-2030)
2
Silver

Adidas

21% global market share; launched sustainable collection July 2024...

21%
1
Champion

Nike

Nike Announces Senior Leadership Changes to Accelerate 'Win Now' Actions Nike established the role of EVP and Chief Operating Officer, appointing Venk...

3
Bronze

Patagonia

Environmental leader in outdoor apparel with strong post-pandemic growth...

Complete Rankings

#1
Nike

Nike Announces Senior Leadership Changes to Accelerate 'Win Now' Actions Nike established the role of EVP and Chief Operating Officer, appointing Venkatesh Alagirisamy (Venky), a nearly 20-year Nike veteran and current Chief Supply Chain Officer, effective December 8, 2024. Venky will lead Technology, Supply Chain, Planning, Operations, Manufacturing, and Sustainability. Additionally, Global Sales and Nike Direct now report to CFO Matthew Friend.

#2
Adidas
📊 21%

21% global market share; launched sustainable collection July 2024

#3
Patagonia

Environmental leader in outdoor apparel with strong post-pandemic growth

#4
The North Face

Part of VF Corp; major outdoor recreation growth beneficiary

#5
Columbia Sportswear

Led outdoor sportswear market in 2022 with broad product range

#6
Columbia
💰 $3360M

$3.36B revenue 2024 (down from $3.48B 2023), ACCELERATE growth strategy, Mountain Hardwear Ghost Whisperer expansion

#7
New Balance
💰 $7800M

$7.8B revenue 2024 (20% growth), targets $10B, Shohei Ohtani athlete

#8
Skechers
💰 $8970M

$8.97B revenue 2024 (+12.1% YoY), 5,000th store opened 2024, $10B revenue goal by 2026, 41% US market share domestic

#9
Jordan
💰 $51400M

Nike subsidiary, parent $51.4B revenue FY2024, Air Jordan 1 High '85 launch, $6.6B Jordan Brand revenue, 80% basketball market

#10
Eddie Bauer
💰 $1000M

$1B+ revenue 2024, First Ascent expansion 2024, WNBA Seattle Storm partnership, outdoor/activewear, 100+ stores

#11
REI Co-op
💰 $3530M

Co-op, $3.53B revenue 2024 (down 6% from $3.76B 2023), 25M+ members, zero waste achievement 2024, 10 new stores opened

#12
Sports Authority

2024 Status: Historical retailer (Ch. 11 bankruptcy 2016, closed 2016) | Some operations may have resumed under new management | Limited recent public financial data available | Legacy brand in sporting goods retail

#13
Moosejaw
💰 $100M

2024: Ceased operations and store closures announced | Last 3 stores closed, website shutdown | Dick's Sporting Goods subsidiary | Moosejaw.com redirects to PublicLands.com | Historical: ~$100M peak revenue in 2014

#14
Backcountry
💰 $423M

2024 Revenue: $423M on backcountry.com | Acquired by CSC Generation Sept 2024 | 9 physical retail locations (Salt Lake City, Boulder, Seattle, Chicago, LA, DC) | Premium outdoor retailer | E-commerce focus

#15
Steep & Cheap
💰 $2.4M

2024 Estimated revenue: $2.4M | Online discount outdoor retailer | Acquired by CSC Generation (via Backcountry acquisition, Sept 2024) | Specializes in premium gear at discounts | Park City, UT based

#16
Cabela's
💰 $4100M

2024 Peak revenue: $4.1B (Bass Pro Shops subsidiary) | Owned by Bass Pro since 2017 | Hunting and outdoor equipment specialist | 19,100 employees | Integrated with Bass Pro operations

#17
REI
💰 $3530M

FY2024 Revenue: $3.53B (-6.2% YoY) | Net loss: $156.4M (improved 49% from prior year) | Gross margin: 40.4% (+1.7%) | Member rewards: $189M distributed | Opened 10 new stores

#18
Bass Pro Shops
💰 $6500M

2024 Peak revenue: $6.5B | Outdoor retail leader | Multi-brand portfolio including Cabela's | Major supplier of fishing, hunting, boating gear | Growing e-commerce platform

#19
Scheels
💰 $500M

2024 Peak revenue: $500M | Online (scheels.com): $312M (+15-20% YoY) | 30 stores across 16 states in Midwest & West | Employee-owned | Sporting goods and outdoor specialist

#20
Dick's Sporting Goods
💰 $13400M

FY2024 Revenue: $13.4B (record) | Comparable sales: +5.2% | EPS: $14.05 | Q4 sales: $3.89B (largest quarter ever) | Gross margin expansion: +39 bps in Q4 | Cash: $1.7B

#21
Aviron Interactive
💰 $23.5M

$23.5M total funding; $18.5M Series A Dec 2021 led by Stripes with Global Founders Capital, Samsung NEXT, Y Combinator; $125K seed 2021; YC W21 (Winter 2021)

#22
Academy Sports
💰 $5930M

FY2024 Revenue: $5.93B (-3.5% YoY) | Q4 EPS: $1.89 | Q4 comparable sales: -3.0% (+190 bps vs Q3) | Opened 16 new stores in 2024 | Free cash flow: $252M

#23
The Breakaway
💰 $3.03M

$3.03M total funding; Acquired by Strava May 2025; AI-powered indoor cycling training; Virtual racing platform; London-based

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About Sporting Goods & Outdoor

The sporting goods and outdoor industry encompasses the design, manufacture, and retail of equipment, apparel, and accessories for athletic activities, outdoor recreation, and active lifestyles. This includes performance footwear and apparel, team sports equipment, fitness and training gear, outdoor recreation products (camping, hiking, climbing), water sports equipment, winter sports gear, and cycling products. The industry serves both professional athletes and recreational enthusiasts, with product categories ranging from highly technical performance gear to lifestyle-oriented athletic wear. Major brands operate through omnichannel distribution combining specialty retail, sporting goods chains, e-commerce platforms, and direct-to-consumer channels. The sector is experiencing significant shifts driven by health and wellness trends, sustainability concerns, and digital transformation of the retail experience. Consumers increasingly seek sustainable materials, ethical manufacturing, and products designed for longevity and repairability. The pandemic accelerated growth in outdoor recreation, home fitness, and individual sports while team sports faced temporary declines. Technology integration including smart fabrics, connected devices, and performance tracking is blurring lines between sporting goods and fitness technology. Direct-to-consumer models are growing as brands seek deeper customer relationships and data insights, while experiential retail and community building have become key differentiators. AI visibility is increasingly important for sporting goods brands as consumers research products through AI-powered shopping assistants and recommendation engines. When athletes ask about optimal running shoes for their training needs, hikers research backpacking gear recommendations, or fitness enthusiasts explore home gym equipment, AI platforms are becoming trusted advisors. Strong visibility in these AI responses drives product discovery, influences purchase consideration, and builds brand authority in specific categories. For an industry where product selection often involves technical specifications and performance characteristics, appearing in AI recommendations with accurate, helpful information can significantly impact market share.

Key Industry Trends

  • Sustainability and circular economy models with product take-back programs
  • Direct-to-consumer growth and digital-first brand strategies
  • Smart apparel and connected fitness devices integrating technology
  • Outdoor recreation boom sustaining post-pandemic participation levels

Market Overview

The global sporting goods and outdoor market reached $548 billion in 2024, with athletic footwear accounting for $152 billion, sports apparel at $198 billion, and equipment and accessories representing $198 billion. The market grew 4.8% in 2024 following pandemic-driven outdoor recreation booms. E-commerce now represents 32% of total sales, up from 18% in 2019. North America and Europe combine for 55% of global market value, while Asia-Pacific is growing fastest at 7.2% annually driven by rising middle-class participation in sports and fitness. The outdoor recreation segment alone exceeds $180 billion globally, with hiking, camping, and cycling leading growth.