Global Ski Gear & Equipment Market Outlook, 2028

Skiing is one of the most popular winter sports across the world and is also recognized as a competitive sport by various organizations such as the International Ski Federation (FIS) and the International Olympic Committee (IOC). The growing popularity of skiing as a competitive sport as well as a recreational activity is boosting demand for high-quality skiing equipment. The skiing industry has seen massive growth, which is attracting a large number of people to the sport and, as a result, increasing the market for ski gear, etc. Skiing has been practiced for nearly five millennia. Modern skiing can be traced back to Scandinavia. Also, skiing may have been practiced in China for more than 100 years, according to ancient paintings. Asymmetrical skis were used in Sweden and northern Finland until the late nineteenth century. Skiing is typically a competitive winter sport or a leisure activity. It began as a mode of transportation, but it didn’t take long for it to evolve into a leisure activity, which then evolved into a variety of professional sports. Increased interest in outdoor activities such as skiing and other snow sports, increased government efforts to promote participation in skiing, and an increase in the number of ski resorts are some of the major factors driving global sales of ski gear and equipment.

According to the research report, "Global Ski Gear & Equipments Market Outlook, 2028," published by Bonafide Research, the overall market is anticipated to attain a size of more than USD 2900 Million, an increase from USD 2389.95 Million. Further, the market is anticipated to grow at a CAGR of 3.34% during the forecast period. Demand for ski gear is anticipated to rise due to increasing ski infrastructure, rising usage of helmets, and an increasing number of initiatives to boost participation in skiing. The number of people pursuing skiing as a recreational activity is greater than the number of professional skiers. Increasing participation rates in outdoor activities like skiing & other snow sports, increasing government initiatives to encourage participation in skiing, and growth in the number of ski resorts are some of the major factors driving the sales of ski gear and equipment globally. The ski gear and equipment market is expected to grow due to the commercialization of the sport as well as the smooth and safe experience of the sport with different types of ski equipment and gear. Rising concerns about skiing-related accidents are expected to raise awareness about the use of helmets and other ski equipment and gear. Demand for ski gear is expected to grow due to increased infrastructure, increased use of helmets, and an increase in the number of initiatives to increase skiing participation.



Based on the obtained data, around 68 countries across the globe provide nearly 5716 outdoor ski areas covered with snow. Around 90 indoor snow centers operate in close to 20 countries globally. The demand for skis such as beginner skis and professional skis is increasing due to the rise in participation in ski activities across the globe. According to the report, the market is segmented into various product types, including skis and snowboards, ski footwear (boots and bindings), ski poles and sticks, ski helmets, ski goggles, ski gloves and ski mittens, ski clothing and apparel, and others. Among these product types, the ski clothing and apparel segment are dominating the market in 2022 with the highest market share due to the popularity of innovative and modern designs for the many forms of ski clothing, such as jackets, suits, and pants. Ski clothing manufacturers are concentrating on releasing and developing innovative products to fulfill the demand through innovative technology. For instance, in 2022, Dior launched a new men's ski capsule collection, which includes an assortment of body armor, helmets, and ski masks made in collaboration with the Swedish company POC. The helmet is the fastest-growing market segment and is expected to grow further during the forecast period from 2023 to 2028 with an expected size of around USD 6.7 Million. To protect against injuries after a fall or slide, the suit detects an airbag. It is anticipated that these new products, which the industry leaders have introduced in consideration of client safety, will continue to be advantageous. In 2022, the ski footwear market and ski poles acquired around USD 15 Billion market size.

Based on distribution channels, the market is segmented into hypermarkets and supermarkets, specialty stores, online stores, and other distribution channels. In 2022, supermarkets and hypermarkets will have the largest market share. The easy availability of ski equipment and gear items in supermarkets and hypermarkets allows consumers to choose from a diverse range of products. These factors are expected to drive the expansion of this distribution channel. On the other hand, with the increasing penetration of the internet and e-commerce across the globe, the online sales channel segment is anticipated to be the fastest-growing segment. Further, based on end-user, the market is segmented into men, women, and kids. According to analysts, men are the primary buyers of these goods. Skiing’s growing popularity as a leisure activity among working-class male adults in developed economies is expected to drive the market. However, the market is driven by the increased number of women participating in different activities, including snow sports such as skiing, as the vendors are developing ski gear and equipment specifically for women.

According to the report, the global ski gear and equipment market is segmented into various skiing types, including downhill or alpine skiing, backcountry skiing, cross-country or Nordic skiing, and others. Among these types, downhill or alpine skiing is anticipated to acquire a higher market share, with more than 70% in 2022. There are over 2,000 downhill ski areas in 67 countries, with an estimated 400 Million skier days per year. Further, the global market is segregated into four major regions, including North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, South America, and the Middle East and Africa. Among these regions, Europe leads the market with more than 60% market share in 2022. There is growing consumer awareness regarding health and fitness, leading to increased participation in winter sports activities, which is propelling the development of this market. For instance, the ski industry in the North American and European regions is mainly dependent on the snow season. Therefore, the growing number of tourists and visitors in winter has led to a surge in demand among people to hire ski equipment, leading to growth for the winter sporting equipment segment. The winter sports equipment market is experiencing considerable growth with the growing influence of winter sports conducted globally, thereby supporting the growth of such products in the market. There are nearly 6162 ski resorts across the globe which include 60526 kilometers of slopes and they are served by 24228 ski lifts.

All of these factors, in turn, are propelling the ski gear and equipment market forward. However, factors such as changing weather patterns and the availability of counterfeit goods are limiting the growth of the global ski gear and equipment market. As consumer demand for snow-related activities and tourism activities grows, the infrastructure for snow sports, including skiing, is expanding around the world. These encouraging developments in the development of snow sports infrastructure are expected to broaden the range of ski equipment and gear items available in the near future, as well as create new opportunities. Manufacturers of ski gear and equipment are increasingly focusing on developing and introducing new and creative products that use advanced technology to meet changing customer needs and demands, which is driving the market’s growth.

Recent Developments:
• In March 2019, Backcountry, an online retail company, launched gearhead-certified products that include the Backcountry Touring Collection, which is a set of products specific to split boarding and ski touring.
• On January 10, 2022, Amer Sports and Liesheng, a leading Chinese technology company, agreed on a transaction in which Amer Sports divested Suunto to Liesheng. Amer Sports’ strategy is to focus on developing internationally recognized sporting-goods brands within the lifestyle, apparel, and footwear segments, shifting more business to D2C (direct-to-consumer) channels, as well as enhancing its presence in large markets such as China and the US.
• On March 18, 2021, Black Diamond Equipment, the global innovator in climbing, skiing, mountain sports equipment, and apparel, announced its partnership with NuORDER, the premiere wholesale B2B e-commerce platform. Beginning with the FW21 buying season, Black Diamond will conduct all its wholesale practices through the digital buying platform.
• In December 2021, Clarus Corporation, a global company focused on the outdoor and consumer enthusiast markets, announced that it had purchased the headquarters of its Barnes® brand. The building, located in Mona, Utah, is both the headquarters and production facility for the company’s Barnes® brand.

Covid-19 Impacts:
The global ski gear and equipment market has been growing consistently over the past few years. However, due to the outbreak of the Coronavirus, there has been a significant impact on supply chains globally. Ski gear and equipment manufacturing companies have faced huge losses during the first and second quarters of 2020, owing to disrupted supply chains and production schedules. COVID-19 has forced ski gear and equipment manufacturers to cease production, order delivery, and operations due to a lack of site access, an interrupted supply chain, and a shortage of manpower. In the wake of COVID-19, there is an increased vigilance globally against consumption and expenditure, as people are not investing money in recreational activities and trying to increase their savings. Travel restrictions imposed by governments worldwide to control COVID-19 have also ceased all winter leisure and adventure activities, which have significantly affected the market for ski gear and equipment. The outbreak across major regions has resulted in the lockdown of cities, border restrictions, and the breakdown of the transportation network. This resulted in the closure of amusement and recreational parks, which affected product demand. Increasing social distancing norms due to fear of the spread of the virus also affected the growth of the ski clothing market. However, since the lockdown was lifted, the market has gained momentum and is expected to grow at a healthy rate during the review period.

Major Companies present in the market:
Amer Sports Oyj, Burton Snowboards, Fischer Sports, Skis Rossignol SA, Icelantic Skis, Volcom, Elan, Helly Hansen, Coalition Snow, Alpina Sports, Clarus Crop, K2 Sports LLC. patagonia, Arc'teryx, Columbia Sportswear Company, Dainese, Decathlon, Phenix Ski, Lafuma, Mammut

Considered in this report
• Geography: Global
• Historic year: 2017
• Base year: 2022
• Estimated year: 2023
• Forecast year: 2028

Aspects covered in this report
• Global ski gear & equipment market with its value and forecast along with its segments
• Region-wise ski gear & equipments market analysis
• Various drivers and challenges
• On-going trends and developments
• Top profiled companies
• Strategic recommendation

Regions & Countries covered in the report:
• North America (United States, Canada, Mexico)
• Europe (Germany, United Kingdom, France, Spain, Italy, Russia Austria, Switzerland, Sweden)
• Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, India, Australia, South Korea)
• South America
• Middle-East & Africa

By Product:
• Skies/Ski Snowboards
• Ski Footwear/Ski Boots and Bindings
• Ski Poles/Ski Sticks
• Ski Helmets
• Ski Goggles
• Ski Gloves/Ski Mittens
• Ski Clothing/Apparel
• Others

By Distribution Channel:
• Hypermarkets/Supermarkets
• Specialty Stores
• Online Stores
• Other Distribution Channels

By End-User:
• Men
• Women
• Kids

The approach of the report:
This report consists of a combined approach of primary as well as secondary research. Initially, secondary research was used to get an understanding of the market and list out the companies that are present in the market. The secondary research consists of third-party sources such as press releases, annual reports of companies, and analyzing government-generated reports and databases. After gathering the data from secondary sources primary research was conducted by making telephonic interviews with the leading players about how the market is functioning and then conducting trade calls with dealers and distributors of the market. Post this we have started doing primary calls to consumers by equally segmenting consumers into regional aspects, tier aspects, age groups, and gender. Once we have primary data with us we started verifying the details obtained from secondary sources.

Intended audience:
This report can be useful to industry consultants, manufacturers, suppliers, associations & organizations related to the ski-gear equipment industry, government bodies, and other stakeholders to align their market-centric strategies. In addition to marketing & presentations, it will also increase competitive knowledge about the industry.

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Manmayi Raval

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