Europe Ski Gear & Equipment Market Outlook, 2028

Skiing is by far the most anticipated sport within the winter sports industry, followed by snowboarding in the European region. Popular destinations in Europe, such as Chamonix, St Moritz, Val Thorens, and Kitzbuhel among others have been facilitating winter sports in the region. Overall, the region boasts around 3,647 ski resorts, where affordable resorts were becoming more prominent over the last few years. In addition, various governing bodies and sports associations, such as the German Skiing Association, are actively supporting the participants by sponsoring high-quality equipment and garments to enhance their performance during various competitions. Thus, strong penetration of winter sports across the region along with favorable government support is expected to propel the growth of the market during the forecast period. In recent years, the number of women participants in various sports has surged globally including snow sports such as skiing. Vendors are introducing ski gear & equipment specifically for women. Though the participation rate of women in skiing is less in comparison to men, the manufacturers are playing a vital role in encouraging women by providing customized equipment that is designed specifically for them with increased safety and comfort level, such as narrow ankles and size discrepancies. In addition, key vendors are differentiating their offerings by categorizing them into various levels such as intermediates, advanced, and professional. For instance, Coalition Snow is one of the key vendors that manufactures women's outdoor recreational equipment such as skis and snowboards. Thus, the growing adoption of ski gear & equipment by women indicates a boost to the market’s growth.

According to the research report “Europe Ski Gear & Equipments Market Outlook, 2028” published by Bonafide Research, the market is anticipated to witness a value addition of USD 273.78 Million market size by the upcoming time period. The snow extent in Europe is now 6.8 million square kilometers, according to data from NSIDC (National Snow and Ice Data Center). This means 62.4% of the land is covered by snow which is expected to boost the market growth. The ski industry is largely reliant on the snow season, where participation appears to have plateaued or is growing slightly in traditional territories such as the United Kingdom, mainland Europe, and the United States According to the obtained data, the industry in the United Kingdom is witnessing higher demands, with more than two-thirds of skiers aged 43 to 65. Popular European resorts such as St Moritz, Chamonix, Val Thorens, and Kitzbuhel, among others, have catered to the region's winter sports sector. The size of resorts has also changed as a result of increased consumer demand for covering greater distances and territories in a single day.

For years, Europe has been the world's premier destination for skiers, with resorts dotted across the Alps and the Pyrenees gaining excellent reputations. There are about 289 ski resorts in France, and each resort offers skiing and snowboarding for beginners, families, and ski experts. According to the analyses, about 28% of Europeans visited France for their last ski holiday during 2017-2018, making it one of their favorite ski destinations. Also, roughly 8.5 million people are indulged in skiing in the country. Additionally, skiing is considered one of the most significant sports in Germany, as skiing alone contributes to total consumer spending on the sport. Furthermore, in Germany, a total of approximately 950 km of ski slopes, 3,000 km of cross-country tracks, and almost 2,000 ski lifts are available for winter sportsmen and women, providing enough opportunities for ski gear and equipment manufacturers to target enthusiasts across the region. Countries like France, Austria, Switzerland, Spain, and Germany are some of the favorite ski destinations in Europe and have also been hosting various sporting events. They have developed infrastructure to attract more people to participate in sports, subsequently triggering the demand for the European region's winter sports market's growth. Alpine Touring gear is perfect skiing equipment for downhill and uphill and is far more comfortable and efficient sports gear.

Increasing participation rates in outdoor activities like skiing and other snow sports increased government initiatives to encourage participation in skiing, and growth in the number of ski resorts are some of the major factors contributing to the increased sales of ski gear & equipment across the region. In order to gain a competitive advantage and add the convenience of usage, manufacturers are launching lightweight boots and innovative helmets. For instance, helmets equipped with the latest AR technology. However, factors such as changing weather conditions and easy availability of rental and counterfeit products are restraining the growth of Europe's ski gear & equipment market. Based on the product types, clothing, skies, and footwear segments together acquire around 57% of the market share in 2022. As for the distribution channel, the hypermarket/supermarkets and specialty stores segment participates in more than 77% of the market share in the Europe market. In 2022, the share of EU households with internet access has risen to 93 %, up from 72 % in 2011. Further, the penetration rate of the e-commerce market across Europe was highest in the UK and Germany in 2021.

Customers are becoming more demanding and are paying more attention to high-quality and therefore more expensive materials. Austria is the second largest sales market worldwide after the USA with 432,656 alpine ski pairs sold last season. Les Arcs (France), Obergurgl (Austria), Grandvalira (Andorra), Meribel (France), Pamporovo (Bulgaria) Sass-Fee (Switzerland), and La Plagne (France) are some of the ski resorts for beginners in Europe. Val d’Anniviers (Switzerland), Krippenstein (Austria), Ste. Foy (France), Narvik (Norway), Riksgransen (Sweden), Helbronner (Italy), Engelberg (Switzerland), Serre Chevalier (France), Pragelato (Italy), and Disentis (Switzerland) are a few of the best-undiscovered ski resorts in Europe. The choice of ski resorts makes Switzerland one of the best countries for skiing in Europe. Germany (more than 14.5 Million) and France (more than 8.4 Million) countries are accounts for the highest number of skiers. Other countries encountered the same as the UK with 6.3 Million, Poland with 4.9 Million, Italy with 4.9 Million, Russia with 3.5 Million, Austria with 2.9 Million, and Switzerland with more than 2.8 Million. Further, Austria is the third largest country with the most ski resorts with more than 270, followed by Italy (more than 210) and France (195). In 2021 Germany was the European country with the highest number of skiing participants, with approximately 14.6 million Germans skiing.

The European ski gear and equipment market are highly competitive and major players are focusing on differentiating their offerings, through product launches and mergers and acquisitions, in order to enhance their brand portfolio to cater to various preferences of consumers. In March 2018, Alpina introduced a range of innovative boots that feature the exclusive InTemp control system, a fully integrated heating system designed to keep skiers’ feet warm and comfortable, which comes with a battery-powered warmth at the touch of a button. Furthermore, expansion was also one of the key strategies used by key market players to tap newer markets and widen their production facilities. Since the European market shows great potential for ski gear and equipment more than any other region in the world, key market players are focusing on geographical expansions to strengthen their hold in the market.

Major Companies present in the market:
Amer Sports Oyj, Burton Snowboards, Fischer Sports, Skis Rossignol SA, Volcom, Elan, Helly Hansen, Alpina Sports, Clarus Crop, Patagonia, Columbia Sportswear Company, Dainese, Decathlon, Phenix Ski, Lafuma, Mammut

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

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

Countries covered in the report:
• Germany
• United Kingdom
• France
• Spain
• Italy
• Russia
• Austria
• Switzerland
• Sweden

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.

Make this report your own

Have queries/questions regarding a report

Take advantage of intelligence tailored to your business objective

Ask an Expert

Manmayi Raval

Research Consultant

Don’t pay for what you don’t need. Save 30%

Customise your report by selecting specific countries or regions

Specify Scope Now