Latest survey! Demand for camping supplies and running equipment is high in the United States

Demand for camping supplies is much higher than pre- pandemic levels

The outbreak has brought the tourism industry to a standstill. Despite this, people still want to go on vacation. At this time, camping has become one of the important ways for people to travel.

In the United States, camping culture has always been very popular, and the epidemic has pushed it to a new level. According to statistics from the data search engine Statista, the number of campers in the United States (6 years old and above) reached 47.94 million in 2020, an increase of more than 6 million from the previous year. In addition, according to data from the camping review platform The Dyrt, one in five Americans participated in camping activities in 2021.

This year, as the United States relaxed its epidemic prevention and control measures, people's desire for vacation travel has also increased. A survey by consumer financial services company BankRate found that 69% of adults said they would go on vacation this summer, but inflation may change their travel plans.

The U.S. consumer price index has been rising since March 2021. The latest data released by the U.S. Department of Labor recently showed that the consumer price index fell slightly in April, but still hovered at a 40-year high. In addition, according to data from the American Automobile Association, on May 24, the average gasoline price in the United States reached $4.6 per gallon, a record high. A year ago, the average gasoline price in the United States was only $3 per gallon.

BankRate analysts predict that between pent-up demand and soaring costs, people will still prefer to travel, but may reduce the number of trips and shorten the distance of travel, such as camping, going to nearby beaches, parks, etc.

Data from e-commerce consulting firm Pattern also seems to indicate that consumers' demand for camping remained strong at the beginning of this year. According to Pattern's survey (based on data from Amazon's US site), from January to April this year, Americans' demand for outdoor and camping supplies was higher than in 2020 and 2019 before the epidemic, and was basically the same as in 2021.

Looking at the data from 2019 to 2021, Americans' demand for outdoor and camping supplies peaked in June and July, then fell back, and then ushered in a small peak during the year-end shopping season. In this way, outdoor and camping supplies are currently entering their peak sales season.

So, what kind of products are popular with consumers? Taking the demand in 2021 as an example, the top products are: tents, water filters, wilderness survival equipment, multi-functional convenient tents for bathing and changing, knives and forks, lamps, outdoor tables and chairs, personal care products, outdoor ice buckets, camping tables and chairs, sunshade products, outdoor backpacks, camping stoves/accessories, first aid kits, camping blankets, inflatable/foam pads, hammocks, kettles, igniters, etc.

The categories with the largest year-on-year growth in demand in the first four months of this year are: foot warmers (+81%), chemical water filters (+69%), water purification devices (+52%), thermos bottles (+42%), sleeping bags (+20%), bath products (+17%), sleeping bag tents (+14%), hand warmers (+13%), and emergency blankets (+13%).

In the camping equipment market, many sellers are planning to enter the market, such as Naturehike, which recently raised nearly 100 million yuan in financing. Naturehike focuses on the research, design and sales of equipment for hiking, mountaineering, camping and traveling, and currently has nine major product lines, including tents, air cushions, sleeping bags, tables and chairs, lamps, outdoor tableware, trekking poles, backpacks and outdoor clothing.

In terms of sales channels, Norke mainly relies on online platforms for sales. In addition to having its own independent website, Norke has also established presence on Amazon, Tmall Global, and AliExpress. According to Norke, its sales on the Amazon platform doubled in 2021, exceeding US$10 million.

Pandemic boosts Americans' demand for running gear

In addition to camping, running is also engraved in the DNA of Americans. According to a 2020 report by the American Sports and Fitness Industry Association, about 50 million Americans participate in some form of running or jogging.

To understand consumers' demand for running, Pattern reviewed sales on Amazon's US site over the past year and found that Americans' demand for running equipment peaked in January, then declined in early spring and rebounded at the end of the year.

But if you look at it by category, the demand is a little different. Some subcategories are different from the overall demand.

Running apparel and running gear have very similar trends overall, with demand increasing during the year-end holiday shopping period and peaking in January. The pandemic has had a huge impact on running apparel. In the first few weeks of the 2020 lockdown, consumer demand for apparel and accessories soared, increasing 86% from the week of March 22 to March 29. Since then, monthly demand has been higher than pre-pandemic levels every year. This shows that the pandemic has driven long-term growth in demand for running apparel. In the first four months of this year, consumer demand for running apparel has remained consistent with last year.

It should be noted that running clothing is also divided into winter and summer clothing, so the peak demand for summer equipment such as short-sleeved shirts and shorts is mainly concentrated from May to September. It is worth noting that in the first four months of this year, consumer demand for shorts (especially for women) has greatly exceeded the same period last year.

In contrast, there is no obvious seasonality in consumer demand for running shoes. The epidemic drove the growth of running apparel in 2020, while the impact on running shoes occurred in the spring and early summer of 2021. Pattern speculates that this is because many people started running in 2020 wearing only an old pair of shoes, and as running became a daily exercise, many new runners needed to buy new running shoes. But after this round of buying, demand began to cool down. Since the beginning of this year, demand for both men's and women's shoes has been slightly lower than in 2021.

Let’s take a look at the demand for water bottle belts. The demand for them peaks in early summer (June) and drops significantly in winter. This is understandable, as the temperature rises in the summer and people need to drink more water.

For higher-priced GPS sports watches, there are two demand peaks, one at the end of June and the other at the end of November. The sales of GPS sports watches rely heavily on two promotional events (Amazon Prime Day, with a 71% surge in demand in 2021; Black Friday, with a 35% increase in demand in 2021).

Pattern also found that women's demand for running equipment increased much more than men's after the epidemic. Compared with 2019, women's demand for running shorts increased by 305% in 2021, while men's increased by 159%; women's demand for cross-country running shoes increased by 262%, while men's demand decreased by 9%.

The epidemic has affected our lives and brought more people closer to nature, such as camping and running. But is this impact lasting or short-lived? What product demand has been stimulated? Sellers need to pay close attention and adjust their sales plans in a timely manner.

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