Outpost Trade Ups the Ante on What a Trade Show (and a Weekend in the Redwoods) Should Be
Outpost Trade is the summer camp that young me always wanted to attend. It mixes the combined feel-good vibes of a music festival and a weekend spent sleeping under the stars.
And so, I headed up to North California to chill at Outpost Trade in September, where I found a seemingly perfect mix of live music, interesting workshops, good eats and unlimited drinks awaiting me in the middle of a redwood forest.
In a span of just 24 hours, I had gone on a sunrise hike, started a fire with nothing but two sticks as my tools, jumped on a motorcycle, practiced my skills with a bow and arrow and received an introduction to falconry.
As I celebrated the final night of Outpost, I gathered around a campfire toasting gourmet pumpkin spice marshmallows and laughing with new friends that I felt I had known my whole life. Bulleit cocktails crafted from the back of a teardrop trailer sloshed around in enamel mugs and Tycho was setting up for a private show in the former Boy Scout cabin at Camp Navarro.
An Introduction to Outpost Trade (and the Outdoor Industry)
It felt like a scene right out of an REI catalog. And with all the brands, ambassadors and influencers hanging around, it honestly could have been.
You see, Outpost Trade is the brainchild of a group of guys that thought they could make trade shows – particularly trade shows for the outdoor industry – better.
And, as if the crowd of 200 or so people hanging out around that fire weren’t evidence enough, I’d have to say they did a pretty damn good job.
Honestly, when I snagged a ticket (yes, I paid for my own ticket) through Bolt Collective a few weeks earlier, I was really just hoping to hold the falcon that was featured in their trailer video. I was looking for something fun to do for my birthday weekend and was a little preoccupied with the prospect of holding said bird that I hadn’t really grasped that Outpost was actually an event that is truly disrupting the traditional trade show model.
I’ll admit: Sometimes I sign up for things without fully researching them. In my defense, the idea of learning falconry doesn’t require much more due diligence for me to sign on. Even so, Outpost Trade was one of those things.
As I was walking down the gravel path to the main clearing on Friday afternoon, I saw full-on trade show set up in the grass in the middle of the redwoods. Brand reps, founders and ambassadors were giving out free samples, customized swag and sneak-peeks of new product lines.
Being an impromptu introduction to the outdoor industry for me, I felt a little overwhelmed at first. People kept asking what company I was with or if I was part of the media. I fumbled over my words to try to explain I was just there enjoying myself.
Hello, imposter syndrome.
Those feelings subsided mere minutes after I got there, though, and really started to understand the ethos of Outpost.
I quickly realized that I was surrounded by my people. These were adventure seekers and outdoor lovers who have managed to blur the lines of work and play in a wonderful way.
At its core, Outpost is a place for outdoorsmen and women to network in a natural way while doing all the things they love most.
It was also an opportunity for brands like Airstream, Merrell and Onewheel to showcase their products as they were meant to be shown.
Outside.
In the wild.
With a bit of grit on them.
As someone who makes a living doing marketing, I was equal parts intrigued and thrilled.
In marketing, a whole lotta companies tout some silly stuff about living their purpose and embodying their brand values. Usually, it’s crap. I’ve seen it many times. You’ve seen it. Heck, I’ve probably even written it a few times for companies throughout my years of being a freelance writer.
Most brand purposes are nothing more than a well-strategized marketing ploy to get customers to buy on.
But if my eyes didn’t deceive me, these companies were. really. actually. doing. it.
“Those hiking boots are going to get dirty the second you walk out of the store anyway…”
Outpost is completely devoid of shiny display cases, suits, or scheduled product demos. If you wanted to try out those Merrell hiking shoes, you laced up a pair and took them for a stroll through the redwoods. Get them dirty, scuff them up a bit, hop a few logs and see how they feel.
Tentstile and ConTENTment villages were set up all around the property for attendees to sleep in each night.
Adventure-ready Airstreams were waiting for you to come in and relax between workshops. Companies were invited to host workshops, experiences or talks that fully immersed attendees. Those experiences ranged from tie-dying bandannas and making your own custom backpack patch to climbing redwoods and the falconry I mentioned above.
What I loved most was that the collaborations with organizations and nonprofits were also leading real change in the world. While on my morning hike, experts from Save the Redwoods League taught me about Earth’s tallest trees.
Then there was the outdoor survival workshop. An organization is using the adrenaline rush of survival situations to teach skateboarders from cities about nature. So cool (dare I say, rad?).
After two full days at Outpost, I felt completely in my element. I’d walk right up to someone and introduce myself (if we hadn’t already connected during an activity or while standing in line at the Bulleit bar). I met so many inspiring men and women. And got to see a different, unpretentious side of the brands I see while walking through my favorite outdoor stores.
It also completely inspired me in a way I haven’t felt for a while now.
I’m excited to jump into more adventures. To spend my weekends toting my camera with me everywhere I go. And to dedicate my weeknights to writing about the outdoors. I’ve fallen into a rather awesome community of people. And, if the outdoor industry is my new stomping ground then Outpost Trade was the ultimate introduction.
Thanks, guys! I’ll surely see you around.
