Switchback at TRE gears up to gather outdoor industry’s leading brands, advocates, and innovators in San Antonio

November 13, 2025

SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS (November 13, 2025) /OUTDOOR SPORTSWIRE/ – Switchback, the education and business gathering for the outdoor industry, returns to The Running Event (TRE) next month with a blend of new and returning outdoor brands, a slate of outdoor industry-focused education sessions, a growing roster of top tier industry partners, and numerous networking opportunities.

Switchback at TRE will be held December 2-4, 2025, in San Antonio, TX, at the Henry B. González Convention Center, with Tuesday, December 2, dedicated to educational programming.

Brands returning to Switchback at TRE include KEEN Footwear, Patagonia, PrAna, Smartwool, The North Face, TEVA, Toad & Co, and Danner. New exhibiting brands include BOGS Footwear, Cotopaxi, Mammut, Stio, Topo Designs, Berghaus, Sea to Summit, and Duer, among others. To view the complete list of brands attending TRE and Switchback at TRE, visit https://exhibitors.therunningevent.com/exhibitors.

“Switchback has evolved into an essential gathering point for the outdoor industry,” said Christina Henderson, The Running Event and Switchback director. “With outdoor market-specific programming, the growing crossover between the running and outdoor markets, and a vibrant media presence on the show floor, the broad range of experiences at Switchback at TRE is drawing more and more outdoor industry members who are eager to gather, share, learn, and celebrate.”

TRE activities will begin on Day 1 (Dec. 2, 2025) with a River Walk Run and Cleanup, sponsored by ASICS, Sneaker Impact, Feetures, and Leave No Trace (7:00 AM); a seminar on Fostering Belonging: How Inclusive Retail Drives Loyalty and Connection, presented by Junstin Yoder of LGBTQ Outdoors (1:30 PM); and a seminar on how to Turn Momentum into Profit, presented by Carrie Watson of Outside Looks, LLC. Day 1 concludes with the Opening Party hosted by HOKA, Shopify, and Darn Tough (6:00 PM).

On Day 2 (Dec. 3, 2025), The Conservation Alliance’s executive director Paul Hendricks will lead a discussion entitled Common Ground: Trails, Public Lands, and the Business Case for Protecting Nature, where he will be joined by Patagonia’s Bianca Botta, GU Energy’s Magdalena Boulet, and Duct Tape then Beer/ Dirtbag Diaries’ Fitz Cahal (1:00 PM).

The Switchback Hour (4:00 PM) hosted by Switchback, Outdoor Industry Association (OIA), and The Rock Fight will close out Day 2 in the Training Camp Theater, located in the exhibit hall. This gathering will be an opportunity for outdoor retailers, brands, and organizations to have conversation, connect, and get a sneak peek at Switchback Spring 2026. Along with beer, snacks, and giveaways, the Rock Fight will host a live podcast with special guests including Switchback director Christina Henderson and OIA president Kent Ebersole.

The event continues on Day 3 (Dec. 4, 2025) with Julie Brown, OIA Director of Sustainable Business Innovation, and Kelly Davis, OIA Director of Research, providing a clearer picture of how to meet consumer expectations, stay ahead of compliance, and strengthen your business through sustainability in their presentation Sustainability in the Outdoor Market: Business Value and Consumer Expectations.

In addition to Switchback’s official event partner OIA – with which they recently announced a deepened relationship – Switchback is supported by other key outdoor organizations in conservation, participation, education, leadership, diversity, and equity, including American Trail Running Association, Leave No Trace, LGBTQ Outdoors, and The Conservation Alliance. To see all TRE and Switchback at TRE partner organizations, visit https://www.therunningevent.com/partners.

Launched in 2022, Switchback at TRE acknowledged the growing crossover between run and outdoor specialty markets. The outdoor showcase has since grown in size and popularity to the point where a standalone event, Switchback Spring, was launched last spring in Nashville. The second edition of Switchback Spring will be held June 16-18, 2026, in New Orleans at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center.

To register for TRE and Switchback at TRE, visit www.therunningevent.com/register.

Retailer registration for Switchback Spring 2026 will open in January 2026.

For brands interested in exhibiting at Switchback Spring, please contact Beth Gordon at bgordon@Divcom.com.

ABOUT SWITCHBACK

Switchback is the twice-a-year business and education gathering for the outdoor industry owned and operated by Diversified, a leading international media company with a portfolio of face-to-face exhibitions and conferences, online communities, and digital and print publications. Scheduled at optimal times for discovery and buying conversations, Switchback is held each fall in conjunction with The Running Event and each spring as a standalone event. Blending an accessible format with a schedule of education, peer connection opportunities, and business meetings, Switchback is a dedicated gathering place for all sectors of the outdoor industry community. Upcoming dates for the event include Switchback at TRE (Dec. 2-4, 2025; San Antonio, TX) and Switchback Spring (June 16-18; New Orleans, LA). To learn more about Switchback, please contact Michael Collin (michael@palemorning.com) or visit www.switchbackevent.com.