Tariffs, Trails, and the True Cost of Outdoor Gear: The Economic & Environmental Impact on Your Adventures
You’ve meticulously planned your next backcountry trip. The maps are printed, your gear list is set, and you’re eyeing that ultralight tent that would shave a pound off your pack weight. But when you check the price, you do a double-take. Did this tent really cost $100 less last year? While inflation and supply chain disruptions have played their roles, another force is silently reshaping the price of your gear: tariffs . These hidden economic policies don’t just affect your wallet—they’re also influencing the sustainability movement in outdoor gear . As gear prices climb and manufacturers rethink supply chains, outdoor enthusiasts face an important question: Will tariffs push the industry toward sustainability, or make eco-conscious gear even harder to access? Understanding Tariffs: How Policy Meets the Outdoors Tariffs are taxes imposed on imported goods, meant to protect domestic industries and encourage local manufacturing. However, for the outdoor industry—where cutting-edge mat...