Switchback Spring, June 16-18, 2026 in New Orleans, LA
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Switchback at TRE, December 1-3, 2026 in San Antonio, TX
For decades, much of the outdoor industry approached women’s gear as a variation on men’s products: smaller sizing, feminine colors, similar design assumptions. But that’s shifting as more female founders build gear around women’s bodies, preferences, and experiences outdoors. The change reflects the people using the products, too—women now account for 51.9% of outdoor participants in the United States, according to OIA’s 2024 report. At the upcoming Switchback Spring event, these nine women-led brands bring innovation to categories spanning apparel, skincare and bug repellant, and camp.
The ski industry is dominated by men, from the athlete level to the brands’ C-suites. Halfdays is a refreshing take on ski apparel for women and designed by women. Olympian Kiley McKinnon—who wore men’s ski gear to compete in the 2018 Games in South Korea— and her friends Ariana Ferwerda and Karella Golda launched the Colorado-based brand in 2020 with fun colors and feminine cuts. For instance, the Aston Jacket has a belted waist and comes in the color Spritz, like your favorite Aperol-based aprés cocktail. Nearly 100% of their materials are recycled and core products are certified by Bluesign.
Allison Levy and Chelsea Rizzo always felt like they had to put on a uniform every time they went hiking. As fashion stylists in New York City, they wanted outdoor clothing that fit seamlessly alongside the rest of their wardrobes: technical, but still stylish. So in June 2021, they launched Hikerkind with a single product, the Midlayer 01. Since then, they have launched a Packable Down Puffer with beautiful diamond quilting and big pockets; eight-pocket pants, shorts, and skorts; and ribbed merino t-shirts and tanks. They also collaborated with KEEN to design a special Targhee IV hiking boot and Gossamer Gear on a small collection of packs. Their color palette is muted and inspired by nature.
Backpacking food gets a bad rap for not tasting great. But not if Sara Willis has a say. The chef of 30 years is making organic, freeze-dried camping meals out of her dissatisfaction with existing trail food options. Having owned eight restaurants during her career, with the first in San Jose Del Cabo, Mexico, she’s using her experience with cultures and flavors to inform her backpacking recipes—from her Chicken Enchilada Taco Bowl to her Chile Relleno with Organic Poblano Chiles and Burrata Cheese. Many of her recipes also classify as gluten-free, dairy-free, high-protein, vegan, and/or vegetarian for every type of eater.
Even though it seriously works, not everyone likes to use DEET to keep the bugs away. Turns out, nature already creates a compound called undecanone in wild tomatoes and bananas that repels ticks and mosquitos. Stephanie Watson and Michelle Arnau spent the last seven years testing and perfecting—and registering with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)—the nontoxic formula before launching Mimikai out of Portland, Oregon in 2025. The bug spray is just as effective as DEET, but without the chemical smell and toxicity fears. In other words, it won’t melt your clothes or irritate your skin.
In 2014, Jill Deering texted Monica DeVreese a message that marked a turning point in both their lives: “What if I made my own running clothes?” DeVreese, an ultrarunner and owner of Santa Barbara Running, responded in two minutes with enthusiasm. And the two went into business together to form rabbit, a line of premium running apparel with a California spirit and aesthetic. They are known for their buttery-soft materials and colorful prints. In addition to apparel, rabbit also has a line of footwear for the trail and the road.
Many skincare products are notoriously full of chemicals that dry out skin. Not SallyeAnder. Gary and Karen Austin started the company in 1982 in the Hudson Valley after making a pure soap to soothe their son’s eczema. They started selling soap out of their garage to people in the community with similar skincare needs. Today, their daughter, Sallie Austin Gonzales, serves as the CEO. The recipes are still the same as they were back in the ‘80s. Bestsellers include a natural bug repellant, stain remover, and rescue balm.
Founded in 2008 by skier Corinne Prevot, Skida began with colorful handmade hats sewn from patterned stretch fabrics for teammates at Burke Mountain Academy. What started in the New England ski community quickly grew into a vibrant outdoor accessories brand known for bold prints and performance-driven designs that bring personality to life outside. Today, Skida makes headwear, accessories, and now apparel built to keep people comfortable, protected, and joyful across the seasons. The brand is also the official headwear partner of U.S. Ski & Snowboard through the 2026 Winter Games, with a co-branded collection rooted in its longtime connection to elite athletes.
As pickleball and tennis grew more popular, Tina Jennings noticed there weren’t many options for stylish, sun-protective women’s athletic wear. She started Sol Sister Sport in 2022 in Mill Valley, California, to provide versatile 2-in-1 skirted leggings that transition from sport to daily activities for women on the move. The signature pair is made from a soft, compressive fabric that has 77% polyester and 23% spandex. Another style is made from 95% natural cotton with 5% spandex, for those who prefer natural fibers.
Wondery Outdoors is a BIPOC-owned, women-led outdoor brand founded in 2016 with a mission to make the outdoors more inclusive and welcoming for everyone through its “You Belong Out Here” ethos. Best known for its bucket list water bottles—in which you place a sticker for national parks or states or countries you visit— the Los Angeles-based company creates products designed to help people track their adventures, celebrate milestones, and build lasting connections with the outdoors. Wondery also partners with organizations like the National Parks Conservation Association to support public lands and expand access to outdoor spaces for historically underrepresented communities.
Discover the growing Switchback Spring 2026 Exhibitor List and plan your visit to meet these women-led brands in person this June 16–18 in New Orleans.
