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Beyond the Booth: What ORBDAYS 2026 Revealed About Modern Hiking Footwear

From product feedback to industry conversations, three days at Outdoor Business Days offered a valuable glimpse into how people are redefining movement in the outdoors.

The Most Valuable Insights Rarely Come from Presentations

Trade shows are often measured by numbers.

Visitors. Meetings. Orders. Leads.

Those metrics matter.

But some of the most important takeaways cannot be counted.

They emerge from conversations.

From the questions people ask. The products they pick up. The ideas that keep resurfacing throughout the day.

At Outdoor Business Days 2026 in Riva del Garda, NAT’S spent three days speaking with retailers, distributors, agencies, product managers, and outdoor professionals from across Europe.

By the end of the event, one observation became increasingly difficult to ignore:

The conversation around outdoor movement may be changing.

A Different Conversation in a Crowded Industry

Walking through ORBDAYS, a clear pattern emerged.

Much of the outdoor industry continues to focus on familiar categories:

  • Trail running.
  • Race performance.
  • Speed.
  • Competition.

Many of the conversations across the show revolved around helping athletes move faster and perform better.

Yet many of the discussions happening at the NAT’S booth followed a different direction.

Visitors asked about hiking.

About long-distance walking.

About lightweight footwear for all-day movement.

About products that could move comfortably between trails, travel, and everyday adventures.

Some were already familiar with speed hiking.

Others were discovering the concept for the first time.

What stood out wasn’t simply that these conversations happened.

It was how often they happened.

Throughout the event, hiking and speed hiking remained relatively underrepresented topics compared to running-focused categories, despite generating consistent interest among retailers, agencies, and industry professionals.

For a young outdoor brand, that observation felt significant.

Not because it suggested less competition.

But because it suggested there may still be space to serve a growing group of outdoor consumers whose needs don’t fit neatly into traditional categories.

On-Foot Testing

Our Lavaredo X stole the spotlight at the trade show as countless attendees tried on the pair in person.

Rugged Rock Test

The Lavaredo X faced its ultimate test: visitors tread on jagged rocks, feeling every grip and step.

The Rise of the Modern Hiker

The modern outdoor consumer is increasingly difficult to define.

They may run occasionally.

They may hike every weekend.

They may spend weekdays in cities and weekends in the mountains.

They don’t necessarily identify as athletes.

But they care deeply about movement.

They value versatility.

Comfort.

Durability.

And the freedom to explore further.

This shift appeared repeatedly in conversations throughout ORBDAYS.

Many visitors weren’t looking for the most aggressive trail-running shoe on the market.

They were looking for footwear that supported the way they actually move.

Long walks.

Fast hikes.

Multi-day travel.

Daily exploration.

In many ways, this mindset reflects a growing outdoor culture that prioritizes experience over competition.

In Italy, there is a concept that resonates strongly with this idea:

💡Camminata.

Not simply walking.

But moving with intention.

Exploring landscapes at a human pace.

Connecting with places through movement rather than performance metrics.

While the outdoor industry often celebrates speed, many of the conversations at ORBDAYS pointed toward something equally important:

The desire to keep moving.

NAT’S Captivates Camminata-Style Hikers

NAT’S attracts numerous modern outdoor shoppers embodying the new hiking mindset rooted in Italy’s Camminata philosophy. NAT’S prioritizes comfort, durability and all-round versatility, aligning with today’s hikers who value immersive outdoor experience over competitive speed metrics.

What 250 Conversations Taught Us About Product Design

Over the course of the event, approximately 250 visitors stopped by the NAT’S booth, creating opportunities for dozens of meaningful discussions with retailers, distributors, agencies, and outdoor professionals.

One lesson emerged quickly.
Technical performance remains essential.
But it is no longer enough.

Among all products displayed during the event, Lavaredo X consistently generated the strongest reactions.

Visitors were drawn to its balance of technical credibility and distinctive visual identity.

Meanwhile, another model built on a very similar technical foundation generated noticeably less enthusiasm.
The difference wasn’t traction.
It wasn’t cushioning.
It wasn’t durability.
The difference was how clearly the product communicated its purpose.
That contrast reinforced an important insight:
Modern outdoor consumers evaluate products emotionally and functionally at the same time.
They want performance.
But they also want products that feel relevant to the way they live and move today.
Product Validation Beyond Specifications

One of the most encouraging outcomes from ORBDAYS was the response to NAT’S upcoming Spring/Summer 2027 collection.
Distributors requested follow-up meetings.
Italian and international agencies expressed interest in future cooperation.
Product managers from established outdoor and running brands stopped by to review the collection and learn more about the direction NAT’S is taking.
These interactions matter because they provide something no marketing campaign can manufacture:
Independent validation.
Not validation that every product is perfect.
But validation that the broader direction is resonating.

For an emerging outdoor brand, those signals are often more valuable than immediate sales results.

More Than a Product Opportunity

By the end of ORBDAYS, one idea kept resurfacing.

Many outdoor brands are competing for attention within increasingly crowded performance categories.

Far fewer are building a clear identity around hiking and speed hiking.

That doesn’t make those categories easy.
But it does make them interesting.

Because they reflect how many people actually experience the outdoors today.
Not as racers.
Not as professionals.
But as explorers.

People who want to move further, spend more time outside, and discover new places at their own pace.

The conversations we had in Riva del Garda reinforced a belief we’ve been developing for some time:

The most exciting opportunities in outdoor footwear may not come from helping people move faster.

They may come from helping more people move.

Looking Ahead

ORBDAYS 2026 wasn’t important because it confirmed what we already knew.

It was important because it challenged assumptions.

It reminded us that innovation is only meaningful when people understand it.

That design matters as much as performance.

And that some of the most valuable insights come from simply listening.

Most of all, it reinforced the idea that there is a growing community of hikers, fast hikers, walkers, and everyday explorers looking for products built around the way they move.

Those conversations are shaping what comes next for NAT’S.

And we’re excited to keep listening.

One step at a time.