Asia's leading summer sports and fashion trade show — ISPO Shanghai 2025 — was held on July 4-6 at the Shanghai New International Expo Centre, bringing together over 600 outdoor sports brands from nearly 30 countries and regions.

Covering everything — from mountaineering, hiking, camping and recreational vehicle or RV travel to water sports, cycling, urban movement, running and sports tech — this year's event highlighted the growing diversity and appeal of the outdoor lifestyle industry.

Compared with previous years, ISPO Shanghai 2025 featured a noticeable surge in international and emerging designer brands. These newcomers — known for their fresh aesthetics, playful spirit and consumer-friendly interaction — added a vibrant edge to the show's more traditional lineup.

One standout exhibit came from long-time outdoor brand OZARK, which transformed its booth into a mountainous landscape. Surrounded by peaks, the brand showcased classic outdoor gear from the 1990s alongside cutting-edge 2025 debuts — drawing crowds of outdoor enthusiasts eager to trace the evolution of the equipment.

Camping continues to be a hot trend and nowhere was that more evident than in the buzz surrounding a rugged, modular camping storage box.

The box features an integrated Iron Grill Table system — essentially a mobile outdoor kitchen — and a frame with sliding tracks that expand into a table for group use. Openings on the surface accommodate gear like lanterns, coffee pots, pans and axes — enabling users to customize their setup for any outdoor scenario.

Despite a price tag ranging from 800-1,200 yuan ($111.53-$167.29), the product has already won favor with seasoned campers and international buyers alike.

According to JLL — a firm that specializes in real estate, investment management and commercial property research — online spending on outdoor sports in China hit 200 million transactions last year.

Consumers aged 24-34 accounted for 43 percent of that total, cementing their role as the sector's driving force.

As outdoor sports increasingly mix healing, lifestyles and social sharing, activities like cycling and climbing are gaining popularity across social media.

This shift in consumer behavior is expected to reshape the retail landscape — pushing malls and brands to rethink how they integrate nature, urban spaces and immersive retail experiences.

Sources: Shanghai Observer, official WeChat accounts of ISPO Shanghai and Rockbrook