Bloomberg reports that Adidas is launching $595 mountaineering jackets next year. Adidas wants to become a leader in performance-sports gear by 2015.
"Adidas is still far behind the specialist labels, but it's coming up," said Andreas Bartmann, chief executive officer of Globetrotter GmbH, Europe's largest outdoor-products retailer. Hamburg-based Globetrotter, which had revenue of 205 million euros in the year through February, will start selling Adidas hiking boots next year, Bartmann said.
The new 325-gram Terrex Feather Jacket is designed to protect trekkers at heights of up to 6,000 meters. Like all Adidas's performance sports gear, the product will initially only be available in Germany and neighboring Austria and Switzerland, along with Russia, China and Korea. From 2012, all Adidas's outdoor equipment will be available globally.
The move puts Adidas into competition with outdoor gear leaders like The North Face. Eddie Bauer also launched a new mountaineering collection this year. Bloomberg says sales of outdoor gear grew in Europe this year despite the recession. It's selling better in Europe that sporting goods so Adidas is smart to focus on it.
Bloomberg 
