The European Outdoor Group (EOG), an association of 32 large international outdoor brands set up to represent the common interests of the European outdoor industry, has participated in a major study of the European market which revealed that the European specialist outdoor market is larger than previously assumed.

Originally estimated at €2.6 billion, it is now valued in excess of €3 billion. The wider outdoor market which includes own brand and lifestyle products is now estimated to be worth over €5 billion. The findings also reveal that the average growth across the outdoor sector is just over 1% (between 2003 and 2004) and growth rates vary from category to category, with outdoor lifestyle being seen as a significant growth area.

The survey was carried out based on data provided by European outdoor brands for 2003 and 2004.