The outdoor market - France (2025)

1.2 Global market

The outdoor clothing market, estimated at $**.* billion in ****, is expected to grow at a CAGR of *.*% to ****, reaching a value of $**.** billion.

Sales trends in the global outdoor clothing market World, **** - ****, in billions of dollars and % Source: ****

The graph below shows that upper-body garments dominate the market at **%, followed by lower-body garments at **%. Coveralls and other categories account for **% and **% of the market respectively.

Breakdown of outdoor market, by garment type World, ****, as % of total Source: ****

1.3 European market

The European outdoor market is set to grow significantly between **** and ****, with an **.*% increase in sales from *.** billion euros to *.* billion euros. This trend reflects the growing popularity of outdoor activities.

Market sales trend, by value Europe, **** - ****, in billions of euros Source: ****

In terms of volume, the market has also progressed, with an increase of *.**%, reaching *** million units sold in **** versus ***.** million in ****.

Market sales trend, by volume Europe, **** - **** Source: ****

The dominant category in the outdoor market is clothing, which accounts for *.* billion euros, or almost **% of the total. This is followed by footwear, with *.* billion euros (***), and backpacks, totalling *** million euros. Accessories and tents follow close behind, generating *** and *** million euros respectively. Sleeping bags and climbing are the least important categories, with *** and *** million euros respectively.This breakdown illustrates the predominance of essential items such as clothing and footwear, while specialized equipment occupies a smaller share of the market.

Breakdown of outdoor market sales Europe, ****, in billions of euros Source: ****

1.4 Domestic market

According to the European Outdoor Group, France will account for **.*% of the market's value in ****, and **.*% of its volume, two shares unchanged from ****.

Change in outdoor market sales, by value France, **** - ****, in millions of euros Source: ****

Growth in outdoor market sales, by volume France, **** - ****, in millions of units Source: ****

2.1 Europeans and outdoor activities

Activities in the past ** months :

The graphsics below illustratestrate the sporting activities practiced by Europe's outdoor-oriented population over the past ** months. On average, each person took part in around *.* different activities.

Walking activities dominate with **% of participants, particularly walking and hiking (***).

Cycling activities are also popular, accounting for **%, with road biking (***) predominating.

Water activities (***), are also popular.

Vertical activities, such as climbing (***), have more limited participation.

These data highlight the variety of activities practised and the strong appeal of outdoor sports in Europe.

On foot" activities Europe, ****, in Source: ****

Cycling" activities Europe, ****, in Source: ****

Water activities Europe, ****, in Source: ****

Snow activities Europe, ****, in Source: ****

Vertical" activities Europe, ****, in Source: ****

The practice of "Air" activities Europe, ****, in Source: ****

Motivations for outdoor activities:

The graphs below present the main motivations of Europeans practicing outdoor activities, divided into four main categories. Health and well-being are the dominant drivers, cited by **% of respondents, with objectives such as staying healthy (***). Activities linked to walking, cycling and other forms of active leisure vary according to the motivations identified.

Motivations linked to health and well-being Europe, ****, in Source: ****

Motivations linked to escape and nature Europe, ****, in Source: ****

Pleasure-related motivations Europe, ****, in % Source: ****

Motivations linked to competition and performance Europe, ...

2.2 The French and outdoor activities

In ****, **% of the population will be involved in some form of physical activity or sport, with **% regular participants and **% occasional participants, while **% will remain non-practicing. This proportion is * points higher than in ****.

Physical activity and sport among regular and occasional exercisers France, ****, in Source: ****

In terms of age groups, young people aged ** to ** record a high rate of practice, reaching **%, while **-** year-olds are slightly behind at **%. Among **-** year-olds, **% are active, followed by **-** year-olds with **%, and finally **+ year-olds, **% of whom are active. The overall trend shows an increase in the rate of physical activity among the over-**s, underlining a positive evolution in commitment to physical activity.

Proportion of exercisers, by age France, ****, in Source: ****

In France,walking and hiking are the most widely practiced activitieswith **% of respondents, followed by road cycling (***) are less popular. On average,the French take part in *.* different activities

Outdoor activities most popular with the French France, ****, in Source: ****

In terms of motivations, the main reasons are to stay healthy (***). the average number of motivations identified in France is *.*, slightly higher than the European average.

French motivations for outdoor activities France, ****, in Source: ****

2.3 The French way of doing things

In ****, almost half of all respondents (***) or in other configurations remains significantly less frequent.

Outdoor activity trends France, **** - ****, in % Source: ****

In the last twelve months, with whom did you mainly practice? France, ****, in % Source: ****

2.4 Outdoor products

The graph below shows the criteria influencing consumer choice in France. In terms of user priorities, value for money (***).

Criteria for choosing an outdoor product France, ****, out of ** Source: ****

Environmental criteria (***). Taking the environment into account in the design of products and packaging is also cited by **% of respondents.

CSR criteria considered important by outdoor enthusiasts France, ****, in Source: ****

2.5 French preferences

The French's favorite sports brands show a clear preference for Decathlon, with **% of respondents in favor, well ahead of Go Sport (***).

France's favorite sports retailers France, February ****, in Source: ****

Analysis by gender shows a slight difference in preferences: **% of men like Decathlon, compared with **.*% of women. Go Sport attracts **.*% of men and **.*% of women, while Intersport appeals to **.*% of men and **.*% of women. These data underline the overwhelming popularity of Decathlon, although Intersport retains a notable position with both sexes.

French people's favorite sports brands, by gender France, February ****, in Source: ****

Decathlon is the most popular brand across all age groups, peaking in the **-** age group with **.*% preference, followed closely by the **-** and **-** age groups. On the other hand, Go Sport is less attractive to the French, with a particularly low preference among the over-**s (***) and a gradual decline with age, reaching **.*% among the over-**s. These data show that Decathlon enjoys intergenerational appeal, while Go Sport and Intersport are more segmented by age group.

French people's favorite sports brands, by age group France, February ****, in Source: ****

3.1 Outdoor sport categories

Source: ****

3.2 Outdoor market trends

The outdoor sector is undergoing a rapid transformation, influenced by ecological concerns, changing consumer expectations and technological advances. In ****, several trends are redefining the outdoor experience in France, illustrating a balance between innovation, sustainability and inclusion.

Sustainability at the heart of priorities

The environment is becoming a central issue for outdoor enthusiasts. Faced with climate change and threats to natural ecosystems, outdoor enthusiasts are increasingly aware of the impact of their activities. This awareness is also reflected in the expectations placed on brands, which are actively committed to sustainable production: using recycled materials, limiting waste and adopting transparent manufacturing circuits.

Equipment made from renewed resources, such as recycled textiles or natural fibers, is on the increase. At the same time, educational campaigns are on the rise to raise consumer awareness of the need to preserve natural spaces and adopt more responsible consumption habits.

Integrating technology to enrich the experience

Technological innovations are transforming outdoor experiences, offering both greater safety and interactivity. In ****, equipment is increasingly equipped with environmental sensors that measure air quality and weather conditions in real time. GPS systems are becoming more accurate, enabling users to better plan their routes or share their position in the event of an ...

3.3 Association of leaders

Intersport consolidates its position with the acquisition of Go Sport:

April **, **** marks a milestone in the French sports sector: the Grenoble Commercial Court has approved Intersport's takeover of Go Sport, thus sealing the future of a historic brand. This decision follows a court-ordered receivership procedure initiated in January ****, and establishes Intersport as a key player in the market.

A strategic and socially responsible acquisition

For a purchaseprice of ** million euros, Intersport outstripped competing bids, notably that of Frasers-Sports Direct, which offered ** million euros. This choice was based on an ambitious project, unanimously welcomed by the public prosecutor's office, creditors and unions for its positive social impact. The takeover provides for the preservation of *,*** jobs, i.e. almost **% of the workforce, including *,*** store employees and *** at Go Sport head office.

The operation was also accompanied by a strategic alliance with the Qatari conglomerate Al-Mana. While most outlets in France will be integrated into the Intersport network, Al-Mana will continue to operate the Go Sport brand in the Middle East, guaranteeing international continuity.

A winning repositioning for Go Sport

Of the ** stores taken over, ** will adopt the Intersport banner from ****. These transformations will mainly target large conurbations, such as Paris, where Intersport is ...

4.1 Market players

4.2 The second-hand outdoor market

The popularity of outdoor activities is accompanied by a growing awareness of ecological issues. Outdoor enthusiasts attach great importance to preserving the ecosystems in which they evolve.

Whether it's collecting waste, adopting respectful practices to protect flora and fauna, or using biodegradable products, this ecological awareness also extends to the choice of sporting equipment. A number of platforms have emerged to offer second-hand outdoor equipment, such as Everide. This French start-up stands out for its particularly precise search and classification of items, a notable advantage over generalist platforms such as Vinted.

In the sports sector, the proportion of second-hand purchases varies considerably from country to country. In France, for example, **.*% of purchases are for new products, compared with just *.*% for the second-hand market. [***]

Breakdown of purchases in the sports market France, ****, in Source: ****

4.3 Focus on Decathlon's outdoor innovations

Decathlon Outdoor: The app that's revolutionizing nature outings

Collaborative innovation for outdoor activities

Launched in May ****, the Decathlon Outdoor app is the fruit of an unprecedented co-creation process involving over *,*** users. Designed to make nature accessible to all, this collaborative platform is much more than a simple navigation tool: it's a veritable personalized guide for hikers, cyclists and nature lovers. It is in keeping with the innovative spirit of Decathlon, already famous for products such as the two-second tent and the full snorkeling mask.

The application was born of a simple question: once equipped, where do you go to make the most of your gear? After several iterations, such as Quechua Hike Finder and Entrez Dehors, Decathlon acquired a start-up specialized in mapping to develop this made-in-France solution. The result: a free, intuitive app, available on iOS and Android, with features designed for everyone.

An intuitive, rewarding experience

Decathlon Outdoor offers three levels of products to suit every taste:

*. Self-guided outings : Over **,*** routes, validated by experts (***), are accessible across France. Each route includes information on local fauna, flora and heritage, as well as fun points of interest with quizzes and anecdotes. Thanks to precise GPS guidance and an audio option, ...

5.1 Regulations

Standards for nature sports :

Article L***-*

"Delegated sports federations or, failing that, approved sports federations may define, each for their own discipline, the technical, safety and equipment standards for areas, sites and itineraries relating to nature sports.define technical classification, safety and equipment standards for nature sports areas, sites and itineraries, each for their own discipline."

Source: ****

Sportswear :

The trade and manufacture of sportswear are not subject to any special regulations or regulations that differ from the trade and manufacture of clothing in general. In addition to the legal and tax legislation governing these activities, we can cite the following, as indicated by Crédit Agricole:

This activity does not require any particular training or diploma, although these are recommended, Registration with the Registre du Commerce et des Sociétés is compulsory, Law on the modernization of the economy "The authorization threshold for the establishment and extension of commercial premises has been raised from *** m² to *,*** m². The criteria for commercial density by zone (***) have been abolished", "payment terms are limited to ** days from the date of invoice", sales periods have been extended to * weeks, and rents for commercial leases are indexed to the commercial rents index

The ...

6.1 Positioning the players