Gear Abby: An Outdoor Advice Column For Your Ears

What is the purpose of an outdoor trade show beyond sales?
Live from the floor of Switchback in New Orleans, Eoin Comerford sits down with thru-hiking expert Shawnté Salabert (Gear Abby) to break down the hits, the misses, and the future of the outdoor tradeshow.
In this episode of Outdoor Unfiltered, Eoin and Shawnté dive deep into reactions of the exhibit hall. From the highly anticipated US Participation Report presented by Kelly Davis to navigating the timing clash with regional shows like GOA, they examine what it takes to build a true national show. Plus, the duo doesn’t hold back on their unfiltered booth reviews, praising the stunning blonde-wood aesthetics of Snow Peak, Fjällräven, and Teva, while calling out the underwhelming setups from other brands.
Tune in for an inside look at the latest gear innovations shaking up the market, including Dometic’s interchangeable tumbler system, GRAYL’s Carry Project pack line, Butt Napkins’ upcoming submarine bidet wand, Date Fix’s intense food culture mission, Rumpl’s clever cape clips, and the mouth-watering backpacking meals from Lux Fly. Whether you are a specialty retail buyer, a major outdoor brand, or a gear junkie, this episode is your ultimate backstage pass to the business and culture of the great outdoors.
Then later in the show, Eoin sits down with Switchback Event Director Sean Smith to share his impressions and break some news about a time change for next year.
Connect With Us
We would love to hear your thoughts on the show, inside intel, guest ideas, sponsorship inquiries or whatever's on your mind!
Connect with Eoin Comerford: LinkedIn Profile

Our Sponsors
Support the brands that make this show possible:
ENDVR – The network that connects brands, retailers, and frontline associates to power sell-through across your wholesale channel. Visit www.endvr.io.
Crux Retail – Creating bold retail displays for bold brands. Visit www.crux-retail.com.

New to Gear Abby? Then enjoy this trip back in time to our third episode!
Shawnté Salabert and producer Colin “P.I.G.” True are back with another round of Gear Abby, where the gear questions get real... and sometimes a little gross.
This week’s adventures include:
• The Triple Crown of Hiking – Do you really need to hike the AT, PCT, and CDT to earn your stripes, or is the whole “Triple Crowner” thing kind of overrated?
• Chafing in the Wild – From sticky thighs to “fire crotch,” Shawnté breaks down how to prevent, treat, and laugh about the outdoor chafe life.
• Strava Love & Hate – Is tracking your runs and hikes inspiring, or just another way to feed the ego monster? Shawnté shares her thoughts on “Kudos culture.”
• Cutting Switchbacks – The eternal debate: is it really that bad if you shave a little distance? Abby has some strong words for the shortcut crowd.
This episode is for anyone who’s ever chafed, bragged on Strava, questioned the Triple Crown mystique, or been tempted by a too-good-to-ignore shortcut.
Click here for Gear Abby's footnotes and even more from this episode!
Send your questions to deargearabby@gmail.com and they might make it onto a future episode!
Thanks for listening! Gear Abby is a production of Rock Fight, LLC.

This week on Gear Abby, Shawnté tackles one of the most persistent debates in backpacking: did Cheryl Strayed's Wild ruin thru-hiking?
Then it's time for a surprisingly deep dive into backpacking water filters, freezing temperatures, storage tips, and how to avoid turning your water treatment system into an expensive paperweight.
Finally, Colin asks the all-important question: "What's In Your Pack?" which somehow leads to a passionate discussion about street corn grits, Renaissance Faires, and the backpacking meal Shawnté can't stop thinking about.
As always, there are no dumb questions—just smart advice.
Email your buring outdoor questions to Gear Abby! deargearabby@gmail.com
Gear Abby is a production of Rock Fight, LLC.

This week on Gear Abby, Shawnté and Colin tackle some truly important outdoor questions:
Why does the PCT seem to have a norovirus outbreak every year? Should beginner climbers always wear helmets outside? And if you were abducted by the Ice Planet Barbarians and taken to their frozen world, what three pieces of gear would you bring?
Along the way, they discuss AI-generated Ansel Adams prints, shirtless climbers, trail hygiene, college outdoor clubs, and why hand sanitizer isn't enough when norovirus comes calling.
As always, there are no dumb questions... just smart advice.
Send your questions to deargearabby@gmail.com!
Gear Abby is a production of Rock Fight, LLC.

Big Titty Mountain. Mushroom poop tabs. No-drop bike rides that definitely drop people.
This week, Gear Abby explores weird outdoor place names, the science behind mycelium-powered bathroom kits, and how to handle a cycling group that isn't living up to its promises. Plus: thru-hiker drama, Poo Poo Point, mastodon boners, and a (not-so) shocking amount of poop-related expertise.
Send your questions to DearGearAbbyMail@gmail.com. There are no dumb questions, just smart advice.
Gear Abby is a production of Rock Fight, LLC.