Outdoor retailer Kathmandu is tapping into the surging outdoors market with a new hiking range.
The brand has released its XT Series, calling it its most technically advanced hiking range to date, and targeting a category that – according to Roy Morgan data – is seeing strong double-digit growth in recent weeks.
The XT Series arrives with two products already recognised with ISPO Awards – one in apparel and one in equipment. The five-category range spans base layers, a hybrid mid-layer, down insulation, rainwear and a 40-litre XT Pack. The system, and each individual product, is engineered with minimal weight for maximum performance.
According to Kathmandu, the XT Series products sit within reach of the lightest systems on the market – a key metric that hikers buy into.
Kathmandu’s head of materials, Chad Leeder, said the balance of lightweight alongside durability was non-negotiable.
"Every gram saved had to earn its place, without giving up any of the durability that allows hikers to go further, lighter and faster,” he said.
“The XT Series is the system we've always wanted to make. It brings together the most advanced materials, the lightest construction, and the highest level of testing we have ever applied.”
This comes as Roy Morgan data shows spending in the BBQ, camping and outdoor category lifting by 14 per cent year-on-year over the last month. Moreover, spending on sporting equipment is up 16.1 per cent, which comes as total retail sales remain generally flat.
In comparison, spending on clothing has dropped by 2.9 per cent, with footwear down by 4.1 per cent.
The hiking range launch also comes as Kathmandu reported double-digit same-store sales growth, with Australian sales up 10.2 per cent in the first half of FY26.
The XT Series is available in selected Australian and New Zealand stores, and online, from today (June 3). Further products are expected to be added to the Kathmandu XT Series in 2027.