Uncertain Times Means Uncertain Prices

Even the most diehard head-in-the-sand backcountry tourists among us must know, I’m certain, that tariffs will cause prices of most (all?) goods to increase. A few dynamics are at play. We focus on touring, so we’ll keep it simple: an imported good, like a ski boot from Italy, for example, will cost more. Initially, the U.S. levied a 20% tariff on Italian goods(10% + an additional 10%). Then came a 90-day reprieve, until July 8, on the second 10%. 

Price increases aren’t reserved for imported goods. Domestically produced items, like U.S.-made skis or boards, should see a cost bump, too. Paulownia, a lighter-weight wood often used in touring ski/board construction, is sourced from Asia, whereas sintered bases often come from Europe.  

The buzzword: uncertainty. Markets don’t like uncertainty. 

Most small backcountry-oriented shops sell seasonal-specific gear. That could be bikes or trial runner gear spring through fall, with an emphasis on touring fall and winter. Doug Stenclik, part owner of Cripple Creek Backcountry and Basalt Bikes, has seen some small movement in pricing. “On the bike side, and this is probably where we’ll get a peek at the dynamic in six months for skiing, we’re now seeing the first tangible pricing increases from Specialized. It’s pretty minimal. Their prices are going up between three and five percent,” said Stenclik. 

This increase, Stenclik says, is on existing stock already in the U.S. awaiting distribution. Conjecture abounds. Certainly, accountants see cost increases for anything sourced internationally, so maybe Specialized is hiking prices preemptively, as they expect their expenses to shift upward in the short term. 

Shops planning to stock shelves with backcountry-specific gear placed orders for boots, skis, boards, bindings, skins, etc., months ago. Although commitments were made, pricing remains somewhat unknown. Asked if contracts are signed to lock pricing in for goods arriving in the fall, Stenclik said that is an older norm that shifted during Covid.