Joe DownsCEO & Co-Founder, Belrose Storage Group. Founder, Storage Moguls.

Outdoor Lifestyle Shift_ Covid as Accelerant

24 Mar 2026 · 1 min

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In this commentary, the speaker argues that the surge in outdoor recreation observed during the COVID‑19 pandemic was not a new phenomenon but an acceleration of an existing shift toward outdoor lifestyles. Between 2020 and 2022, millions of people either tried outdoor activities for the first time or returned after a long hiatus, leading to a boom in sectors such as golf clubs, RV parks, lake houses, and boating. The speaker emphasizes that this heightened interest has remained elevated after the pandemic, as individuals who discovered enjoyment in activities like weekend boating continue to pursue them, indicating a lasting change in consumer behavior.

Chapters

3 reasons why that's not changing. First, the outdoor lifestyle shift. COVID didn't create the trend, it accelerated it. Millions of people experienced outdoor recreation for the first time, or for the first time in a long time, between 2020 and 2022. Golf clubs, RV parks, lake houses, everything outdoors boomed and stayed elevated. People who discovered They enjoy taking a boat out on a Saturday, don't stop enjoying it just because COVID's over.