Outdoor sports are developing a "disease of affluence" — gear upgrades are surprisingly costly

Outdoor sports have become the top stress-relief choice for many white-collar workers in recent years. Cycling, hiking, camping, fishing... all are great ways to stay fit. But what about the costs?

"There aren't many people in Taishan who do outdoor activities." The term "outdoor sports" here includes both professional activities like cycling and hiking, as well as recreational ones like camping and fishing — and the gear for all of these is highly specialized. "It's not like when we were kids, when climbing a mountain just meant using our legs. Nowadays, it's more about challenging yourself. Take hiking, for example — hiking boots, backpacks, and trekking poles are all essential," said Xiaoyun, a female participant who has only recently gotten into outdoor sports. Her entry-level gear set cost her around 3,000 yuan.

Cycling isn’t cheap either. Zhong, an avid cyclist who also runs a bike gear shop, explained that entry-level bicycles typically cost between 2,000 and 3,000 yuan. In recent years, prices for outdoor gear haven’t risen much. "You could even say they haven’t gone up at all. But gear gets updated quickly, and once you get into it, you want to upgrade — that’s where most of the spending goes." According to Zhong, many cyclists in Taishan now have gear worth over ten thousand yuan.

In interviews, most hiking and fishing enthusiasts said that while prices for gear haven’t changed much, functional upgrades have made the tools increasingly expensive. Outdoor enthusiast Wowo noted that prices for gear from major brands remain relatively stable, but second- and third-tier brands have seen price hikes. "Over the past two or three years, the increase has been around 10%."

There are very few specialized outdoor gear stores in Taishan, so most enthusiasts buy their equipment online. "Things like hiking boots, trekking poles, windbreakers, backpacks — online brands are often cheaper than those in physical stores, which is why most people prefer to shop online," said Xiaoyun. All her gear was purchased online, following advice from friends.

"Why do you need to buy a specialized backpack? I had this question at first too," said Xiaoyun’s friend, an experienced outdoor enthusiast. He pointed out that a proper backpack can distribute weight more evenly across your body, reducing strain and making it easier to carry loads over longer distances. "I think the most important thing is safety." Since most participants in outdoor activities are white-collar workers with demanding jobs, Xiaoyun believes that good gear can help them complete challenges more comfortably and enjoy the experience more fully.

In interviews, some outdoor enthusiasts mentioned that regular participation in outdoor activities can actually reduce spending. "Each trip usually costs around 200 yuan, whereas going out for a meal or shopping with friends on the weekend might cost even more," said Mr. Chen, who dislikes staying at home and opts to go out every weekend. For him, participating in outdoor activities means less drinking and playing mahjong — and that really saves money.

Wowo, 39, is a veteran of the Taishan Outdoor Forum. When he returned to Taishan from Shenzhen three years ago, there weren’t many outdoor activities in the area, and he only had two or three companions. Now, the number of regular participants has grown to 20–30 people. "That’s for hiking and camping. If we’re talking about cycling, there are many more participants in Taishan."

Most of Wowo’s gear was purchased online. "Major brands are all available online, and the prices are generally cheaper than in physical stores," said Wowo. Overall, outdoor gear prices have risen over the past two or three years, with increases exceeding 10%. "The big brands haven’t gone up much — it’s mainly the second- and third-tier brands." For example, a decent backpack used to be available for around 100 yuan, but now you can’t find one for that price. Entry-level backpacks mostly start at 200 yuan or more.

For hiking, the biggest expense is renting a car, averaging about 150–200 yuan per trip. When he participated in outdoor activities in Shenzhen, the car rental fee was about 100 yuan per trip. But within the Taishan area, the costs are lower. If traveling within the province, each trip typically costs between 300 and 400 yuan. "There’s not much else to spend money on in the mountains, so expenses aren’t high," said Wowo. As long as time allows, he plans to keep heading outdoors.

One of his most memorable experiences was getting lost in the mountains at night. "Three sides were cliffs, with only one path leading down," Wowo recalled. He managed to get out thanks to team spirit and past experience. "If you're new to this kind of situation, it can be frightening, but if you have experience, there’s usually no need to panic," he said with a smile. He also shared a goal: to climb the highest mountain in every prefecture-level city in Guangdong Province — he’s almost achieved that — and he has a bigger dream: to climb the highest mountain in every province. "Hopefully, I’ll make that happen eventually."

Fang returned to Taishan for work after graduating from university in 2008. Through his job, he got into cycling and now participates in activities almost every month. "When I first started, I used to practice on the road every day. Now, unless I’m working on weekends, I’m out riding."

He truly began participating in outdoor cycling in 2009, when he bought his first professional bicycle. He still remembers purchasing it for 3,498 yuan as a reward for completing his first year of work. "Other gear — like knee pads, wrist guards, cycling clothes, and a helmet — added up to about 1,000 yuan." Over the past three years, he has spent nearly 7,000 yuan on cycling gear.

"Now, many of my friends have bikes worth over ten thousand yuan," said Fang. Most participants in Taishan’s cycling community are white-collar professionals, including many civil servants around 30 years old with decent incomes, so they focus more on enjoying life. "Cycling is eco-friendly, healthy, and a great way to relieve stress." Sometimes, when Fang faces work bottlenecks or high pressure, cycling helps him unwind.

Their routes are mostly nearby, such as from Taishan to Enping or Kaiping. "When you’re driving or taking the bus, you don’t really have time to appreciate the scenery along the way. Cycling is physically demanding, but it makes you more appreciative of the views around you."

Mr. Li goes fishing every week, and it has become an essential part of his life. "Fishing is a mentally engaging activity, and being able to cook the fish you catch is really satisfying." Sometimes, after finishing a day’s work, he drives alone to a river to fish, and other times, he spends his weekends fishing.

“At first, I thought it was fun, so I came along with a friend, and ended up falling in love with it,” he said. His first set of fishing gear was bought from a store and cost around four to five hundred yuan. “The equipment back then wasn’t very good—total beginner level.” According to him, entry-level gear now costs over 1,000 yuan. “I used to dig for worms myself, but now I buy bait.” With the upgrade in equipment, Mr. Li has spent more than 2,000 yuan on fishing gear.

He explained that the prices of fishing tackle haven’t changed much, it’s mainly a functional “price hike.” “If you want to buy better quality gear with improved functionality, then of course it costs more. In the countryside, you can still fish with just a simple fishing rod,” Mr. Li said with a smile. The average expense is actually quite low—if the time spent fishing were instead used for socializing, it would cost even more. “Having a meal with friends can easily cost two to three hundred yuan, and if you add in mahjong and drinks, fishing is still the more economical option. Plus, when you’re fishing, it’s so peaceful—it really calms your mind and body.”