GearJunkie’s parent company changes its name and announces new funding and acquisitions.
Goodbye, Lola Digital Media — and hello, AllGear Digital. The corporate owner of several outdoor-based sites (including this one) gets a new name after launching in 2018.
AllGear Digital owns and operates a network of media sites, including GearJunkie, Switchback Travel, Bikerumor, The Inertia, Explorersweb, iRunFar, and WildSnow.
The name change follows quickly behind other major news at the company. That includes $40 million of new financing led by Bardin Hill Investment Partners and several acquisitions.
Rebranding the company is part of establishing AllGear Digital as a “leading publisher” of gear reviews and outdoor sports news, co-founder and CEO Eric Phung said in a news release.
“Our brands have a rich history of domain expertise, best-in-class content, and unbiased product reviews,” Phung said. “Millions of readers trust the AllGear Digital properties for daily news, trends coverage, and a sharp eye on the latest gear.”
Financing, Recent Acquisitions
AllGear Digital already has plans for its new financing. The company will use the money for “organic growth initiatives” and adding additional publishers to its portfolio.
“This is an opportunity for our group to double down and reach significant scale,” Phung said.
In 2022, AllGear Digital’s media acquisitions included two popular sites focused on the outdoor sports industry.
The first, called The Inertia, was founded in 2010. It reaches millions of readers through famous contributors like Kelly Slater, Gerry Lopez, and Rob Machado. There’s also WildSnow, founded in Colorado by author and legendary ski-mountaineer Lou Dawson. It has become a leading resource for backcountry skiers around the world.
With those additions, AllGear Digital continues diversifying its outdoor-sports site portfolio. Other online brands owned by AllGear Digital include Explorersweb (for lovers of adventure and science) and iRunFar (for those who can’t get enough running news).
The news release said that other properties include an in-house brand studio that makes custom content for “leading brands” and many podcasts. The company will also be adding to its video-production staff in 2023.
All told, the parent company, with offices in Denver, Minneapolis, and Los Angeles, has an audience of more than 60 million readers.
