'We're expecting a mini-explosion in demand for outdoor gear in Hong Kong as the five-day week kicks in,' said Richard Beck, Asia-Pacific sales director for WL Gore & Associates, a creative technologies company best known for its Gore-Tex brand of outdoor fabrics and products.

'The [South] Korean government did the same last year and this immediately added 2 million consumers to our market, so we expect to see a similar trend here.'

Another factor that is also helping growth in this sector is the rising number of consumers who are becoming aware of healthy living.

'One of the major trends at the moment is that people are becoming more health conscious and are doing more outdoor activities. In Hong Kong particularly, people are doing more hiking, trekking and mountain biking and we are seeing more clubs organising these activities,' Dr Beck said.

Another positive development for the outdoor sports industry is the number of people travelling abroad, not just in Hong Kong but across the region as economies develop.

'As people travel more, they purchase more outdoor gear. China is opening up and becoming more accessible,' he said.

Moreover, as the mainland's economy develops, it is creating a huge internal market because both personal spending power and an interest in recreational activities are rising simultaneously.

'Suddenly, we are seeing a lot more outdoor clubs in China and more people organising outdoor activities. It's not only that people are becoming more health conscious, lifestyle and free time are [also] becoming more precious. They are emulating some of the outdoor sports that are popular around the world,' Dr Beck said.

'They definitely like to get out and do more outdoor activity than they did in the past and when they go hiking or travelling, they need versatile clothing and footwear to keep them dry and comfortable. That is good news for sales of our outdoor products,' he said.

Whether it is for travel or outdoor sports, people in Hong Kong and the mainland prefer garments that are lightweight and provide warmth. Gore brands, which cater for these specifications, are the best selling products.

'Certainly, in general terms, retail sales of outdoor clothing are rising. Many of our brand partners are opening new shops and expanding retail space despite rising costs. We expect double-digit growth - certainly in Asia - in the coming years,' Dr Beck said.

The growth in retail sales is providing new jobs at Gore across the Asia-Pacific region and locally.

'In Hong Kong we have eight new positions open at the moment, ranging from administration to senior business leaders. We are also recruiting in [South] Korea and China. In fact, we are always on the lookout for talented candidates,' Dr Beck said.

Qualifications are important, but while Gore welcomes applications from graduates, those with a few years of hands-on experience are likely to succeed.

Protrek, one of Hong Kong's largest outdoor chains, selling items such as backpacks, hiking shoes, functional clothing, tents, travel gear and accessories, also reflects the optimism in the industry. As a high-street retailer, it is able to accurately gauge any fluctuations in the market.

Wilson Cheng Sung-chai, operations director for Protrek agrees that certain outdoor sports are becoming popular and this is helping drive retail sales.

'More people want to get out and escape city life and feel refreshed. It seems to us that more people are getting into adventure racing, trail running, adventure travel and orienteering, while for the majority, hiking remains most popular,' Mr Cheng said.

New fabrics, greater environmental awareness and the particular requirements of popular new sports are having a positive effect on the industry.

'The main trend is going light and environment friendly. Gear is becoming lighter because of new technology and so people have less weight to carry, which is very important with some of the newer sports,' Mr Cheng said.

Mr Cheng said Protrek had no plans to expand its stores but he expected job opportunities to increase as more companies entered the industry to meet the rising demand for goods.