• by Ray Schultz , January 2, 2023

Lola Digital Media, owner of GearJunkie, Switchback Travel, Bikerumor, ExplorersWeb and iRunFar, ended 2022 with a flurry of activity.  

For one thing, it rebranded, changing its name to AllGear Digital—its new site, AllGearDigital.com, is now live. 

This followed an infusion of $40 million in a funding round led by Bardin Hill Investment Partners. 

In addition, AllGear Digital acquired The Inertia, a digital publication that serves surfing and outdoor enthusiasts. And, it recently purchased WildSnow, a skiing title.  

The new funding presents “an opportunity for our group to double-down and reach significant scale,” states Eric Phung, co-founder and CEO of AllGear Digital. 

“Millions of readers trust the AllGear Digital properties for daily news, trends coverage, and a sharp eye on the latest gear,” Phung states.

The company hopes the financing will help bring additional publishers into its platform. 

It currently reaches 60 million readers.

Founded in 2010 by Zach Weisberg, a surfer and entrepreneur, the Inertia features such contributors as Kelly Slater, Gerry Lopez and Rob Machado. Its mission is to provide "stories from unique perspectives in a culture we love, and challenging ourselves to embrace new opportunities,” Weisberg says. 

WildSnow was by author and ski-mountaineer Lou Dawson.