Camping, hiking interest high, according to REI’s bottom line

OUTDOOR RETAILERS — Expect to see more well-equipped paddlers on the water and hikers on the trail this year. Fueled in part by more than a million new members, REI reported record revenue in 2015 and a record amount given back to its members.

The outdoor co-op Tuesday reported revenue of $2.4 billion, up 9 percent from $2.2. billion in 2014, the Associated Press reports .

More than 72 percent of REI’s 2015 profits will go back to members, employees (who take part in a profit-sharing program) and nonprofit partners, REI said.

A record $185.3 million is being returned this week to members through annual dividends and credit-card rebates. That’s up from $168 million in 2014.

REI reached a total of more than 6 million members last year, according to the co-op’s 2015 Stewardship Report. That’s up from a total membership tally of 5.5 million in 2014, when 945,000 new members joined.

Sales in the camping, outdoor cross-training and climbing categories were strong in 2015.