We all want to give thoughtful holiday gifts—selections that show we care and provide real value for friends and family. The perfect gift even lets us relive the cheer each time we see it in use. That’s the reward of giving a sustainably designed, purpose-built, and adventure-ready . Maybe you’re gifting to a hiker who needs light and waterproof coverage for an upcoming trek. Or perhaps your favorite little explorer is old enough to walk, but their parents still prefer transporting them comfortably on their backs. When you give a lasting gear staple, you open the door for your loved one to experience more time outside. What could be better? Whoever you’re shopping for this holiday season, rest assured there’s an Osprey pack that can continue creating those joyful opportunities.

Day Hikers

Hikelite 26

There’s a reason you see so many hikers sporting the : It’s a pack with all the essentials. The streamlined features start with a minimalist panel-loading design that keeps everything accessible and organized (unlike your home after the holidays). It’s also remarkably lightweight at only 1.74 pounds. Stuff it with up to 20 pounds and still hike comfortably thanks to the AirSpeed suspension, which provides ample ventilation while keeping the weight from overworking your back. Unisex yet adaptable, the Hikelite 26 is now offered with a wider and taller frame for a more inclusive fit. More to love: The pack comes in a variety of colors to please any hiker’s aesthetic.

Featuring bluesign APPROVED fabrics and a DWR treatment made without PFAS, the Hikelite 26’s sustainable build is something you can feel good about gifting. Plus, the pack’s main body and bottom fabrics are made from 100 percent recycled materials.

Skiers and Snowboarders

Soelden 32 and Sopris 30

Developed with feedback from professional guides, athletes, and freeriders, the is lightweight yet versatile, ready to carry you through whatever winter adventure comes your way. Its snow-specific features do not cut corners, including a snow-shedding back panel for dry storage, a sewn-in helmet net, plus an A-frame or diagonal ski-carry option (with available snowboard-carry options) and a conveniently located front pocket for avalanche equipment.

For smaller torsos, the offers the same impressive design features with a petite fit. The highly adjustable and women-specific sizing provides enhanced comfort for any type of movement in the mountains.

Both packs are sustainably made with bluesign APPROVED nylon and have a DWR treatment made without PFAS.

Backpackers

Atmos AG LT 50 and Aura AG LT 50

These packs are for the more adventurous members of your gift list—those who enjoy overnight excursions and multiday escapes. Featuring ventilated and comfortable AntiGravity suspension, the streamlined silhouettes of the (men’s fit) and (women’s fit) packs are a must for technical backpackers.

The hipbelt and back panel are both adjustable, providing a precise, comfortable fit for a range of body types. The packs embody the “less is more” mantra, and that pared-down approach is a sure step in the right gift direction for those go-far, go-fast adventurers who’ll benefit most from a lightweight pack.

Like many other Osprey products, the Atmos and Aura packs are treated with PFAS-free DWR and made with bluesign APPROVED materials.

Frequent Fliers

Daylite Expandable Travel Pack 26+6

We all know someone who’s always flying somewhere exciting. For them, a durable carry-on is as essential as a boarding pass. The is part of a that’s perfect for those who start their adventure at the airport.

Your jetsetting family member or friend will enjoy this lightweight pack, which strategically meets personal item size standards for most airlines. The expandable main compartment adds six liters of packing space, and AirScape technology in the back panel adds comfort for unexpected running between gates. Two shove-it pockets, a laptop sleeve, and two water bottle holders will keep your on-the-go giftee moving in comfort and style.

The Daylite Expandable Pack is compatible with the , adding even more storage and versatility.

Family șÚÁÏłÔčÏÍűrs

Poco SLT

For those tasked with introducing future hikers to the great outdoors, the is the key to making early trail memories. The ventilated AirScape suspension and adjustable fit ensure different wearers can move comfortably on the trail, even while weighed down with a large toddler. The patented lightweight frame folds flat for easy storage.

Families also have needs that even those best-intentioned gifts might not hit. Giving an Osprey gift card allows your recipient to pick up the right goods to better their adventures—perhaps an accessory for their new Poco SLT, like a sunshade with SPF 50.

Since 1974, Osprey has provided hikers, backpackers, bikers, and everyday travelers with innovative and long-lasting carry solutions, each thoughtfully designed to reflect a passion for exploration and the outdoors. To learn more about Osprey and its products, backed by its industry-leading All Mighty Guarantee, visit .

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Fifty years ago, a young artist and hiker in Santa Cruz, California, dropped out of college and opened a backpack shop. That little storefront in downtown Santa Cruz grew into Osprey, an award-winning company that leads the backpack and luggage category and has become a household name among backpackers, hikers, cyclists, and travelers the world over. As the brand celebrates its golden anniversary this year, it’s doubling down on its heritage as a brand focused solely on making the world’s best packs. No distractions, just a single-minded commitment to expert design, sustainable manufacturing, and inclusive sizing. Here’s how Osprey got here and where it’s going.

The First 50 Years

Mike Pfotenhauer opened Santa Cruz Recreational Packs in 1974, offering gear repair and custom-made backpacks to local outdoor enthusiasts. He’d grown up backpacking with his family in the Sierra Nevada and by his early 20s was sewing his own gear. After selling a few packs to acquaintances, Pfotenhauer decided to make a go of it. So he borrowed $1,000 from his parents and set up shop.

Within a few years, Pfotenhauer’s designs were earning national attention. A brand-new șÚÁÏłÔčÏÍű magazine reviewed the Ariel backpack in 1979. By the mid-’80s, the company had grown to four employees and couldn’t make enough packs to meet demand. A few years later, the brand—now called Osprey, for the raptors that mesmerized Pfotenhauer on his own backpacking trips—moved into larger facilities in Cortez, Colorado. The growing company hired local skilled sewers, many of them members of the DinĂ© (Navajo) tribe, and Osprey packs showed up in more and more retail shops.

Things really got rolling in the early 2000s. First, Erik Weihenmayer became the first blind climber to summit Mount Everest, in 2001, and he did it while carrying an Osprey Aether 60 pack. (Weihenmayer and his pack graced the cover of Time that year.) Then Pfotenhauer moved the company’s manufacturing to Vietnam in 2003—and moved there himself as well to be closer to the beating heart of the manufacturing process. (Development and warranty repairs remain in Cortez, while designers are located in Cortez, Vietnam, California, and New Zealand.)

Through it all, Osprey has remained hyperfocused on backpacks and luggage, a laser focus that helped the brand rack up countless awards for design and innovation. Milestones along the way include a custom-fit women’s-specific backpack in 1993, the Straightjacket suspension compression system a few years later, and the Antigravity suspension system, launched in 2015. The Antigravity design set a new standard for comfort and breathability, earning a prestigious Backpacker Editor’s Choice Award for the Atmos AG/Aura AG.

Not surprisingly, Osprey stands firmly, even radically, behind its products. The brand’s All Mighty Guarantee promises a free repair on any Osprey pack, no matter how old.

The Next 50 Years

Osprey is hardly resting on its laurels in this anniversary season. The 2024 collection honors the brand’s 50-year tradition by continuing to push the limits—whether that’s in design innovation, sustainable practices, or expanding access to the outdoors to everyone.

Technical Innovation

The toughest, most technically cutting-edge backpacks live in Osprey’s Pro series. This collection of top-of-the-line pieces is designed for experienced outdoorspeople, from guides to long-distance hikers to seasoned adventurers. Pro series packs prioritize performance through innovative fabrics, advanced suspension systems, custom features, and bomber construction.

The newly updated is the latest daypack to join the collection. It’s available in both men’s and women’s fits and three sizes—20 liters (ideal for peakbagging and bikepacking), 30 liters (versatile enough to handle a variety of day trips), and 40 liters (best for gear-heavy days and even minimalist overnights). A new injection-molded framesheet and torso adjustment tool add structure to the pack without weighing it down and provide a custom torso fit, while its ultradurable NanoFly fabric with a triple-grid ripstop reinforcement ensures the Talon Pro/Tempest Pro can handle the toughest excursions.

Sustainable Design

Osprey’s commitment to reducing its environmental impact hits a new benchmark in 2024, with 48 percent of its product line meeting the requirements for certification, a measure of product safety to people and the environment. Over the past few years, the brand has also dramatically increased its use of 100 percent–recycled fabric in its packs’ main bodies and eliminated the use of harmful PFAS in its DWR treatments.

Osprey’s dedication to sustainability is best seen in its Earth line, a collection of backpacks that push the boundaries of renewable materials and eco-friendly processes. The new special-edition daypack is a prime example: This versatile design features a main body and bottom woven from 100 percent Regen Ocean recycled polyester, a fabric made entirely from postconsumer plastic bottles that otherwise would have ended up in the ocean. Its webbing, edge binding tape, zippers, and thread are all 100 percent recycled. The EVA foam back panel is 50 percent recycled, and the plastic hardware is made from bio-based captured agricultural methane.

Inclusive Sizing

Osprey believes everyone deserves a chance to experience the outdoors outfitted with the best gear. That’s why the brand launched its in 2023. The packs, created specifically for bigger bodies, feature hipbelts that fit hips up to 70 inches, extended shoulder and sternum straps, and repositioned pockets for greatly improved comfort and performance.

In 2024, the Extended Fit family is adding options for backpacking, day hiking, biking, and running. The new brings inclusive sizing to the Osprey mountain biking collection. This premium bike pack, available in 10- and 14-liter sizes for both men and women, is designed for all-day rides. A bike-specific shoulder harness and hipbelt ensure a stable carry, and an updated 2.5-liter reservoir with a sternum-strap magnetic bite valve attachment is included for convenient hydration.

Whatever you want a pack for, you’ll find best-in-class choices in this year’s Osprey lineup—and for years to come.

Wherever you find adventure, will be with you. Since 1974, Osprey has provided hikers, backpackers, bikers, and travelers with innovative and long-lasting carry solutions, each thoughtfully designed item reflecting a passion for exploration and the outdoors. Headquartered in the foothills of Colorado’s San Juan Mountains, Osprey’s surroundings provide the ultimate testing ground for all of its products, guaranteeing that its technical packs are up to any challenge.

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You need water, snacks, and essentials on long or speed–focused outings. What you don’t need? A heavy pack, awkwardly stuffed pockets, and inefficient pit stops. Don’t let those things hold you back from your goals. For trail runners and fast hikers who want to be self-sufficient and light on their feet, Osprey designed the , testing the vest packs near its headquarters in the foothills of Colorados’ San Juan Mountains. Consider them made for real-world performance, thanks to real-world testing. Whether you’re heading out for a speedy day hike or long trail run, these minimalist vest packs can help you go faster or farther—or both.

Customized Fit

Wearing a vest that conforms snugly to your body prevents bounce, chafe, and soreness. Plus, the resulting all-day comfort means you can focus on your pace and run more freely. For the most customized fit, Osprey offers gender-specific sizing for the and .Ìę

For added stability, each vest features snap-in adjustable chest straps that can be cinched, loosened, or removed entirely, while 3D Spacermesh wraps around your back and chest for light padding, full ventilation, and minimal body contact. Even as the sizing changes from small to medium to large, the volume stays the same and weight of the empty vests barely increases.Ìę

Lightweight Design

Every pocket, zipper, and material integrated into the Duro/Dyna LT series is strategically designed to ensure that the system is functional on the trail and lasts for years to come. In the front, two 360-milliliter soft flasks fit in stretchy mesh pockets for quick and easy hydration access. An elastic cord keeps the bottles secure as you drink and move. Made from the same compressive mesh, two lower pockets securely stow energy gels, bars, and other quick-grab items.Ìę

On the left front panel, a vertical zippered pocket is big enough to fit a phone, keys, ID, and other valuables. A small safety whistle attached to a cord is tucked inside. In the back, dual-entry stretch-mesh rear pockets are big enough to stash a wind shell or a light rain jacket.

And like all of Osprey’s packs, the Duro/Dyna LT series is made with sustainability in mind. From the stretch mesh to the accent fabrics, this vest pack’s materials are recycled and approved by Bluesign¼, an organization that works to create the highest level of safety for people, the planet, and consumers. Even the durable water-repellent (DWR) treatment is made without PFAS.

Wherever you find adventure, will be with you. Since 1974, Osprey has provided hikers, backpackers, bikers, and travelers with innovative and long-lasting carry solutions, each thoughtfully designed item reflecting a passion for exploration and the outdoors. Headquartered in the foothills of Colorado’s San Juan Mountains, Osprey’s surroundings provide the ultimate testing ground for all of its products, guaranteeing that its technical packs are up to any challenge.

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Everyone should have access to the outdoors, and be comfortable there. There’s no arguing with the sentiment, but there are still plenty of obstacles out there, which is why șÚÁÏłÔčÏÍű’s mission is literally to Get Everyone șÚÁÏłÔčÏÍű. And that’s why we love to partner with brands like Osprey, which shares our values and believes gear sizing should include everyone, too, because equipment needs to fit in order to work. To that end, Osprey worked with a diverse group of product testers and DEI consultants to develop its , designed to give bigger bodies equal access to quality packs. We spoke with Lauren Cramer, product professional at Osprey, to learn about the development of Extended Fit and its meaningful contribution to building a more inclusive outdoor community.

șÚÁÏłÔčÏÍű: What motivated Osprey to offer Extended Fit packs?

Lauren Cramer: At its core, Osprey strives to inspire and support outdoor adventure with innovative new products. Whether you’re taking your Osprey pack into the backcountry or on a trail close to home, the brand believes everybody deserves equal access to these experiences. To support that notion, Osprey is introducing the Extended Fit line. So now hikers and outdoor enthusiasts with bigger bodies can experience the capabilities and performance of high-quality packs.

Who was involved in developing the Extended Fit collection?

The Extended Fit collection was created with direct help and feedback from a focus group that included in-field testers, athletes, influencers, and industry professionals. From concept to launch, Osprey worked closely with the Extended Fit focus group to go beyond superficial changes and deliver a pack collection that comfortably supports bigger bodies.Ìę

How are the Extended Fit packs different from the standard fit sizes?

Features like a longer hipbelt (up to 70 inches), sternum strap, and shoulder straps are some of the design changes users will notice in the Extended Fit collection. Additionally, Osprey repositioned hipbelt pockets to optimize ease of access. Unique to the Extended Fit series, the custom Fit-on-the-Fly hipbelt and shoulder straps are fully adjustable for maximum comfort and even load distribution.

What key features are the same across all Osprey pack fits?

Osprey offers custom-fit packs that maximize efficiency, comfort, and safety. Plus, all packs are backed by the brand’s . Osprey believes there’s no reason to charge people more for a product size that’s necessary for comfort and support on the trail—the new Extended Fit packs are the same price as their standard-fit counterparts.

What packs come in Extended Fit, and what’s special about each of them?

As of spring 2023, Osprey is offering two hiking series and two backpacking series in Extended Fit. For day hikers, Osprey has released the and the . Backpackers will be excited to hear that Osprey is also offering Aether/Ariel Extended Fit and . If you’re looking for an adjustable hipbelt and harness, the Aether/Ariel Extended Fit series comes equipped with both.

Learn more about the complete .

Wherever you find adventure, will be with you. Since 1974, Osprey has provided hikers, backpackers, bikers, and travelers with innovative and long-lasting carry solutions, each thoughtfully designed item reflecting a passion for exploration and the outdoors. Headquartered in the foothills of Colorado’s San Juan Mountains, Osprey’s surroundings provide the ultimate testing ground for all of its products, guaranteeing that its technical packs are up to any challenge.

The post Yes, There Are High-Performance Packs for Bigger Bodies appeared first on șÚÁÏłÔčÏÍű Online.

Legacy pack maker Osprey announced today that is has entered into a “binding agreement” to be acquired by consumer-goods holding company Helen of Troy (HoT), which also owns Hydro Flask.

Although terms of the deal were not disclosed, an investor relations presentation on HoT’s website suggests the overall value of Osprey could be worth more than $410 million. Osprey’s expected 2021 consumer sales are expected to top $155 million and the deal could potentially add $20 million in annual revenue for HoT.

“Along with Hydro Flask, we can now serve and delight an even larger number of passionate end-users in the large and growing outdoor adventure category,” said Helen of Troy CEO Julien R. Mininberg following the sale.

Osprey CEO and president Layne Rigney told șÚÁÏłÔčÏÍű Business Journal today that private equity firm Freeman Spogli & Co., which invested in the company in 2016, will no longer retain an ownership stake.

If successful, the sale will mark the end of Osprey founder Mike Pfotenhauer’s 47-year involvement with company. Following the sale, Pfotenhauer plans to retire with his wife, Diane Wren (herself a co-owner of the business), according to a press release.Ìę

According to Osprey, Pfotenhauer will transition into a consulting role for the brand over the next year, as he finishes some final design projects. He said he plans to focus his future energy “on a balance of art projects and meaningful work on critical environmental and social concerns.”

“I want to extend my appreciation and reiterate my respect to all of my current and former Osprey colleagues and their families for their commitment not only to our company but to each other and their communities,” Pfotenhauer said. “Their dedication has built Osprey into a brand and family that millions of end-users trust and care about deeply.”

Finding the Right Buyer

To make sure Osprey landed in the right hands, Pfotenhauer and Wren met with about 35 potential buyers before choosing HoT, according to Rigney, who added that the couple “felt Helen of Troy is a company that values creative, innovative product design and has a track record of successfully integrating newly acquired businesses into their brand portfolio.”

Osprey would become HoT’s second core outdoor brand, joining Oregon-based Hydro Flask, which the parent company acquired in 2016. The group’s portfolio is most heavily weighted toward beauty brands, with Revlon, Pert, and Brut among its assets.

Explaining the reasoning behind the acquisition, HoT’s investor relations presentation notes that Osprey is No. 1 or 2 among all pack brands in various key retail segments, according to NPD data. The deal may also give HoT further inroads into key retail accounts, according to presentation figures.

Rigney added that, as a result of the sale, Osprey will also be able to strengthen and expand its distribution and market share in Asia and Latin America.

“Approximately half of Osprey sales are outside the U.S., further accelerating our strategy to invest in international,” Mininberg said. “We believe Osprey and Hydro Flask make a compelling combination in the U.S. and provide further critical mass internationally with thousands of additional retail doors that can benefit both brands and consumers.”

The transaction is expected to close before the end of the calendar year, according to the companies’ announcements, subject to customary closing conditions, including regulatory approval.

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The world of outdoor business sure feels a long way from Silicon Valley. But make no mistake: technology has become the backbone of the industry, guiding everything from the way we run our businesses and communicate with each other to how we design new gear and battle climate change.

Here, we’ve collected and examined dozens of ways tech is transforming the outdoor industry to get a glimpse of how these advancements might shape the future of our work and play in the outdoors.

Tech is…Connecting Us

By Heather Balogh Rochfort

The Rise of Digital Memberships

When I co-founded WildKind, a virtual community to help parents get outside with their kids, a digital component wasn’t on my radar. My partner and I just wanted to provide guidance for families hoping to tackle outdoor adventures. We envisioned baby backpacking trips and mom-only bikepacking excursions—not laptops and virtual community forums. But we dug into the data, and the numbers didn’t lie: digital subscriptions are booming.

We realized the power of the internet was twofold: it reached more families than we ever could with in-person-only instruction, and it allowed time-starved parents to consume the information in the small respites between bath time and lights out. This was confirmed when we launched in August 2020 and acquired 300 new members within two weeks, all eager to pay $99 per year to capitalize on virtual skiing and camping courses, members-only discounts from various outdoor brands, a digital forum, and discussion panels.

For their part, partner brands like Merrell and The North Face were excited to collaborate, since it gives them name recognition with an audience willing to spend a little money to get outside.

We’re not the only business to make the leap into digital memberships over the past year. Run to the Finish founder Amanda Brooks launched the Online Running Club in June 2020: more than 500 members pay $18 per month to gain virtual access to running coaches, workout programs, drills, and community. “It’s an easy way to bring people together and help them get the support they need,” Brooks said.

She also noted that membership is a successful entry point into her brand, which also sells products like books, T-shirts, and individual coaching. “They join at this affordable monthly rate, get to know me, and start asking what else is available. It’s enhanced the connection with my community, making them true fans.”

And in outdoor media, șÚÁÏłÔčÏÍű (șÚÁÏłÔčÏÍű Business Journal’s parent company) launched its șÚÁÏłÔčÏÍű+ membership earlier this year, which features perks like exclusive content across its publications, online education courses, a personalized feed, and access to Gaia GPS for navigation, all for $99 per year.

According to Gartner, a global IT research and advisory firm, digital memberships are a top trend, particularly subscription services: the firm predicts that by 2023, nearly 75 percent of direct-to-consumer businesses will offer one. Outdoor brands largely haven’t jumped on board yet, but Ralph Lauren provides an example of what this might look like: its membership (starting at $125 per month), which launched last year, allows users to select items for a “dream wardrobe” subscription box that includes four items for rent or purchase.

Are You in the Club(house)?

Launched in March 2020, Clubhouse is the latest in social media apps designed to emphasize real-time conversation via live audio content—no images, no curated feed, and no website. Users can pop into live chat rooms to listen to a variety of discussions as well as request to participate in the conversation.

According to Arial Macrae, marketing manager of Roam Media Inc., an adventure club that produces videos and mini-documentaries and boasts founding members like Jimmy Chin and Sasha DiGiulian, this is the crux of the platform: “It opens the doors and gives fans access to your brand’s conversations and gives people the opportunity to speak up and be a part of it,” she said. During the winter months, Roam hosted a weekly chat room highlighting a number of outdoor industry topics, from photography with Chris Burkhard to a series of panelists sharing their outdoor career stories.

Since Clubhouse is all live content, the commitment is minimal. “Pro endurance biker Rebecca Rusch joined a room while she was actively on a training ride,” Macrae laughed. Unlike a podcast, Clubhouse allows brand consumers to actually participate with the people behind the logo and ask them real-time questions. In short, the interaction puts a friendly voice to the brand name.

While initially only available on iPhone, this invite-only app recently opened to Android users in May 2021, garnering a million new sign-ups within two weeks. It’s still relatively small with ten million total users, but it’s growing quickly. Thought leaders and brands who welcome one-on-one conversations with consumers are most likely to benefit from the app, so experts suggest that people in leadership create their own accounts rather than hosting from their business name. “There’s a lot of potential there,” Macrae said. “This type of direct access to a brand gives a personal touch you can’t find on other platforms.”

The Insta-Success Formula

According to Kami York-Feirn, marketing manager for apparel brand Wild Rye, there are three core tenants to a successful business Instagram account: a consistent posting schedule, a relatable caption with a strong call to action (like an audience question), and video/reels content to appease the Instagram algorithms.

York-Feirn looked at some of the most popular posts so far this year from three industry accounts to help us understand what other factors can get people liking, sharing, and commenting.

Wild Rye’s formula for success: Fun hashtags + relatable caption + Monday post (one of the brand’s best days for engagement)

Patagonia’s formula for success: Environmental topic + short video + controversy

Unlikely Hikers’ formula for success: Relatable story + request for shares in the caption + relatable photo to encourage conversation and boost visibility with the algorithm

Slack Better

You know Slack. You love (okay, or maybe hate) Slack. But are you Slacking to your fullest potential? These three integrations take your work collaboration to the next level.

Donut: Get to know each other through virtual introductions, auto-scheduled “coffee dates” between team members, and even a CEO lottery that randomly selects one person for a chat with the boss.

EventBot Calendar: Never forget a team birthday or meeting with this all-inclusive calendar that hosts your entire team’s events from within Slack.

HeyTaco: Give your coworkers a nod for a job well done via the only virtual currency that matters: tacos. Everyone gets five virtual tacos to award per day, and the app tracks a team leaderboard for extra motivation.

Tech is…Saving the Planet

By Tracy Ross

Unlocking Public Lands

In January, President Biden announced his “30 x 30” vision to conserve at least 30 percent of U.S. lands and freshwater and 30 percent of U.S. ocean areas by 2030. One priority: boost outdoor recreation by encouraging the voluntary conservation of private land through which bordering public lands can be accessed. That offers the opportunity not only to protect a larger area of contiguous wildlife habitat, but also to open the door to public lands that may be difficult or impossible to reach.

The mapping app onX, which launched to give hunters a simple way to see whose land they were on, has been collecting data on these public-private intersections for more than a decade. So far, the team has identified some 16.4 million acres in 22 states that are currently inaccessible to the public because of surrounding private land. This info funnels into the hands of local, state, and federal land managers, who are using it to identify possible easements with the end goal of creating more access to public lands for all.

Building Urban Parks

The Trust For Public Lands (TPL) knows we have a critical green-space equity problem in our country, with studies showing that some 100 million of us—including 28 million kids—lack access to local parks within walking distance. So TPL used 20 years’ worth of data to create ParkServe.org, an interactive map that shows exactly where green space is most needed in American cities. TPL also helps cities look for funding for park construction. And one of the best benefits, says Lisa Hwang, TPL’s managing director of strategy and innovation, is that anyone can join in the process of designing or creating a new neighborhood park.

Navigating Climate Change

Heat waves, wildfires, floods: we’re already living with the effects of a changing climate. Last year, Gaia GPS (owned by șÚÁÏłÔčÏÍű Business Journal’s parent company) introduced several free map layers that aim to help people deal with fire-related issues. Two wildfire maps give precise, real-time info about where fires are currently burning, based on NASA satellite heat detection data that’s fact-checked with firefighters on the ground.

Two more maps depict current and predicted air quality based on info from the Environmental Protection Agency’s AirNow program, which draws from several monitoring organizations to show where pollutants in the air pose a health hazard.

Sharing the Immigration Story

“Storytelling has always been a powerful tool for social movements, and conservation is no different,” said Christian La Mont, program and communications manager for Latino Outdoors. This past March, the nonprofit partnered with The National Audubon Society for a yearlong project called Mapping Migraciones. It weaves the Latino community’s migration and immigration stories together with the migratory paths of birds, combining the two into an interactive map that ties humans and nature together into an ongoing narrative.

Click on a bird—say, a Swainson’s Thrush— and see its migratory path from Central America to as far north as Canada. Then click on the name of a person, and see how he made his journey along the same route. “The interactive map shows that migration is not only nuanced and natural, but also beautiful,” said La Mont.

Lifelines for Firefighters

Wildland firefighters have one of the most dangerous jobs in the outdoors. But new developments are making their task a little safer—as evidenced by the tech used by a Montrose, Colorado, Helitack crew while fighting the 2018 Tabeguache Fire in the Uncompahgre National Forest.

Lack of connectivity and limited sight lines in steep canyons makes firefighting in the area extremely dangerous. But each crew member wore a 2.8-ounce goTenna Pro X tracking device, which shares location info among teams of firefighters via a broadcasting process called meshing.

Tracking devices pair to any phone using an app like ATAK. Firefighters can then use their phones to navigate to safety, tell tankers where to drop retardant, and report back to management teams.

Fire Incident management teams can then pair location info with the data service Cornea to get real-time maps showing the location of crew members, retardant drops, and the most dangerous parts of a fire. Cornea also collects and fuses data about fuels, weather, topography, watersheds, and the probability of fire spread from multiple sources.

The Upside of Drones

Drones get a bad rap for invading privacy and harassing wildlife, but that’s only half the story. The National Audubon Society said drones “don’t just offer a safer way for scientists to observe their subjects; they’re often less costly, more efficient, and more precise than traditional approaches.” Here are six ways the organization Conservation Drones, which built a low-cost flier (starting at $3,500) specifically for conservationists and scientists, is using these aerial machines for good.

1. Surveying heron populations under thick forest canopies in England
2. Flying aerial surveys along tidal creeks in the Bahamas to count sharks, rays, and sea turtles—all creatures that are both threatened and difficult to monitor
3. Studying whales’ health with “snot bot” drones equipped with petri dishes that hover at the whale’s blowhole to collect a sample of its breath, which includes discharge containing lung bacteria, viruses, and DNA
4. Monitoring the spread of invasive aquatic plants at Lake Carl Blackwell in Stillwater, Oklahoma
5. When equipped with thermal-imaging cameras on their undersides, identifying species like orangutans in Borneo, spider monkeys in Mexico, and riverine rabbits in South America to show health and range of populations
6. Using thermal cameras to detect and monitor “peat megafires,” which destroy essential peat land ecosystems and are responsible for 15 percent of annual global greenhouse gas emissions

Tech is…Designing Gear

By Frederick Reimers

The Power of Three Dimensions

Silicon Valley 3D-printing firm Carbon has recently made inroads into the outdoor space with shoe soles for adidas and bike saddles for Specialized. Both feature latticework made from elastomeric polyurethane (EPU), which is remarkably elastic (capable of being elongated 250 percent before it breaks) and, in lattice form, great at returning energy. More importantly, Carbon can tune the latticework’s compressibility by location within the design, which can help accommodate the variances of, say, foot shape, or enable targeted cushioning.

And this fall, Osprey is using the tech to make a giant step forward in pack design. Along with a host of other new technologies, the UNLTD Antigravity 64 and Airscape 68 feature lumbar pads built by Carbon: the company’s tunable 3D printing allowed Osprey to make them more compressible on the top and front to create consistent and extremely comfortable contact with a wide variety of lower-back shapes. The latticework is also exceptionally breathable, grippy, and springy, so even under very heavy loads, the pack feels more secure and balanced.

The 3D-printing process was also a designer’s dream. With remarkable speed, it creates shapes impossible to make with injection molding. In just over a year, Carbon was able to iterate close to 100 different permutations of the design, all with far less waste than injection molding. Working with the emerging technology isn’t cheap—the packs ring in at an eye-watering $700—but Osprey owner Mike Photenhauer said he wanted to showcase what’s possible in pack design “when price is no object.”

Saving the World, One Shirt at a Time

A pair of Stanford professors founded the startup LifeLabs this year to create fabrics that combat climate change. According to the Department of Energy, if Americans would simply raise their thermostats 2°C higher in summer and 2°C lower in winter, it would save an average of 6,000 pounds of atmospheric carbon per household (about a 20 percent reduction in a home’s total energy use). Better temperature-regulating clothing could make that easier.

Enter the company’s CoolLife fabrics, which are made from polyolefin (think kitchen cling wrap). The material allows 100 percent transmission of infrared radiation—the only known fabric to do so—letting body heat escape faster. LifeLabs invented the process of creating knit and woven fabrics from polyolefin: the trick, said LifeLabs CEO Scott Mellin, was to build yarn extrusion and knitting and weaving machines that could handle the material’s low melting temperature (122°C versus nylon’s 220°C).

The company’s WarmLife fabrics use a different strategy, employing reflectivity to capture body heat. The concept isn’t new, but the WarmLife fabric is breathable enough for the reflective metallic nanocoating to cover 100 percent of its surface (in comparison, Columbia’s Omni-Heat reflective dots cover just a third of their items to maintain breathability). The result is a garment that requires 30 percent less insulation for the same CLO value. The tech hasn’t hit the market yet, but this summer LifeLabs is releasing 16 garments (insulating parkas and gloves, cooling leggings, and sleepwear) to investors, media, and influencers.

Artificial Intelligence Revolutionizes Bike Design

Imagine bike frames that look like they’ve been built by a spider, with hollow, sinewy strands linking the handlebars, wheels, and bottom bracket. The frames are lighter for subtracting material, but according to the engineering software that created it, just as strong.

That’s the concept behind French gear titan Decathlon’s bike design project with software firm Autodesk, which has also partnered with component maker SRAM. The idea is that Autodesk’s Fusion 360 software can take inputs like weight, dimensions, and strength and then generate hundreds of potential designs in just a few hours, all theoretically capable of standing up to the demands of the design problem, even if they may be unusual in appearance.

The software can also learn as it goes, basing subsequent rounds of design on those preferred by the human engineers. Such designs are particularly suited for the elaborate shapes possible with 3D printing. For SRAM, it means printing a latticed aluminum crank arm that’s just as light and strong as a carbon fiber one, at a lower financial and ecological cost. SRAM is currently testing a few of those designs in the field, and the process bodes well not just for bikes, but also for climbing gear or any equipment that prizes light weight along with strength. Just as intriguing is another goal of Decathlon’s so-called “vision project” with Autodesk: to explore the process of custom-printing bikes according to a customer’s individual preferences and dimensions.

Upgrading Portable Power

Solar, not wind, has dominated the portable power scene because solar panels are so much smaller and lighter—until now. Enter the Shine Turbine. A marvel of efficient design, the device boasts an exceptional weight-to-power ratio compared to other portable renewable devices. The three-pound device, which launches this summer, is capable of generating 40 watts, good enough to charge a smartphone in as little as 15 minutes, and trumps water turbines, thermoelectric stoves, and even solar panels with a 13 watts-per-pound ratio. The Shine Turbine folds into a sleek package about the size of a liter water bottle and deploys in minutes. Designers solved challenges like dissipating the motor’s heat and capturing high power outputs while meeting size restrictions, but the Shine Turbine’s real triumph is in the blade design: they’re efficient enough to withstand 28-mph winds (minimum speed: 8 mph) while still folding snugly into the body.

Can Algae Replace Chemicals?

Quick, name a product you use that doesn’t include petroleum-based plastics and chemicals. Tough, right? But here’s some good news for reducing our petroleum dependence: design firm Checkerspot aims to solve the problem, starting with the outdoor industry. Growing out of work done at the University of California, Berkeley, Checkerspot develops oils derived from fermented microalgae. The company is currently working with Gore to create petroleum-free DWR, and a project with Swiss chemical firm Beyond Surface technologies has resulted in a microalgae-based wicking treatment that hits the market this year in garments by streetwear brand Pangea.

Checkerspot also supplies algae-based polyurethane for its own ski brand, Wndr Alpine. And there’s more on the horizon: the ski maker plans to develop its own line of greener packs and apparel incorporating the Beyond Surface coatings and algal polyurethanes for hard pieces like pack buckles.

Wearables Get Even Smarter

The future of fitness wearables looks increasingly detailed—and some might say, invasive. Swiss company Core’s body temperature monitor has been used as a training tool by pro cycling teams for a few seasons, but it’s now available to the public. The device clips onto an elastic chest strap and sends continuous body temp readings to a smart device. Excess body heat saps an athlete’s power output, so such monitoring can help athletes strategize during competition, telling them whether to drop the hammer or back off until they’re cooler.

Also launched this spring: a partnership between Garmin and blood-testing company Inside Tracker that combines smartwatch data like blood oxygen and stress levels with the genetic biomarkers the company derives from periodic lab-administered blood tests. The result is customized training and nutritional advice—like increasing your sleep or upping magnesium levels—to optimize performance.

Even more frequent exposure to needles is required for an upcoming glucose-monitoring system from Supersapiens. Based on existing technology made for diabetics, a needle pressed under the skin and adhered to the tricep is synced with a smartwatch or phone for live monitoring to help athletes stay optimally fueled.

Tech is…Running Our Businesses

By Cindy Hirschfeld and Elisabeth Kwak-Hefferan, with reporting by Tatiana Walker-Morris

Personal Shopping Service

When Mike Peters decided to buy an e-bike earlier this summer, online retailer Curated connected the Denver shopper with an e-bike expert in Illinois, and the two texted for a few days. Peters liked the convenience of shopping on his own time, and that his expert felt brand agnostic—“You could ask about any bike, not just the stuff they had in a store”—so he placed an order.

The shopping experience at Curated, which launched in 2017 and sells gear for hiking, skiing, cycling, fly-fishing, and more, starts with a series of questions about experience level and gear preferences. Then the company’s artificial intelligence program matches the customer with an actual person to help them find the best product. “I don’t think people would ever want to buy a $2,000 pair of skis from a chatbot,” said founder Eduardo Vivas. Though Curated has about 100 brand partners, the company will source any item a customer and expert choose.

Vivas said his business isn’t about steamrolling brick and mortar. Outdoor Gear Exchange (OGE) in Burlington, Vermont, is one of 25 or so retail partners that sell gear through the platform, lopping off a commission for Curated (OGE sends them 10 to 15 percent). “It’s a little bit more than other affiliates that we work with, but [Curated] drives more in sales,” said Ivan Tighe, director of fulfillment and communications—the platform drove 630 orders last January alone.

And on the brand side, Curated offers anonymized customer data to its partners quarterly, which clues vendors in to how they’re performing with different demographics or regions and shows them how often buyers pick their gear from the expert’s list of recommendations.

Affiliate Gear Sales

We’ve all seen those dubious “best of” lists, compiled solely to get cash for clicks. But when established digital outlets pursue the affiliate sales game, do they risk eroding reader trust? Not necessarily. Media brands say they’re able to earn money from recommending products while maintaining editorial integrity.

For larger online pubs, that means having separate affiliate sales teams to deal with logistics while letting editors have the final say over what gets covered. At Lola Digital Media—owner of Gear Junkie, Switchback Travel, and other sites—“the editorial and affiliate linking are totally separate,” said VP of commerce David Wilkinson. In 2020, the company produced $200 million in sales for retail partners and direct-to-consumer brands (Wilkinson declined to say what the partnership netted for Lola).

At Gear Patrol, where affiliate sales comprise about 20 percent of revenue, head of commerce Brian Louie said the editorial mission comes before the links: “Readers can tell if something is forced.” The same holds true at șÚÁÏłÔčÏÍű (a sister publication to șÚÁÏłÔčÏÍű Business Journal). “We work to optimize the content that we are already creating for revenue,” said Katie Cruickshank, senior digital marketing manager. “And we’re not going to cover anything editorially just because there’s a good commission rate.” Sales bring in some 10 percent of overall digital revenue.

Meanwhile, the increased sales channels and ability to track conversions warrant the revenue sharing for brands and retailers. “I think it’s the most powerful type of marketing on the internet today,” said Wilkinson.

6 Workflow Apps We Love

You’ve been hitting Zoom, Microsoft Teams, and all the Googles hard for the past year or so—but they’re far from the only programs that make your work life easier. Have you met these standouts?

1. Trello. Collaborate with colleagues on to-do lists, set deadlines, and track shared projects. Free (basic); $10/person/month and up (advanced).
2. Canva. Design as a team with templates for everything from Instagram posts to logos. Free (basic); $10/person/month and up (advanced).
3. Otter Voice. Take meeting notes quickly with this live transcription app for computers and phones. Free (basic); $8.33/person/month and up (advanced).
4. Calendly. Schedule meetings by syncing your calendars and letting people choose from your available times. Free (basic); $8/person/month and up (advanced).
5. Mural. Play around with workflow diagrams, graphs, and even freehand sketching for remote teams. $12/person/month and up.
6. Harvest. Find out how much time you’re spending on specific projects with this time tracker app. Free (basic); $12/person/month (advanced).

The Biggest Gear Breakthroughs of All Time

By Amelia Arvesen

These ten innovations revolutionized the business of outdoor, according to gear historians and longtime industry members.

1927: Pin bindings.The groundbreaker here was the Rottefella six-pin binding. Before pin bindings, skiers used wicker and leather toe straps to tie wooden planks to their feet. Norwegian engineer Bror With’s clamp-and-spike invention keeps skis more secure and makes walking less cumbersome.

1937: Vulcanized rubber outsoles. This groundbreaker was the Vibram Carramato sole. Vitale Bramani was inspired to make leather boots better after friends died while mountaineering in 1935 in the Italian Alps, in part due to footwear that froze. Bramani beefed up the soles by incorporating a tread design traditionally used for automobile tires.

1968: Avalanche transceivers. Scadi was the first product in this new category. Avalanche experts were experimenting with different electromagnetic methods of locating buried people from above the snow when researcher John Lawton at New York’s Cornell Aeronautical Laboratory created a handheld device with the longest range and best accuracy yet.

1969: Internal-frame backpack. The Lowe internal frame pack was the first. In a basement in Colorado, Greg Lowe made the first pack that integrated the supportive structure into the back panel. It was first made of phenolic resin layers and later revised to aluminum frame bars. Hips and shoulders everywhere rejoiced.

1977: Expanded polytetrafluorethylene (ePTFE) material. Gore-Tex was the pioneer in this category. While tinkering with the polymer, Bob Gore discovered it could stretch by up to 1,000 percent and transform into a new substance with tiny pores that allow air to pass through. His invention, later called Gore-Tex, is now a household name.

1977: Sports bra. Credit the Jogbra as the first. Ditching the impractical underwire of the past, Lisa Lindahl, Hinda Miller, and Polly Smith sewed together two jockstraps to make a more supportive and comfortable bra that they could wear while running and playing sports. Sports bras have come a long way since then.

1978: Spring-loaded camming device. “The Friend” was the groundbreaker. After Ray Jardine invented the first modern trigger-activated pieces of climbing protection, he kept them a secret because he didn’t want anyone to steal the idea. A climbing partner referred to them by the code name “friends,” and Wild Country still sells cams under the label.

1979: Synthetic fleece. The Malden Mills Polarfleece got there first. Replacing natural fibers from sheep, this synthetic material is softer, better at resisting water, and in some cases, much warmer. Patagonia was one of the first partners of Malden Mills, which has since rebranded as Polartec.

1989: Handheld GPS. The Magellan Nav 1000 was the first. The military was using pocket-sized GPS units long before 1989, but that’s when civilians could finally get their hands on one for a whopping $2,900. Garmin was a close second on the market. Over time, prices dropped, sizes shrunk, and features improved.

2000: Multi-Directional Impact Protection System (MIPS). Before MIPS, helmets didn’t account for the rotational force the brain experiences in crashes and falls. A neurosurgeon and PhD student in Sweden added a thin layer between a helmet’s shell and liner for extra protection.

Enough with the Tech Judgement

By Alex Temblador

I’d been hiking through a forest, past waterfalls, and across creeks by myself for five hours in the North Chickamauga Creek Gorge State Natural Area near Chattanooga when my Garmin fenix 6S Pro Solar GPS watch died. I’d used it a lot the past few days—tracking my hikes and watching for thunderstorms that threatened to flood me off Lookout Mountain—and I hadn’t noticed that it needed to be recharged.

Not a minute later, my dad called and asked, “Are you still hiking?” At the same time, a text from my mom came through, conveying the same concern. The safety tracking feature had turned off, and my loved ones were in the dark about my whereabouts.

I often hike, bike, trail run, or camp by myself all across the country. And as a solo woman of color, when I do, you can bet I’m always connected to the internet. You can catch me in front of a campfire with my laptop on my knees or checking my phone while hiking in Palo Duro Canyon State Park. Passersbys have joked, “Stop working—you’re on vacation.” Others boast about how they left their phone in their car.

These jokes and subtle comments speak to an old-fashioned way of thinking. See, outdoor purists will tell you that unplugged outdoor experiences are “real” or “better,” but that’s a limited and privileged perspective. And I’m over it.

Whether I’m camping with family at a lake in Oklahoma or glamping by myself in a treehouse near Austin, I always have my laptop with me and my hotspot active. As a freelance writer, I must be connected: I’m not yet in a position in my career where I can leave my laptop at home, even for a few days. Sometimes I need to finish an article before kayaking, or answer an email from an editor who’s offering me an opportunity for a high-paying, quick-turnaround piece.

I’m not alone in this experience. With the pandemic, many jobs went remote, and that gave people an opportunity to work while on the move. Technology, like Wi-Fi hotspots and solar generators, allowed people to work and enjoy the outdoors more than they’d ever been able to do before. Isn’t that the dream?

Of course I don’t want to bring my laptop to a cabin in the woods, but that’s where I am in my career, and I shouldn’t be judged because I’m not financially able to leave my technology at home. Even if I get to a point where I don’t need to work while outdoors, the reality is, technology and internet access make the outdoors safer for me.

With my phone and smartwatch, I can keep track of harsh weather conditions, ensure I don’t get lost, notify authorities in case of a medical emergency, or share safety concerns about a trail, tour guide, or campsite with other people. As much as we’d like to think that the outdoors is safe for all, women, people of color, the queer community, and many other underrepresented groups still face harassment, threats, and assault in the outdoors. We can mitigate this danger with technology and help ourselves and our loved ones feel more confident when we’re in nature.

Safety and career needs aside, I can think of a million other ways that connectivity has improved my outdoor experience—not least, Googling “how to start a campfire” while glamping in West Texas, or calling a friend to pick me and my foldable kayak up from a boat launch because I was unable to paddle upstream to my car. (And yes, I like pulling my phone out and taking photos of myself in nature—sue me.)

Instead of judging people for using the internet, laptops, phones, and other technology in the outdoors, we should toss those purist notions aside and cheer them on. Who cares if they’re online? The fact that they’re outdoors is what matters most.

The post How Tech Is Transforming the Outdoor Industry appeared first on șÚÁÏłÔčÏÍű Online.

Strictly speaking, you don’t need to justify making durable products for the outdoors. “It’s just the right thing to do, to make equipment that isn’t going to fail in the field,” said Mystery Ranch project manager Luke Buckingham, speaking of the brand’s legacy of producing long-lasting packs.

That design ethic drove the early evolution of the outdoor industry, and while it’s still embraced by many brands, we’ve also seen a trend toward flimsier fast-and-light gear, as well as influence by the broader consumer culture that favors everything new. But as more outdoor brands—and their customers—chase a sustainable future, they’re embracing product longevity in a new way. In a movement that’s gathering momentum, brands are recognizing and communicat- ing that durability should be the first rule of reducing environmental impact.

Of course, that doesn’t mean no impact. “Nothing any company in this industry does is sustainable. Everything we do is environmentally negative—it’s largely oil-based products,” said Joe Vernachio, president of Mountain Hardwear, which has pledged that 80 percent of all materials used in its products will be recycled by 2024. “The best thing we can do to keep our impact in check is make really good things that people fall in love with and use over and over.”

Making the connection between durability and sustainability will be a key part of achieving that goal. “We’re in the process of starting to put [that message] out in front,” he said. “For us, it’s going to be ‘love the jacket you have, repair it, use it, instead of just buying the latest, newest thing.’”

That’s not an entirely new message, of course. Patagonia famously said as much in its 2011 “Don’t Buy This Jacket” ad. But what’s new is the number of brands that are embracing the imperative and communicating it to consumers. Arc’teryx, for example, is making it a brand priority. “While durability has always been part of our brand messaging and what our customers value about our product, we have increasingly articulated the connection between durability and sustainability,” said Katie Wilson, senior manager for social and environmental sustainability. She points to last year’s launch of Arc’teryx Used Gear, which has a clear message for consumers: “This program helps get the most use, and reuse, out of each Arc’teryx item, keeping Arc’teryx products in action and out of the landfill.” Patagonia’s Worn Wear program does the same, and REI is testing a pilot program that allows customers to sell used gear back to REI.

Measuring Durability

The renewed emphasis on durability and its sustainability promise begs a question: How long should gear last?

That’s not an easy question to answer. The amount of use—and abuse—a product endures varies. And while brands test and measure the durability of materials and construction methods, there’s no standardized testing for finished products. Plus, there’s the matter of intended use. A just-in-case ultralight jacket isn’t as bombproof as an all-weather shell, but it can still last for years when used as intended.

While many brand representatives express skepticism about creating a durability standard similar to, say, the EN standard for rating the warmth of sleeping bags, Christiane Dolva, head of sustainability at Fjällräven, says they’re involved in a project with the Textile University in Sweden researching how to apply artificial intelligence and machine learning to create exactly that: a standard for measuring durability.

In the meantime, should brands quantify their durability goals? Several months ago, Mystery Ranch began creating a two-pronged sustainability plan headed up by Buckingham, examining both sustainability—in materials, supply chains, and such—and durability. Mystery Ranch employs methods like doubling the fabric on pack bottoms and using heavy-duty zippers to ensure progress on the latter. Buckingham estimates a pack lifespan of “eight to ten years as a good benchmark for regular use.” He says many of the packs that come in for warranty are that old.”

As designers attempt to navigate these two tracks—sustainable materials and durability—they sometimes have to walk an awkward tightrope. Dolva says Fjällräven has found that recycled wool nearly matches virgin wool, but often needs some mixing with synthetic (read: oil-based) material for reinforcement. High-tenacity and chemically recycled polyesters nearly match the durability of virgin polyester, but with mechanically recycled polyester, durability drops off by 10 to 15 percent.

And then there are DWRs, or durable water-repellent treatments. The most effective DWRs are made with highly toxic chemicals, notes Vernachio. Eco-friendly versions don’t perform as well, and even though they can be reapplied, most consumers don’t go to the trouble. “People will only use a jacket [with an inferior DWR] for a year or two and then it will end up in a landfill,” he said.

Growing Demand

How much do outdoor consumers care about—or even understand—durability’s connection to sustainability?

“There is a growing consumer aware- ness around taking care of and making re- pairs to products to prolong their lifespan,” Dolva said. “The connection to sustainability is perhaps not always clear, but that’s okay. If the motivation behind a consumer purchase is the desire to own a product they will wear and love for a long time, the sustainability factors are an added bonus.”

REI, which is a driving force for most industry trends, is also seeing consumers make the connection. “We’re continuously hearing from our customers that they want high-quality gear that’s built to last, all while minimizing our impact on the environment,” said Greg Gausewitz, REI’s product sustainability manager. “Every product has a footprint, but in turn every product is an opportunity to fuel a movement for good.”

The media has a role to play in this movement as well. Eli Bernstein, gear editor at Backpacker, notes that while his team has spotlighted many green products in recent years and testers have critiqued product durability since the magazine’s first gear reviews were published, the connection between the two is a concept writers and editors should be promoting as well.

Bernstein cites a recent Backpacker review of Osprey’s new Archeon pack as an example. The review lauds its green materials, such as 100 percent recycled industrial scraps and a PFC-free DWR. But it also praises the 1,880-denier nylon canvas which “means this might just be the last daypack you ever buy (nothing’s greener than gear that doesn’t need replacing).”

And it’s not just consumers who matter. Vernachio makes the point that Mountain Hardwear “wouldn’t be able to attract an employee under the age of 35 if we didn’t have a point of view on our impact on the environment. It’s one of the first questions people ask in an interview, regardless of the job.”

Getting the Message Right

It’s hard to make the case that any outdoor company has made sustainability central to its mission and brand marketing more consistently and effectively than Patagonia. As Corey Simpson, Patagonia’s communications manager, said, “This is what we’ve been doing for a really, really long time. We want it to be a social contract. We want you to take responsibility and we’ll take responsibility, too.”

But that message has required decades of cultivation. Simpson acknowledges it won’t be easy for some brands to sell the concept that durability equals sustainability to their customers. “It’s really hard,” he said. “I talk to other brands and offer positive advice, but a lot of time a pivot like this feels foreign, it’s expensive, it’s not a language they can speak easily to their customer base. But those who stay committed are going to see success. For brands who just see it as a bullet point describing the company, it’s not going to work and it doesn’t stick around.”

In an era when so many consumer goods—like electronics and fashion—get constantly updated and replaced, can the outdoor industry succeed by going in the opposite direction and selling products that discourage consumerism?

If history is any guide, the answer should be clear. The industry’s past revolved around making gear that lasts, and its future will, too.

This story originally ran in the Summer 2020 issue of The Voice.Ìę

The post Trend Report, Part 1: Tough Is the New Green appeared first on șÚÁÏłÔčÏÍű Online.

After all but losing spring 2020 to the pandemic, retailers and consumers alike are looking for gear to get excited about in 2021. So excited, in fact, that we decided to add their votes to our ranking of next season’s top products. Together, we’ve pored over, narrowed down, and rated this year’s submissions to bring you the 50 most coveted products, ranked.

With all the supply chain disruptions and bleak sales during the pandemic, many brands and retailers are focused on selling through what’s currently in stock. So we opened up our TV50 nominations to select in-line products as well. They are indicated below with the label “Available Now.”

Breaking Down the Votes

How did we come up with this list? We received 359 submissions from 159 brands. Prices ranged from $2 (for a packet of energy gel) to $4,799 (for a kayak). We culled the list to the most interesting 65 products, then put these finalists out for a vote among three different user groups: our internal editorial team, a panel of retail shop owners, and consumers drawn from a group of superfans of BACKPACKER, our sister publication. Everyone voted on each product, assigning a rating from one (not interested) to ten (very interested).

Here are the top picks of each voter group.

TOP PICKS FOR RETAILERS: Big Agnes TwisterCane Pad; Nemo Roamer Double Sleeping Pad

TOP PICKS FOR CONSUMERS: PrimaLoft Gold with P.U.R.E. tech; Big Agnes TwisterCane Pad and Leatherman Free T4 (tie)

TOP PICKS FOR OUR EDITORIAL TEAM: PrimaLoft Gold with P.U.R.E. tech; Big Agnes Sidewinder bag

1. PrimaLoft Gold with P.U.R.E. Tech

$199 (for Patagonia Nano Puff Jacket, insulation pictured above)

THE PROMISE: This new synthetic insulation makes
a massive dent in carbon emissions.

THE DEETS: Patagonia’s Nano Puff will be the first jacket to feature the lightweight and highly compressible PrimaLoft Gold P.U.R.E. (Produced Using Reduced Emissions), a 100 percent recycled synthetic microfiber material. The production process saves roughly half the carbon emissions by binding the synthetic fill without heat, instead using an eco-friendly treatment to cure it with air.

2. Big Agnes Twister-Cane Bio Foam Pad

$50

THE PROMISE: This superlight pad (8 ounces) is made from sugarcane, not petroleum.

THE DEETS: For the first time, a closed-cell foam mat is made from renewable material grown with rainwater, reducing the industry’s dependence on EVA foam.

3. MSR Guardian Gravity Purifier

$250

THE PROMISE: Get pure water in minutes without breaking a sweat.

THE DEETS: The MSR Guardian Gravity Purifier uses two stages for purification. The hollow fiber technology removes viruses, bacteria, and protozoa, while the activated carbon reduces chemicals, tastes, and odors. The result: one liter of clean water in two minutes without any pumping. Bonus: no backflushing necessary, as the integrated purge valve does the work.

4. Leatherman FreeT4

$65; Available Now

THE PROMISE: Get a multitool with true one-handed operation.

THE DEETS: Twelve tools are accessible from the outside with simple magnetic closures, an architecture that eliminates fingernail use to deploy. Everything—from the four screwdrivers to the bottle opener—fit in this compact (3.6-inch) and light (4.3-ounce) package.

5. Osprey Aether/Aerial Plus 60L Packs

THE PROMISE: This updated version of a proven winner supports even heavier loads.

THE DEETS: The Plus version of the Aether (men’s) and Ariel (women’s) features a lighter frame that carries closer to the body to better stabilize heavy loads, yet remains breathable and comfortable. The lid detaches to convert into a daypack, or just to slim down the pack for shorter trips.

6. Primus Lite+

$115

THE PROMISE: Get a back- country stove for every kind of chef and every kind of meal.

THE DEETS: Versatility is the name of the game for the 16-ounce Lite+. It’s equally adept at quick-boiling (2:45 per half liter) and gentle simmering, plus it has a low center of gravity and even flame distribution. Bonus: includes a hanging kit.

7. Honey Stinger Protein Waffles

$27 (12 pack); Available Now

THE PROMISE: These snack waffles pack a protein punch.

THE DEETS: Now with ten grams of protein per pack, these anytime snacks aid muscle recovery and taste like a treat. Wild Berry or Apple Cinnamon filling is sandwiched between two thin, crisp waffles. Our taste testers keep asking for more.

8. BioLite HeadLamp 750

$100

THE PROMISE: It’s almost as bright as your car’s headlights yet weighs only five ounces.

THE DEETS: With six light modes, a burst option to briefly produce 750 lumens, and a 400-foot beam on max, this headlight screams safety and versatility. The battery lasts five hours using 500 lumens, but a full 100 hours on low, with an eight-hour reserve power mode and powerbank. Trail runners and mountaineers alike will love the constant brightness mode. Most lights using alkaline batteries dim, but the use of lithium batteries pre- vents the typical discharge curve and keeps the lumens in a steady state.

9. NEMO Roamer Double Sleeping Pad

$400

THE PROMISE: This plush pad for two is so comfy you just might forget that you’re camping.

THE DEETS: With four inches of open-cell foam and an R-value of six, this double-wide, self-inflating pad provides a deluxe mattress covered in soft, recycled polyester fabric. The included pump means speedy inflation.

10. Big Agnes Sidewinder SL

$280

THE PROMISE: It’s the ultimate sleeping bag for side sleepers.

THE DEETS: 70 percent of us sleep on our sides and now there’s a bag built
just for us. The Sidewinder contours to a side sleeper’s position while also allowing freedom of movement for rolling over. Even the foot box is contoured to the angle of the side sleeper’s feet. Body-mapped fill (650-fill DownTek with synthetic overlays near the hips and feet) optimizes warmth.

11. Klean Kanteen Food Boxes

$15-$60

THE PROMISE: These reusable, super-tough containers are ideal for storing snacks.

THE DEETS: Sold as a set or in three different sizes, these dishwasher-safe, stainless-steel storage containers don’t rust, shatter, or retain flavors (like plastic containers often do). The silicone lids are leak-proof and BPA-free, and the containers are sized for trail mix, sandwiches, or a whole picnic lunch.

12. PHOOZY Apollo II

$35; Available Now

THE PROMISE: Protect your phone in the wildest environments.

THE DEETS: If anything can protect your phone from the elements, it’s NASA space suit technology. The Phoozy combines a thick EVA foam with a patent-pending chromium thermal layer and UV coating that protects the battery from dying in the cold and overheating in the sun.ÌęThe case is water-resistant and protects against drops up to eight feet.

13. POC Sports Tectal Race NFC SPIN Helmet

$250; Available Now

THE PROMISE: This helmet protects you during and after a biking accident.

THE DEETS: Thanks to a near-field communication (NFC) medical ID tag in the helmet, first responders can instantly read your medical profile via any NFC-enabled smartphone and use it to inform medical decisions when you’re unable to speak. The fully wrapped construction, combined with POC’s patent-pending SPIN (Shearing Pads Inside), silicone-injected pads, and precision straps, improves rotational impact and structural integrity, but the helmet still weighs less than 14 ounces.

14. Gregory Katmai/Kalmia 50-65L

$260 (55L)

THE PROMISE: This pack moves with your body to provide ultimate comfort.

THE DEETS: The Katmai (men’s) and Kalmia (women’s) packs feature a ventilated, suspended mesh backpanel that cradles your lower back for fit and comfort. The customizable 3D hipbelt hugs the body and decreases rubbing and hotspots.

15. Six Moon Designs Wild Owyhee 2P Tent

$600; Available Now

THE PROMISE: Even the tallest campers can sit up straight under this tarp tent.

THE DEETS: The dual-pole design affords 48 inches of headroom, and not just at the center point. Two doors and vestibules offer convenience, storage, and access. The No-See-Um mesh skirt perimeter provides full ventilation and bug protection, and of course you get complete rain protection, all for just one pound.

16. Patagonia Provisions Cacao + Mango Bar

$27 (12 pack); Available Now

THE PROMISE: This natural fruit bar breaks the granola bar mold.

THE DEETS: Our testers say these bars make you feel like you’re on a tropical island, thanks to the organic blend of sun-dried mangoes, cacao nibs, bananas, and almonds. The pocket-size bar delivers 140 calories.

17. Black Diamond Capitan MIPS Helmet $100

THE PROMISE: Maximum head protection doesn’t need to be hot, heavy, or uncomfortable.

THE DEETS: With a sleek, cradled fit and plentiful brain coverage, the Capitan is cool and comfortable without compromising noggin protection. The MIPS technology absorbs and redirects oblique impacts to the helmet.

18. SPOT Gen4 Satellite Messenger

$150

THE PROMISE: This one-way communication device stands up to the roughest elements.

THE DEETS: The newest SPOT Gen4 messenger has an upgraded outer casing and water-resistant rating (IP68), plus prolonged battery performance, all for less than four ounces. The new mapping option stores more than 50 waypoints for tracking.

19. Cusa Coffee

$6 (seven pack); Available Now

THE PROMISE: Get gourmet coffee on the go.

THE DEETS: Cusa took the instant tea world by storm a few years ago, and now it’s jumping into the instant coffee game. For cold or hot brew, just shake or stir with water for ten seconds to dissolve the blend. We got a sneak taste test and the verdict is thumbs up! Available in a variety of roasts and flavors.

20. Voormi Diversion Hoodie

$249; Available Now

THE PROMISE: It’s the cozy, stink-resistant hoodie you’ll reach for over all the others.

THE DEETS: This 21.5-micron merino wool jacket is reinforced with nylon fibers and finished with a DWR coating to deliver protection against the elements. Features include integrated thumbholes, a chest pocket with a headphone port, and a relaxed fit.

21. LEKI Cross Trail 3A

$150

THE PROMISE: These poles are purpose-built for both trail running and backpacking.

THE DEETS: At just over a pound per pair, the three-section Cross Trail 3A is a light and strong aluminum-shafted pole with a glove-like grip/strap system to help runners sail down the trail or trekkers power up big climbs, all while keeping a relaxed hand.

22. HOKA One One Clifton Edge

$160

THE PROMISE: The unique heel geometry creates a smooth impact and an un- matched gliding sensation.

THE DEETS: The newest Hoka debuts a lighter top layer of midsole foam paired with a radically extended heel section to absorb heel strike forces. The weight is just 7.2 ounces per shoe with 26mm of cushion in the heel and 21mm in the forefoot.

23. Big Agnes Goosenest Inflatable Cot

$150

THE PROMISE: This inflatable camp cot (pictured upside down to show the structural design) gets you off the ground for comfortable snoozing and packs down small for easy transport.

THE DEETS: The perimeter tubes elevate it 8 inches off the ground and stabilize the sleeper in the middle of the cot, even on uneven ground. The antimicrobial treatments inside the chambers prevent mildew, odors, discoloration, and degradation. At less than three pounds, it transports easily.

24. Superfeet Trailblazer Comfort Insoles

$50; Available Now

THE PROMISE: Give your feet extra protection and comfort on the trail.

THE DEETS: This insole enhances the stability and comfort of any trail runner or boot and offers retailers a great upselling opportunity. Built with heel impact technology, shock-absorbing, dual-comfort foam, and a carbon-fiber stabilizer cap, these will turn the miles into smiles.

25. Therm-a-Rest Air Head Pillow

$43 – $48; Available Now

THE PROMISE: Get a better night’s sleep with this lofty but light synthetic pillow.

THE DEETS: Backpackers will hardly notice the extra 5.6 ounces, but they’ll appreciate the comfort of this four-inch-thick baffled inflatable pillow after a long day. It comes in two sizes and is shaped to fit into the hood of a sleeping bag. The brushed polyester outer is machine washable.

26. Vasque Footwear Satoru Trail LT

$150

THE PROMISE: This minimalist shoe protects and supports like a midweight hiker.

THE DEETS: The Satoru Trail LT strips away everything but comfort and versatility. With zero drop for a natural stride and a one-piece molded mesh upper (no overlays, stitching, or glue), it’s lightweight but protective.

27. Cotopaxi Teca Calido Hooded Jacket

$150

THE PROMISE: A little bit casual, a little bit technical, this colorful jacket diverts scrap textile from the landfill.

THE DEETS: Made from a combination of repurposed and recycled materials, this two-ounce insulated wind- breaker is sure to pop off the rack. It’s also reversible. One side features Cotopaxi’s signature color-blocking; the other a more subdued solid hue.

28. Matador SEG42

$190; Available Now

THE PROMISE: This load hauler combines the best features of a backpack, duffle bag, and packing cubes into one.

THE DEETS: With five zippered compartments, this 42-liter travel bag keeps you organized. Carry it like a pack or stow away the shoulder straps and use the top or side straps for duffel duty. It’s carry-on compliant and the nylon shell is durable and water resistant.

29. GSI Outdoors Lite Cast Frypan

$29

THE PROMISE: Get cast-iron performance without the weight.

THE DEETS: Traditional cast iron fry pans are heavy, but, at three pounds, this thinner, ten-inch skillet is 30 percent lighter than most. The polished cooking surface prevents sticking and eases cleanup.

30. Smith Lowdown 2 CORE

$129; Available Now

THE PROMISE: Eco-conscious adventurers will wear these shades with pride.

THE DEETS: Created from recycled plastic bottles and castor oil plants, these are glasses you can feel good about. Even the microfiber bag comes from recycled single-use plastics. The polarized lenses reduce glare from sun and snow.

31. Kelty Grand Mesa

$130 (2P) / $190 (4P); Available Now

THE PROMISE: This spacious shelter won’t break your budget.

THE DEETS: Available in a two- or four-person version, this is an ideal three-season tent for entry-level backpackers. The color-coded corner pockets make setup a snap, and the large D-shaped single door and vestibule are roomy for easy entry/exit and gear storage.

32. Black Diamond Tag LT Shoe

$135

THE PROMISE: These approach shoes are so light and packable, they can send the route with you.

THE DEETS: The Tag LTs collapse readily into a flat package no bigger than their midsole, thanks to the two-way stretch polyester upper. A carry strap binds them together and the heel loop makes them a cinch to clip to your pack or harness once you reach the crag. They weigh 15 ounces per pair.

33. Danner Trail 2650 Campo

$140

THE PROMISE: This lightweight, breathable, and grippy low-cut hiker is built for hot, dry, and rocky terrain.

THE DEETS: The Campo’s EVA midsole provides welcome cushioning and drainage ports, while the Vibram outsole easily tackles the desert’s sandy and uneven surfaces. The mesh upper and multiple drainage ports in the toebox and heel provide airflow and breathability to beat the heat.

34. LifeStraw Go 1L

$45

THE PROMISE: Fill, filter, and drink with this affordable, all-in-one device.

THE DEETS: The lightweight, reusable LifeStraw Go 1L bottle has an internal membrane microfilter along with a carbon filter, which combine to remove bacteria, parasites, and harmful chemicals from up to 1,000 gallons of water.

35. Kurgo Tru-Fit Enhanced Strength Harness

$45; Available Now

THE PROMISE: Keep your best friend safe, both in the car and on the trail.

THE DEETS: This multitasking harness works for standard walking as well as for clipping your dog into your car’s seatbelt system for safe road tripping. With steel hardware and five points of adjustment, the harness passes crash tests designed for child restraints.

36. Helinox Incline Festival Chair

$120

THE PROMISE: It’s the ultimate festival chair.

THE DEETS: The DAC alloy frame offers stability and support, and the sliding front feet adjust the seat angle for optimal comfort and positioning. The broad, flat contact points minimize impact on festival grounds and without legs, the three-pound chair keeps a low profile, so you won’t block the action for people sitting behind you.

37. Merrell Moab Speed

$120

THE PROMISE: Merrell’s best-selling shoe just lost some weight.

THE DEETS: The trail running version of this popular shoe keeps a low profile and weighs just over a pound per pair. The hybrid design tackles varied terrain with a Vibram outsole, ten millimeter drop, layered mesh upper, and padded collar.

38. Hydro Flask Outdoor Kitchen Collection

$20 – $75

THE PROMISE: Kitchenware that’s ready to rough it, but sleek enough for fancy backyard cookouts.

THE DEETS: Eight pieces, including utensils, bowls, and lids, nest into a tote for easy portability. The stainless-steel construction is easy to clean and the double-wall vacuum insulation keeps foods hot or cold during travel.

39. Granite Gear Dagger 22L Pack

$100; Available Now

THE PROMISE: It’s the ideal pack for ambitious dayhikers.

THE DEETS: The Dagger utilizes Granite Gear’s arch system to anchor the frame
to the hipbelt and distribute the load evenly. The 22-liter nylon packbag fits day trip essentials inside, but the stretch side and front pockets give it a little extra capacity.

40. Deuter Future Air Trek 50 + 10L

$250

THE PROMISE: This pack’s calling card is versatility.

THE DEETS: One pack for all: The ventilated mesh back and fit system adjusts to any body shape or size, while the detachable toplid lets you add or subtract volume. A U-shaped front zipper means you can get to any part of the pack quickly and easily. And a roomy side pocket is big enough for a hydration bladder.

41. Sierra Designs Nightcap

35°F $150 / 20°F $170

THE PROMISE: This zipperless bag is built with salvaged materials.

THE DEETS: Recycled, post-industrial fabrics that would otherwise go to waste form the 20-denier ripstop nylon shell, while the synthetic insulation is sourced from recycled water bottles. The bag has a self-sealing foot vent and an integrated pad sleeve.

42. Karukinka Tase

$329; Available Now

THE PROMISE: This will be the midlayer you reach for time and again.

THE DEETS: Combining three types of wool—alpaca, llama, and merino—into a single fabric is exciting, but comes at a high price point. All these cold-weather fibers have the overlapping benefits of wicking moisture and staying warm when wet, but the longer fibers of merino increase durability. Alpaca and llama fibers are hollow, contributing to the fast-drying and moisture-wicking performance.

43. șÚÁÏłÔčÏÍű Inside Explorer Essential Kit

$50

THE PROMISE: This kit is perfect for any kid who dreams of adventuring.

THE DEETS: Get your kids started early and safely with these essentials for exploring the great outdoors, whether it’s the backyard or the backcountry. The set includes a pair of binoculars, a legit orienteering compass, LED flashlight, a four-in-one whistle/thermometer, instructions, and a protective carrying pouch.

44. Bogs Footwear Kicker

$45

THE PROMISE: Life hack for parents: These eco-friendly, closed-toed kids’ shoes are easy on, easy off, and machine washable.

THE DEETS: Kids can use and abuse these shoes, all while keeping their feet dry, sweat-free, and less stinky. The new Bloom insoles come from algae blooms, which are dried into flakes and mixed with EVA to create a comfortable footbed, while also cleaning up water habitats.

45. Moon Fab Moon Shade

$350; Available Now

THE PROMISE: Versatile attachment hardware makes it easy to create ample shade whenever and wherever you need it.

THE DEETS: This portable, 420-denier polyester awning can attach to any vehicle or door frame (with heavy-duty suction cups) or even mount to trees, fences, and railings. When deployed, there’s nine by seven feet of coverage with UV protection and reflective coating. At eight pounds (including its own carrying case), it can easily go from ball games to campgrounds.

46. Odlo Active F-DRY Light Eco Sports Baselayer

$45

THE PROMISE: This fast-dry- ing tee is ideal for serious aerobic activity.

THE DEETS: Combining polypropylene with recycled polyester, this short-sleeved baselayer has a push-pull effect to regulate body temperature and keeps you smelling like a rose. And it’s ultralight at less than half an ounce.

47. EDELRID Tommy Caldwell Eco Dry CT 9.3 Rope

$300-$380

THE PROMISE: It’s a rope as eco-conscious as Tommy Caldwell himself, with the first and only dry treatment that’s safer for the environment.

THE DEETS: Available in three lengths with a 9.3-mm diameter, the rope coils without tangles and has extreme abrasion resistance. The bi-color sheath makes finding the middle a cinch. And the Eco Dry 100 percent PFC core and sheath dry treatment are free of the fluorochemicals commonly used to provide water- and stain-resistance to climbing ropes.

48. Level Six Freya Drysuit

$900

THE PROMISE: This women’s drysuit has a unique rear access so she can answer nature’s calls, quickly.

THE DEETS: The zipper for the rear relief area is designed to be non-irritating when paddling in a kayak, sitting on a raft, or standing up on a paddleboard—so basically comfortable all the time. The waterproof/breathable fabric is articulated for unrestricted movement, with reinforced knees and elbows for durability. The adjustable waistband system provides a precise fit.

49. MTHD Traverse Trail Run Short

$95

THE PROMISE: These men’s shorts are built to beat friction and irritation.

THE DEETS: A stretchy, 20-denier nylon paired with an underlying Polartec Power Dry polyester built-in boxer brief grants the flexibility and breathability runners need. A Polartec NeoShell pocket keeps your phone protected from sweat even while you’re Strava-ing a full day.

KEEN Ridge Flex Mid*

$170

THE PROMISE: These boots actually make hiking easier.

THE DEETS: KEEN says that the pliable TPU inserts at key flex points (across the forefoot and at the Achilles heel) in this midweight hiker require 60 percent less energy to bend. That saves energy and combats foot fatigue, but it also nixes break-in times and improves durability, as leather tends to break down earlier at flex points.

*This last-minute entry missed our deadline for voting but we love the innovation and suspect it would have scored well, so we’re including it here without a ranking.Ìę

The post The Voice 50: The Hottest Gear of Next Season appeared first on șÚÁÏłÔčÏÍű Online.

This story originally ran in the Summer 2020 issue of The Voice.Ìę

A few years ago, as the trade war with China heated up, Mark Wolf decided he had had enough. Already frustrated with theft of his company’s intellectual property in China—Wolf makes outdoor fire pits, camp grills, and fireproof covers, under the name Fireside Outdoor, among other products there—he shifted production of a large chunk of the work out of the country, to Vietnam.

Then, last winter, the coronavirus hit. And Wolf, like many in the outdoor industry, felt just how inextricably his fortunes remain tied to China.

The contagion all but shuttered the country for weeks, including its border with Vietnam and the flow of raw materials and components Wolf required. “We had 13 containers sitting in Vietnam, stuck there. They were filled with kits waiting for nuts and bolts, the right fasteners,” Wolf, the president of Fireside Outdoor, said about his predicament at the end of March. All of those nuts and bolts come from China. What’s more, he says, the aluminum ingots his Vietnamese factory needs also come from China. “The coronavirus really exposed how dependent we are on China and their massive, disproportionate supply of raw materials,” he said. “And that’s the key: disproportionate. It’s almost like Napoleon realizing he’s too far into Russia.”

A reckoning is afoot, Wolf predicts. “We can’t all leave China in the short term,” said Wolf, who still makes 60 percent of his goods there. “But I can’t imagine there isn’t a boardroom in America that isn’t considering changing or offsetting their supply chain with China.”

China has long been the world’s workshop, producing one fifth of the manufacturing output across the globe, according to the Brookings Institution, a public policy nonprofit. Increasingly, however, many companies have been wondering whether China is still the place to make their products. Some companies already have shifted elsewhere, or plan to. Nearly 40 percent of respondents in an American Chamber of Commerce in the People’s Republic of China survey in mid-2019 said they had either relocated manufacturing from China or were considering doing so.

This conversation is “absolutely front and center” in the outdoor industry right now, says Drew Saunders, a member of the Outdoor Industry Association’s Trade Advisory Council and the country manager for Oberalp North America. Saunders knows from experience. He says that Oberalp’s brands—including Salewa, Dynafit, and Pomoca—have been making a “slow pivot” away from producing apparel in China over the last five years. For other firms, the U.S. trade war with China and now the global pandemic that has convulsed through China and the rest of the world have forced them to face the question: Is China worth the trouble?

The issue seems urgent amid the economic crisis ushered in by the coronavirus, but the truth is that other factors are at play, and despite the reasons to leave, there are also compelling reasons to stay. Here’s what the manufacturing landscape looks like—both in and out of China—and why the only certain thing is that this question is not going away.

The Case for Leaving

Rising Costs

Until recently, the primary issue pushing companies to leave China was simple: the increasing cost of doing business there. Once, cheap labor was a huge draw. That’s no longer the case: Hourly labor costs in China-based manufacturing reached $5.78 in 2019, according to Statista.com. In Vietnam, it was $2.99 an hour.

Wages aren’t the only rising costs. The Chinese government has imposed increased regulatory requirements, and costs related to the environment have risen as well, as the country tries to address major pollution problems. “You can’t just dump stuff anymore,” said Mary Lovely, a professor of economics at Syracuse University and a senior fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics. Outdoor companies are all for reducing pollution, of course, but it still changes the cost of doing business.

Sitting like a sour cherry atop these varying concerns are the tariffs of the U.S.-China trade war. Those costs are driving Fishpond USA to seek manufacturing elsewhere. Fishpond has successfully relocated some of its softgoods production, but still has significant ties to China, says founder Johnny Le Coq. “Oh yeah. We’re looking. We’re looking at every opportunity we can, for the factories who have the ability, from a quality perspective, to make our products,” he said. “Our duty on packs and bags made in China is now over 42 percent, up from 17.6 percent just a few years ago.”

That extra cost creates another frustration, Le Coq says. “With reduced margins, the incentive to innovate within that category is reduced and compromised. And we live in a world of innovation.”

That leaves few options, Le Coq said. “The implications of the tariffs are forcing brands like us to move.”

Human Rights

Concerns about working conditions in China are hardly new (see: Apple and FoxConn). Human rights violations aren’t, either. But a report released in early March now links these two in a troubling way. The Chinese government has transferred Uyghurs, a Muslim ethnic minority, and also other ethnic-minority citizens, to factories across the country and is making them work “under conditions that strongly suggest forced labor,” according to the report “Uyghurs for Sale” by the Australian Strategic Policy Group, an independent, nonpartisan think tank. The Uyghurs are in the supply chains of “at least 83 well-known global brands in the technology, clothing, and automotive sectors,” the report alleges, citing Apple, BMW, Nike, Patagonia, and L.L.Bean, among others.

In reply, companies told media outlets they take an ethical supply chain seriously and are committed to upholding compliance standards that prohibit forced labor. Patagonia and L.L.Bean both issued statements affirming this, with L.L.Bean saying, “Our Supply Chain Code of Conduct strictly prohibits the use of forced labor of any kind. Our global compliance programs and auditors cover every country where a factory makes L.L.Bean-branded product, including China, and we are actively working with our fellow industry leaders, associations, and our partners in the region to ensure that our supply chain standards are being met at the highest level.” Amy Celico, principal at global business consultant Albright Stonebridge Group, expects this issue will continue to be a big deal in the coming months. Some companies will decide remaining in China is not worth it, she says, given the need to police supply chains.

Emerging Alternatives

While forces within China are pushing companies out, there are opportunities elsewhere that are pulling them in. For example, skilled workers in other countries are drawing brands that need cut-and-sew manufacturing.

Vietnam is one of those places. Osprey discovered it years ago, and recently the ski glove maker Hestra USA followed suit. About three years ago, the company purchased a building there and installed new equipment, as part of a long-range plan to shift part of its glove production from China to Vietnam, says Dino Dardano, the company’s president. “We’ve had tremendous success—so much so that we actually expanded the facility by about 30 percent last fall to accommodate about 125 more workers,” he said.

Dardano says Hestra has been in China for 50 years, owning two companies there in a joint venture. But experienced sewers are in decline there, and the company has not found young people to replace them. “I can tell you that I’ve had a lot of conversations with my peers and they’re faced with the same challenges when it comes to sewn goods,” he said. Dardano attributes the change in part to China’s now-defunct one-child policy, and the problem is likely exacerbated by the natural evolution of a maturing economy.

Vietnam isn’t the only country benefiting from the exodus. South Asia saw a 34 percent increase in demand for factory inspections and audits in the first half of 2019 over the same period in 2018, according to supply chain consultant QIMA. And the migration is not limited to Asia. Tariffs and the coronavirus have also made it more appealing to bring production closer to home. The volume of inspections “As a company has no plans to move production and audits ordered of factories in Latin America by U.S. businesses increased nearly 50 percent last year,” QIMA reported.

Another shift away from China came at the prompting of the outdoor industry itself. Travel goods—luggage, backpacks, sports bags—made in China can be taxed steeply upon entering the U.S. Sensing opportunity, the outdoor industry lobbied to have such goods made eligible for the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP), a trade-preference program that allows qualified products to enter the U.S. duty-free when a substantial amount of their value is produced in more than 120 developing countries. The effort has been successful in recent years. “Since that went into effect, we’ve seen a movement out of China to Indonesia, Philippines, Thailand, and other GSP countries on travel goods,” said Rich Harper, manager of international trade for Outdoor Industry Association. In 2015, China produced about 64 percent of GSP-eligible travel goods. By January of this year, that share of “made in China” had been cut by 40 percent. “The duty savings that first year was something like $90 million” for outdoor companies, Harper says.

A Natural Evolution

What companies are experiencing overall with China is part of a natural evolution: As a country matures, so does the nature of the work that’s done there. You can see the Chinese government directing this transition, says Celico, of the Albright Stonebridge Group. “As the country has become more economically advanced, it’s not just that it became more expensive to manufacture there, it’s that the Chinese government started to—sorry for the lack of a technical phrase—pooh-pooh low-end manufacturing,” Celico said. “The government has started to become more selective about the kinds of manufacturing it wants to encourage, as well as the location of manufacturing facilities.”

Celico recalls working with a sporting goods manufacturer there. Government officials told the company they didn’t want the factory in the middle of Shenzhen anymore because the area was being turned into a high-tech manufacturing zone. “We just decided that if we’re gonna move, we’re gonna move to Mexico,” Celico said.

This evolution has played out elsewhere. Japan, for instance, became the place to produce cheap goods right after World War II, and was later supplanted by Taiwan. Eventually manufacturing went to places such as Korea. Thirty years ago, South Korea was the world’s primary supplier of backpacking tents. Now it supplies the high-end fabric and poles for those tents, but the tents themselves are made elsewhere. Today, South Korea has a booming outdoor recreation scene and its participants now buy those tents.

The Case for Staying

Quality and Capacity

Despite qualms about China, many outdoor companies say it’s not good for business to leave. For starters, the work is usually fast and high quality. Of course, not every company’s experience in China is the same because not every supply chain is the same, says Lovely, the economics professor. Small companies that don’t require much sophistication, or don’t need many subcontractors to make their products, can pick up and move rather quickly in the face of headwinds, she says. Meanwhile, very large multinational companies (Samsung, for example) may be able to shift production to another factory they own elsewhere, if trouble strikes. But a lot of outdoor companies probably fall in between the two, she says. Their products require knowledge to make, perhaps specialized equipment and techniques, a mature supplier system, and contractors and subcontractors. Finding this elsewhere is not easy, she says. That makes China “sticky,” as it were.

Big Agnes manufactures throughout Southeast Asia, including in the Philippines for furniture and, more recently, in Vietnam for stuff sacks. But the Colorado-based company has no plans to move production of its well-regarded sleeping bags and tents, the latter of which can command $700 or more, out of China, says founder Bill Gamber. “The best sleeping bag manufacturers in the world are in China. Same goes for tents,” Gamber said. In 2019, 95 percent of all down sleeping bags imported to the U.S.—and nearly 90 percent of all kinds of sleeping bags—came from China, according to statistics from the International Trade Commission.

Relationships

More than a physical factory and skilled workers keep Big Agnes in China, however. “A really high-end, ultralight backpacking tent is not as complicated as an electric car,” Gamber acknowledged. “But our supply chain is very specific for building a very specialized tent.” Big Agnes’s manufacturer leans on an ecosystem of suppliers. “We’ve been working with both our factory and fabric supplier for 20 years,” he said. “It would take years to rebuild what we’ve done.”

Such talk of “relationships” is not mushy sentiment; a relationship can save you money, says Gail Ross, chief operating officer of Krimson Klover, whose apparel company continues to work with the same factory in China that it has for a decade, even as some of the brand’s manufacturing of sweaters and other clothing has shifted elsewhere. “I can say, ‘Hey, do you remember that silhouette from five years ago? I want you to haul that out, and do this, this, and this with it,’” Ross said. Less back-and-forth with a factory owner translates into less time and money spent air shipping prototypes. And a longstanding relationship means Ross only goes to the factory in person twice a year. “With brand-new factories, we need to go three, maybe four times a year.”

A small company like Krimson Klover also found something else when shopping around for alternative manufacturing options: “There are other countries—Indonesia, Vietnam—that are really great at cut-and-sew and printing. But the minimums are much higher,” Ross says. So, for now, the same Chinese factory that gets the “carrot” of her fall business is willing to accept the “stick” of her tiny spring production.

Culture

And then there are cultural differences that can work in China’s favor. In China, “a normal shift is 12 hours,” said Wolf of Fireside Outdoor. “They work seven days a week. And then they really, really enjoy their holidays.” He added, “What we’re seeing in Vietnam, and we also saw this in the Philippines, is that they have a different work ethic. In Vietnam we’re having challenges where an employee won’t show up for three days. Then he just shows up on the fourth day and says, ‘Here I am.’ It’s hard to do a production line when someone doesn’t show up at their post.”

In China, workers historically have been more willing to move where the work is, says Neil Burch, who has 35 years of experience manufacturing in Asia and today is president of the North American group of Joinease, which designs, manufactures, and does market research for drinkware for the suppliers to Nike, Gatorade, and Brita. “But in Vietnam, they kind of want to live at [or near] home,” he said, which can cause issues for manufacturers in locating and moving factories. Burch says his company has looked at Vietnam, and could establish a factory there eventually. But not yet.

And China is not alone in wrestling with issues of human and workers’ rights. Ethical ratings in Malaysia, Vietnam, and the Philippines have been “slipping,” according to the consultant QIMA, and factory safety can be poor. (One outdoor company executive says she wasn’t comfortable leaving China for another country, where working conditions and human rights would be even harder for her to track.)

For his part, Burch’s company is refocusing on China. “We’re looking at doubling down and reinvesting,” he said.

Emerging Middle Class

An enormous reason to stay in China is the Chinese market itself. “China is poised to replace the United States as the biggest consumer market in the world,” said Celico, from the Albright Stonebridge Group. “That is a massive change. This is a country of 1.4 billion people. The middle class is basically larger than the population of the U.S.” China has a thriving outdoor gear market. It was worth $60 billion in 2018, and it’s expected to be worth $100 billion by 2025, according to a 2019 report by Research in China.

“And so, what a lot of companies are doing is sort of splitting the baby, saying, ‘OK, maybe we have to diversify our global supply chain, but we still have to manufacture inside China, for China,’” said Celico.

To Leave or Not to Leave

Every company will use a slightly different calculus to determine if it’s time to go. And many will find, like Wolf, that even when you decide to get out, truly disengaging from China is harder than it appears. But every company will have to confront the same basic issues, and this unavoidable fact: The worldwide ecosystem of manufacturing and consumer sales is more complicated, and more intertwined, than ever before. China is at the center of that world and no matter what you make or where you make it, managing how the global Goliath impacts your business matters more than ever.

The post Is China Worth the Trouble? appeared first on șÚÁÏłÔčÏÍű Online.

Retailers across the nation are reopening, people are out shopping again, and everyone is wondering just how safe they are, say, sitting down to try on a pair of shoes or getting fitted for a pack.

Throughout the outdoor industry, most (if not all) major brands have poured resources into keeping employees safe on factory floors and in corporate offices. But only a handful have extended those efforts to promote customer safety inside their independent retail partners’ various locations. On this front, Keen and Osprey are leading the way.

Keen Fit Shield

Footwear fitting often requires retail associates to get up close and personal with customers, increasing the likelihood of viral transmission. With this in mind, Keen has rolled out a new tool called the Fit Shield to provide a barrier between customers and retail employees during in-store fittings.

The design is simple enough: a seven-pound, six-foot-tall frame with a clear plastic guard that sits between employee and customer, with a gap at the bottom for taking shoes on and off.

“When stores started reopening, we asked ourselves how we could help our retail partners do it safely,” said Keen senior director of global marketing Ashley Williams. “We wanted to invent something that would give people confidence while they were getting fitted for new shoes.”

The Fit Shield was developed quickly, according to Williams, after the company examined best practices and recommendations from the CDC. Keen designed the Fit Shields in house and contracted an undisclosed manufacturing partner to produce roughly 800 units. About 650 were shipped to the U.S. in June, with the remainder going to several of Keen’s subsidiaries in Canada, Europe, and Japan. In the U.S., Keen managed distribution of the Fit Shields through its network of sales reps.

“They were available to whoever wanted them,” said Williams. “We did it through our territory managers. There was no real selection criteria for retailers to receive one, and stores could get more than one if they wanted. We had a certain quantity available and we just distributed them as best we could.”

One of those retailers was American Shoe in Wenatchee, Washington, which received three.

“Customers immediately recognized them for what they were and appreciated them,” said Kevin McKinley, one of the store’s managers. “We’re not requiring anyone to use them, though. We’ve had customers say they love them, but we’re not forcing people to use them at this time.”

In addition to their intended use, the Fit Shields have been particularly helpful in acting as dividers between benches where customers sit to try on footwear, McKinley said.

“We can only have eight people in the shop at a time, so it’s a good way to create divisions between customers even when staff aren’t getting close. In that regard, they’ve really helped us.”

Keen wouldn’t disclose how much the company spent designing, manufacturing, and shipping the Fit Shields, but Williams confirmed that retailers paid nothing to receive them. No plans are currently in the works to produce more.

Osprey Contactless Pack Fitting

Another brand that has devoted significant resources to improving retailer safety in recent weeks is Osprey. Recognizing the need for a new kind of pandemic-friendly pack buying, the company developed a comprehensive set of tools that retailers can use to train staff in “contactless fitting.”

“As far back as April, we started having conversations with our sales team. They’re the ones in constant contact with our retailers,” said Osprey director of marketing Vince Mazzuca. “One of our reps in particular—Koby Crooks in Austin, Texas—was pretty vocal about needing to develop this. He made up his own version, brought it to Osprey, and told us, ‘This contactless fitting is really important, and it’s going to be something our retailers are going to need.'”

Customers know they need to visit a retailer to get a proper pack fit, Crooks told the team at Osprey. They understand that it’s not feasible, in the majority of cases, to buy a pack without trying it on. Therefore, if they don’t have confidence coming into a store, they won’t buy packs at all.

The logic made sense to the team at Osprey. They got to work quickly.

“We didn’t necessarily want to come up with a whole new method of fitting a pack,” Mazzuca said. “We wanted to lean on the training materials and fitting method that we’ve been using for years, because our retailers are already familiar with them. But we needed to shift them from a hands-on format to a show-and-tell format.”

That new format requires a two-pronged approach, according to Mazzuca. First, retailers need to be instructed how to set up their stores to make contactless fitting possible. Once that’s accomplished, sales associated need to be re-trained according to specific protocols.

No special tools were required to get the new system up and running; as a result, the cost to Osprey was negligible. The only outlay of resources was the time needed to create training assets that were distributed to retailers and posted online.

Andrew Schlegel, store manager at Great Miami Outfitters in Centerville, Ohio, has implemented the program in recent weeks, with great results.

“We knew there were going to be a lot of changes across the board as things reopened,” he said. “As a team, we started throwing ideas around for how we were going to make it work. Our staff started asking, ‘How are we going to do packs?’ We actually developed some of our own protocols even before Osprey released theirs.”

Those protocols were supported and expanded by Osprey’s effort, Schlegel said. At Great Miami Outfitters, sales associates have been using the guidelines to create “classroom-style” experiences for customers—a method that aligns with the store’s larger commitment to outdoor education.

“One of the benefits of contactless fitting is that customers have to learn a little bit about how to do it themselves, with the guidance [of a sales associate],” Schlegel said.

Looking ahead, Mazzuca is hopeful that the new guidelines will have applications beyond the pandemic.

“Not everyone is comfortable with being touched when getting fitted for a pack, regardless of virus risk,” he said. “These methods, we hope, will be more broadly applicable even after this is all over.”

Until that happens, he said, “it’s all about safety.”

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