SEATTLE (June 26, 2024) — Astral, the leader in equipment designed for high performing wilderness athletes, adds record-setting thru hiker Billy “Wahoo” Meredith to its Ambassador team. As an Archetype, advisor and ambassador for the brand, Meredith will lend his expertise to developing and finetuning Astral’s new generation of long distance hiking footwear.
In 2023, Billy Meredith set the new Fastest Known Time (FKT) of the Calendar Year Triple Crown (CYTC), hiking the Appalachian Trail, Continental Divide Trail, and Pacific Crest Trail in a blistering 234 days. Meredith averaged 32 miles and 5,556 feet of climbing per day to complete the feat. Through the experience of his record-setting expedition, he gained unparalleled insight into the limits and demands of his equipment. Meredith’s partnership with Astral represents his trust in the brand’s products and direction, including its ability to provide the highest-performing footwear made for greater durability and sustainability.
“Adding Wahoo to our team of Archetypes is an honor,” said Philip Curry, Founder and CEO of Astral. “Astal was founded to support the needs of top wilderness athletes, to equip them with the tools to crush boundaries . Billy knows more than anyone about what it takes to push limits in his sport, and having him on the team helps Astral do the same.”
As an Archetype, Astral will support Meredith’s upcoming projects as the hiker seeks new long distance milestones. Meredith’s adventures intrinsically test his equipment to the limit, providing Astral with valuable insight as the brand develops its new generation of trail footwear that will address the needs of the most avid long distance thru hikers.
“I’m particularly excited to work with Astral after learning about some new and exciting innovations they have coming down the pipeline in the long-distance hiking footwear space – especially around expanding the lifespan of shoes and reducing our impact on the environment that we long to be in and protect,” says Billy Meredith. “Thru hiking as a sport has been exploding and it’s evident Astral has been paying attention. Pair this with the fact that Astal uses hemp and recycled materials to make their footwear as sustainable as possible and it seemed like a no-brainer to team up.”
To learn more about Billy, what got him into backpacking, his recent hikes, and his passions outside of hiking, check out Astral’s recent interview with him.
View all of Astral’s Archetypes, including fellow thru hiking legend, Jennifer Pharr Davis here explore.astraldesigns.com/ambassadors. For more information about Astral, its products, and initiatives, please visit Astraldesigns.com.
ABOUT ASTRAL
Established in 2002, Astral designs high performance wilderness equipment created in the least toxic, lowest impact ways. Built on decades of experience and experimentation, Astral has assembled athletes, artists, and craftspeople to build the cleanest, most beautiful, and highest performing gear. Astral has significantly reduced toxic PVC foam from the PFD industry, invented breathable life jackets, won awards for their paradigm changing footwear designs, and developed the stickiest rubber ever worn on wet rock. Visit www.astraldesigns.com for more information.
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