Archives: Press Releases

Forte Endless Promise™ Offers Better Sleep and a Better Tomorrow

{Dover, NH}—NEMO, the award-winning, independent designer of outdoor gear and accessories built to improve the adventure experience, has created its first recyclable sleeping bag with the updated Forte™ Men’s and Women’s 20F/35F series. It is also the first product in NEMO’s Endless Promise™ series, which represents a key step toward the brand’s goal to cut emissions intensity in half by 2030. With this new collection, NEMO is taking responsibility for the entire life cycle of each product. Every Endless Promise item is designed to be repairable, resellable, and — most crucially — recyclable to keep it out of the landfill.

To make an immediate impact with this collection, NEMO took its existing top-selling, 3-season Spoon™ shape synthetic sleeping bag and redesigned it using just a single material family. Now 100% recyclable, the 2023 Forte is a standout in sustainability as well as comfort and performance.

• The Classic Spoon™ shape continues to be a game changer for side sleepers, offering more room at the shoulders and knees for a less-constricted feel.
• Upgraded Thermo Gill™ vents feature a new multistage zipper system that dramatically increases the usable temperature range of the bag and allows for fine-tuning of comfort.
• Oversized Blanket Fold™ insulated draft collar provides comfort and temperature regulation.
• Integrated pillow pocket perfectly fits NEMO’s Fillo™ pillow or extra clothes.
• Full-length double-slider YKK zipper with plow makes getting in and out a breeze.
• A material suite including: Recycled liner; bluesign® approved shell fabric; and Zerofiber™ PCR insulation (made from 100% post-consumer recycled materials)that packs down small while maintaining loft and warmth, even when wet.

Endless Promise is NEMO’s commitment to reduce resource consumption and keep gear out of the landfill. All Endless Promise products are painstakingly designed to be mono-polymer in order to be easily, fully recyclable at the end of their usable life. The new line of Forte bags can be sent to NEMO for resale or recycling; customers will receive a NEMO gift card for the resale value if the bag is in good enough condition for a new owner or, if the bag has reached the end of its adventures, a $20 NEMO gift card as thanks for recycling. NEMO has partnered with Unifi, a leading textile recycler, to turn spent Fortes into Repreve® polyester yarns so each Endless Promise product can live on, endlessly, as a new item.

“From the start, NEMO has produced only products that deserve their place in the world by being truly different and better than what already exists,” said NEMO CEO and founder, Cam Brensinger. “We do this because we’re hyper-aware of the resources required—and waste created—by manufacturing. In our earliest years, we introduced the “Ditto” program, which upcycled production samples and manufacturing rejects turned into (now, highly coveted) wallets and totes. In 2009, we also launched the first recycled fabric tent with bamboo poles. With our Endless Promise Collection, we’re not just being mindful, we’re taking 100% responsibility for our products, long after they’re sold.”

The updated Forte Men’s and Women’s bags are available on NEMO’s site now and will be at retailers worldwide in June 2023.

NEMO has also just published its first annual Sustainability Report recapping the brand’s efforts in 2022 towards its goal of cutting its emissions intensity in half by 2030. Through key areas—Design & Innovation, Responsible Sourcing, Carbon Accountability, Advocacy for People and the Planet, and Corporate Governance—NEMO is using Science Based Targets to reach its goal and create products that are not only better for the planet, but superior in performance.

About NEMO

NEMO is a New Hampshire-based outdoor gear company known for creating award-winning products that are built to last, comfortable, and fun to use. Named one of Outside Magazine’s and Business New Hampshire’s Best Places to Work, NEMO has also been recognized as a small business leader for the environment by New Hampshire Businesses for Social Responsibility. NEMO’s reputation for design innovation across its product lines—tents, sleeping bags, sleeping pads, camp accessories, and furniture—is an outgrowth of its design philosophy to never bring anything to market that doesn’t offer a meaningfully better experience. NEMO’s team of designers and engineers are motivated by a passion for outdoor adventure and sustainability.

 

Adventure Anywhere. Adventure for Anyone. Adventure Forever™.

 

Ignik Grows Product Line With Launch of 20 Pound Propane Tank Accessories

Bainbridge Island, WA  – Ignik, a Bainbridge Island-based brand committed to helping people get outside earlier and remain outside longer, announces an expansion to its product line with new offerings in propane tank accessories. The 20LB Tank Case/Seat and 20LB Tank Tote are built to make transporting and hauling large-scale propane tanks seamless for outdoor adventures.

The 20LB Tank Tote and 20LB Tank Case/Seat are designed with a rugged 900 denier polyester fabric with rigid corrugated plastic for long-lasting durability and a foam-reinforced base for extra stability. Both feature Molle webbing, which allows for easy attachment of other gear and accessories and secure transport. The 20LB Tank Tote is constructed with wrapped webbing handles on each side for easy lifting and carrying of the tank. The 20LB Tank Case/Seat offers additional design features, such as a reinforced lid that doubles as a seat when shut and a comfortable and removable padded shoulder strap that makes carrying a breeze. Following the award-winning design of Ignik’s flagship Gas Growler Deluxe, both the Tank Tote and Case/Seat propane carrying cases are molded to cradle and protect the tank from impact. When not used to transport propane, both are perfect for extra gear and beverage storage and double as a camp trash can. The 20LB Tank Tote and 20LB Tank Case/Seat are designed for both vehicle-born adventurers embarking on extra-long overlanding and off-grid expeditions, and for weekend warriors who are car camping, tailgating, picnicking, and more.

L-R: Ignik’s 20LB Case/Seat, Ignik’s 20LB Tank Tote

“In the spirit of more heat and less waste, we set out to make products that allow folks to use the gear they already have, without having to buy more stuff. The new 20LB Case/Seat and Tank Tote let you carry and transport that unwieldy 20LB BBQ propane tank that you probably already have sitting on your deck or in your backyard,” says Peter Pontano, Ignik’s Marketing and Product Development Director. “You provide the tank, Ignik will provide the case, which makes bringing that fuel with you easier on any adventure. These accessories protect your tanks, making them last longer, and let’s face it, just look cooler! They also provide great additional functionality. We are stoked about these cases and doing more with the gear you’ve got!”

The 20LB Tank Tote and 20LB Case/Seat are available now at ignik.com. 20LB Tank Tote MSRP: $49.99 and 20LB Tank Case/Seat MSRP: $74.99. For more information, please contact stacy@darbycommunications.com.

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About Ignik

Our journey started on a family sailboat in the Arctic, where we saw the impact of climate change and human jetsam on the landscapes we love. We decided to “be the change” by creating products that actually work—and work for the planet. Today Ignik makes high-quality, environmentally thoughtful heating products for the wilderness. We enable more folks to get outside earlier and remain outside longer. Ignik is a proud member of 1% for the Planet. For more information, visit Ignik.com

Bottle lids now made from 100% post-consumer recycled plastic

[Seattle, WA]— Nikwax, the international leader in technical cleaners and waterproofing products for outdoor gear and apparel, has announced its bottle lids are now made from 100% post-consumer recycled plastic. This latest step keeps the brand on target to reach its goal of having 90% of its total plastics use come from recycled plastic by the end of 2023. Now, all of Nikwax’s product bottles and lids are made from 100% PCR plastic and fully recyclable.

Focusing on Circularity

Plastic is a huge problem in the natural environment, affecting our land, oceans, and rivers. While plastic is an extremely useful material, its disposal is a critical issue. Publicity about the scale of the problem has been increasing as we see images of mountains of plastic garbage on beaches and floating islands of plastic in the Pacific.

To help exclude it from nature, we can encourage a market for recycled and recyclable plastic. In 2020, Nikwax transitioned all of its bottles to recycled (and recyclable) plastic, and to further this commitment, now the caps will be as well.

“Because the raw material we’re working with is made from various sources, a key challenge was consistency and quality of the lid,” said Brian Davidson, President, Nikwax NA. “After a lot research and testing, our team was able to develop a lid that met our standard of quality and maintained the desired colors to match our Green for Clean and Purple for Proof. Additionally, with rigorous testing of this new material, we found the quality and performance of the recycled plastic provided an even better fitting lid and an improved customer experience.”

Nikwax’s Plastic Reduction Progress as of Year-End 2022:

• Reduced the total amount of plastic used by 25% in the past year.
• Reduced the use of virgin plastic by 52%.
• With the new caps, recycled plastics will now make up over 80% of all plastics used in the product line.

Founded in 1977, Nikwax is the trusted global leader in environmentally safe cleaning and waterproofing solutions that extend the performance life of outdoor clothing, footwear, and equipment. The brand’s 45-year commitment to clean chemistry means never using PFCs or aerosols, and not testing on animals. Its product line is water-based and non-persistent, and all product bottles and lids are made from 100% post-consumer recycled plastic that can also be recycled. Nikwax has carbon balanced all 45 years of its operations and became an employee-owned trust in 2022.

SEATTLE, Wash. (April 20, 2023) – Cascade Designs, the parent company of MSR, Therm-a-Rest, Platypus, SealLine, PackTowl and VARILITE, announced today the hire of Kevin Cooke as its new Director of VARILITE, the leader in Air-Foam Floatation wheelchair seat cushions and back supports. In this role, Cooke will handle the day-to-day operations of VARILITE, including the overall business and financials, while also increasing brand visibility.

Cooke brings 19 years of medical sales experience, combined with a love of the outdoors and knowledge of Cascade Design’s portfolio of brands. In his most recent role at Neo Medical Inc., Cooke held the title US Sales Manager, where he oversaw marketing strategies, account management and strategic planning.

“We are thrilled to welcome Kevin Cooke to our Cascade Designs family to help lead the medical arm of our business,” said Cascade Designs Vice President of Sales and Marketing, David Fee. “Kevin is a passionate outdoorsman who has close to two decades of experience in the medical space. His knowledge and experience working with such varied disciplines in the medical world makes him a great fit to help lead our VARILITE team.”

“This is the perfect job, blending my passions of the outdoors and supporting people through medical product advancements,” said Cooke. “I’ve used Therm-A-Rest, MSR and PackTowl products on numerous backpacking trips in the Sierra and Rocky Mountain ranges. I’m looking forward to growing the VARILITE brand and taking the team to new heights.”

Other roles Cooke has held include Specialty Sales Representative in Dermatology at Pierre Fabre Group, Hospital-Surgical Sales-Plastic Surgery/ENT with the Lannett Company, Professional Medical Representative-Dermatology at Taro Pharmaceuticals and as a Pharmaceutical Sales Representative at Upsher-Smith Laboratories. Cooke holds a bachelor’s degree from UC Santa Barbara.

Cooke resides in Reno, Nevada. Outside of work he enjoys fly fishing, mountain biking, skiing, hiking, and running.

For more information about Cascade Designs, please visit: https://www.cascadedesigns.com.

 

About Cascade Designs^®

For 50 years, Seattle-based Cascade Designs, Inc. and its brands, Therm-a-Rest®, Mountain Safety Research® (MSR), Platypus®, SealLine®, PackTowl® and VARILITE, has led the outdoor industry in designing innovative, useful, and long-lasting equipment, manufacturing the majority of products in their Seattle, WA, and Reno, NV, U.S.A. and Cork, Ireland facilities. From the original self-inflating Therm-a-Rest® camping mattress to the first multi-fuel stove from MSR®, Cascade Designs has developed leading products that explorers, travelers, adventurers, outdoor enthusiasts, and weekend campers can rely on to deliver optimum performance in the outdoors through exceptional engineering and quality. For more information, please visit: www.cascadedesigns.com.

 

 

BOULDER, Colo. (April 20, 2023) – SCARPA, one of the world’s leaders in performance mountain footwear, added climber Shawn Raboutou to its roster of professional athletes and ambassadors. The Boulder, CO native is currently the only person with two V17 (9A) ascents under his belt and will spend the coming year working towards additional V17s such as Burden of Dreams (Finland) and Sudain Seul (Fontainebleau).

“We’re so happy that Shawn is a part of the SCARPA family,” said Stefanie Kamm, Athlete Manager at SCARPA North America. “His accomplishments speak for themselves, but we’ve been consistently impressed with Shawn’s career for years. He has some exciting projects on the horizon and we can’t wait to see him crushing them in SCARPA shoes.”

Raboutou’s addition to the climbing team puts him in good company – he’ll be amongst the likes of Alex Puccio, Nathaniel Coleman, Alannah Yip, Sean Bailey and many other accomplished athletes. Shawn plans to tackle his goals in his favorite SCARPA shoe lineup – namely, the Drago LV and Instinct VSR.

Continuing the momentum, SCARPA is also adding multiple new athletes in the mountain, run and climb disciplines.

SCARPA is pleased to welcome the below athletes to their team:

 

Andrew King

Andrew is an alpinist currently residing in Los Angeles, CA and Lisbon, Portugal who’s solo climbed Cosmiques Arete Chamonix. His favorite zones are anywhere in the French or Italian Alps, and his favorite SCARPA shoe is the Phantom Tech.

 

Jackson Marvell

Jackson is an alpinist from Utah, who has climbed Techno Terror on Pyramid Peak and established many routes and first ascents in Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan. His favorite SCARPA shoe is the Phantom Tech.

 

Joshua Jarrin

Joshua is an alpinist from Ecuador who lead the process for Ecuador to become a country member of the IFMGA. He’s also climbed the Cassin pillar of Denali, completed a first ascent in Nepal and guided Makalu. Joshua uses the entire line of SCARPA boots, and loves the F1 LT for ski mountaineering missions.

 

Krissy Moel 

Krissy is a trail runner from Bellingham, WA, and has over twenty years of running experience under her belt. She has placed as the first female in The Tour du Mont Blanc 150 km, Hardrock 100, The Hurt 100, UTMB Mont Fuji and broken the Wonderland Trail FKT. Krissy’s favorite SCARPA shoes are the Golden Gate Kima RT and Golden Gate ATR.

 

Chris Fisher

Chris is a trail runner currently residing in Breckenridge, CO, and was the first person to out and back the WURL (Wasatch Ultimate Ridge Linkup). He set a World Record in 2021 for the most vertical feet climbed in a single month (400,000), and his favorite SCARPA shoe is the Ribelle Run Kalibra G.

 

Canyon Woodward 

Canyon is a trail runner from Franklin, NC who has set an unsupported FKT on S.C.A.R. and placed in the top 50 at UTMB 2022. He’s an advocate for environmental and political change, and his favorite SCARPA shoe is the Golden Gate Kima RT.

 

Lucie Hanes

Lucie is a trail runner and climber based in Western CO, and has climbed El Chapo in Rifle Mountain Park, and placed 6th in the Leadville Silver Rush 50 Miler. She’s also getting her Master’s in sports psychology and is passionate about fostering better mental health practices in sports environments. Her favorite shoe is the Spin Ultra.

 

Lor Sabourin

Lor is a climber currently based in Flagstaff, AZ who has climbed Cousin of Death, Insomnia Canyon, IV 5.13+. They work as the Training Leader for the Warrior’s Way, a mental training organization that uses climbing as a foundation for developing awareness, engaging challenges with intention and building personal power. Lor’s favorite SCARPA shoe is the Instinct VS.

 

Shara Zaia 

Shara is a Denver, CO based climber who created Cruxing in Color as an effort to pair her passions for education and the outdoors and break down barriers within the sport. Cruxing in Color is a meetup platform aiming to connect, inspire and educate self-identified POC within the context of climbing by offering free mentorship and access to gear. Shara’s favorite SCARPA shoe is the Instinct VS.

 

Amity Warme

Amity is a climber and sports dietician from Colorado, who has a number of incredible ground up ascents like Freerider, Golden Gate and El Corazon on El Cap. She’s passionate about both big wall climbing and helping others use nutrition to maximize their performance and long-term health.

Amity’s favorite SCARPA shoe is the Instinct VS Women’s.

To learn more about the SCARPA community and athlete team, please visit scarpa.com.

 

About SCARPA and SCARPA North America 

Founded in 1938, SCARPA builds performance footwear for climbing, hiking, skiing, mountaineering, trail running and other outdoor pursuits from its headquarters in Asolo, Italy. SCARPA has been owned and operated by the Parisotto family since 1956. In 2005, SCARPA opened its North American headquarters in Boulder, Colo., staffed and directed by veterans of the North American outdoor industry, to oversee sales, marketing and distribution in the U.S., Canada and South America. For more information about SCARPA footwear, visit www.scarpa.com.

 

BOULDER, CO (April, 20) – La Sportiva North America, makers of the world’s finest mountain gear, announced today that it is officially Climate Neutral Certified. La Sportiva North America joins the growing movement of companies achieving the Climate Neutral Certified standard by measuring its 2022 greenhouse gas emissions. The company has made a concerted effort to limit emissions and is offsetting its footprint with eligible-verified credits. Climate Neutral Certified is the leading consumer label for climate neutrality. It employs a rigorous independent certification program to confirm that a company has effectively achieved net-zero carbon emissions across its entire greenhouse gas footprint through a combination of emissions reductions and offsets.

“This is an important step for our company,” said Jonathan Lantz, President of La Sportiva North America. “As an organization that was born in the mountains, we feel that it is our responsibility to reduce our environmental impact where possible and offset our remaining footprint. To put it simply, it’s just the right thing to do. We are very proud of the efforts that we have made here, but we know that there is more work to be done.”

This certification is the latest step in La Sportiva North America’s efforts to reduce its impact on the environment and make climate action a central aspect of the brand’s business model. The offset accounts for every item brought into the US and Canada with the brand garnering credits by investing in projects that cover emissions generated from material production, transportation and manufacturing.

As a part of its carbon offset initiatives, La Sportiva North America is supporting a number of projects throughout the globe. La Sportiva partnered with ClimeCo, a leading global sustainability and environmental solutions company, in the selection of these carbon offset project options. The Boulder-based company is assisting the Sichuan Furong Coal Mine Methane Utilization Project, which reduces greenhouse gas emissions by capturing and using coal mine methane for power generation.

La Sportiva North America is also assisting with the Cordillera Azul National Park REDD+ Project in central Peru, which works to avoid deforestation in the Cordillera Azul National Park. This multi-dimensional project contributes to biodiversity conservation and supports the well-being of local communities. Additionally, the company  is working with the Crow Lake Wind Project. Located near Chamberlain, South Dakota, this project generates emissions reductions by displacing grid-connected sources through the production of renewable wind energy.

“Climate Neutral Certified companies are demonstrating that immediate action on climate change is possible and essential,” says Austin Whitman, CEO of Climate Neutral. “Climate Neutral Certified brands have built a powerful movement that gives companies and consumers meaningful ways to act on climate—today.”

Climate Neutral’s certification program, rooted in globally acknowledged standards for carbon measurement and neutrality, sets a positive example for responsible brand practices. With a rigorous process in place, certified brands are held accountable for measuring their greenhouse gas emissions from cradle to customer, committing to reduction action plans for the next 12-24 months, and investing in eligible-verified carbon credits to offset their footprint. As the process repeats annually for recertification, it showcases a genuine dedication to sustainability and serves as a beacon of hope in the fight against climate change.

Learn more about Climate Neutral and its community of certified brands at climateneutral.org.

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About La Sportiva North America

With over 90 years of heritage, La Sportiva has unrivaled experience in building the world’s finest performance mountain footwear. Creating innovation through passion, La Sportiva now offers the most versatile technical climbing, mountaineering, Mountain Running® and hiking shoes on the market as well as ski mountaineering hardware and apparel. For more information on La Sportiva visit www.lasportivausa.com or visit their Facebook page at: http://www.facebook.com/LaSportiva.

About Climate Neutral

A 501(c)3 nonprofit, Climate Neutral leads a global movement of individuals and companies to eliminate carbon emissions. Our label, Climate Neutral Certified, is a trusted, independent standard for climate neutrality. It empowers consumers to find brands that are leading on immediate climate action. All companies that get certified must reduce and compensate for all of their emissions from making and delivering products and services. Climate Neutral works with over 400 companies and their label can be found on millions of products worldwide. Join us at climateneutral.org