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Proprietary Technology Garnering Industry Awards; Staff Expands to Accommodate Growth

LAND Energy, the Cleveland based tech company that pioneered a proprietary ecosystem of light electric vehicles (LEVs), enters 2023 with strong brand momentum due to increased orders from the surging consumer demand for planet – friendly transportation options. Since this past January at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES), LAND Energy earned the Gear Junkie Best in Show Award recognizing its connected CORE battery’s capabilities and made it to the final rounds of the Outdoor Retailer Innovation Awards, honoring brands, retailers and nonprofits that find creative solutions encouraging people to go outdoors. To accommodate a steady cadence of orders, LAND Energy is adding staff and announcing promotions including Evan Painter, named brand director, and Ladd Forde, elevated to director of photography. In addition, Steve Westover and Chris Davis are joining as an advisor and production manager, respectively.

“Evan, Ladd, Steve and Chris bring a tremendous amount of creativity and fearlessness LAND Energy needs to broaden its reach and tell its story to the consumer,” said Scott Colosimo, CEO of LAND Energy. “Our goal is to create a new standard for the micro mobility and outdoor industries. Our expanded team has the creative thought leadership and strategic experience to make that happen.”

Promotions, New Hires and Event Attendance

Painter, with over 8 years of experience, is a seasoned brand and product development professional within the micro mobility and transportation industries. Forde brings over 17 years of lifestyle photography experience, having previously worked with Boulder Lifestyle Magazine and Cherry Creek Lifestyle Magazine.

Westover, who brings expertise from the venture capital world, will provide guidance on digital marketing and brand development, while Davis will be an important piece to LAND Energy production overseeing the quality and development of all LAND Energy products.

To introduce its story to key B2B and consumer audiences, LAND Energy will attend the following events:

• South By Southwest (March 10-13, 2023) LAND Energy is a finalist in the Smart Cities, Transportation & Sustainability pitch taking place March 12.
• Sea Otter (April 20-23, 2023)
• ONE Motorcycle Show (April 28-30, 2023) LAND will be teasing some new customizations to come through a new version of their iconic District motorcycle.

 LAND Energy App Introduction

LAND Energy’s new app has been released for all IOS devices enabling owners of the District to connect to their bike remotely via their Apple device. The app enables users to have more control and visibility over their District’s specifications, modes and anti-theft features.

Expanded Distribution Network

LAND Energy has added Tucker Powersports (Fort Worth, Texas) as a distributor and Revival Cycles (Austin, Texas) as a partner to its network for improved access to consumers. Both partners will sell LAND Energy District motorcycles as well as engage in future projects through the brand’s Cleveland, Ohio facility.

Finalizing Improved Manufacturing Facility

LAND Energy is finalizing its 14,000 square foot renovation project of connected manufacturing space in Cleveland for March, 2023. This will enable LAND Energy to produce up to 5,000 bikes per year and additional staff to support production and R&D.

Improvements on The District

For 2023, the LAND Energy team has continued quality enhancements of the District:

• Computer Numerical Control (CNC) parts
• Improved electronics
• Revised designs aiding with maintenance and service

For more information, please visit: landmoto.io

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About LAND Energy

Founded in 2020 by Scott Colosimo in Cleveland, Ohio, LAND Energy is based on the principle that energy continuity and mobility are essential to modern life. LAND Energy provides a transitional E Moto ecosystem with a portable power platform (CORE), a game-changing approach in the light electric vehicle industry. With products proudly manufactured in Cleveland, LAND Energy is unwavering in its belief in American ingenuity and world-class craftsmanship. As a design-forward company, LAND Energy is dedicated to constantly evolving to meet the needs of their customers, everyday consumers and businesses looking for energy efficiency.

5% of Net Sales of Purchases During Select Weeks Go To Six Nonprofits Throughout the Year   

LOWA Boots, the global footwear brand known for its 100 years of hand-crafted European heritage, today announced the recipients of its 2023 Give Back Programs, as part of their 100 Years of LOWA celebration. The LOWA Give Back Program benefits non-profit organizations that are removing barriers and increasing equitable access to the outdoors. Kicked off last week with Big City Mountaineers, LOWA will donate 5% of net sales made at www.lowaboots.com during select weeks to six nonprofits in 2023.

“LOWA’s continued support of our programs that help us bring more youth outdoors is so appreciated,” said David Taus, Executive Director of Big City Mountaineers. “Creating these transformative experiences isn’t possible without brands like LOWA helping us achieve our goals.”

LOWA’s Give Back program launches with Big City Mountaineers, whose vision is to have a nation transformed by youth connected to and empowered by nature. They provide free, fully outfitted backcountry trips, facilitating transformative experiences through nature that strengthen life skills and build community for youth from disinvested communities.

The complete list of non-profit recipients includes:

• Week of February 27th – Big City Mountaineers
• Week of April 24th – Cornell Lab of Ornithology
• Week of June 12th – Appalachian Mountain Club
• Week of August 14th – American Hiking Society
• Week of October 2nd – Hunters of Color
• Week of December 4th – American Alpine Club

“As we enter our 100th year in business, giving back to our community continues to be a top priority,” said LOWA USA General Manager Peter Sachs. “Choosing non-profit organizations that work to introduce more people of all backgrounds the outdoors is our goal as a brand; aligning ourselves with non-profits doing just that is a perfect fit.”

For more information, please visit lowaboots.com

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About Big City Mountaineers

Big City Mountaineers breaks down barriers to outdoor access for youth from disinvested communities by providing free, fully-outfitted, and professionally-led backcountry trips for youth ages 8-18. For 30 years, we’ve partnered with youth development agencies in seven cities across the country to connect students with nature and reconnect them with their strengths, skills, and resiliency. We offer overnight camps for youth ages 8-12 and our flagship, week-long backpacking or canoeing trips for youth ages 13-18. To learn more, please visit www.bigcitymountaineers.org.

 About LOWA Boots

With almost 100 years of hand-crafted European heritage, LOWA Boots is a globally respected footwear brand located in Jetzendorf, in Upper Bavaria. Since 1923, LOWA has created premium outdoor boots and shoes featuring beautiful silhouettes, best-in-class quality, and proprietary technology. Its designers adeptly navigate the outdoor performance, lifestyle, and fashion categories, always nurturing brand integrity. 95% of LOWA footwear is designed and handcrafted in factories in Europe. In recognition of these efforts, LOWA is one of the only footwear brands to receive ISO 9001 status for the highest quality construction and process standards. LOWA certified tactical boots are also made to comply with the European Union’s PPE standards. Dedicated to sustainability, LOWA has resoling and rental programs.

For more information, visit www.lowaboots.com.

Silipint, the Oregon-based brand known for its fun and colorful silicone drinkware, is pleased to announce their partnership with Outtech Inc., an outdoor industry leader in sales and marketing. Outtech will be working closely with Silipint as their sales representation partners nationwide in Hunting, Shooting Sports, Camping, Outdoor Sports Channels and Farm & Home/Hardware. 

“Silicone drinkware has so many applications in the world of outdoor recreation,” explained Outtech President John Seliga, “and there is no doubt that Silipint is a category leader in product quality and innovation. Our team is so excited to sell these unique products to our retailers, and we know they are a perfect fit for our consumers and their active lifestyles.”

Silipint launched in 2010 with its patented silicone pint cup that propelled the brand into a successful drinkware company specializing in customized drinkware. Today, Silipint has evolved into a spirited durability-focused brand. Its expansive line of unbreakable and adaptable products, which now include foodware, are designed to inspire people to live a more sustainable life with products that deliver joy. 

“Outtech’s success and dedication in both the independent dealer channel and with large retailers are a great fit for Silipint as we invest in new product innovations and growing our brand reach,” said Todd Spang, Silipint President. “We are incredibly excited about this partnership.”

ABOUT SILIPINT

Based in Bend, Oregon, Silipint has been breaking the mold since 2010 with patented silicone drinkware. Silipint is the ideal companion for everyday moments and life’s adventures and offers the highest quality drinkware and foodware. Learn more about Silipint and its products at Silipint.com. Follow all brand updates on Instagram (@silipint) and Facebook (@silipint).

ABOUT OUTTECH INC. 

Established in 1989, Outtech Inc. is an 100% employee-owned company (ESOP). Outtech is one of the outdoor industry’s leaders in sales & marketing, maintaining a portfolio of brand leaders across hunt, camp, fish, shooting sports and outdoor lifestyle categories. Outtech is staffed with a group of over 80 industry specialists spread across multiple divisions, with over 1,500 combined years of experience in the outdoor industry. More information about the Company can be found at www.teamouttech.com 

Improving on the INDEX.01, the new edition of the brand’s recyclable running shoe is lighter, more comfortable and (still) designed to be recycled

Salomon is proud to introduce the new INDEX.02, a new recyclable running shoe that builds upon the groundbreaking INDEX.01 model that the company introduced two years ago. Like its predecessor, the INDEX.02 is 100% recyclable. It’s also 10% lighter (263grams) and features a massive upgrade in comfort and performance due to improvements in the midsole geometry, foam quality and upper construction.

Most notably, the midsole foam and midsole geometry of the INDEX.02 have been upgraded to increase comfort and running performance by delivering smoother transitions from stride to stride. The plush, long-lasting comfort is due to the use of a lightweight Infiniride foam. This TPU foam is the only foam that is fully recyclable. The weight of the INDEX.02 has also been reduced from 288 grams down to 263 grams (sample size US 9 Men’s). The INDEX.02 shoe also has an updated upper, which now features more colors, softer materials and premium finishes for improved step-in comfort. Specifically, the upper uses Engineered Mesh, a structure that varies the weave to offer more support and breathability, along with better flexibility or durability, according to the specific needs of the shoe. 

“The foam is less dense on the INDEX.02, so it feels cushier,” says Laurent Coudurier, Salomon Footwear R&D Manager. “We also removed some bits in the upper, bringing the shoe closer to the foot. Our goal is to provide the same level of performance as the rest of our road running shoes and we’re getting there.”  

Like its predecessor, the INDEX.02 features a unique construction that allows it to be disassembled at the end of its life, so that the shoe materials can be recycled and used to make a new product. There is even a subtle line along the shoe showing where it will be split when it is recycled. The different colors on the upper and bottom unit of the shoe help to highlight that the shoe only uses two materials and that it can be separated at the end of its life. A QR code on the tongue of one shoe allows the shoe owner to easily scan it and register it after purchase, making it easy to return it for recycling at the end of its life. Like the INDEX.01, when INDEX.02 shoes are sent back for recycling in Europe, the materials will be used in the construction of Salomon alpine ski boots.  

Available to consumers in 2021, the INDEX.01 was Salomon’s first shoe that was designed to be recycled, with the recycled materials being used in the construction of Salomon’s MTN Pure ski touring boot range.

“We started researching materials for the INDEX.01 shoe about five years ago, looking to reduce its impact,” says Coudurier. “With this new INDEX.02 model, we’re getting closer to providing the same level of performance as the rest of our road running shoes.” 

Analyzing the lifecycle of the Index.01 to create the Index.02

To assess the environmental impact of the INDEX.01 recyclable running shoe, Salomon’s Footwear development teams compared the impact of the INDEX.01 with the Sonic 3 shoe from the brand’s road running range. By compiling and evaluating the inputs, outputs and potential environmental impacts of a shoe throughout its lifecycle, it is possible to clearly tell the impact of each step—in terms of carbon emissions, use of natural resources, water eutrophication from nitrates (caused by the cooling of machines and colorization) and water acidification, among other aspects.

“A lifecycle analysis identifies the biggest environmental impact during the life-cycle of the product, in order to work on reducing it,” says Olivier Mouzin, Footwear Sustainability Manager.

The way the INDEX.01 is made and the fact that it can be recycled reduces by 44% the amount of CO2 compared to a traditional shoe, which is 4.9kg of CO2 Eq less for every pair. The emissions from the lifecycle of the Sonic 3 are 11.2kg of CO2 Eq; the INDEX.01 emits 6,3kg of CO2 Eq. Water eutrophication is reduced by 70%, and water acidification is reduced by 35%.

“The INDEX.01 is a great start for sustainable footwear: we can test this new, simple design and its performance on the road, and test out the collecting and recycling process,” Mouzin explains. “As the lifecycle analysis shows, the impact of the shoe is reduced by 44%, which validates our work and encourages us to develop more footwear products following this circular economy concept. Now, with the INDEX.02, we are continuing to improve the quality, comfort and performance of a fully recyclable shoe. It’s very encouraging.”

About Salomon: Born in the French Alps in 1947, Salomon creates premium footwear, apparel, gear and winter sports equipment that is superior in function, radical in design and obsessive in style. At the Annecy Design Center, engineers, designers and athletes collaborate to write the future of sports by creating products that transform outside sports experiences and enable a deeper connection with nature, allowing people to unleash the best version of themselves so that they might positively impact the world.

 Chaco Footwear, the iconic outdoor lifestyle brand, announced today its 2023 Brave Trails Collection, a color-blocked, Pride-inspired line of sandals. For the third year in a row, this collection supports Brave Trails, a non-profit that provides a safe and inclusive space, along with leadership programming for LGBTQ+ youth, and this year directly supports their Family Camp.  

 Brave Trails Family Camp is a weekend-long adventure filled with exciting activities, LGBTQ+ pride, and all the fun of a quintessential camp experience while celebrating what makes their families unique. Brave Trails provides two weekends for LGBTQ+ families, one dedicated to LGBTQ+ parents/caregivers and their children and one for LGBTQ+ youth and their families/caregivers.  

“Brave Trails Family Camp is the perfect place for families to come together, unplug, and make lifelong memories,” said Jake Young, Communications Director, Brave Trails. “We love watching families experience the magic of camp and bond with each other.”  

The collection is crafted in Rockford, MI, and includes bold, colorful Z/Sandals (MSRP: $110), Chillos Slides (MSRP $60), and Kids Ecotread (MSRP: $70) that feature the Progress Pride flag. The line is designed to help spread awareness and support for the LGBTQ+ community while providing comfortable and durable footwear for outdoor enthusiasts. 10% of proceeds from each sale of the Brave Trails Collection will go to supporting Brave Trails Family Camp.   

“For many, summer camp is a place where they can be themselves and feel seen and accepted. Chaco believes in making the world more like camp, which is why we have loved partnering with Brave Trails over the years,” said Lauren Poole, Sr. Marketing Director, Chaco. “Plus, summer camp is often where people are introduced to Chaco for the first time.” 

Learn more about the 2023 Brave Trails Collection at chacos.com/camp-brave-trails. 

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About Chaco: 

Born on the river in 1989, Chaco, a division of Wolverine World Wide, Inc. (NYSE: WWW), builds premium footwear for the outdoor-minded. The brand’s iconic Z/sandals are repairable at Rechaco and more than 20,000 sandals a year are kept out of landfills every year. Plus, as a result of the brand’s proprietary LUVSEAT™ foot bed, the American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA) has awarded the Seal of Acceptance to all Chaco footwear styles. The APMA Seal is intended to raise awareness by identifying products of exceptional quality that are manufactured with comfort, health, and safety in mind. Simply put, Chaco is fit for adventure. Please visit us at www.chacos.com, Facebook: Chacos, Instagram: ChacoFootwear, Twitter: Chacousa.    

 

About Brave Trails: 

Brave Trails is a national non-profit organization dedicated to LGBTQ+ youth leadership. We offer accredited summer camps, backpacking trips, family camps, mental health services, meet-up groups, and year-round leadership programming. All of our programs focus on helping LGBTQ+ youth find what they need most to thrive: their people, their place, and their passion. Nothing makes us more proud than seeing our youth take the skills they gain in our programs and use them to create meaningful change in their communities. 

Outdoor Eats, the ultimate camp cooking resource founded by classically trained Chef Corso proudly announces its partnership with Darby Communications, an Asheville-based PR and marketing agency specializing in outdoors, active lifestyle, fishing, and food and beverage markets. Effective immediately, Darby Communications will serve as Outdoor Eats’ agency of record, working closely with Chef Corso to share the mission of elevated meals outdoors by promoting a collection of trail-ready cookbooks, online recipes, an upcoming TV series, and sourcing opportunities for brand partnerships and events.

“When I originally connected with Darby Communications regarding a brand partnership with one of their existing clients, I became curious about how public relations could help to expand awareness of Outdoor Eats,” said Chef Corso, Founder of Outdoor Eats. “2023 is shaping up to be an important year for Outdoor Eats, and I’m thrilled to have Darby Communications as an extension of my marketing team.” 

Originally from the Pacific Northwest, Chef Corso is a classically trained chef with over 20 years of restaurant and food development experience. While backpacking in North Cascades National Park, Chef Corso was inspired to shake up the status quo of pre-packaged and processed camp food. With both his extensive culinary and food science experience, Chef Corso started developing and testing recipes with the hiker and camper in mind– easy to shop for, easy to pack, mindful of pack weight and volume, easy to make, and unbelievably delicious. All recipes are created by Chef Corso and trail-tested by a member of the Outdoor Eats community to ensure they’re easy, quick, tasty, and nourishing. Adventurers can choose between over 275 recipes, customized meal plans, or trail-ready cookbooks to create meals that will get you excited about your camp meals. All recipes are 10 ingredients or less,  ready in 30 minutes or less, require no dehydrating, and work with dietary restrictions.

Darby Communications will work to expand the Outdoor Eats community by promoting Chef Corso’s trail-ready cookbooks, his growing YouTube channel, an upcoming TV series produced by Heliconia TV, and by seeking opportunities for interviews, brand partnerships, and events. 

“Here at Darby, we appreciate good food just as much as a good day outdoors, and there’s no reason the two shouldn’t go together,” says Darby Communications Media Relations Director, Suzanne Hermann. “We love Chef Corso’s mission to make elevated outdoor meals that are approachable and healthy alternatives to traditional dehydrated camp meals. We’re thrilled to help Chef Corso grow the Outdoor Eats community and empower adventurers to improve their backcountry cooking skills.”

For more information on Outdoor Eats or to connect with Chef Corso, contact Katie Richter at katie@darbycommunications.com.

About Outdoor Eats

Founded by classically trained Chef Corso, Outdoor Eats is a backcountry culinary resource for the outdoor adventurer. With over 20 years of restaurant and food research experience, Chef Corso has developed and tested over 200 trail-ready recipes for backpackers and campers looking to ditch pre-packaged, processed, and dehydrated meals. From pocket-sized cookbooks, customizable meal plans, community workshops, a successful YouTube channel, and an upcoming TV series, Outdoor Eats gives outdoors people the tools necessary to create easy to pack, easy to make, and above all, tasty recipes in the backcountry. Trading fine dining rooms for mountain vistas, Chef Corso is changing what it means to be a chef. Learn more at www.outdooreats.com, follow on Instagram @outdooreats365, or subscribe on YouTube. 

About Darby Communications

Darby Communications is a boutique PR & digital marketing agency serving the outdoor, active lifestyle, fishing, and craft food and beverage industries through impactful media placement, digital advertising, email marketing, social media management, and content writing. Headquartered in Asheville, NC with a coast-to-coast portfolio, Darby Communications takes a team approach to everything it does for clients and has worked with many respected companies. Learn more at www.darbycommunications.com or follow on social @darbycomm.

Vimazi, a Pacific Northwest-based running shoe startup, has announced the release of their first models of pace-tuned running shoes, which are now available online. They’ll be available at select retailers in the next few weeks. Vimazi’s innovative pace-tuned shoes are engineered to deliver peak performance tailored to a specific pace zone. 

 

Pioneering a new era in running footwear, Vimazi leverages its patent-pending technology, developed from the complex physics of the running gait,  to provide optimal cushioning on impact and maximum propulsion efficiency during push-off for each runner’s pace.

 

“We’re breaking with the old-school thinking that a mega-thick ‘bouncy’ shoe helps you run faster,” says Vimazi CEO Scott Tucker. “The idea that you can put energy into a shoe and it will make you faster by returning more energy violates the law of energy conservation. At Vimazi, we’ve tuned the densities of the heel versus the forefoot in each of our models, so they compress optimally to forces of the impact and propulsion phases of the stride – which vary according to the pace you run. Doing this delivers more shock absorption at impact and minimizes energy loss at push-off. Over the long run, our shoes reduce cumulative strain on the body and maximize efficiency.”

 

This week marks the beginning of shipping the Z40 (6:15-7:45 min/mi), Z50 (7:15-8:45 min/mi), Z60 (8:30-10:30 mini/mi) and Z70 (10:00-12:30 mini/mi) models. The Z20 and Z30 are slated to arrive in early spring. With additional trail and walking shoes coming later in 2023. 

 

“We’re stoked to share our pace-tuned running shoes with the world,” says Vimazi Chief Marketing Officer, John Zilly. “Vimazi has shoes that will give every runner the best performance and efficacy no matter if they are a casual weekly runner or an elite pro and we can’t wait for everyone to try them out.”

 

Vimazi is also excited to announce a number of special retailers that will carry the new collection. Shu’s Idaho Running Company in Boise, Idaho, North Coast Runners Supply in Astoria, Ore., Seven Hills Running in Seattle, Wash., NW Tri & Bike in Kent, Wash. and Elephant’s Perch, Ketchum, Idaho. The Vimazi team expects additional retailers within the next few months. 

 

To learn more about Vimazi, follow along on social media and sign up for their email newsletter at https://vimazi.com/.  

 

About Vimazi

A running shoe startup founded by industry veterans and lifelong marathoners, Vimazi makes shoes tuned for the pace of the runner. The shoes are engineered to provide better cushioning and more efficiency. It’s the logical evolution and personalization of running shoe design. Vimazi pace-tuned running shoes are now available online and select retailers. For additional information, please visit vimazi.com or email faster@vimazi.com.