Archives: Press Releases

Tread Labs, a leading performance insole brand established by Chaco founder Mark Paigen, today announced it expanded its sales team and doubled the size of its headquarters to accommodate the rapid growth created by wholesale demand for their insole collection. The brand now has sales representation in the Rocky mountains, southeast, midwest, northwest, and south central regions and is looking to add capacity in the northeast and on the west coast. The new address is 4H Gill St. in Woburn, Mass.

The expanded facility includes enhanced space for product design and development, additional employees and much needed warehouse space. The new layout is also much more conducive to hosting events and building community.

“Our insole business grew in the last year thanks to strong wholesale demand,” said founder Mark Paigen. “Consumers have fallen in love with the arch support that all Tread Labs products offer. The expansion of our sales team enables Tread Labs to reach additional retailers, introducing new consumers to the benefits of our insoles. The future is bright for our brand, and we look forward to having the right team in place to ensure our future growth.”

The Tread Labs sales team includes:

• Rocky Mountains, Black Dog Sales Group: Ian Decker (Principal) and Shondia Houtzer
• South Central, Terrell Sports Group: Eddie Terrell
• Southeast, Summit Group: Jeff Weathersbee (Principal) and Paul Jordan
• Northwest: Jim Fink
• Midwest: Grimsrud-Barnes: TJ Barnes (Principal), Tom Newhard, John Thomas, and Doug Nelson
• Y. and N.J.: Charlie Uratu

Sales territories Tread Labs is looking to fill:

• New England, including Conn., Maine, Mass., N.H., R.I., Vt.
• West coast, including Ariz., Calif., Hawaii, Nev.
• , Md., Penn.

For more information on open positions, please visit treadlabs.com/pages/join-the-tread-labs-team.

About Tread Labs

Tread Labs was founded in 2015 by Mark Paigen, who previously founded (and later sold) Chaco sandals. Tread Labs was created to improve people’s lives by giving feet the support they desperately need. Tread Labs’ proprietary two-part insole system is designed for the long haul. The molded arch supports are guaranteed forever, and the top covers are easily replaced to make insoles like new again, without having to buy a whole new pair. Better for the wallet, better for the planet. Sandals are debuting in 2023 and closed footwear is in development.

Tread Labs, a leading performance insole brand established by Chaco founder Mark Paigen, today announced it expanded its sales team and doubled the size of its headquarters to accommodate the rapid growth created by wholesale demand for their insole collection. The brand now has sales representation in the Rocky mountains, southeast, midwest, northwest, and south central regions and is looking to add capacity in the northeast and on the west coast. The new address is 4H Gill St. in Woburn, Mass.

The expanded facility includes enhanced space for product design and development, additional employees and much needed warehouse space. The new layout is also much more conducive to hosting events and building community.

“Our insole business grew in the last year thanks to strong wholesale demand,” said founder Mark Paigen. “Consumers have fallen in love with the arch support that all Tread Labs products offer. The expansion of our sales team enables Tread Labs to reach additional retailers, introducing new consumers to the benefits of our insoles. The future is bright for our brand, and we look forward to having the right team in place to ensure our future growth.”

The Tread Labs sales team includes:

• Rocky Mountains, Black Dog Sales Group: Ian Decker (Principal) and Shondia Houtzer
• South Central, Terrell Sports Group: Eddie Terrell
• Southeast, Summit Group: Jeff Weathersbee (Principal) and Paul Jordan
• Northwest: Jim Fink
• Midwest: Grimsrud-Barnes: TJ Barnes (Principal), Tom Newhard, John Thomas, and Doug Nelson
• Y. and N.J.: Charlie Uratu

Sales territories Tread Labs is looking to fill:

• New England, including Conn., Maine, Mass., N.H., R.I., Vt.
• West coast, including Ariz., Calif., Hawaii, Nev.
• , Md., Penn.

For more information on open positions, please visit treadlabs.com/pages/join-the-tread-labs-team.

About Tread Labs

Tread Labs was founded in 2015 by Mark Paigen, who previously founded (and later sold) Chaco sandals. Tread Labs was created to improve people’s lives by giving feet the support they desperately need. Tread Labs’ proprietary two-part insole system is designed for the long haul. The molded arch supports are guaranteed forever, and the top covers are easily replaced to make insoles like new again, without having to buy a whole new pair. Better for the wallet, better for the planet. Sandals are debuting in 2023 and closed footwear is in development.

2% of sales will benefit Planet Impact Fund to fight climate change

Flagstaff, Ariz. (Jan. 26, 2023) – Kahtoola is excited to announce a new Forest Green edition of its legendary MICROspikes® footwear traction designed to keep you safely outside hiking in snowy, icy and muddy conditions. For every Forest Green pair sold, Kahtoola will donate 2% of sales to the 1% for the Planet® Impact Fund at National Philanthropic Trust, doubling the company’s commitment to fight climate change.

“Our goal is to create products that make outdoor adventures more accessible and rewarding, and underlying that is the responsibility we have as a company to address the climate crisis to the best of our ability by minimizing our environmental impact,” said Danny Giovale, owner and founder of Kahtoola. “This product-specific initiative is one important way we can increase our efforts by doubling our usual 1% for the Planet commitment to support the efforts of this proven environmental organization.”

For over a decade, arctic explorers, weekend adventurers and everyday hikers have chosen MICROspikes traction to safely explore outside in wintry conditions. Twelve stainless steel spikes per foot bite into even the most stubborn ice and snow, providing the wearer a stable walking platform. A durable, ergonomically shaped harness features a raised heel tab to easily pull over shoes and boots while retaining its elasticity down to -22°F. Lightweight and packable, Kahtoola MICROspikes allow users to safely navigate mountainous terrain.

For more information on Kahtoola’s commitment to fight climate change with its Forest Green MICROspikes, please visit kahtoola.com/2percent.

About Kahtoola:

Since 1999, Kahtoola has been creating reliable gear that makes the outdoors more accessible and rewarding. Kahtoola’s gaiters, hiking crampons, and flexible footwear traction systems, including MICROspikes®, EXOspikes™ and NANOspikes®, are built to improve safety and performance in wintry locales around the globe. Every product is thoughtfully designed and vigorously tested at the brand’s Flagstaff, AZ headquarters high on the Colorado Plateau. Owned and operated by founder Danny Giovale, Kahtoola proudly grants 1% of annual sales to fund projects that support indigenous cultures and improve communities, healthcare, education, resources and the environment. For more information, please visit Kahtoola.com.

Held in collaboration with the Next 100 Coalition, Outdoor Alliance and Outdoor Industry Association, the Summit will unite businesses that rely on a healthy planet and create a blueprint for future action.

 

BEND, Ore. (January 26, 2023) –  – The Conservation Alliance (TCA), the leading national business coalition working to conserve land and water, announced today the inaugural Conservation Alliance Summit. The Summit will create space for businesses that value outdoor spaces, community-centered conservation, and wild places to unite under a common agenda for equitable land and water conservation.

The Conservation Alliance Summit will occur on May 22-24, 2023, in Winter Park, Colorado. Created in partnership with the Next 100 Coalition,  Outdoor Alliance (OA) and Outdoor Industry Association (OIA), this three day retreat will convene member company leaders and key partners to celebrate shared successes, announce annual priorities, as well as educate and empower the business community to become more effective advocates for conservation work.

“The Summit will build on our 30 years of leadership in this area and create opportunities for our members to realize the power of the collective to protect wild places and outdoor spaces,” says TCA executive director Nicole Rom. “It continues to build on the important grant making and advocacy work that is the bedrock of what we do here at TCA, galvanizing our members to realize their power and capacity for positive change. As a business-led solution to conservation issues, TCA presents a unique, commerce-focused perspective, capable of uniting different political and industry views, showcasing years of effective conservation efforts with the next generation of business leaders.”

“The protection and stewardship of our collective lands and waters must reflect the racial and cultural diversity of our nation, and demonstrate and value the myriad ways people connect to and care for the environment,” says The Next 100 Coalition executive director Chela Garcia. “With meaningful collaboration, businesses can create a more sustainable and equitable future through their actions, values, and economic contributions to our natural spaces and communities if they are empowered to act together.”

“At Outdoor Alliance, we know that public land and conservation policy is complex,” says Adam Cramer, CEO of Outdoor Alliance. “We do the hard work to effect meaningful, measurable change—building relationships with decision makers, enthusiasts, and activists to preserve trails, create new legislation, share maps, and teach others how to protect the places they care about. This Summit represents an opportunity to share knowledge and key advocacy opportunities with leaders poised to make a difference with their brands and generate real conservation results.”

“Outdoor recreation is an economic powerhouse in the United States, each year generating $862 billion,” says Outdoor Industry Association interim executive director Kent Ebersole. “Collectively, we have the power and influence to protect the lands and waters that our communities, businesses, and environment rely on, but only if we can come together and speak in one voice. This Summit represents a chance for us to do just that, and OIA is proud to be a part of it.”

The Conservation Alliance Summit is possible thanks to sponsorship from: Peak Design, Patagonia, Keen, Bank of the West, FjallRaven, Public Lands Fund, REI, Superfeet, Osprey, Oboz, Atlantic Packaging, Toad&Co, Royal Robbins and Visit Bend. Learn more here.

 

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About The Conservation Alliance

The Conservation Alliance is an organization of 270 like-minded businesses whose collective contributions support grassroots environmental organizations and their efforts to protect wild places where outdoor enthusiasts recreate. Alliance funds have played a key role in protecting North America’s rivers, trails, wildlands, and climbing areas. Membership in the Alliance is open to all companies who care about protecting our most threatened wild places for habitat and outdoor recreation. Since 1989, we have contributed more than $27,370,000 in grants to conservation organizations whose collective efforts have helped protect 73 million acres of land and 3,580 miles of rivers; stop or remove 37 dams; acquire 21 climbing areas; and designate five marine reserves. For complete information about The Conservation Alliance, visit www.conservationalliance.com.

Outdoor Vitals, the Utah-based performance outdoor brand, is dedicated to helping others get outside and discover the power that backcountry travel has to change lives. This year, the company is introducing the Outdoor Vitals 100 Mile Challenge, a platform designed to help hikers and backpackers push their boundaries with an interactive training framework, including expert advice and support from other members.

 “Family responsibilities, work, and a myriad of other obligations make it difficult for most people to spend a lot of time out on the trail,” said Tayson Whittaker, founder of Outdoor Vitals. “This challenge is designed to help everyday individuals with busy lives develop the skillset they need to finish their dream hike this summer. With over 70 years of combined experience, we are thrilled to be able to provide participants the tools they need for better planning, training, and execution.”

The challenge costs just $69.97, with a reduced price of $55.98 for Outdoor Vitals members, and includes over $200 of gear from partners such as onX. Participants will receive a free Altitude Sun Hoody, access to live conference calls, a training table, and a copy of the 100 Mile Framework. Once participants set a goal and register for the challenge, they will be connected with the Outdoor Vitals team, who will help them plan, train for, and execute their bucket-list hike. 

Registration is open through February 20, with training for the challenge kicking off on March 17. Hikers will have two options for completing the 100 miles, embarking on either a ‘stacked’ or a ‘nonstop’ adventure. The nonstop iteration challenges participants to finish the 100 miles in one multi-day drip, while the stacked option allows busy individuals to complete the 100 miles over several overnight expeditions. The trip window to complete the challenge is June 16 through July 23, with a post-challenge celebration taking place in August.

To learn more about the 100 Mile Challenge, visit www.outdoorvitals.com.

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About Outdoor Vitals
Unencumbered by price points or corporate strategies, Outdoor Vitals is passionate about helping others to live ultralight, and its sole mission is to provide gear that makes backcountry travel easier. Outdoor Vitals is committed to designing innovative products that make the outdoors more comfortable, cutting out everything that is unnecessary without impeding function or durability. The result is a line of carefully constructed products that are ideal for backcountry travel. Today, Outdoor Vitals offers a wide array of unique products, including backpacks, jackets, tents, pants, baselayers, sleep systems, and more.

Media Contact:
Sean Van Horn, Backbone Media
sean.vanhorn@backbone.media
970-963-4873, ext. 1806

Kahtoola is excited to announce a new Forest Green edition of its legendary MICROspikes® footwear traction designed to keep you safely outside hiking in snowy, icy and muddy conditions. For every Forest Green pair sold, Kahtoola will donate 2% of sales to the 1% for the Planet® Impact Fund at National Philanthropic Trust, doubling the company’s commitment to fight climate change.

“Our goal is to create products that make outdoor adventures more accessible and rewarding, and underlying that is the responsibility we have as a company to address the climate crisis to the best of our ability by minimizing our environmental impact,” said Danny Giovale, owner and founder of Kahtoola. “This product-specific initiative is one important way we can increase our efforts by doubling our usual 1% for the Planet commitment to support the efforts of this proven environmental organization.”

For over a decade, arctic explorers, weekend adventurers and everyday hikers have chosen MICROspikes traction to safely explore outside in wintry conditions. Twelve stainless steel spikes per foot bite into even the most stubborn ice and snow, providing the wearer a stable walking platform. A durable, ergonomically shaped harness features a raised heel tab to easily pull over shoes and boots while retaining its elasticity down to -22°F. Lightweight and packable, Kahtoola MICROspikes allow users to safely navigate mountainous terrain.

For more information on Kahtoola’s commitment to fight climate change with its Forest Green MICROspikes, please visit kahtoola.com/2percent.

About Kahtoola:

Since 1999, Kahtoola has been creating reliable gear that makes the outdoors more accessible and rewarding. Kahtoola’s gaiters, hiking crampons, and flexible footwear traction systems, including MICROspikes®, EXOspikes™ and NANOspikes®, are built to improve safety and performance in wintry locales around the globe. Every product is thoughtfully designed and vigorously tested at the brand’s Flagstaff, AZ headquarters high on the Colorado Plateau. Owned and operated by founder Danny Giovale, Kahtoola proudly grants 1% of annual sales to fund projects that support indigenous cultures and improve communities, healthcare, education, resources and the environment. For more information, please visit Kahtoola.com.

Outdoor Alliance calls out resurging public-land transfer efforts in new Congress.

Washington, D.C. (January 25, 2023) — In its first vote as the 118th Congress, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a rules package containing a provision intended to pave the way for transferring or selling off federal public land. The provision says that lawmakers can ignore the costs of transfers of public land, as if they have no cost to the federal government or taxpayers.

Outdoor Alliance, a non-profit that works on behalf of the human-powered outdoor recreation community to protect public lands and waters, is calling out this developing effort and encouraging people to speak out against it. A similar move in the House in 2017 was met with widespread outrage. The Outdoor Alliance team encourages the public to use a quick and easy contact form on its website to tell House members about their concerns regarding this provision.

“Lawmakers have tried to dispose of public lands before, and they apparently will try again,” said Adam Cramer, CEO of Outdoor Alliance. “They need to know that the American people do not want to see our public lands given away. Public lands are enormously popular among Americans across political identities, and we’ll fight to make sure lawmakers know that.”

This provision (sec. 3g), a replica of the land transfer provision attempted in 2017, is a trial balloon to test Americans’ willingness to see public lands sold off, according to Cramer.

The rules package, passed on Monday, Jan. 16, governs how the House will operate over the next two years, and this provision enables public land transfers to be treated as “budget neutral.” Typically, laws are scored to see how they would affect the federal budget and their cost to taxpayers.

This budgetary maneuver is designed to make it look like giving away or selling public land would cost nothing, Cramer said. In fact, public lands are a large source of government revenue and the foundation of the growing outdoor recreation economy and the well-being of many communities. National Parks, National Forests, BLM lands, and Wildlife Refuges are invaluable for the climbing, hiking, camping, paddling, mountain biking, and skiing opportunities they provide. This amendment essentially allows Congress to give away or sell public land without considering costs to the American people.

The House rules package also contains a provision to set up debate on a bill that would compel the government to lease more public lands and waters to fossil-fuel developers. At a time when the country needs to be transitioning toward renewable energy and reducing its dependence on fossil fuels, requiring the government to arbitrarily lease off public lands and waters for development is the wrong approach. Finally, there is an additional provision around congressional appropriations, which caps spending levels and could ultimately lead to budget cuts for the Interior Department and other land management agencies.

The passage of these provisions is a harbinger of bad ideas to come, Cramer said. While it may be difficult for lawmakers to pass any legislation this year, especially unpopular proposals given the likely gridlock in Congress, the inclusion of the provision is a clear sign that lawmakers are looking for license to move ahead with disposing of public lands.

Outdoor Alliance believes it is incredibly important—and highly effective—for constituents to respond to these rules. The Outdoor Alliance team has made it incredibly quick and easy to write a message to your House members expressing concern about this provision. To do so, please visit this page on the Outdoor Alliance website.

 

About Outdoor Alliance

Outdoor Alliance is the only organization in the U.S. that unites the voices of outdoor enthusiasts to conserve public lands. A nonprofit coalition comprised of 10 national advocacy organizations, Outdoor Alliance’s members include American Whitewater, American Canoe Association, Access Fund, International Mountain Bicycling Association, Winter Wildlands Alliance, the Mountaineers, the American Alpine Club, the Mazamas, the Colorado Mountain Club, and the Surfrider Foundation. By working with its member coalitions and helping mobilize the involvement of individuals to protect public lands and waters, OA helps ensure public lands are managed in a way that embraces the human-powered experience. Outdoor Alliance — conservation powered by outdoor recreation. Learn more at OutdoorAlliance.org.

Guidesly, the first platform connecting a network of trusted guides to the world’s angler, recently closed its seed round of funding, raising $4 million from nearly 20 investors. This investment, highlighted by Graycroft Partners and Elysian Park Ventures, will help Guidesly further scale in vertical SaaS and continue to grow their reach in the outdoor recreation community.

 

“Guidesly has done a phenomenal job of creating a delightful user experience for both small business owners and their customers. They are making payments disappear on both sides of a complex, multi-step transaction, and they are bringing innovative technology to the SMB ecosystem,” says Will Szczerbiak, Graycroft Partners.

 

Continuing to invest in vertical sAAs has been a priority for Guidesly. The second half of 2021 saw a 300% increase in SaaS guides using the Guidesly platform. Vertical SaaS will continue to be at the forefront of the Guidesly business as new offerings will be rolled in the early parts of 2022.

 

“Vertical SaaS solutions continue to accelerate, focusing on providing impactful real-world solutions for the outdoor recreation marketplace,” said David Lord, CEO, Guidesly. “Companies offering unique vertical SaaS solutions save costs, increase revenue, and offer small business owners the ability to deliver leading customer experiences. Guidesly focuses on providing the technology to enable our clients to leverage the platform and deliver world-class guided experiences.”

 

The key to Guidesly’s business has been, and always will be, the guides on the platform. Part of this investment will be dedicated to growing the guide roster, which is quickly expanding. With a 100% increase in guides during Q3 and Q4, Guidesly is confident they will be able to provide high-quality fishing experiences in all major markets.

 

“Our firm is committed to backing companies helping to shape the future of sports, and Guidesly is a great example,” said Pete Vlastelica, Elysian. “The Outdoor Recreation business, as we know it, needs a better technology platform to become more guest-centric, responsive and deliver lower cost, higher revenue solutions. We are excited by what Guidesly is building and look forward to helping them realize their vision.”

 

Guidesly has grown quickly, nearly doubling in size since June of 2021. This momentum was evident through its high-profile roster of investors and will continue into 2022 with new product releases and offerings to both guides and consumers.

Guidesly connects anglers and guides to create memorable fishing experiences. By vetting potential guides, Guidesly ensures quality experiences with up-to-date guide schedules, fishing reports, and an integrated billing process. Anglers can find the type of trip and guide that fits their desires all in one place.

Learn more at guidesly.com.

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About Guidesly
Guidesly, Inc. is a technology company building a marketplace for the outdoor recreational industry. Guidesly connects outdoor enthusiasts with trusted guides through leading-edge consumer experiences and guide tools that improve the guest experience. By starting in fishing, Guidesly is connecting fishing guides and charter captains with anglers seeking fishing trips with a seamless experience between the web site and mobile applications. Guidesly targets the 51 million Americans who are searching for guided fishing experiences. From their local river to far-flung bucket list trips, Guidesly provides a journey for all anglers. Headquartered in Boston, Mass, Guidesly is run by a team that includes veterans of mission-driven consumer tech companies, award-winning designers, and proven experts in building cloud-based software platforms and businesses. For more information, visit guidesly.com.