Archives: Press Releases

Osprey, the leader in creating top-quality, high-performance, innovative carry solutions, is pleased to announce that the Osprey Poco Plus child carrier received REI Co-op Editors’ Choice Award. The new editorial awards program recognizes the top-performing products in a set of rigorous field tests conducted by co-op staff and members. Factors such as how a product is made, its impact on the environment, along with REI member and customer feedback are also considered.

“Thanks to a smooth-riding suspension and ample gear storage, the Osprey Poco Plus is a workhorse of a kid carrier for epic adventures,” said the REI Co-op editors in awarding Osprey’s Poco Plus best-in-class in the kid carrier category.

The kid carrier test was conducted with more than a dozen testers, over 79 hours, and across three states. Testers noted that the Poco Plus tensioned backpanel “fits comfortably and breathes well while the hipbelt supports heavy loads with ease”. Additionally, “with 26 liters of gear storage, the Poco Plus can easily handle bonus gear on long hauls” while the built-in sunshade “tucks away in a small pocket but easily deploys with small tabs to protect your babe from sun rays or light precip”. One Oregon tester’s daughter loved the Poco Plus so much  “she requested to sit inside it—even in the house”.

“We are honored to receive the inaugural REI Co-op Editors’ Choice Award,” said Rob BonDurant, VP of Marketing, Osprey. “As a brand, we’re fully committed to inspiring the next generation of outdoor enthusiasts and stewards, from toddlers to summer campers. Carrying a child on your back in Poco Plus, a supportive and comfortable carrier, allows you and your child to have a shared point of view while giving you the freedom and mobility to enjoy those adventures together.”

Osprey Poco Plus debuted in Spring 2020. Notable features include:

• Deluxe Child Cockpit: A fully framed and padded cockpit surrounds the adjustable Double Halo harness and child seat for safety. Soft contact surfaces, anatomical fit and ventilated side panels provide comfort.
• Ventilated & Adjustable Mesh Backpanel: 3D-tensioned mesh comfortably wraps and conforms to the body and provides excellent ventilation. The backpanel has 6″ of torso adjustability to fit a range of adults.
• Built in Sunshade: Easily stores and deploys for on-the-go UPF 50+ UV protection.
• Lightweight Folding Aluminum Frame
• Fit-on-the-Fly Hipbelt
• Large Front Panel Compartment

About Osprey
Founded in 1974 and based in Cortez, Colorado, in the foothills of the San Juan Mountains, Osprey designs the highest performing and longest lasting carry solutions on the market including technical packs for outdoor, travel and everyday adventures. 

In addition to creating top-quality packs, the Osprey team is focused on becoming the most progressive, transparent and sustainable hardgoods brand in the world. From raw materials and chemistry benchmarks to progressive factory code of conduct agreements and programs that extend a product’s end of life, Osprey is taking a truly holistic approach and looking at every aspect of their business to ensure they leave as little trace possible. Osprey’s dedication to create innovative, high performance, sustainable gear reflects the brand’s love of adventure, devotion to the outdoors and steadfast resolve to leave the world better than they found it.

To learn more about Osprey and its products backed by their industry leading All Mighty Guarantee, visit osprey.com. Osprey products can be found online at osprey.com and in specialty retailers in over 60 countries worldwide. Follow all brand updates on Instagram (@ospreypacks), Facebook (@ospreypacks) and Twitter (@ospreypacks).

BOULDER, Colo. (Nov.5, 2020) – Matador Travel Equipment, the award-winning producer of high-performance travel equipment, today introduced the SEG30 Segmented Backpack, a 30-liter backpack featuring a patented architecture for optimal organization. A downsized version of Matador’s SEG42, the SEG30 offers maximum organizational options with a minimalist aesthetic. The innovative segmented design offers access to four external zippered compartments, which allow organization by type, day or activity, and an oversized clamshell pocket allows separation of large items or dirty clothes.

“The SEG42 was a smash hit this summer, and we’ve reimagined it in a more compact form – making it a perfect gym bag, weekender duffle, or everyday-carry backpack,” said Chris Clearman, Founder and CEO of Matador. “The organization options are endless, and we’ve forever eliminated the need for packing cubes. Your gear stays more organized and more accessible than ever before.”

In addition to the SEG30’s main segmented compartments, the backpack offers an external-access padded laptop sleeve, a sleek water bottle pocket and a small organization pocket. The bag is constructed of durable, waterproof materials with reinforced construction, ensuring it can stand up to the elements. Rugged handles on three sides make it easy for grabbing on-the-go, and a detachable sternum strap offers comfort for longer commutes.

“Whether you’re headed to the gym, the office, or the airport, the SEG30 can ensure optimal efficiency when you need it most,” continued Clearman. “While it’s a smaller take on the SEG42, this little brother is capable of doing big things. Optimal organization in everyday pursuits.”

The SEG30 (MSRP: $149.99) is available now at select retailers and online at https://www.matadorup.com/.

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About Matador Travel Equipment

Matador designs high-performance travel equipment designed for objective-based travel. The team’s strengths in design, material technology, and construction give them an edge in developing innovative products that bring outdoor expertise to the pursuit of travel. For more information about Matador, visit www.MatadorUp.com.

After 16 years of leading Rossignol Group, Bruno CERCLEY will hand over the CEO responsibility to Vincent Wauters during 1st quarter of 2021, while he will keep a non-executive role as President and member of the Board.

Bruno CERCLEY joined Rossignol in 2002 and left in 2005 after Quiksilver acquired the Group.  In 2008 he led a consortium that acquired Rossignol from Quiksilver, and he took over as CEO upon completion of this transaction.

Under Bruno’s leadership, Rossignol Group has grown to become one of the World’s leading Winter Sport brands portfolio, including Rossignol, Dynastar, Lange and Look. After a drastic restructuring plan conducted in 2009, the winter sport brands have steadily grown their market shares, and in recent years experienced unparalleled success in Racing – across a range of most ski disciplines. This is a result of years of commitment and investment in building great products with a strong organization and leadership team, that was recognized when Bruno was named as “Chevalier de la Légion d’Honneur”.

Under his leadership, Rossignol has also successfully launched a full Apparel collection and entered into the Mountain Bike market, extending its role as the “Pure Mountain Company”.  The group is very well positioned to continue to leverage its unique portfolio of brands and accelerate growth.

Vincent WAUTERS will join the Rossignol group on December 1st, 2020 and continue the global development of its core business while leveraging its significant soft goods and e-commerce growth opportunity. Vincent and Bruno will work together for a smooth transition of the CEO role during 1st quarter of 2021.

Vincent is a seasoned Outdoor industry leader who previously served as CEO of Hunter Boots, President of Arc’teryx and Executive board member of Amer Sports Corporation in charge of the Global Operations and of the Apparel and Gear Category. He had also held various operational positions at Newell Rubbermaid and was one of the first employees of Amazon in France.

Bruno CERCLEY said: “Looking at what we have accomplished over the last decade, I am very proud for having had the great privilege to lead the Group teams in this incredible venture. We have recovered our leading position on skis with Rossignol, doubled our boots market share, we have created a true, steadily growing, apparel business supported by a unique brand positioning, and we have become a major partner for mountain passionates in their quest for “Another Best Day” experiences, all year long. I am quite grateful to the teams who have worked so hard with me to make this happen. This is a good time for organizing ourselves to continue to develop our vision and implement it through solid action plans. Having Vincent joining the Group is a huge opportunity that we could not miss. I am very excited to work soon with him to ensure a smooth and efficient transition. I will obviously remain very much interested and involved from a more strategic perspective, as President & Board member.”

Vincent WAUTERS commented: “It is a great honour to join such an iconic, leading and authentic Outdoor group. What has been accomplished under Bruno’s leadership over the last several years is truly remarkable and I am looking forward to working with the team and our partners to enable a very exciting next strategic cycle.”

“It has been a privilege to work with Bruno over the last seven years.  He has led a major transformation of the Group and is handing over a strong and well performing company to Vincent.  I think the heritage of the Rossignol brands and organization is in good hands with Vincent, who with his background from global iconic apparel and winter sport Brands and his expertise across marketing, E-commerce and Operations, brings new capabilities important to accelerate growth from our solid platform”, says Hugo MAURSTAD, Chairman of the Board.

About ROSSIGNOL Group: The Rossignol Group, headed by Bruno CERCLEY, designs, manufactures and markets a broad range of winter sports equipment. The Group and its brands provide a continuous experience to consumers and accompany them in every moment of sporting effort and leisure, from high-level athletes to amateurs, from the mountains to the city, all year long. The global headquarters are located in the French Alps near Grenoble. The Group has 5 industrial sites located in Western Europe, including 3 in France (Sallanches, Nevers, Saint Etienne de Saint Geoirs, Artès and Montebelluna) and a US headquarter in Park City, Utah. Rossignol Group houses a portfolio of strong and complementary brands with Rossignol – the iconic brand for winter sports, Rossignol Apparel – the subsidiary of the Rossignol Group dedicated to ready-to-wear items, Dynastar – the specialist ski brand, Lange – creating boots for 50 years, Look – the long-standing binding manufacturer, Felt – the performance bike manufacturer, Time, Risport – the reference for ice-skating, Kerma – specialized in ski poles. The different brands have built their own identity and draw their inspiration from the mountain environment. Rossignol is since 2013 majority owned by Nordic Private Equity fund Altor.

Websites:

www.rossignol.com 

www.dynastar.com 

www.lange-boots.com 

www.feltbicycles.com

www.time-sport.com/fr

www.look-bindings.com 

www.risport-france.com

In cooperation with brand partners, testing service provider Hohenstein has created the new DIN SPEC 4868, which will define the market standard and testing protocols for compression behavior of sportswear.

This is the first uniform standard for compression in the booming sports and leisure segment. Claims of textile compression properties can now be transparently checked and clearly understood. The DIN SPEC 4868 test method combined with the HOSYcan compression tester will enable objective comparison of products and materials with analytical performance data on the desired properties. 

Florian Girmond, the Hohenstein expert in charge of developing the new standard, is convinced of the opportunities it offers to the entire industry. “The objective and precise data obtained with HOSYcan will serve as the basis for innovative product development as well as for quality assurance and competitive comparisons.” 

In addition to the test scenarios defined in DIN SPEC 4868, HOSYcan can be customized for special requirements for any products, from compression cuffs and socks to shapewear, shirts, underwear and leggings.

For more information, visit Hohenstein.US/Compression

About Hohenstein
With more than 40 offices and laboratories worldwide, Hohenstein is an international testing partner in the textile industry. Hohenstein’s research centers around the interaction between textiles, humans and the environment. It is a founding member and leading provider of the OEKO-TEX® portfolio of services such as the STANDARD 100 by OEKO-TEX® certification, the international standard for safe textiles, and is certified by the U.S. Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC ID #1058) as a third-party, independent laboratory for CPSIA compliance verification. Hohenstein.US

Oboz Footwear, the True to the Trail® outdoor footwear company headquartered in Bozeman, has been named to Outside Magazine’s Best Places to Work in 2020. The list honors businesses and organizations that demonstrate a deep commitment to welcoming environments that prioritize work-life balance and employee engagement.

Developed in collaboration with Best Companies Group, the 2020 Best Places to Work awards 50 companies from a variety of industries including outdoor brands, marketing agencies, education, manufacturing, health and wellness industries and more. Outside Magazine and Best Companies Group compile the list through surveys of company employees that includes everything from leadership and company strategy, benefits and compensation to culture and extra perks.

“We work hard to create a culture that fosters a balanced life so our employees can get outside, maximize family time, and show up every day energized and supported by each other,” says Amy Beck, President of Oboz Footwear. “It’s an honor to be recognized and a tribute to the great group of individuals we have here at Oboz.”

Based in Bozeman, Montana, Oboz is inspired by the 18 million-acre Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem surrounding the company’s home. Along with being a natural testing ground for its footwear, Bozeman draws people from around the world as a gateway to Yellowstone National Park and is a community that thrives with outdoor activity, arts, and music.

Being named one of Outside Magazine’s 50 Best Places to Work comes on the heels of Oboz launch of its Bozeman Collection. Named in tribute to its hometown, Bozeman styles are built for mountain town living with technical trail performance acumen.

To see the full list of Outside Best Places to Work honorees, go to: https://www.outsideonline.com/2418305/best-places-work-2020.

To see current job openings at Oboz, go to: https://obozfootwear.com/careers

About Oboz Footwear
Founded in 2007, Oboz Footwear builds ‘True to the Trail®’ outdoor footwear inspired by the vast 18 million-acre Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem surrounding the company’s Bozeman, Montana home. This rugged wilderness inspires Oboz to build shoes and boots that deliver unmatched fit, unrivaled feel and exceptional performance on any trail, anywhere. Oboz plants a tree for every pair of shoes sold. For more information, visit https://www.obozfootwear.com.

The Klunken series offers a slim silhouette in eight colors to match perfectly with Kånken backpacks

Primus, the Swedish outdoor equipment brand known since 1892 for its innovative cooking products, is excited to announce the launch of its Klunken bottle collection, a series of insulated and non-insulated stainless-steel drinking bottles sized perfectly to fit the side pockets of the Fjällräven Kånken backpack.

“For over four decades, the Kånken has never had a water bottle that perfectly fits the tall, slim side pockets of the daypack,” says Becky Day, marketing manager for Primus. “We were excited to collaborate with Fjällräven to design and introduce the Klunken bottle collection because it is an opportunity to solve the basic recurring need for Kånken owners who desire a bottle that fits the outside pockets of their beloved backpack.”

From city sidewalks to dirt trails in nature, the Kånken has become a part of people’s daily lives around the globe. The Klunken collection provides a solution to carrying a bottle on the outside of the bag, freeing up precious interior space for daily essentials. With durable construction and the ability to match or offset your color palette, the Klunken is the perfect companion to the Kånken.

Available in two models that share the same exterior silhouette and design elements, the Klunken Bottle (MSRP $26.99) is a 0.7 liter single-wall drinking bottle that is lightweight and well-suited for staying hydrated during every-day activities, while the Klunken Vacuum Bottle (MSRP $29.95) offers a 0.5 liter double-wall vacuum insulated design that keeps beverages cold or hot throughout the day, no matter the season.

Both options are available in eight recognizable Kånken colors, are constructed with 18/8 food grade stainless steel and utilize a cork-lined threaded stopper with a Kånken webbing handle at the top for easily pulling the bottle from a side pocket. As is true with all Primus products, the Klunken bottle collection is designed with timeless styling and constructed of premium materials.

The Primus Klunken collection is currently available, directly from Primus.us, and through select retailers. Please direct media inquiries to Account Manager Eric Hockman at eric.hockman@rygr.us.

About Primus: Primus has powered expeditions and fueled pioneers since 1892, including the first ascent of Mount Everest in 1953 by Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay. Primus products are engineered in Sweden with an emphasis on technology, innovation and sustainability, resulting in reliable equipment that serve as life-long companions on any outdoor adventure—from summit bids to weekend picnics. Primus AB, based in Solna, Sweden, is an independent unit of Fenix Outdoor AB and is distributed in North America by the U.S. compass manufacturer, Brunton Outdoor Inc., out of Louisville, Colorado. Primus products are sold in more than 70 countries worldwide. For more information, please visit www.primus.us.

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South African overland brand releases roof rack kit for the new Land Rover Defender 110

Front Runner Outfitters (Front Runner), the South African-based adventure travel gear company, known for dependable, innovative, and thoughtfully designed overlanding and camping equipment, releases a roof rack option specifically for the new Land Rover Defender 110. Front Runner’s addition of the Land Rover New Defender 110 Slimline II Roof Rack Kit is a nod to the heritage of overlanding and early adventurers that utilized the original Defender platform for off-road travel. Offered in a modernized package, the Land Rover New Defender 110 Roof Rack Kit is a thoughtful aftermarket solution for new Defender 110 owners looking to customize their build with a tried-and-true roof rack system.

The Land Rover New Defender 110 Roof Rack Kit is designed around Front Runner’s Slimline II rack system, allowing users to incorporate more than 55 accessories for a long overland expedition, a weekend trip or any adventure in between. From sport mounts to cargo hauling solutions and the ability to directly integrate useful camping gear, the modular Slimline II allows users to choose their own adventure. Freeing up precious vehicle interior space has never been easier thanks to endless ways to configure accessories and cargo on the rack.

As is true with all of Front Runner’s roof racks, the Land Rover New Defender 110 Roof Rack Kit is constructed of premium-grade durable materials that will withstand harsh weather and road conditions for a long and reliable life. The vehicle-specific footrails allow for a full-sized tray that clears the rear antenna for easy and full access. This rack can withstand the stress of any adventure, on-road or off-road, with load ratings that easily exceed Land Rover’s recommended maximum roof weight rating.

The Land Rover New Defender 110 Rack Kit contains all of the components needed to mount the roof rack to a new Land Rover Defender 110, including the Slimline II tray, wind deflector and feet. The mounting system easily bolts to the existing mounting points on the body of the vehicle, eliminating the need for drilling. The patented mounting solution delivers trusted quality and strength necessary for extreme overlanding expeditions without compromising the streamline, modern look of the SUV. Front Runner also offers a mounting solution for Defender 110 customers that opt to retain the factory roof rails.

The Front Runner New Defender Rack Kit with direct mount footrails (MSRP: $1,465 USD) and New Defender Rack Kit for factory roof rails (MSRP: $975 USD) is available now, directly from Front Runner’s website or through your local Front Runner official dealer.

Please direct media inquiries to Account Manager Eric Hockman at eric.hockman@rygr.us

 About Front Runner Outfitters: Front Runner Outfitters was born from the need for smarter, more durable vehicle-based adventure travel gear. A group of dissatisfied friends from South Africa combined their backgrounds in engineering, design, manufacturing and off-road racing to develop innovative and tough roof racks, water tanks, tents, awnings, drawer systems and camping accessories. Front Runner Outfitters’ manufacturing facility outside of Johannesburg, South Africa uses world class state-of-the-art manufacturing practices to produce quality products with intelligent design: https://www.frontrunneroutfitters.com/en/us/. 

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EXPED USA  is proud to announce the addition of Caraway & Co.  as brand partners. The Caraway & Co. partnership will increase and enhance EXPED’s representation in a region where our retail partners have long supported the brand.

 

Principle representatives Dana Caraway and Terry Imus are based out of Oceanside, CA and Las Vegas, NV respectively. Effective immediately, Caraway & Co. will oversee strategy, sales and service in Arizona, California, Nevada, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana, and Alaska. 

 

“Since its inception in 2009, EXPED has focused on bringing industry-leading quality and innovation to market through a thoughtful distribution strategy. The timing is right to showcase the EXPED product portfolio and introduce the outdoor industry’s best kept secret to a wider audience,” said Tracy Collins, Director of Sales at EXPED USA. “Dana and Terry bring a wealth of industry knowledge, business acumen, and best-in-class service to our retail partners. EXPED is committed to building an industry-leading sales and service team and we’re excited to add an agency with Caraway & Co.’s track record to support our growth strategies.”

 

About EXPED

 

EXPED is a Swiss-based outdoor hardgoods brand, specializing in the highest quality sleeping mats, sleeping bags, tents, backpacks and outdoor accessories.  With offices in Zurich, Switzerland and Tacoma, Washington, EXPED is a privately owned company with the freedom to build meaningful, longstanding partnerships with specialty retailers, manufacturers, and consumers. We believe these relationships are not measured by production output, but by strong, ethical industry leadership and unparalleled customer satisfaction.

 FORLOH, the first hunting brand to manufacture high-end technical apparel that is 100 percent made in the USA, will also be the first to pioneer hunting outerwear equipped with RECCO®, a technology that makes the user easier to locate in the event of an emergency. Starting this month, RECCO reflectors will come integrated into all of FORLOH’s AllClima Rain and SoftShell Jackets. 

While this rapid-response rescue technology has been used for years in winter sports gear — such as ski and snowboard jackets and boots — FORLOH is the first hunting brand to adopt the technology for use in the hunting market. 

FORLOH’s integration of this search technology comes as RECCO is working with search-and-rescue teams in the U.S. and around the world to expand use of the RECCO SAR helicopter detector that allows helicopters to rapidly search for people on the ground across vast areas. By pioneering this technology in the hunting industry, FORLOH is working with RECCO to help increase the margin of safety for consumers. 

“The very nature of hunting means the hunter is attempting to go undetected to their prey, which means hunters are extremely difficult to find in the event of an emergency or accident,” said Andy Techmanski, founder and CEO of FORLOH. “Given RECCO’s push to expand this technology with the helicopter operations of search-and-rescue teams, we were amazed to learn that it hasn’t yet been integrated into hunting apparel, and we jumped at that chance. Being prepared is one of the basic requirements when planning any hunt, and the integration of RECCO reflectors into our gear gives our customers and their families back home an added margin of safety and additional peace of mind.” 

RECCO technology is a patented technology that allows professional rescuers to perform rapid searches for missing people in the outdoors year-round. It is a two-part system. Rescuers use RECCO detectors to locate a RECCO reflector which is carried by the user, integrated into clothing or other gear. 

The RECCO reflector is a passive transponder embedded into a garment and enables someone to be more quickly found in the event that they get lost or injured while outdoors. Rescue professionals have been utilizing RECCO handheld detectors for avalanche rescue since the early 1980s and the system has grown to a global standard rescue tool used in 900+ locations in 28 countries.

The newly introduced RECCO SAR helicopter detector is a larger detector unit. It is mounted under a helicopter and enables rescue teams to vastly reduce the amount of time it takes to search large areas. 

“Unlike snowsports which is often enjoyed within a resort, wearing bright clothes on clean snow, backcountry hunters are more often at the bottom of valleys or on steep, treed sidehills, wearing camouflage and far away from other people or help,” Techmanski said. “It’s a no brainer to put this technology into apparel for hunters and, since our gear is built to be versatile for many kinds of outdoor pursuits beyond hunting, other backcountry enthusiasts.” 

In the last two years, as its new helicopter-based detector unit has come into use, RECCO has worked to get that technology into use with five search-and-rescue teams in North America, including Two Bear Air, a philanthropy-funded organization that provides aviation support for search and rescue teams in Montana, Idaho and eastern Washington. In Europe, a dozen search and rescue teams are using it, and RECCO is working to facilitate its adoption by more SAR teams in North America and globally. Along with western Montana, SAR teams in Salt Lake City and Seattle, as well as Vancouver and Canmore in western Canada, are  equipped with helicopter-based detector units. More than 90 SAR teams in North America and hundreds worldwide already are equipped with the hand-held RECCO units. 

“Working with FORLOH, we are excited to enter the hunting market, a completely new segment for us, and to help make hunters searchable with the help of RECCO technology,” said Fredrik Steinwall, CEO at RECCO. “The outdoor market, where we have been on the market for a long time and are well known, is closely related to the hunting community. So for us, this is a natural progression To be able to do this with a technology-driven brand like FORLOH feels very inspiring.” 

Due to the proximity of its manufacturing within the U.S. and the ability to quickly adapt its production, FORLOH was able to quickly integrate RECCO reflectors into its AllClima  Rain and SoftShell Jackets within a period less than two months. Starting November, all AllClima product will come with RECCO technology integrated. 

About FORLOH 

The only brand that makes 100-percent America-made hunting apparel, FORLOH is a technology company that focuses on the hunting and outdoor markets. Based in Whitefish, Mont., FORLOH uses a range of cutting-edge and proprietary technologies to improve performance in areas like breathability, waterproofing, insulation, heating and cooling. Through FORLOH’s connections with U.S. manufacturers, it has adopted and applied technologies from other industries, such as NASA or the automotive industry, to create unique performance characteristics that other manufacturers are not offering. It is focused on how its products work together to create an apparel system that performs better. At its core, FORLOH is dedicated to enabling customers to forge deeper connections with the outdoors through use of better technology. Join the future today at FORLOH.com and join the conversation on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter. 

Pedal drive upgrades and expanded use of Kick-Up Fins enhance performance and user experience across a range of existing kayak models

Hobie, the leading manufacturer of premium kayaks and watersport products, today announces several cutting-edge upgrades to further elevate performance across a range of its most popular kayak models for the 2021 model year. Most notably, Hobie will now incorporate enhanced versions of its signature MirageDrive®, the original kayak pedal propulsion system first released by Hobie in 1997, throughout the lineup.

The Mirage® Passport® 10.5 and 12.0, the accessible and highly versatile pedal kayaks released in 2019 and 2020 respectively, will be upgraded to include the MirageDrive GT, boasting Hobie’s innovative Glide Technology, and patented Kick-Up Fins for care-free kayaking in the shallows. The Glide Technology, used on all other models of Hobie pedal kayaks, reduces resistance and improves the smoothness and efficiency of the drive, by way of added roller bearings at key friction points, while the Kick-Up Fins eliminate underwater clashes with debris, logs, rocks and other shallow-water hazards by automatically retracting upon impact. Additionally, the existing colorway options of Seagrass Green and Slate Blue will be expanded with the introduction of the all-new Bay Sand tone, ideal for maintaining low visibility while fishing or for those looking for a more neutral color.

The ever-popular Mirage Compass line, geared towards recreational anglers, will now feature the MirageDrive 180 propulsion system, allowing the kayak to move both forward and backwards with full power. The Compass Duo, the highly customizable tandem kayak with two separate pedal drives, will also be enhanced to include one MirageDrive 180 and one MirageDrive GT, offering dual maneuverability, with instantaneous forward-and-backward capabilities as well as full Kick-Up Fin efficiency. Lastly, the Camo colorway of the Mirage Compass includes Hobie’s Turbo Fins, which incorporate a larger fin template to provide faster speed, increased responsiveness and improved propulsion efficiency.

“Hobie’s longstanding commitment to delivering exceptional quality and unparalleled innovation has never been more relevant than now, as we continue to see more people venturing out onto the water for a welcome escape in nature,” said Doug Skidmore, CEO of Hobie. “Witnessing the ‘Hobie way of life’ become even more widely adopted this year has made it especially rewarding to be able to offer these substantial upgrades across some of our most popular kayak models, and deliver a better customer experience than ever before.”

The specified upgrades will roll out across relevant 2021 models starting this month. To purchase, consumers can use the dealer locator feature at www.hobie.com to find the authorized Hobie dealer closest to their location.

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About Hobie

Since 1950, Hobie has been in the business of shaping a unique lifestyle based around fun, water and quality products. From their headquarters in Oceanside, California, Hobie Cat Company manufactures, distributes and markets an impressive collection of watercraft worldwide. These include an ever-expanding line of recreation and racing sailboats, pedal-driven recreation and fishing kayaks, inflatable kayaks and fishing boats, plus a complementary array of parts and accessories. To learn more, visit www.hobie.com.