Archives: Press Releases

The Solo Stove Grill Makes Charcoal Grilling Easier Than Ever

Solo Stove, designers of simple, ingenious solutions to make life easier, today announced the Solo Stove Grill, an innovative, easy-to-use, stainless steel charcoal grill with a lifetime warranty. The Solo Stove Grill provides an optimized experience and a design which drastically reduces the heat-up period, making charcoal grilling more accessible than ever.

“There’s no debate that charcoal grills produce superior flavor, but until now, the charcoal grilling experience was tedious, messy and slow,” said John Merris, CEO of Solo Stove. “We wanted to develop a charcoal grill that was faster, cleaner and easier. Box-to-burger is simpler and quicker than ever.”

The Grill’s design has been optimized from assembly to clean up, with a simple set-up that allows users to begin grilling within a matter of minutes. The grill incorporates the same engineering principles as all of Solo Stove’s camp stoves and fire pits, with a double-wall design and unique air flow vents that significantly improve performance. The heat-up timeframe has been reduced by 25 to 50 percent in comparison to traditional charcoal grills and the convective heating holds steady the ideal grilling temperatures, allowing users to continue grilling longer.

“It’s time to stop sacrificing taste because the charcoal experience is too messy and time consuming,” continued Merris. “As with all Solo Stove products, it’s problem, solved.”

The Grill will be offered for pre-sale as an Ultimate Bundle that includes everything needed to get grilling in minutes, including two Solo Stove Grill Packs, a set of Solo Stove Grill Tools, and a weather cover. The Grill Packs are all-natural charcoal briquettes that use vegetable starch instead of artificial binders. The packs are conveniently sized for one grilling session and are available through subscription, so users can have them on-hand whenever they need them. The Grill Tools include a versatile spatula, heavy-duty tongs, and a barbecue fork, which have been engineered for optimal performance.

The Solo Stove Grill is currently available for pre-sale in limited quantity to the general public. The Grill Ultimate Bundle pre-sale price of $499 is only available until 6/21/2020, at which point pricing will be increased to $549 until 8/3/2020. The Solo Stove Grill Ultimate Bundle will thereafter be available for $599, offering customers $100 in savings off of MSRP ongoing.

 

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About Solo Stove

Founded in 2010, Solo Stove designs simple, ingenious solutions to make life easier. For more information about Solo Stove, visit www.SoloStove.com. 

 

 

 

Three-quarters of pharmacists recommend After Bite according to U.S. News & World Report and Pharmacy Times guide

LITTLETON, N.H. (June 18, 2020) – As mosquito, bee and insect season ramps up, U.S. News & World Report and Pharmacy Times® recognize After Bite® as the No. 1 brand recommended by pharmacists once again. For over 45 years, After Bite has delivered relief from itching, pain and discomfort caused by insect bites. In its second year as a category, the annual pharmacist-recommended product rankings guide for insect bite and sting management shows that seventy-seven percent of pharmacists surveyed recommend After Bite for treating insect bites and stings. After Bite has topped the list each year since the category’s inception.

“After Bite is the top-selling insect bite treatment in North America and we are proud to be recommended by pharmacists across the US as a go-to product for relieving the itch associated with bites from mosquitoes, black flies, bees, and other insects,” says Katie Jones, After Bite brand manager. “Consumers trust pharmacists, and pharmacists trust After Bite.”

U.S. News & World Report, a global authority in rankings and consumer advice, has published its pharmacist-recommended drug and device brands report for nearly 25 years. Categories reviewed in the guide include topical antibiotics, cough suppressants, antihistamines and more.

The complete After Bite collection includes After Bite® Advanced Formula, After Bite® Kids, After Bite® Outdoor, After Bite® Xtra and After Bite® Plus, available at Amazon, Walmart, REI and retailers nationwide.

To read the full insect bite and sting management rankings report, please visit: https://health.usnews.com/drugs/rankings/top-rec-insect-sting-and-bite-management.

Please direct all media inquiries to Account Manager Ethan Peck at ethan.peck@rygr.us.

About After Bite^®: Trusted for over 45 years, After Bite is the pharmacist-preferred insect bite treatment that provides instant relief from the itching, pain, and discomfort of insect bites and stings. The long-lasting advanced liquid formula works fast to stop the itch caused by biting insects like mosquitoes, black flies, bees, and more. www.afterbite.com

About Adventure Ready Brands: Founded in 1973 in the heart of New Hampshire’s iconic White Mountains, Adventure Ready Brands has always operated with a simple, unified goal: To inspire outdoor adventure, no matter the condition. With innovative products from the organized-by-injury Adventure® Medical Kits to the category-leading After Bite® insect sting treatment, Adventure Ready Brands has—and continues—to make good on that promise. www.adventurereadybrands.com

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Kahtoola, creator of award-winning MICROspikes® and NANOspikes® footwear traction, is proud to announce that its “Kahtoola for the People” grant program has awarded $62,500 in the first half of 2020 including Esperanca, HERO, The Tibet Fund, One New Education,  Elevate Nepal and the Havasupai Tribe. The next round of grant applications will be reviewed in September and nonprofits are encouraged to apply by September 1, 2020 at Kahtoola.com.

“Kahtoola’s mission involves making a difference in people’s lives, empowering and supporting the good work of others and positive, inclusive characteristics that reflect the good in all of us,” said Danny Giovale, founder of Kahtoola. “Every year since 1999, we have been proud to grant a percentage of our annual sales to fund projects that support indigenous cultures, investing in community improvements, healthcare, education, resources and the environment. We are thankful for the opportunity to continue supporting the important work of our grant recipients, especially given the current global health crisis.”

The first $10,000 grant of 2020 was awarded to Esperanca to assist with projects that improve nutrition and food security within the rural Peruvian communities of the Q’eros Nation in the Province of Paucartambo. Esperanca will focus their grant funds on this region of the Andes to connect with 128 indigenous families in six villages. Outreach will promote seed selection and conservation, followed by the planting of 128 family gardens with organic Andean crops, such as beans, tarwi, maize and potatoes. For more information on Esperanca, please visit https://www.esperanca.org/.

A second $10,000 grant was awarded to Arizona-based, HERO for medical equipment, including menstrual kits, a new ultrasound machine, portable EKG machine, and cervical cancer screening supplies for the Namo Buddha and Hatiya areas of Nepal. For more information on HERO, please visit https://heroefforts.org/.

The third $10,000 grant went to The Tibet Fund on behalf of Nyingtob Ling, a Tibetan School for Disabled Children and Young Adults. Grant funding will be used for the improvement of caretakers’ living facilities at the school damaged in part by monsoon rains. To learn more, please visit The Tibet Fund for additional information at https://tibetfund.org/.

Two additional nonprofits received “Kahtoola for the People” grants in the first half of 2020. One New Education was awarded $2,500 to cover school expenses for three girls in the town of Dhulikhel, about 30 km east of Kathmandu, Nepal. Elevate Nepal received a total of $5,000 to support its mission to provide the Nepalese people access to resources for the responsible development of a sustainable community

including a project with the Ananda Jyoti Agriculture School in the community of Begnas Tal, Nepal. The school strives to educate young people about the importance of sustainable, organic agriculture.

And finally, Kahtoola’s virtual run raised more than $25,000 for the Havasupai Tribe’s COVID-19 relief fund. 258 participants from 23 states, along with 624 donors, helped Kahtoola surpass its original fundraising goal of $10,000.

For more information on Kahtoola for the People grants or to submit an application, please visit Kahtoola.com.

About Kahtoola:

Since 1999, Kahtoola has been creating reliable gear that makes the outdoors more accessible and rewarding. Kahtoola’s flexible footwear traction systems, including MICROspikes® and NANOspikes® footwear traction, are built to improve safety and performance in wintry locales around the globe. Every product from hiking crampons to running gaiters are 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, investing in community improvements, healthcare, education, resources and the environment. For more information, please visit Kahtoola.com.

Emergency and adventure preparedness company set to scale following increased demand in preparedness goods

Uncharted Supply Co.©, a fast-growing startup specializing in modern preparedness products, announces a new round of financing from Salt Lake City private equity firm, Black Oak Capital.

Uncharted Supply Co. was founded in 2016  when its first product, the Seventy2™Survival System, an emergency kit designed to guide you safely through any unexpected emergency situation, set crowd-funding records and achieved global accolades. Since then, Uncharted Supply Co. has continued to innovate award-winning preparedness products that have been adopted globally by individuals, corporations, government agencies and more. The company now boasts a family of professional-grade products in their line, ranging from fully integrated emergency kits to portable jump starters and toolless rapid-inflation pack rafts.  

The investment from Black Oak Capital will enable the company to grow its team, improve supply chains and scale its inventory position so they can continue to meet demand – which has been unprecedented in the wake of the Coronavirus pandemic. 

“Since day one, our goal at Uncharted is to make the world a safer place for everyone,” said Christian Schauf, CEO and founder of Uncharted Supply Co. “Part of achieving that goal is to find partners who will aid in scaling our mission of making life-saving products available globally.” 

The investment from fellow Utah-based PE firm, Black Oak Capital, will aid in the expansion of Uncharted’s product line and inventory as well as the expansion of Uncharted’s already growing team, including the development of a Board of Directors that will help guide the company into Q4 of 2020 and beyond. Brad Bonham, currently the Co-Founder & CEO of Walker Edison is considered the linchpin in leading this process. Bonham offers a deep experience-set with regards to growing, building and running multi-million dollar, global businesses, thus understanding how to develop superior teams that win.

Specializing in the branded consumer, service and manufacturing industries, Black Oak Capital is excited to support the mission and vision of Uncharted Supply Co.

“We are roused to partner with Christian Schauf, CEO of Uncharted Supply Co. and remain impressed by the Company’s innovative and robust product offering in both domestic and international markets,” said Gregory David Seare, Founder & Managing Director of Black Oak Capital.

As current events continue to shift attitudes and cultural trends, so has a restored appreciation and desire to be prepared for the unexpected. Factoring in the rise of natural disasters over the last decade and the current pandemic, Uncharted Supply Co. anticipates that the cultural wave of preparedness is here to stay. 

Silver Spring, MD – In response to the Senate’s 73-25 passage of the Great American Outdoors Act, American Hiking Society (AHS), gave these statements:

Kate Van Waes, Executive Director, American Hiking Society: “The Senate passage of the Great American Outdoors Act is a major victory for the hiking community that will expand access to the outdoors for all. With the pandemic shining a bright light on the need for equitable access to natural spaces, securing LWCF permanent funding and tackling a substantial portion of the public lands maintenance backlog will greatly increase recreation opportunities on public lands and in neighborhoods across the country, including those that have historically lacked access. The House of Representatives must quickly take up and pass this legislation and send it to the President to be signed into law.” 

Janelle Paciencia, NextGen Trail Leader, American Hiking Society: “Systemic racism has created high barriers for marginalized peoples to access the outdoors and while the Great American Outdoors Act won’t solve the issue of how we can diversify our outdoor spaces, I believe it will give Black, Indigenous, and People of Color a fighting chance to take up space. Why? Because this legislation guarantees that funding will be made available for future generations to continue to conserve our public spaces by permanently funding the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) and fixing the public lands maintenance backlog, which will address recreation and conservation needs in every state across our country. As a future ancestor, I urge the House of Representatives to immediately pass this historic piece of legislation which will act as a stepping stone for our real work to help create equitable access for all generations of peoples to come.”  

Background: For years, American Hiking Society has mobilized the hiking and trails community to advocate for the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) and address the public lands maintenance backlog through hundreds of congressional visits during Hike the Hill^®, sending thousands of messages to Congress, and activating our nearly 400,000 social media followers and the more than 44 million people who hike each year in the US. American Hiking, along with a small coalition, was instrumental in securing an inclusive public lands maintenance solution that included the Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, Fish and Wildlife Service, and the Bureau of Indian Education prior to final passage.

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Founded in 1976, American Hiking Society is the only national nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering all to enjoy, share, and preserve the hiking experience.

SBT GRVL, a world-class gravel bike experience presented by Canyon Bicycles, is launching a new virtual ride in place of the canceled August event. SBT VRTL is a free community ride experience that will be held on Sunday, August 16, with participants choosing where, when and how long to ride. 

“After announcing the cancellation of our event, we knew we wanted to still create a memorial gravel experience for everyone and couldn’t just leave this amazing gravel community without a goal on their calendars.” said Ken Benesh, co-founder and race director of SBT GRVL. “SBT VRTL will give new to experienced gravel riders from around the world a chance to participate in an epic day, stay connected with fellow riders and give back to our bike and local communities.”

Leading with the core value of inclusivity, SBT VRTL will be open to all, regardless if riders were registered for the original event. Participants will be able to choose any of the four distances from SBT GRVL (GREEN 37 miles, RED 64 miles, BLUE 103 miles or BLACK 144 miles) and can ride inside or outside, solo or with family. Riders can select a local route they know or the SBT GRVL team has created suggested routes for 34 cities across the USA, and will unveil these routes beginning in July.  

Furthering its pillar of advocacy, SBT VRTL will give riders the ability to give back to Steamboat Springs and cycling community nonprofits.  Participants who want to support SBT GRVL’s advocacy partners will have the opportunity to make donations upon registration and leading up to the August event. Any donation of $1 or more will enter riders to win a number of prizes from sponsors throughout the summer and on the day of the virtual ride event. Those riders not currently deferred to SBT GRVL 2021 will have the opportunity to guarantee their registration and entry into the 2021 event by donating $50 or more to any of SBT GRVL’s designated advocacy partners which include People for Bikes, NICA GRIT, Community Agriculture Alliance, Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club and Boys and Girls Club of Northwest Colorado and in partnership with Alpine Bank. 

Registration for SBT VRTL is now open and can be completed by following this link. The SBT GRVL team urges all participants to continue to adhere to safety precautions in their areas. 

Stay tuned for suggested route announcements by following SBT GRVL on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook. For additional information, please visit sbtgrvl.com.

About SBT GRVL

SBT GRVL launched August 2019 as a world-class gravel bike experience committed to Beauty, Inclusivity, Family, Challenge, and Fun. The event enables gravel fans of all ability levels to experience the unmatched gravel roads winding around and through the iconic, beautiful mountain town of Steamboat Springs, Colo. Riders are invited to push their abilities on four-course distances ranging from 37 miles to 144 miles. Those seeking the ultimate challenge can saddle up to 9,400 feet of climbing on the Black 144-mile racecourse—a sought-after title for endurance gravel pros. The Blue Course is a ‘best-of-Steamboat’ experience wrapped up in 103 miles and the Red course is a condensed 64-mile “best of” route offering challenge, beauty and fun. The Green Course is a 37-mile introduction to the area’s unrivaled gravel roads. Come experience high-altitude gravel, a weekend full of events for the whole family and ranch-town hospitality at SBT GRVL.

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Solo Stove, designers of simple, ingenious solutions to make life easier, has teamed up with Backbone Media as its public relations agency of record. The Colorado-based active lifestyle agency will introduce Solo Stove’s new products to media and influencers, as well as introducing the brand’s beloved fire pit and camp stove product lines to new audiences.

Founded in 2010, Solo Stove began as a single, easy-to-use camp cooking stove that burned using natural wood as fuel. With a focus on customer needs and building high-quality products, Solo Stove has evolved to become a leading designer of outdoor fire pits, camp cooking stoves and accessories.  The brand’s fire pits and stoves are sleek, smokeless and simple, making it easy for families and friends to gather around a fire.

“Our mission is to create products that spark meaningful connections and positive experiences,” said John Merris, Solo Stove CEO. “We treat our customers like family and want to simplify outdoor adventures, whether in a backyard or in the backcountry. We hope that our products will help people reconnect to what really matters.”

Solo Stove’s products incorporate a patented double-wall design that produces a “secondary burn” which eliminates smoke, reduces campfire smell and minimizes leftover ash. The brand currently has fire pits and camp stoves – each in three different sizes – and additionally offers accessories like roasting sticks, windscreens and cookware.

“Solo Stove makes the outdoors approachable”, said Nate Simmons, Backbone Media President. “Whether you’re a camper, backpacker, or simply want one for your own backyard, Solo Stoves are the future of outdoor campfires and cooking. With a shared passion for adventure and authenticity, we are excited to help introduce the brand to new audiences.”

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About Solo Stove

Founded in 2010, Solo Stove designs simple, ingenious solutions to make life easier. For more information about Solo Stove, visit www.SoloStove.com. 

About Backbone Media 

Backbone Media targets, engages and inspires the active lifestyle market through public relations, media planning and buying, and social media. For more than 20 years, Backbone has worked with leading outdoor gear, apparel, technology, food and beverage brands, as well as tourism destinations around the world. Backbone has offices in Carbondale and Denver, Colorado, and has consistently been named one of Outside magazine’s “Best Places to Work.” For more about Backbone Media, visit www.backbonemedia.net. 

Nonprofit organization welcomes Andy Williamson to new role

June 17, 2020 – Asheville, NC – Outdoor Gear Builders of WNC, the first gear builder association of its kind in the outdoor industry, is excited to announce the appointment of Andy Williamson to the new Executive Director role. Celebrating its seventh year in existence, Outdoor Gear Builders (OGB) has grown to over 50 members and has been a force in the economic development of WNC.

Outdoor Gear Builders’ mission is to cultivate, connect, and support a community of outdoor industry leaders. The new part-time Executive Director position will enable the organization to focus on goals set forth at the beginning of 2020, as well as grow membership and benefits for members. Andy Wiliamson, Principal of Active Strategies, was instrumental in the strategic planning process with Outdoor Gear Builders and has a history of working with nonprofits to assist them in charting a course for a more sustainable and impactful future. 

Williamson’s background in the outdoor and cycling industries is extensive and includes work with organizations such as Bikepacking Roots, DRAFT, A People for Bikes Meetup, and International Mountain Biking Association (IMBA) as Director of Programs. He has also designed, implemented, and supported numerous catalytic programs, events, and workshops at the Outdoor Economy Conference in WNC, Gateway Outdoor Summit in St. Louis, and IMBA Trail Labs in Arkansas. With an in-depth knowledge of the outdoor industry, nonprofits, and capital campaigns, Williamson will be instrumental in guiding and working alongside the OGB board to execute strategic planning goals and assist in the growth of the organization. 

Regarding the hiring of Williamson as the OGB Executive Director, Matt Godfrey the OGB Board Chair, said, “The board has a high level of confidence in our selection of Andy as our new ED.  His background leading organizations in the outdoor industry and nonprofit space were key factors in our decision, as well as his strong desire to be a contributing member to our outdoor community. He is the right person to work closely with our board and membership to assist in taking the OGB to the next level of outdoor industry leadership and influence within Western North Carolina and beyond.”

The new Executive Director role will replace OGB’s Network Manager Kaylee Larkin Masters, who decided to step down from her position this summer. As the OGB’s first paid employee, Larkin Masters played an important role in growing the membership of the organization to where it is now, improving communication and providing more networking opportunities for members. 

“Over the winter I got to spend a great deal of time getting to know the OGB board and I’m looking forward to supporting them and the membership in growing the organization,” Williamson said. “I’m grateful for the time they and Kaylee put into getting the organization where it is today. This opportunity will allow me to be more engaged in my community while also continuing to work with my other amazing clients and partners across the US. I can’t wait to get out there to meet and listen to all of the companies and stakeholders that make the OGB so special.” 

Williamson will start with the Outdoor Gear Builders in a part-time capacity officially on July 1. For more information on Outdoor Gear Builders and the efforts they are making in WNC, please visit outdoorgearbuilders.com. Williamson can be reached at ED@outdoorgearbuilders.com.

About the Outdoor Gear Builders
The Outdoor Gear Builders of WNC are Western North Carolina-based companies collaborating to share talents, encourage new ideas, and inspire each other. Member brands are dedicated to creating exceptional outdoor gear with a focus on responsible manufacturing, cutting edge innovation, and economic growth in our region. The OGB’s motto is: “Extraordinary Gear Made Here.” Learn more at outdoorgearbuilders.com or join the conversation on Facebook at Outdoor Gear Builders of WNC.

 

Global adventure travel company launches new brand campaign to celebrate the search, the journey and the adventure

“Everyone has their own journey. Whether it’s a journey to a completely foreign, remote destination or recurring road trips to a go-to spot, we advocate for adventure anywhere,” says Front Runner Founder and CEO Stanley Illman. “The journey aspect is relatable, it’s universal and, in a really interesting way, heading out on a search to find something new brings us all together. With this new brand rollout, we’re all looking toward somewhere, anywhere.” 

Previous brand campaigns for Front Runner include, “Go To Extremes, Bring Back Proof,” a brand theme rooted in the hardcore overlanding space. This initial message was about an achievement of the impossible and the return to tell the tale. “Born to Roam,” the most recent brand campaign from Front Runner, grew from the freedom Front Runner celebrates in self-sufficient adventure.

“Just like people grow and evolve over time, brands do, too,” continues Illman. “’Find Anywhere’ is the next evolution of Front Runner’s brand story. There is no final destination, the search is fluid, there is always another journey and adventure around the bend. We’re celebrating the unknown, the twists and turns on the journey, the people you meet, the laughs you share and the hurdles you overcome that make adventures memorable.”

While gear is not mandatory for an adventure, the right equipment allows adventurers to truly “find anywhere,” and Front Runner’s gear is a built to purpose. Racks and more than 55 compatible accessories are designed to suit whatever situation customers can imagine. Adventurers can trust Front Runner’s durable equipment, allowing them to focus on the things that matter most in the wild: safety, experiences, connections, and awe-inspiring moments.

“We’re proud of the range of products we manufacture,” adds Illman. “Our reputation with customers is rooted in our products, which are tested in the heart of South Africa and made to handle anything you throw at them. Our equipment is not only meant to look good and last forever, it helps you experience an adventure with confidence. We started this company because we live and love this lifestyle and we want nothing more than to enable our customers to have the best experience possible without worrying about their safety and their gear holding up. Front Runner helps adventurers get to their anywhere.”   

Front Runner launched the campaign online via social media and other owned media channels in June 2020. To view the first “Find Anywhere” brand video, please watch the first campaign video at https://youtu.be/-lk6zg2hrCA. Subsequent phases of the “Find Anywhere” rollout include collaborations with adventurers, to-be-announced competitions and creative advertisements with select media partners. Find out more at https://www.frontrunneroutfitters.com/en/us/.

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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 state-of-the-art manufacturing practices to produce quality products with intelligent design: https://www.frontrunneroutfitters.com/en/us/.