Osprey, a leader in creating top-quality, high-performance, innovative carry solutions, is pleased to announce the results of their 2019 Pro Deal Donation program benefiting Southwest Colorado Cycling Association, Mancos Trails Group and Rico Trails Alliance. Last year’s program, the most successful to date, resulted in close to $30,000 in donations to the brand’s non-profit partners. For 2020, the Osprey Pro Deal Donation Program will focus on outdoor kids and families benefiting Navajo Yes, Families in Nature and Nature Bridge.

For nearly two decades, Osprey’s Pro Deal Program has generated a 1% per transaction donation to select and diverse non-profit organizations. With each pro deal purchase, customers are able to select the non-profit of their choice from Osprey’s annual partner list.

 “At Osprey, we take stewardship seriously,” said Sam Mix, Conduit of Corporate Outreach. “We believe we have a duty to take care of the people, places and things we touch and we are steadfast in our resolve to leave our world better than we found it. We hope Osprey’s support of non-profits serves to educate and inspire our customers to get involved with advocacy, volunteerism and financial support.”

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).

Regional president Hartrampf to transition into direct sales development role; Degenhardt brings broad range of marketing, sales and operations experience

LONGMONT, Colo. (Feb. 12, 2020) — Deuter USA announces the promotion of Jonathan Degenhardt to Managing Director, Deuter USA, effective July 1, 2020. Degenhardt, who previously served as the U.S.-based senior marketing manager for Deuter and sister brand ORTOVOX, will transition into the leadership role currently held by Bill Hartrampf, who will stay with the company and build a new direct sales business unit for industrial and promotional products.

“Jonathan is the ideal leader to move our business forward in the United States. His experience as a marketing leader, sales operations team member and retailer has given Jonathan a uniquely rounded view on our industry and enables him to act as an empathetic partner to our internal teams as well as our wholesale partners and other vendors,” says Deuter CEO Martin Riebel. “Providing our employees opportunities to learn and grow in their careers is a key part of our company culture and we believe in investing in our internal talents and not in external solutions first.”

Prior to joining Deuter USA in May 2019, Degenhardt served as marketing director at La Sportiva USA for seven years. He previously filled a variety of sales operations, brand marketing and independent sales roles at brands including Movement Skis, Scarpa North America, and Trango. Degenhardt began his outdoor industry career on the sales floor, working with retailers including Neptune Mountaineering, Boulder Mountaineer and The Mountain Shop of Fort Collins.

Degenhardt holds a bachelor’s degree in Spanish for the Professions, which emphasizes international business, localization and intercultural communication, from the University of Colorado. He lives in Louisville, Colorado, with his wife, Carrie, and their two-year-old daughter.

“Deuter and ORTOVOX are great brands that possess two of the most important assets in our category: best-in-class product and legitimate, market-shaping sustainability platforms,” says Degenhardt. “I have tremendous respect for and confidence in the U.S.-based teams at Deuter and ORTOVOX. With leadership from Deuter Sales Manager Scott Park and ORTOVOX Brand Manager Tom Mason, and backed by a global organization that is committed to long-term, sustainable growth in the U.S., a great deal of opportunity lies before us. I look forward to continuing to build on the momentum Deuter is experiencing in our core categories of hiking and family, and expanding our fanbase into new categories. Similarly, ORTOVOX is undergoing consistent, sharp growth year-over-year in Mountainwear and we will continue to create a framework that supports this category as well as the brand’s avalanche rescue products.”

Degenhardt will assume his new role on July 1, following a five-month transition period. Hartrampf, who was appointed president of Deuter USA in 2008, following 13 years as the company’s Germany-based global export manager, will take on a new role in the Longmont, Colorado, office, leading development of sales channels in the industrial and promotional products categories.

“These brands mean a great deal to me. I have been a member of the Deuter family since early in my career and I am very excited by the prospect of building new distribution categories for the brand in the U.S.,” says Hartrampf. “The enthusiasm and fresh ideas Jonathan has brought since his arrival have been felt throughout the company and his breadth of experience in our industry positions him well to lead across the organization. Deuter USA is in great hands as we embark on this transition.”

Please direct media inquiries to Emily Banks at emily.banks@rygr.us.

ABOUT ORTOVOX: ORTOVOX is a four-season mountain brand headquartered in Germany known as an expert in avalanche safety equipment and wool apparel designed specifically for ski touring, freeriding, mountaineering, alpine climbing and alpine touring. Since its founding in 1980, ORTOVOX has stood for a sophisticated approach to protection and comfort in the mountains, characterized by the responsible treatment of people and nature. As pioneers in avalanche safety, ORTOVOX has played a key role in the development of emergency equipment and targeted training measures for mountain sports, with protection as the brand’s most important value. This protective ethos extends to include safe and fair working conditions for its employees, setting the highest standards of animal welfare on the brand’s Tasmanian merino farms and ensuring environmentally friendly manufacturing of its products. www.ORTOVOX.com

ABOUT DEUTER: From backpacking to bike commuting, alpinism and travel, to child-carrying and family adventures, Deuter creates better and more comfortable packs for everyone and everywhere. With over 121 years of pack building experience, Deuter has played a vital role in shaping mountaineering history since its 1898 founding in Germany. Its values of sustainability, passion, family, pioneering and meisterlich—German for excellence at one’s craft—have driven Deuter to be a leading global backpack brand. From developing the first framed pack in 1930, to being the pack of choice for the first ascent of the north face of the Eiger by Anderl Heckmair in 1938, to inventing the original bike-specific backpack as well as the very first ventilated mesh back system in its Aircomfort packs, Deuter innovations have shaped the pack industry since the beginning. https://www.deuterusa.com/

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Hydro Flask, the award-winning leader in high-performance, insulated stainless steel flasks and soft good innovations and a Helen of Troy Limited (NASDAQ: HELE) company, is expanding its growing global presence with the addition of two distributors in the Latin American market.

Hydro Flask launched in Uruguay in July 2019 and will expand into Mexico in early 2020 through new strategic partnerships with Gubrand and Alta Vertical, respectively. Key channels include outdoor, active lifestyle, sporting goods, coffee/tea and online.

“We’re excited to join forces with Alta Vertical and Gubrand in order to support local retailers in these two markets. Strong relationships, and an unrelenting focus on our target consumers will help us achieve long-term success in the region,” said Mike Wallenfels, SVP Global Sales, Housewares Division at Helen of Troy. “Mexico and Uruguay are two steps forward in our mission to save the world from lukewarm and we’re proud to be opening the door for more people in the Latin American region to bring Hydro Flask along on their everyday adventures.”

“Hydro Flask is a great fit for Mexico’s active consumers and our outdoor lifestyle,” said Alejandro Rivera, founder of Alta Vertical. The sentiment is echoed by Jonatan Rabinovich, from Gubrand in Uruguay. Both are excited about the opportunity to work with Hydro Flask to bring the brand to the many customers who have been eagerly awaiting its arrival.

Dedicated to uniquely refreshing experiences, innovative design and an unparalleled user experience, Hydro Flask continues to receive accolades for its insulated products. Hydro Flask has been the recipient of several Red Dot, GOOD DESIGN™ and iF Design Awards. The company has grown to become the number one overall American water bottle brand in Sporting Goods and Outdoor, according to third party data. 

About Hydro Flask

Hydro Flask® is the leader in high-performance insulated products that help people enjoy the things they love to do in the places they love to be. From the number one-selling water bottle to soft good innovations like our Unbound Series™ Soft Coolers and Journey Series™ Hydration Packs, Hydro Flask’s delightfully simple designs and go-anywhere durability always deliver the perfect temperature when you need it. Founded in 2009 in Bend, Oregon, Hydro Flask inspires active outdoor lives with two simple words: Let’s Go! Its charitable arm, Parks For All, supports the development, maintenance, restoration and accessibility of public green spaces so people everywhere can live healthier, happier and more fulfilled lives. To learn more about Hydro Flask, Parks for All, and to see our full lineup of award-winning products, visit www.hydroflask.com.

About Helen of Troy Limited

Helen of Troy Limited is a leading global consumer products company offering creative solutions for its customers through a strong portfolio of well-recognized and widely trusted brands, including OXO, Hydro Flask, Vicks, Braun, Honeywell, PUR, Hot Tools and Drybar. All trademarks herein belong to Helen of Troy Limited (or its affiliates) and/or are used under license from their respective licensors.  For more information about Helen of Troy, please visit www.helenoftroy.com.

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Outerbike Adds Four New Experiential Event Destinations, Activating ‘See Try Buy’ in Seven Iconic Riding Locations in 2020

New venues bridge core qualified consumers to more specialty brands + retailers nationwide

MOAB, Utah (Feb. 6, 2020) – Outerbike, the premier three-day experiential consumer event dedicated to helping mountain bikers find their perfect bike and gear, celebrates a decade of successful partnership connecting specialty bike brands with qualified, enthusiast riders in 2020. 

To mark the anniversary, Mark Sevenoff and Ashley Korenblat, founders of Outerbike, are launching four new venues to the 2020 lineup: Deer Valley, UT; Duluth, MN; South Lake Tahoe, CA; and Killington, VT. The four new locations will supplement perennial Outerbike favorites Crested Butte, CO; Bentonville, AR; and Moab, UT.

The expanded 2020 events will connect more consumers to bikes brands like Yeti, Ibis, Canyon, Specialized, Pivot, Rocky Mountain, Alchemy, Fezzari, Esker and more. 

Along with the seven total venues, Outerbike will also debut new marketing tools for brand exhibitors created to power connection between brands and the qualified, enthusiast consumers Outerbike counts in its expanding audience. The new marketing programs will bolster ROI for exhibitors by enabling them to connect with consumers before, during, and after the events. These programs will deliver brand experiences to riders, create shareable brand content, and obtain IRL (In Real Life) brand and product feedback.

“Outerbike is trusted to bring together the best mountain bike brands in the world with qualified, avid riders, early adopters and devoted cyclists who are intent on finding their next bike,” said co-founder Ashley Korenblat. “We want each Outerbike event to be a unique and authentic platform for brands to serve consumers as they navigate their purchase decision. Outerbike works with our venues to host a VIP experience for consumers, while our brand partners enable them to try the best bikes available on the most thrilling and iconic riding terrain.”

Yeti Cycles President, Chris Conroy, committed to six out of seven of the 2020 Outerbike events, and views Outerbike as a way to stay close to the brand’s target rider. 

“Outerbike riders are all about seeking out great riding experiences and immersing themselves in the culture of mountain biking – they share the same DNA as we do at Yeti, and that’s why Outerbike gives us a great opportunity to grow our Tribe,” Conroy said.

Outerbike events give consumers an opportunity to explore, progress, and experience mountain biking from an insider’s perspective, taking the “see, try, buy” from a concept to reality. 

“The goal when Outerbike was founded 10 years ago was to create a consumer experience that melded incredible brands and products with best-in-class riding destinations,” said Outerbike CEO Ken Meidell. “Our goal is still centered on hosting and serving qualified consumers to a completely unique on-dirt ‘shopping experience,’ and our additional venues increase accessibility for more riders to find their ideal bike while connecting directly and more deeply with the brands they’re considering.”

The dates for 2020 Outerbike events are:

• Deer Valley, UT – June 19-21, 2020

• Killington, VT – July 24-26, 2020

• Crested Butte, CO – August 14-16, 2020

• Duluth, MN – August 28-30, 2020

• South Lake Tahoe, CA – September 18-20, 2020

• Moab, UT – October 2-4, 2020

• Bentonville, AR – October 23-25, 2020

“I always go right before it’s time for me to buy a new bike,” said Bryce Randle, a veteran of multiple Outerbike events. “But whether I’m actively looking or just want to be surrounded by others that share the same passion, Outerbike is where it’s at.” 

“Outerbike isn’t just about being able to demo different bikes,” said first-time attendee of last year’s Crested Butte, CO, Outerbike event, Grace Guryan. “There is a communal vibe: Everyone is there to ride, and it makes for a truly unique three-day destination event. But the sheer range of bikes I was able to demo for what it would cost to demo 2-3 at my local shop definitely made me feel like a kid in a candy store.”  

For more information on each of Outerbike’s destinations, pass types, and to register, please visit www.outerbike.com. 

About Outerbike

Outerbike is the premier provider of multi-day, off-road experiential consumer cycling events from the owners of Western Spirit Cycling. Celebrating its tenth year in 2020, Outerbike is a unique collaboration between bike and outdoor brands, bike-focused cities and towns, and cycling enthusiasts from around the world to create ‘see, try and buy’ opportunities for the growing community of enthusiast cyclists looking to find their perfect bike and gear. Outerbike’s platform offers both a community hub and resources – both online and at physical event locations – that enable specialty brands to support the consumer decision journey from research to purchase through authentic, shareable experiences in iconic outdoor locations. 

About Western Spirit

Founded in 1990, Western Spirit Cycling is an adventure bike touring company headquartered in Moab, Utah, which runs multi-day bicycle tours and outdoor events on public lands throughout the country. Western Spirit works closely with Public Lands Solutions, a non-profit that supports effective and sustainable public land solutions through outreach and planning.

Kevin’s Natural Foods, makers of Paleo and Keto-certified sous-vide entrées, sauces, and seasoning blends, is excited to announce their formal debut into the consumer market. Beginning February 1^st, Kevin’s products will be available online at www.kevinsnaturalfoods.comand in-stores at Whole Foods, HEB, Raley’s Supermarkets, Schnucks, and Save Mart with additional prominent retailers joining the roster throughout the year.

 

“We are extremely excited that people have access to our products in grocery stores across the country,” says Kevin McCray, co-founder of Kevin’s. “It has been over a decade since I decided to clean up my diet as a last-ditch effort to curb a debilitating autoimmune disease that I battled for years. Adopting the Paleo Diet changed my life forever. That experience inspired me to pour my heart and soul into Kevin’s Natural Foods where we are on a mission to make clean-eating easier without sacrificing flavor.”

 

Kevin’s Natural Foods offers six different heat and eat entrées, which contain fork-tender chicken that is fully cooked using a technique invented by French chefs called ‘sous-vide’. In addition, Kevin’s makes Paleo and Keto-certified Recipe Sauce Pouches, Condiment Sauces, and Seasoning Blends designed to turn a boring dinner into a delicious meal (even on a busy weeknight).

 

For more information about Kevin’s Natural Foods, please visitwww.kevinsnaturalfoods.com.

For media inquiries, please contact Eric Felton: eric@groundswellpr.com.

 

About Kevin’s Natural Foods

Kevin’s Natural Foods was co-founded by Kevin McCray, who battled a severe auto-immune disorder for years. When conventional medicine wasn’t doing the trick to keep him healthy, he turned to the Paleo diet––a move that would cure him of his ailment and motivate him to share his story with others. After talking with hundreds of people, Kevin was convinced that making it easy to cook delicious food is the key to truly helping people eat clean over the long term. Thus, Kevin’s Natural Foods was born.  Offering Paleo & Keto-certified sauces, seasoning blends and sous-vide entrées, Kevin’s provides all the essentials needed to take clean-eating to the next level. For more information, please visit www.kevinsnaturalfoods.com.

MSR introduces new Evo Ascent Snowshoe Kit for adventurous winter hikers

Astral, manufacturer of award-winning PFDs and footwear, is thrilled to announce the addition of Daniel Miller and Joe Giordano of Specialty Sport Reps to their sales team. Miller and Giordano will represent the brand across the Great Lakes region, covering Ohio, Indiana, Lower Michigan, and Kentucky.

 

Both veterans of the outdoor industry, Miller and Giordano bring a rich collection of skills and experiences to the table. Based out of Lexington, KY, Miller worked for GOA retailer J&H Lanmark for seven years before becoming a sales rep, ultimately becoming principal rep and owner of Specialty Sport Reps. Giordano, based out of Dexter, MI, worked for Osprey before joining Specialty Sport Reps. Astral now joins their portfolio which includes Osprey, Rumpl, Garmont, Landmark Project, Sport-Hansa, Grayl, and Good to Go foods.

 

“Daniel and Joe are a perfect fit for Astral and our retailers, as they possess a well-rounded skill set and they understand our customers,” notes Bryan Owen, Astral’s Sales Manager. “They know Astral, the specialty retail landscape, and our brand’s DNA.”

 

For more information on Astral please visit www.astraldesigns.com or contact Dan Arnett at dan@darbycommunications.com. To contact Daniel Miller you can call him at 859-381-7549 or email him at daniel@teamssr.com. Joe Giordano can be reached at 734-660-1813 or joe@teamssr.com.

 

About Astral

Established in 2002, Astral has grown to specialize in high performance footwear alongside its industry-leading safety gear for paddlers. Independently owned and operated with a sincere commitment to making products of the highest performance and style for use in Nature. Astral is based in the year-round outdoor wonderland of Asheville, NC and has satellite offices in Bend, Oregon and Saigon, Vietnam. #NatureFirst

Brown Folks Fishing (BFF), an organization committed to building community and expanding access among Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) in fishing and its industry, has launched the Angling for All Pledge. The pledge seeks to dismantle systemic barriers to entry and participation at all levels of the fishing industry. Joining the effort as the inaugural pledgee is The Orvis Company.

“Fishing has deep roots in the BIPOC community, yet our voices are vastly underrepresented,” says Tracy Nguyen-Chung, executive director of BFF. “We are proud to launch the Angling for All Pledge which establishes a commitment to equity and inclusion in the angling community. It is an opportunity for those within the fishing industry to cultivate the knowledge and understanding necessary to eliminate barriers and commit to radical and lasting change.” 

The Pledge has been in development since late 2018 and is inspired by the work of Teresa Baker and the Outdoor CEO Diversity Pledge. It establishes a commitment to addressing racism and inequality throughout a pledgee’s internal culture, consumer-facing behaviors, and broader community. At its core is a curriculum developed by Brown Folks Fishing in partnership with Erica Nelson and Sydney Clark of REAL Consulting, an organization that works with clients to develop strategies for anti-racist organizational culture. The curriculum provides education and resources for brands and organizations to enhance equity and diversity across staff, executive teams, athletes, ambassadors, guides, and throughout the organization’s media and marketing.

“As Indigenous and Black women, our work at REAL builds upon our own experiences and perspectives, as well as those of other marginalized people,” says Erica Nelson of REAL Consulting. “The goal of the Angling for All curriculum is to identify issues of access and participation in the outdoors and provide the tools and resources necessary to move forward in solving these issues. Not all individuals or organizations are the same. We will work with businesses and professionals on an individual basis to establish a custom set of programming and initiatives that set participants on their own unique paths to eliminating barriers and creating change in the industry. Our workshops invite everyone, regardless of their background, to add to the narrative and ensure that it is continuously evolving and culturally relevant.”  

As the inaugural pledgee, Orvis will work with REAL Consulting and Brown Folks Fishing to move through the pledge curriculum and create a plan of action upon completion.  

“We are honored and grateful to have such a strong partnership with Tracy and the team at Brown Folks Fishing,” says Simon Perkins, Orvis president. “Their mission to build capacity, access, resources, visibility, and a solid community for anglers of color makes the sport stronger, and we are excited to sign the pledge as an acknowledgment of our commitment to this critical work. This is an opportunity for us to explore our own blind spots and unconscious biases and an important step forward in Orvis’s history of passion and commitment to access, inclusion, and stewardship in fly fishing.”

Those who successfully complete the Pledge will have the opportunity to be included in the BFF Directory, which features Brown Folks Fishing’s recommendations for guides, instructors, experiences, shops, brands, and organizations from across the industry committed to equity and inclusion. The Directory will be available publicly as an information resource to anglers.

Guides, instructors, outfitters, media platforms, organizations, brands, companies, and other professionals across the fishing industry are encouraged to apply. For more information and to apply to the Pledge, please visit: www.brownfolksfishing.com/pledge

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ABOUT BROWN FOLKS FISHING

Brown Folks Fishing is a community-based organization founded in 2018 by and for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) anglers. We cultivate community for BIPOC in fishing and its industry. BFF is a space to build together and a movement to expand access. We do our work through storytelling, grassroots organizing, events, and community-building.

Our work is as much about stoke as it is about our survival. We seek to reimagine fishing as a gateway to conservation. We reimagine because the framework of conservation as it exists is deeply rooted in white supremacy, erasure, and colonialism. We reclaim and lift up the narratives that Black and Brown people have with deep roots in fishing, and connection to land, water, and community. By reclaiming these roots, we can shift the narrative around who is, can, and should be on the water; whose full selves can be brought to the water.

www.brownfolksfishing.com

ABOUT REAL CONSULTING

REAL (Reconcile, Evolve, Advance, Lead) Consulting believes that anti-racist education involves a life-long commitment to the practice of seeking to understand ourselves, people, and our shared environment. REAL strives to build a customized durable foundation for clients at all points in their journey toward an anti-racist organizational culture. We reach this together by emphasizing personal reflection, interdisciplinary historical analysis, and compassion for people. Founded in 2018, Sydney Clark and Erica Nelson saw the need to weave our personal stories into our curriculum led with storytelling combined with executive leadership development, as this builds authenticity and trust toward a more equitable outdoor community.

https://www.consultreal.org/

ABOUT ORVIS COMPANY

Founded in 1856, we believe the most meaningful experiences are created by sharing the love of nature and being inspired by its endless possibilities. Orvis pioneered the mail order industry in the United States, operates more than 80 retail stores in the U.S and the U.K., and maintains a network of over 400 dealers worldwide as a trusted source of discovery and adventure in the natural world. We promise to open the door to extraordinary outdoor experiences, and to protect nature by committing 5% of our pretax profits each year to conservation efforts worldwide. www.orvis.com

Albuquerque, NM — Rerouted is proudly announcing their first institutional investments from SCAPE Investment Fund 6 & GOS Capital, followed by a number of local angel investors. Rerouted is working to revolutionize the Outdoor Resale Industry by making it easier than ever for people and businesses to buy, sell and donate used outdoor gear online. Rerouted’s technology makes it as easy to choose used gear as it is to consume new products. Rerouted’s mission is to facilitate access, education and sustainability to inspire the next generation of wilderness advocates.

Rerouted is excited to announce the SCAPE Investment Fund 6 as our lead investor. They were joined by fellow VC, Scott Goodman of GOSCapital. Additionally, this round included 5 angel investors – including: John Wolgamott, RJ & Hannah Jenkins, Rick Shor and David & Lodie Grubb. The team would like to thank all their investors for their continued confidence and belief in Rerouted. 

Below are some quotes from Rerouted’s Seed Investors –

“SCAPE Investment Fund 6 is excited to partner with Rerouted as they address the timely issue of buying and selling used outdoor gear.  They have a strong team that is poised to take their success to the next level.” – Elizabeth Marsh, Executive Director, SCAPE Investment Fund 6

“Rerouted is the tip of the spear in the outdoor gear industry’s transition to the circular economy. While it’s great that the big players like Patagonia and Timberland are offering platforms for resale of their used gear, Rerouted is curating a community and marketplace to make choosing used outdoor gear easier for everyone.” – Hannah Jenkins, Rerouted Angel Investor

Rerouted is excited to announce SCAPE’s board representative, Cole Sandau. His passion for wilderness and experience as a successful tech entrepreneur will be an invaluable asset to the team moving forward. This funding will allow them to streamline their user experience, automate more processes and increase brand awareness. 

Rerouted is continuing to raise funding to accelerate the growth of their platform solution. Feel free to contact their CEO, Chap Grubb, with any questions at chap@rerouted.co.

About Rerouted

Rerouted is an online platform solution that helps people & businesses buy, sell or donate their used gear online. They are utilizing modern technology to streamline the process from start to finish. They are developing tools & software that will empower people & local gear stores to get their gear back out to the next generation of wilderness advocates.

Learn more online at rerouted.co