Archives: Press Releases

 Nov. 2, 2026 – Thomson Bike Tours, the leading Official Tour Operator to the Tour de France, today announced its 2027 VIP Spectator Tours, now open for booking. Following the official route presentation in Paris, Thomson’s lineup takes fans from the race’s first-ever start in Edinburgh, Scotland to the summit of the Col du Tourmalet and the Grand Finale on the Champs-Élysées.

The 2027 Tour de France begins July 2 in Edinburgh, crossing Scotland, England and Wales before returning to France and finishing in Paris on July 25. It marks the Tour’s first visit to Great Britain since 2014, and Thomson’s spectator program is built to put guests at the center of it.

These aren’t trips for fans who are content to watch from a barricade three rows back. Thomson’s spectator program is designed for people who want to experience the race from the inside: mornings in the VIP Departure Village as riders sign on, time in the Team Paddock as teams prepare before the start, roadside lunches watching the peloton pass accompanied by a former professional and finish line views from the VIP tribune as the stage is decided.

The 2027 Thomson VIP Spectator Tours include:

• The Team Presentation at Edinburgh Castle
• Time-Trial in Toulouse from a private route-side restaurant
• Strategically chosen roadside viewing of the climb to the Col du Tourmalet
• Mountain stage finish in the Pyrenean village of Laruns
• VIP hospitality at the Finale on the Champs- Élysées

Every itinerary is led by Thomson’s dedicated spectator guides, with hand-picked hotels in the heart of each region and free time to explore the towns and landscapes the race passes through. Because the Tour has always been as much about the places it visits as the racing itself.

“The Tour de France is the pinnacle of the cycling calendar, and as passionate cyclists ourselves, we create unforgettable experiences for our guests,” said Peter Thomson, Founder of Thomson Bike Tours. “Whether they want to ride the official course on the day of the different stages, enjoy first-row access to the riders, or experience VIP hospitality, we bring our guests closer to the action. But the 2027 Tour de France will be particularly special for me. As someone born and raised in Edinburgh, the opportunity to see the Tour start in my hometown and race along the very roads I rode growing up as a young cyclist is something I could only have dreamed of. Watching the peloton travel from Scotland through England and into Wales before heading to France will make this an incredibly exciting and personal edition of the Tour, and one I can’t wait to share with our guests.”

Thomson has brought cyclists and fans to the Tour de France for more than two decades, and as a Premium Official Tour Operator, offers access to the race that simply isn’t available to the public. Many of its spectator guests return year after year.

“The atmosphere, the excitement, the in-person connection with the riders and teams — these are all things about the Tour de France that you don’t get to see on TV,” said Norma Dragani, who has joined Thomson Bike Tours for ten of their Tour de France VIP Spectator Tours. “You connect with like-minded people who are just as crazy about cycling as you are. It’s hard to fathom the effort that goes into putting the TDF together day after day. And you don’t have to be a cyclist to enjoy it.”

For fans who want to ride the race’s legendary climbs as well as watch them, Thomson also offers Cyclist Tour de France trips, where guests tackle key climbs just hours ahead of the professionals before switching into fan mode to watch the race live, with a dedicated Non-Cyclist program for partners and friends who prefer to stay off the bike.

For full itineraries, pricing, and booking, visit thomsonbiketours.com.

About Thomson Bike Tours
Founded in 2002 by Peter Thomson, a former professional racer who organized a trip for friends to watch the Tour de France and never stopped, Thomson Bike Tours creates innovative and personalized cycling trips that are equally challenging and rewarding, pairing elite logistics and guiding with an unmatched commitment to the sport. Thomson offers cycling tours to the world’s most famous cycling destinations, including the Alps, Pyrenees, Dolomites, Switzerland, Spain, Scotland, Croatia, Portugal and Colombia, and is the leading Official Tour Operator to the world’s greatest cycling event, the Tour de France. Learn more at thomsonbiketours.com.

SALT LAKE CITY, UT (October 29, 2026) — Black Diamond Equipment, a global leader in climbing, skiing, and mountain sports apparel and equipment, introduces its Fall 2026 lighting lineup, the most significant refresh of the brand’s headlamp range in years. The collection features the new Megawatt alongside the redesigned Storm, Storm+, and Cosmo and the updated Spot.

Adventures don’t always fit conveniently between sunrise and sunset. As days shorten and more outings start before dawn or stretch past dusk, the refreshed lineup gives climbers, skiers, runners, riders, and campers a light built for exactly how they move through the dark.

Black Diamond has designed technical headlamps for climbers and mountain athletes for decades, and the Fall 2026 refresh touches the whole range at once. Led by the 3,000-lumen Megawatt, the new lineup reinforces Black Diamond’s position as a leader in high-output sport lighting. Across the range, output increases, USB-C charging becomes standard, interfaces get easier to use in the field, and recycled materials make their way into headbands and internal structures.

The refresh also pushes Black Diamond lighting into new territory. The Megawatt is the brand’s first headlamp designed for the speed of fast-paced action sports like ski touring and mountain biking, with a remote switch and a versatile mounting system. The new headlamps also anchor Black Diamond’s Winter 2026 Designed for the Deep collections, from the Megawatt on dawn-patrol tours to the Storm+ on alpine starts.

“A headlamp is one of the most essential pieces of gear we make,” said Doug Heinrich, Black Diamond’s VP of Equipment. “When the day runs long, it’s what gets you home. We rebuilt our lineup based around what athletes actually need after the sun goes down: more power, simpler controls, versatile mounting, and rechargeable batteries built to last.”

Megawatt Headlamp (New) — Engineered for one more lap after the sun goes down, the Megawatt is the most powerful light in Black Diamond’s lineup. Six LEDs deliver up to 3,000 lumens in a beam optimized for high-speed descents, from catching pre-dawn first tracks to riding singletrack after work. A 50.32Wh rechargeable battery burns for four hours at max output, with an LCD screen that reports live burn time and a red safety flasher. A wireless remote switch mounts to ski poles, pack straps, or handlebars for on-the-fly adjustments, and the headband and universal GoPro-style quick-release system with two helmet mounts allow for versatility. USB-C fast charging works in both directions, so the battery also doubles as a power bank. The Megawatt body weighs just 75g, coming in at 480g total with the separate battery pack, and its IP67 housing is fully waterproof and dustproof.

Storm & Storm+ Headlamps (Redesigned) — The redesigned Storm and Storm+ are rugged, all-conditions headlamps with IP67 waterproof/dustproof housings and oversized buttons that are easy to operate with gloved hands. One button handles power and brightness, while the other cycles between low, medium, and high. Red, green, and blue night-vision modes and peripheral white lighting support close-range tasks like rigging rappels. Mode Memory turns the light on at its previous brightness, and patented Digital Lockout prevents accidental illumination in a pack or pocket. Both now run on serviceable, USB-C rechargeable batteries with pass-through charging and a battery power indicator, and feature recycled internal structures and headbands.

• Storm+: 750 lumens, a 2200mAh battery, and dual-lens optics pairing an Onsight flood lens and an Icon 700 spot lens for long-range illumination. 114g.
• Storm: 550 lumens with up to 70 hours of burn time from an 1800mAh battery. 102g.

Spot Headlamp (Updated) & Cosmo Headlamp (Redesigned) — Bright, versatile, and go-anywhere, the Spot and Cosmo are Black Diamond’s everyday Dual-Fuel lights. Both run on either the rechargeable BD 1500 Li-ion battery (sold separately), which charges directly in the light via USB-C, or three included AAA batteries. Both are IPX7 waterproof, feature Mode Memory and patented Digital Lockout, and incorporate recycled materials.

• Spot: Boosted to 450 lumens in a 86g package, the Spot is a road-trip essential with flood and spot lenses, RGB modes, and PowerTap™ Technology for instantly toggling between max output and dimmed power.
• Cosmo: Redesigned around a super-compact and watertight 88g body, the Cosmo offers 350 lumens and adds a second switch for easier mode selection. A red LED with adjustable brightness and strobe preserves night vision.

The Fall 2026 lighting lineup is available now at blackdiamondequipment.com, with select styles at specialty retailers through the fall.

About Black Diamond Equipment

Black Diamond Equipment is a global leader in designing innovative outdoor-engineered equipment and apparel for climbing, skiing, and mountain sports. Headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah, at the base of the Wasatch Mountains, Black Diamond is known for its commitment to performance, durability, and purposeful design.

BOULDER, Colo. (Oct. 29, 2026): Palm cooling research has focused almost entirely on thermoregulation, measuring whether cooling the palms can decrease core body temperature. NICE Recovery is looking beyond heat, and its latest research suggests the bigger story may be how palm cooling affects the nervous system and the body’s response to fatigue. In a randomized crossover pilot study conducted by NICE, athletes who used ROCC, the company’s handheld palm cooling device, between sets completed 9.5% more total work in 14.3% less active exercise time than they did without it.

Those results open questions the category has rarely thought to ask about what a precise dose of cold does once heat is no longer the only measure. NICE can ask them because the ROCC holds its cooling dome at a steady 57°F (13.9°C) without ice or water. Ice and frozen inserts warm as they are used, so the temperature dose changes from one minute to the next, while ROCC gives every athlete the same temperature dose in every session. Athletes place their palms on the device during natural breaks in training or competition, from rest between sets to halftime.

Palm cooling is not a new concept. The palms contain specialized blood vessels that help the body exchange heat, which makes them one of its most efficient cooling points. “There has long been an assumption that colder is better, but that isn’t the case,” said Dr. Ben Cowin, DC, ATC, Clinical Director at NICE Recovery. “When the hand gets too cold, the blood vessels clamp down and close off the very pathway you’re trying to use. Getting the temperature and duration right, and delivering them the same way every time, is what makes palm cooling precise enough to study properly. What we’re beginning to see is that palm cooling doesn’t erase fatigue, but it may give the body more room before fatigue takes over.”

The study builds on NICE’s earlier pilot work in baseball pitching and on a pattern the company kept seeing. Athletes reported feeling better with palm cooling and performed better even when their core temperature barely changed, which suggested heat removal alone could not explain the effect. In the strength study, 19 trained athletes completed the same demanding workout twice, once using ROCC between sets and once without it. Along with the gains in total work, athletes using ROCC averaged a 27.1% higher work rate while completing nearly the same number of repetitions, with 17 of the 19 improving.

The study also recorded physiological changes. Across the first three sets and rest periods, athletes trended toward releasing about 13% more heat on average, with a steadier heat flow. Between sets, markers of the body’s “fight or flight” response (sympathetic/SAI) trended down faster while markers of its “rest and digest” state (parasympathetic/PAI) trended back sooner. One physiological result was statistically significant: a measure of autonomic recovery was about 80% less variable with ROCC. These early findings do not establish what caused the performance gains, but they suggest palm cooling may help athletes manage fatigue through effects that extend beyond heat.

“We’re not interested in simply showing that an athlete feels better holding something cold,” Dr. Cowin said. “We want to understand what is happening physiologically and whether the response is repeatable enough to translate into performance.”

NICE is supporting research in the field by sharing its protocol and data with university researchers. The University of Essex is the first institution to independently test ROCC, in a study supported through the University of Essex Innovation Fund and led by Dr. Ben Jones of the university’s School of Sport, Rehabilitation and Exercise Sciences. The study examines palm cooling during football hydration breaks and halftime in a temperature-controlled hot laboratory, measuring body temperature, heart rate, muscle function, oxygenation and performance. It is separate from NICE’s pilot research, and initial results are expected in early 2027. NICE is also studying how palm cooling affects reaction time and decision making under fatigue.

Designed in Boulder, ROCC uses a closed loop thermal engine to hold its cooling surface at 57°F. A haptic timer pulses every 30 seconds during sessions of up to five minutes, and one USB-C charge lasts more than 90 minutes, enough for two to three workouts. ROCC brings the precision temperature control behind NICE1 into training and competition.

“Recovery has traditionally applied to what happens after training,” Dr. Cowin said. “What if we can start recovery during training or competition? What we’re seeing suggests palm cooling may extend an athlete’s runway before fatigue takes over. A few more quality reps in a single session is a small gain, but when that happens consistently, session after session across a full season, the added work has the potential to have significant impacts.”

That’s where the practical value is for coaches and athletes. ROCC works inside the rest periods already built into a program, without adding time or load. It just makes those rest periods work harder. Better recovery between sets may mean better quality on the next one, so athletes may get more out of the same session. Over weeks and months, that could add up to more quality training across an entire season, and that long-term effect is what NICE is working toward measuring.

ROCC is available now for $975 at getnice.com. NICE’s findings are being released as a research series, Bigger Than Heat, at https://getnice.com/blogs/research. ROCC is a general wellness product and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, mitigate or prevent any disease.

About NICE Recovery

NICE Recovery makes iceless cold technology that delivers a precise, repeatable dose of cold for athletes and clinicians. More than a device maker, the company sets out to be a trusted partner across the full arc of recovery, from the clinic to the field, with a premium, science-led approach and a commitment to doing the fundamental work well. Michael Ross founded NICE after his own recovery, when he found other cold therapy options heavy, inconvenient, and dependent on ice. He set out to build devices that deliver cold therapy without ice. NICE designs, engineers, and manufactures its own technology in Boulder, Colorado, reflecting its belief in American craft and control over quality. The company shares its research with independent institutions to build the science of recovery and performance. Learn more at getnice.com.

LITTLETON, Colo., Oct. 29, 2026 – Fenix Lighting, creator of field-tested flashlights and headlamps, announces the launch of the HT32R Multi-Color Long-Distance Flashlight, a multipurpose light that pairs a powerful spotlight with a wide-casting floodlight. Released as Fenix’s premier hunting flashlight, the HT32R excels in a field that requires precision, seamless operation, and durability.

The HT32R spotlight delivers 2500 lumens with a beam reaching 2425ft (740m), while the 3200-lumen floodlight fills the area around the user with a bright, wide spill. Users can run both together for an all-encompassing view with up to 4000 lumens thanks to the high-capacity battery. A toggle switch enables access to three color modes, red, green, and blue, each with multiple brightness levels, and a lockout mode that prevents accidental activation.

The HT32R builds on the HT32 with major steps up in output, range, runtime, and built-in USB-C rechargeability. Maximum output jumps from 2500 to 4000 lumens, a 60 percent increase, while beam distance extends from 640m to 740m and runtime on low stretches from 29 hours to 92.5 hours on the included ARB-L21-5500 battery. A new TIR lens with 11 light sources replaces the HT32’s original 3-source layout, adding a wide floodlight and combined spot-and-flood modes for picking apart a tree line or lighting a whole field.

Operation stays easy and intuitive, with a toggle switch and electronic button covering 19 lighting modes. The USB-C charging port sits behind a sliding dust cover, and the light is IP68-rated dustproof and waterproof, built to last through any hunt that demands a lot of boot leather.

“With the new HT32R, we set out to create a light that would do more for hunters in the field,” said Danielle Duran, Director of Marketing. “It gives hunters long-range reach, broad close-up coverage, and multiple color options in one light, with straightforward controls for changing conditions.”

The HT32R also includes a blue light feature for specialized fluid detection, red for night vision preservation, and green to aid game tracking. The additions from the previous HT32 iterations make the HT32R an even more capable and reliable flashlight for long days in the backcountry. The Fenix HT32R is available now at fenixlighting.com for $189.95 USD.

Images and manuals are linked HERE.

About Fenix Lighting

Fenix Lighting is the official U.S. distributor of Fenix flashlights, headlamps, lanterns, and bike lights. Founded in 2001, Fenix has earned its reputation for manufacturing some of the best high-performance lights on the market through its proven track record of innovative design and a focus on durable construction. Since its first flashlight in 2005, the brand has grown from exclusively outdoor lighting into high-performing, user-friendly, dependable, and exceptionally bright lights that now include the trades, tactical teams, and everyday carry. Fenix Lighting USA is based in Littleton, Colorado, and backs its lights with a Limited Lifetime Guarantee. Learn more at fenixlighting.com.

Washington, D.C. (October 27, 2026) — Outdoor Alliance, a coalition of outdoor recreation groups working together to protect public lands, named Hannah Wintucky as its California Campaign Manager. Wintucky will lead Outdoor Alliance’s California network, focusing on building partnerships with the recreation community and legislators to protect the state’s public lands.

Wintucky joins Outdoor Alliance after several years i working as Government Affairs and Advocacy Manager and in policy for the Outdoor Industry Association. There, she focused on issues around recreation, public lands and international trade policy. She also holds a master’s degree in communication and development studies from Ohio University, with a focus on outdoor recreation policy and rural economic development.

“California is both an incredible and an incredibly important place when it comes to the intersection of outdoor recreation and conservation, and we’re excited to welcome Hannah to help direct our efforts there,” said Adam Cramer, CEO of Outdoor Alliance. “She not only has a strong track record working on those issues in the nation’s capitol, she also very clearly has the passion for this work.”

Now based in Truckee, Calif., Wintucky spends her free time whitewater kayaking, packrafting, skiing, mountain biking and backpacking. She will work closely with Outdoor Alliance’s partners on initiatives in California, including Access Fund, Surfrider Foundation, Winter Wildlands Alliance, California Mountain Biking Coalition and American Whitewater. Wintucky also serves on the board of directors for American Whitewater.

“California is home to some of the most iconic public lands in the country, many of which were trailblazing in their own time,” Wintucky said. “There are real opportunities here to make lasting, positive impacts that will benefit generations to come — both within the recreation community and with legislators who will actually listen and take action. I’m proud to be a representative and advocate for a place that has already given me so much, and to give back in the best way that I can.”

To learn more, please visit www.outdooralliance.org.

About Outdoor Alliance

Outdoor Alliance is a nonprofit coalition of organizations that includes American Whitewater, American Canoe Association, Access Fund, International Mountain Bicycling Association, Winter Wildlands Alliance, The Mountaineers, American Alpine Club, the Mazamas, Colorado Mountain Club, and Surfrider Foundation. For more than ten years, Outdoor Alliance has united the human-powered outdoor recreation community to achieve lasting conservation victories. Our work has helped to permanently protect 40 million acres of public land, secure $5.1 billion in funding for the outdoors, and convert more than 100,000 outdoor enthusiasts into outdoor advocates. For more information, visit www.outdooralliance.org

ASHEVILLE, N.C. (Oct. 27, 2026) — With the Connect retail buying show just weeks away, Grassroots Outdoor Alliance, the national organization dedicated to the health and growth of specialty outdoor retail, unveiled its schedule of retailer-focused education sessions that will take place on Connect Education Day Sunday, Nov. 8, the day prior to the four-day Connect show. This is an extension of Grassroots Outdoor Alliance’s ongoing mission to provide support and resources to its speciality retailer members on trends and best practices.

“A colleague passed along a phrase that has stuck with me: circles, not rows,” said Jenni Evertsen, Director of Retailer Development at Grassroots Outdoor Alliance. “In rows, we listen to someone at the front. In circles, we face each other, and the best ideas come from everyone in the room. That’s the spirit I want to bring to education and programming at Grassroots: more conversation, more connection, and more learning from the people who know independent retail best, our retailers.”

Connect will also debut an educational resource booth on the show floor on Monday, Nov. 9. Evertsen and the Grassroots educators will be on hand to answer questions, help retailers sign up for The Grassroots Hub, and offer one-on-one time with educators. The booth gives retailers and Connect guests a new way to meet the Grassroots education team and staff.

Featured sessions at Connect Education Day include a framework for moving from hope-driven to data-driven store management, practical guidance on the human side of AI in independent retail, and tactics for winning with today’s online shoppers.

Scheduled programming for Sunday, Nov. 8, includes the following educational sessions:

• From Hoping to Knowing — Led by Dan Mann, this session contrasts “hope management” with “causal management.” Retailers will learn nine warning signs of a hope-driven store, nine disciplines that replace them, and a repeatable rhythm of written expectations, agreement, training, measurement, and one-on-one follow-up.
• AI and Personal Wellness: The Human Cost — Marty Bhatia builds on his June Connect session on AI’s speed and scale. He will cover three hidden costs of working alongside AI: afternoon overload, skills that fade, and growing reliance on unchecked output. Attendees will leave with practical ways to spot these costs and build a healthier relationship with the tools.
• Human-Centric AI Policy Workshop — In this hands-on session, also led by Bhatia, retail teams will draft their own AI policy, starting from their values. The workshop covers where human review is always required, how to pace rollouts around wellbeing, and how to recognize low-quality AI output. Attendees leave with a first draft.
• Shopper Behavior Is Changing Fast. Learn How to Use What’s on Your Shelves to Win the Last Mile. — Brian Nero and Mike Massey of Locally will explore the tools and tactics specialty stores can use to win with today’s online shoppers and AI agents. Topics include how AI is driving on-demand shopping, how co-op marketing can help retailers win e-commerce shoppers and bring them into the store, and why same-day delivery is an emerging trend that tilts local shoppers back toward independent retailers. The session includes open Q&A on the challenges and opportunities most relevant to the Grassroots community.

Other sessions during show week:

• Women’s Luncheon: PLOT TWIST! The Life-Changing Power of Pivots, Plan B’s, and Course Corrections — On Tuesday, Nov. 10, Tara Kuipers will look at the strengths gained from past pivots and how to build the resilience, agility, and grit to change course again.

The Fall/Winter Connect Show takes place Nov. 9-12, 2026, in Kansas City, Mo., with both the Grassroots retailer education day and Discovery on Sunday, Nov. 8. With registration now largely complete, there are 160 retailers and nearly 400 retail buyers registered to attend the show, a slight uptick from the previous fall show. On the vendor side, 143 brands will attend Kansas City Connect during the primary part of the four-day show, also a slight increase.

About Grassroots Outdoor Alliance

Grassroots Outdoor Alliance is a retailer-owned network of 100+ independently owned outdoor retailers and 75+ vendor partners, working together for the health and growth of specialty outdoor retail. Through data collection and analysis, direct member support, specialty events and deep vendor partnerships, Grassroots Outdoor Alliance is creating both a vision and roadmap for the long-term success of independent specialty retail. Grassroots Outdoor Alliance also operates Connect, a twice-annual legacy show experience that spans four days, offering an efficient and structured format for retailers to conduct pre-season line showings and business conversations.

ASHLAND, N.H. (Oct. 27, 2026) — Minus33 Merino Wool and parent company L.W. Packard are expanding their roots in Ashland, opening a new facility October 27 with a ribbon-cutting led by New Hampshire Governor Kelly Ayotte. The newly renovated building doubles the family-owned company’s manufacturing footprint as it celebrates 110 years in business, creating room to grow its Ashland team from about two dozen to 40 employees and expanding its line of American-made merino wool products.

The 15,000-square-foot building represents the next chapter for a fifth-generation New Hampshire company that has made wool products in Ashland since 1916. Set to open in early 2027, it will house office space and a new delivery facility, making space for additional manufacturing in their current building to support the launch of American-made merino wool hats and scarves, joining Minus33’s bestselling U.S.-made socks. The expansion keeps jobs, manufacturing and the company’s next generation of products firmly rooted in the town where it began.

“The secret to 110 years in business is making products you’re proud of and hiring great people,” said Lawson Glidden, fifth-generation owner and president of Minus33 Merino Wool. “We’re proud to invest in Ashland and continue to do business here, hire here, and make quality merino wool products. This rich history and our dedicated employees are a clear reason we have posted double-digit sales growth for three consecutive years.”

“Congratulations to the Glidden family, Minus33, and L.W. Packard on 110 years of doing business in New Hampshire,” said Governor Kelly Ayotte. “Manufacturing is an important part of our state’s history and our economy, and family businesses like this one are a big part of what makes New Hampshire special. We’re proud to support businesses that are investing in our communities, creating good-paying jobs, and continuing our proud tradition of making things right here in the Granite State.”

The investment carries deep roots in Ashland’s history. L.W. Packard was once the town’s largest employer, supplying wool broadcloth to Saks Fifth Avenue, L.L.Bean and the U.S. military, and employing roughly 300 people at its peak. Overseas competition drove a sharp decline in the 1990s, at one point reducing the workforce to just three employees. Fourth-generation owner John Glidden revived the company under the Minus33 name, rebuilding it into a nationally recognized merino wool brand, before passing leadership to his son, Lawson Glidden.

Today, Minus33 employs about two dozen people in Ashland and produces roughly 180 products, including base layers, socks, headwear, gloves and blankets, all made with merino wool. The company has posted double-digit sales growth over the past three years, driven by its direct-to-consumer website, Amazon storefront and retailers nationwide.

“110 years of business shows the strength of the founders and our leadership,” said David Piper, operations supervisor at Minus33 who has spent 28 years with the company. “The Glidden’s understanding of the wool business, the intricacies of the fiber and hiring a great crew of people enabled us to weather the changing economy. It has been a privilege to be part of this amazing American story.”

“As a small company ourselves, we love that Minus33 has staying power,” said Shelby Metayer, co-owner of Farm-Way Vermont, a Minus33 retailer for 20 years. “We’ve worked with the same faces and names since the beginning. That’s the best part of working with a small business. You build relationships with people you know well.”

About Minus33 Merino Wool

L.W. Packard, dba as Minus33 Merino Wool, is a fifth-generation, family-owned merino wool brand rooted in over a century of New England craftsmanship. Founded in 1916 by Luther Woodbury Packard in Ashland, New Hampshire, the company built its legacy on high-quality woolen goods, supplying everything from fine fabrics to military uniforms during World War II. In 2002, fourth-generation owner John Glidden revitalized that heritage by launching Minus33 Merino Wool, a modern performance brand for outdoor enthusiasts who demand more from their gear. Still headquartered on the grounds of L.W. Packard’s historic Ashland mill, the Glidden’s have channeled generations of wool expertise into a collection of trail-tested, city-approved base layers, wool basics, and socks, all designed in New Hampshire and certified to the Woolmark Quality Standard and OEKO-TEX Standard 100. Learn more at minus33.com.

LONDON – Oct. 26, 2026 – ThruDark, the British performance apparel brand founded by former UK Special Forces operators, and Musto, the world’s leading performance sailing brand, today announced Nautikos, a collaborative offshore collection built to endure the most extreme conditions at sea. Pairing Musto’s GORE-TEX® PRO™ shell technology with ThruDark’s uncompromising design detailing, Nautikos is the most technically advanced offshore range in Musto’s history.

The sea is familiar territory for ThruDark’s co-founders. As Royal Marines Commandos turned Special Boat Service operators, they spent decades operating beneath dark skies and even darker waters before channeling that experience into high-performance clothing built for mountains, desert, jungle and ice. Musto’s story is rooted in Olympic sailing: founder Keith Musto, a silver medalist at the 1964 Tokyo Games, helped redefine the sport in the 1960s, and for nearly 60 years the British brand has set the standard on the high seas.

Water softens, dissolves and erodes, but for both brands it has the opposite effect. The sea is the most merciless proving ground there is: master your craft here, and you can do it anywhere.

New Territory, Same Standard

While offshore racing is a new product category for ThruDark, the brand brought its eye for detail and emphasis on uncompromising design to complement Musto’s existing pedigree. The result is what Musto calls its most durable range ever.

Building on Musto’s use of GORE-TEX® PRO™, ThruDark added Dyneema® – the world’s strongest fiber, 15 times stronger than steel at equivalent weight – to create high-endurance waterproof jackets and bib pants. It marks the first time Dyneema® has been used on a Musto range, reinforcing the seat, elbows, knees and hem to protect the highest-wear zones of foul-weather gear. A removable, modular pocket system allows storage to move effortlessly between layers, while D3O® knee pads deliver class-leading impact protection and photoluminescent reflectors provide high visibility in low light and storms.

“We are meticulous in our choice of partners, and Musto has long stood out to us for its proud British heritage and leading technical performance,” said Louis Tinsley, ThruDark co-founder. “For Musto, that means decades of experience on the water; for us, that means decades of experience in and under it. We’ve taken the best of what Musto does and made it as durable as possible using stronger-than-steel Dyneema® reinforcements and design techniques honed by our diverse, real-world experiences.”

“This collaboration made complete sense from the moment we started talking,” said Nick Houchin, marketing director at Musto. “ThruDark brings a Special Forces background that demands exactly the same things we do – kit that works without compromise in the most extreme conditions. Function and style shouldn’t be a trade-off, and with Nautikos, they’re not.”

Professional offshore sailor Will Harris was part of the test team for the collection. “For me, the Dyneema reinforcement is the standout,” Harris said. “When you’re offshore, you’re constantly on your hands and knees, bashing into things. Having that next level of protection at the elbows, shoulders and seat is exactly what we need. And the modular pocket system means you can clip everything on and know it’s with you before you leave the cockpit. It’s Musto in stealth mode.”

The Nautikos Collection

• Outerwear: The Nautikos GTX Jacket (£1,500 / $TBC) and Nautikos GTX Trousers (£1,200 / $TBC) form the hard-weather shell of the system, constructed with GORE-TEX® PRO™ for sustained severe-weather offshore use. The Nautikos Trident GTX Jacket (£450 / $TBC) and matching Trident GTX Trousers (£450 / $TBC) extend the system into modular layering, built for variable conditions between passages.
• Mid-Layer: The Nautikos Stormfleece (£225 / $TBC) provides core thermal retention and serves as the system’s insulating bridge between shell and base.
• Base Layer: The Nautikos T-Shirt (£70 / $TBC) is built on S.Café® fabric technology, a process that infuses fibers with used coffee grounds to deliver UPF 50+ sun protection without chemical treatment. It is quick-drying, durable and expedition-ready for extended time on the water.
• Headwear: The Nautikos Cap (£70 / $TBC) takes Musto’s proven waterproof MPX construction and elevates it with ThruDark’s custom reflective camo artwork across the peak and rear panel. Fleece-lined at the collar with the same triangle fleece used in the Nautikos GTX Jacket, it is engineered for visibility in low light without conceding a single detail to aesthetics over function.

Nautikos is available now at Musto.com and ThruDark.com. High-resolution images are available here.

About ThruDark:

ThruDark is a high performance clothing brand founded by former UK Special Forces operators Anthony “Staz” Stazicker CGC and Louis Tinsley. The British brand launched in 2018 with a bespoke summit suit that broke world mountaineering records before launching a limited range of cold weather expedition gear. Since that time, ThruDark’s outerwear offering has expanded to include the latest in activewear innovation, hot weather clothing, combat sports attire and premium apparel alongside its continued development in the world of winter wear. All of ThruDark’s technical products are tested personally in real world conditions by its founders, using their combined 28 years of military experience. For more information, visit www.thrudark.com.

About Musto:

Musto is the world’s leading performance sailing brand, founded in 1964 by Olympic sailor and engineer Keith Musto following his silver medal in the Flying Dutchman class at the Tokyo Games. Six decades on, the London-based brand remains the benchmark for technical sailing apparel, worn by the British Sailing Team, the Emirates Great Britain SailGP Team, Clipper Round the World Race crews and the best ocean racing sailors in the world. In 1994, Musto became the first sailing brand in the world to partner with GORE-TEX®, a standard the brand has built on ever since. Musto’s product range spans ocean offshore racing, inshore and dinghy sailing, performance lifestyle and countrywear engineered to perform in life’s extremes. For more information, visit www.musto.com.