SEATTLE, Wash. (April 15, 2026) – Astral, the leader in equipment designed for high-performing wilderness athletes, adds Angel Collinson, healer, Nature-enthusiast, sailor, and retired professional skier, as its newest brand Archetype. Astral archetypes serve as inspirational advisors for the brand, who live at the intersection of athletics, art and craft, and who bring their expertise, experiences, and innovative mindsets to the development of Astral gear.

Angel is a two-time Freeride World Tour champion, Teton Gravity Film film veteran, world sailor, and now, a  retreat facilitator. In 2019, Angel met her now partner Pete, a sailor, and two years later, in 2021 she retired from skiing and sailed around the world for two years. Today, Angel spends most of her time in and around the ocean, and leading nature-based retreats, aimed at helping people spend intentional time outside, and listening to Nature.

“It’s an honor to welcome Angel as the newest Astral Archetype. After spending some quality time together exploring Costa Rica’s Nicoyo Peninsula, it’s very clear that Angel is the complete package: elite-level performance, curiosity, artistry, humility, a remarkable perspective, and a strong connection with Nature,” said Cooper Lambla, Head of Brand and Marketing. “Angel truly trusts Nature’s experiences, designs, and materials in her pursuits from the mountains to the sea, in both the most intense moments of flow and the calmer reflections and expressions that follow. We look forward to crafting some unique and necessary gear and stories with Angel and her community.”

As an Archetype, Astral will support Angel’s upcoming projects as she pursues new adventures as, in her words, “a water woman.” Angel’s lifestyle intrinsically allows her to test gear designed for use in their natural habitat, providing Astral with valuable insight as the brand develops its next generation of footwear and apparel. Angel will provide ongoing inspiration to the brand as they remain dedicated to creating unique and necessary products that elevate the experience in Nature and are built to protect the maximum amount of soil and water.

“Astral is like your very cool aunt, or funcle. They are highly creative, slightly eccentric and outside the box, and most importantly to me: they truly, truly give a damn. All of those things (especially the last!) make me SO stoked to work with them,” said Angel. “I feel like these days we see a lot of greenwashing: performative slogans to win public favor, meanwhile cutting corners in the background and externalizing those costs on the environment. They keep it super real, which I appreciate, and so much of the ethos of Astral, and my personal ethos are remarkably aligned.

Down to their slogan: Trust Nature. It’s literally my MO. I can’t wait to see where asking big questions, telling inspiring stories, and getting eccentric and creative will lead- for the company and for partnering together!”

Check out Student of the Elements, an Astral short film written by and about Angel, for a taste of her curiosity, artistry, humility, and strong connection with Nature. Watch the short film here: explore.astraldesigns.com/ambassador/angel-collinson

To learn more about all of Astral’s Archetypes, please visit explore.astraldesigns.com/ambassadors. For more information about Astral, please visit astraldesigns.com.

ABOUT ASTRAL
Established in 2002, Astral designs high-performance wilderness equipment for athletes who trust Nature’s experiences, designs and materials, created in the least toxic, lowest impact ways. Built on decades of experience and experimentation, Astral has assembled athletes, artists, and craftspeople to build the cleanest, most beautiful, and highest performing gear. Astral has significantly reduced toxic PVC foam from the PFD industry, invented breathable life jackets, won awards for their paradigm-changing footwear designs, and developed the stickiest rubber ever worn on wet rock. In 2024, Astral launched its first line of HempTech™ apparel, utilizing Nature’s highest performing fiber that is naturally breathable, odor resistant, durable and cooling in warm weather, while protecting the maximum amount of soil and water. Visit www.astraldesigns.com for more information.

 

Media Contact: Verde Brand Communications | astral@verdepr.com

STOCKHOLM, Sweden (April 15, 2026) — POC, the Swedish protection brand known for its reputation for safety, innovation and design, this week releases a brand-new helmet for road and gravel cyclists, the Amidal. Representing a new and refined approach to road helmet development, the Amidal has been created for cyclists who want performance and protection in a new form.

Designed to energize a rider’s experience on the bike, the Amidal enhances the rhythm and pulse of early urban mornings, hectic city crits or long, winding rural roads, and all developed with the added benefit of enhanced safety thinking, thanks to a bespoke Knog rear light that can be paired with the helmet.

Magnus Gustafsson, Hard Goods Director, POC, said, “Our objective in creating the Amidal was to develop a helmet from all our extensive safety, ventilation and aerodynamic expertise and encapsulate it in a new form. The Amidal has many standout features, notably its streamlined silhouette, refined rear exhaust ports and bespoke rear Knog light. But what also sets the Amidal apart is the comfort and balance which will support and energize long and short rides alike.”

At its core, the Amidal pairs a polycarbonate outer shell with an optimised EPS liner — a construction that keeps structural rigidity and weight in careful balance. It has a streamlined appearance and distinctive reinforced exhaust ports which are fundamental to support airflow and ventilation.

Aerodynamic and cooling performance has been validated through computational fluid dynamics testing across a range of speeds. Based on POC’s tried-and-tested approach with ventilation and cooling, air is captured by the front vents and channeled through the helmet via distinct linear internal channels which are designed to support airflow effectively on long climbs as much as at race pace.

The 360-degree fit system distributes retention evenly around the head, eliminating the pressure points that compromise comfort on longer rides. The chin straps are fully adjustable up, down, fore and aft, to offer a consistent personalized fit. The Amidal also features an eye garage for sunglasses storage on the bike which makes it easy to store glasses on climbs or during varying light conditions.

The Amidal also features rotational impact protection via Mips Air Node — the latest generation of the Mips system — which allows the helmet to move independently of the head during an oblique impact.

Finally, the Amidal has been designed with the positioning of a dedicated mount for a bespoke Knog rear light which has been engineered specifically for the Amidal, making visibility an integrated element of the design rather than an afterthought.

Colin Brown, Brand and Marketing Director, Knog, said, “POC has gained a reputation for innovation and advanced product development and design. As such, it was a very natural fit for us to join forces on this project. Our objective in working together was to create a seamless and highly usable light that would be a clear part of the helmet’s product development and design, very intuitive to use and add to each rider’s safety in all conditions, whether they are riding during the dark months in Sweden or on the busier urban roads in Australia.”

Amidal – Product details

• PC Shell – The helmet’s outer shell is constructed from lightweight polycarbonate, offering structural stability.
• EPS Liner – The lightweight EPS helmet liner is optimized to provide crash protection while keeping overall helmet weight low.
• Mips Air Node – The latest technology from brain protection specialists Mips enhances rotational impact protection.
• Adjustable 360° Fit – A lightweight 360° adjustment system makes it easy to find a secure, comfortable fit.
• CFD Tested – Extensive computational fluid dynamics (CFD) testing was used to ensure aerodynamic and ventilation performance at high and low speeds.
• Reinforced exhaust zones – Rear exhaust zones help to provide structural stability and airflow management.
• Matching Knog light – It’s possible to attach a rear light to the helmet. The matching Knog light (sold separately) complements the helmet’s protection.
• Weight – 310g size Medium in EN 1078 (EU standard) 350g size Medium in CPSC (NA standard).
• Price – $270 U.S. 

POC x Knog light product details  

Big things come in small packages, and that is no different with the POC x Knog Helmet light. Using the new Chip On Board (COB) technology, this special edition helmet light produces a punchy 30 lumens that will ensure you’re seen and improve your safety in all lighting conditions. By placing the light on the helmet, we can ensure riders are more visible day or night.

Each uniquely coloured model has four different modes, with the eco mode lasting long enough for a full 24 hours of riding. Small but mighty, The POC x Knog Helmet Light subtly and directly mounts to any POC Helmet, ensuring the rider always remains visible from behind. It is also waterproof and USB-A rechargeable.

Light modes

Mode                                      Run time

High steady                             2 hours

Low steady                              8 hours

High flash                                7 hours

Eco flash                                  26 hours

Dimensions                             48 x 33 x 31 mm

Weight                                                17g

Price (sold separately) – $45 U.S.

Notes to editors:

Testing standards – for now and the future

All helmets placed on the market need to conform to EN 1078 and CPSC 1203 minimum certification standards. In the near future, a new updated version of EN 1078 will be introduced, which will add official testing for both linear and rotational impact. With this in mind the Amidal has already been tested according to the ‘updated’ EN 1078 rotational impact thresholds (≤ 35 rad/s per location, ≤ 30 rad/s average) ahead of the standard becoming mandatory. This ensures that the Amidal is already future-proofed to meet the new standards once they are formally adopted.

Media resources

Further downloadable assets available to use and download HERE

Availability

The cycling seasonal collection is available to buy at www.poc.com and in selected stores now.

The Knog light is available to purchase separately. It has been designed specifically for the Amidal, but enough flexibility has been added into the design to ensure it can be versatile and used with other helmets or areas of the bike.

Amidal page: https://poc.com/en/the-amidal?utm_source=pr&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=amidal&utm_term=cycling

Knog lamp page:

https://poc.com/en/product/knog-x-poc-helmet-light-hydrogen-white?utm_source=pr&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=amidal&utm_term=cycling

About POC

Born and based in Stockholm, Sweden, POC is a safety and performance pioneer on a global mission: protect lives and reduce the consequences of accidents for athletes and anyone inspired to be one. Creating all types of protection for cycling and snow sports, POC uses research, scientific methods and rigorous testing in its pursuit of innovation.

Contact

Damian Phillips

Global Director – PR, Communication and Partnerships

POC HQ, Stockholm

damian.phillips@pocsports.com

Mobile: +46 702 77 69 44

Altra has teamed up with Los Angeles label PLEASURES on a limited-edition collaboration that merges technical running design with underground culture, and a shared instinct to question the status quo.

Long considered an outlier in the running world, Altra built its reputation by challenging conventional footwear design. Since 2015, PLEASURES has grown from a subcultural underground voice into a globally influential label, known for reinvigorating classic silhouettes with its punk‑infused vision and critically acclaimed collaborations.

“Our team has always had runners,” said Alex James, Co-Founder of PLEASURES. “Working with real running technology and the amount of research behind Altra gave us the confidence to get behind a performance shoe.”

Though rooted in different worlds, the collaboration reveals a natural alignment––Altra rethinking how running shoes should work with the body, and PLEASURES translating the bold, rebellious energy into a new modern expression.

The campaign explores the boundary between physical performance and artistic expression, reframing running as a living, evolving work of art—where motion, paint, sweat, and repetition dissolve the line between body and canvas. A fluid silver streak runs throughout, tracing energy in motion and reflecting the impermanence of the moment.

At the center of the collaboration is a limited-edition Altra Experience Flow 3 in “Satellite,” a metallic silver-blue inspired by the tone of satellites in orbit. Across the upper, silver paint accents streak like trails of speed, capturing the moment a runner becomes a fleeting blur.

Underneath the graphics sits Altra’s signature fit—low heel-to-toe drop and a roomy toe box—allowing the foot to move naturally and stay aligned.

This collaboration unites those worlds in a shoe crafted for runners who thrive on defying convention and redefining what performance can be.

The Altra x PLEASURES capsule will be available for purchase beginning April 14 in limited quantities through select retailers and online worldwide.

About Altra

Altra isn’t just a shoe. It’s a promise. It all started when we hacked the typical running shoe, challenging industry convention by opening the toe box so your feet could splay naturally. Born from a passion for innovation and natural running, Altra designs footwear in Colorado that helps runners move more naturally. The Altra Fit allows toes to spread for enhanced comfort, balance and strength, so you can Stay Out There™ for more miles and more years. #altrarunning #stayoutthere

About PLEASURES

PLEASURES was founded in 2015 with the goal of introducing and educating their customers about art, music & 90’s subcultures through clothing; while also bringing unique retail and artistic experiences to the masses.

A graphically charged and inclusive unisex brand based in Los Angeles, PLEASURES represents a new global movement in fashion.

DENVER, Colorado (April 14, 2026) – Smartwool today announced an agreement with Life Time (NYSE: LTH) that will bring high-performance Merino wool socks and performance apparel, as well as immersive brand experiences to Life Time’s unparalleled athletic country clubs and world-renowned athletic events. The arrangement includes in-club media integration, event activations, and a role in Life Time’s acclaimed 30 Strong Challenge.

“This creates an incredible opportunity to connect with a passionate community that values movement, performance, and wellbeing,” said Sara Dwiggins, Head of Marketing for Smartwool AMER. “From holistic exercise, nutrition and training all the way to race day, we’re excited to deliver comfort, performance, and the benefits of Merino wool while connecting with athletes through meaningful, in-person experiences.”

Smartwool will reach an unmatched audience of passionate health and wellness enthusiasts across Life Time’s network of 190 athletic country clubs across 32 states and Canada. In addition, Smartwool will play a prominent role in multiple premier Life Time athletic events:

• Leadville Race Series – Official run sock sponsor, with on-site activations supporting participants across one of the most iconic endurance race series in the world.
• Chicago Race Series – Official run sock and apparel sponsor, featuring onsite activations.
• Life Time Grand Prix – Official off-bike apparel sponsor, outfitting athletes and staff, and engaging endurance cycling fans throughout the series.

Smartwool will also be the exclusive official sponsor of the best-in-class Life Time 30 Strong Challenge, supporting challenge participants and inspiring commitment to movement through gifting, special prizes, and program content integration.

Life Time’s domination and comprehensive reach in the broad fitness, nutrition, and wellness community makes it a natural collaboration for Smartwool. At its core, Smartwool is dedicated to bringing comfort and performance to everyday life through activity and beyond. The two brands align around a shared, health-conscious consumer and collectively span the full spectrum of an active lifestyle: through fitness, training and community, and high-performance apparel.

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About Smartwool

Founded in 1994 in Steamboat Springs, Colorado, Smartwool® was the first outdoor company to create performance Merino wool ski socks, revolutionizing the category and forever changing the way outdoor enthusiasts viewed their feet. Today, Smartwool® continues to innovate and push the boundaries of what’s possible with Merino wool, specializing in socks and apparel designed to get the most out of the inherent benefits of Merino wool and bring comfort, confidence, and community to a life lived outside. Smartwool, a division of VF Outdoor, LLC, is a brand of VF Corporation. For information on the full range of Smartwool® products or to find a dealer near you, please visit www.Smartwool.com.

About Life Time
Life Time (NYSE: LTH) empowers people to live healthy, happy lives through its 190 athletic country clubs across the U.S. and Canada, the complimentary and comprehensive Life Time app featuring its L•AI•C™ AI-powered health companion, and more than 30 iconic athletic events. Serving people ages 90 days to 90+ years, the Life Time ecosystem uniquely delivers healthy living, healthy aging, and healthy entertainment experiences, a range of unique healthy way of life programs, highly trusted LTH nutritional supplements and more. Recognized as a Great Place to Work^®, the company is committed to upholding an exceptional culture for its 43,000 team members.

STOCKHOLM, Sweden — April 14th, 2026 — RECCO, a global leader in rescue technology, today announced an extended partnership with SCOTT Sports to introduce SCOTT’s first summer product equipped with a RECCO® reflector. The launch of the SCOTT Endurance SL Waterproof Jacket , available for both men and women,  represents a significant milestone in expanding RECCO technology beyond winter use, making trail runners more searchable in the outdoors.

SCOTT designed the new jacket around how runners actually move, train, and race. Engineered for the harshest condition, it’s built to work seamlessly either beneath or on top of a running vest. Available in stores and online for the Spring/Summer 2026 season, the Endurance SL Waterproof Jacket is the first warm-weather apparel piece from SCOTT to integrate RECCO reflectors. This reflects SCOTT’s ongoing commitment to enhancing safety and searchability for its customers across all seasons and environments.

“Athlete feedback was crystal clear: this jacket had to work with a backpack, not against it. Ensuring it fits comfortably over a pack became a key development goal, and it aligns perfectly with where technical trail‑running rain jackets are heading,” says Nico Bardonner, Head of Softgoods Equipment at SCOTT. “As we continue to grow our partnership with RECCO in winter, it felt important to extend that added layer of safety into summer mountain running. This is our first summer apparel piece to feature a RECCO reflector, complementing the wind and rain protection — and high breathability — of the Pertex® Shield fabric, while also offering reassurance in the event of an accident or injury in the mountains.”

The RECCO rescue network continues to grow rapidly, supporting search-and-rescue operations at more than 900 mountain rescue organizations and ski resorts across 32 countries. In tandem, RECCO has expanded its SAR Helicopter Detector system, which enables rescue teams to quicker search large areas, up to a square kilometer in six minutes. Along with helping reduce search times for missing people, the helicopter-based detector can reduce the time and risk exposure for rescue workers during missions. This continued expansion strengthens coverage across both Europe, North America, Nepal and New Zealand, ensuring that more outdoor enthusiasts are searchable in a wider range of environments.

“The launch of the first summer RECCO-equipped product with SCOTT is an important step in our mission to make more people searchable year-round,” said Fredrik Steinwall, CEO at RECCO. “As our detector network continues to expand across the world, collaborations like this help extend the benefits of RECCO technology beyond winter sports and into new outdoor categories like trail running and hiking.”

This launch builds on a period of growth for RECCO, as the company continues to expand its global rescue network and, working with product manufacturing partners, advance technology that improves safety for outdoor enthusiasts worldwide.

For more information on the global RECCO rescue network, please visit recco.com.

Photo link: https://reccoab.sharepoint.com/:f:/s/RECCOExternalSharing/IgBKJmvyBM_LTZfcG-uhAIkRAap3EoPoz8d7ZHxlKKIiO7M?e=832qLL

About RECCO

RECCO® advanced rescue technology makes outdoor enthusiasts searchable to rescuers in case of an avalanche accident or when lost in the outdoors. The technology builds on a two-part radar system. Rescuers carry RECCO® detectors that send out search signals which are echoed by RECCO® reflectors, carried by the user. RECCO® detectors are used worldwide at more than 900 ski resorts and mountain rescue organizations in 32 countries. RECCO® reflectors are integrated into select apparel, helmets, protection gear and boots manufactured by more than 150 leading outdoor brands. RECCO AB was founded in 1983 in Sweden and is owned by its founder Magnus Granhed and the publicly traded investment company Traction AB (listed on OMX Nordic Exchange Stockholm). More info at recco.com.

About SCOTT

SCOTT Sports is an international sports brand with a global approach that develops, markets, and sells bike, winter sports, running and outdoor products. From inventing the first aluminum ski pole in 1958, to today’s most progressive sporting equipment, our Innovation, Technology & Design mission statement is present in everything we do.

Media Contact

Verde Brand Communications

(970) 235-0268

recco@verdepr.com

BOULDER, Colo. (April 14, 2026) — La Sportiva, maker of the world’s finest mountain gear, has officially opened its Salt Lake City retail store, located at 372 West 600 South. A Grand Opening celebration is planned for Saturday, April 18, bringing together athletes, media, and the local outdoor community.

The 5,100-square-foot space features La Sportiva’s full product line, from climbing and mountain running footwear to ski touring gear and apparel. Located near the USA Climbing Training Center, the store sits within one of the country’s most active mountain communities, in a neighborhood that continues to grow as a destination for outdoor culture, food, and retail.

“With the store now open, we’re already seeing what this space can become,” said Jonathan Lantz, president of La Sportiva North America. “Salt Lake City has a deep connection to the mountains, and this store is built to reflect that. La Sportiva was founded in the Dolomites nearly a century ago, and that same mountain DNA still shapes everything we do. The new store is a place to get outfitted, but just as much a place to connect and share beta.”

The Salt Lake City location is designed to serve as a hub for the local community, with plans for ongoing events, workshops, and group outings. The store carries La Sportiva’s full collection and introduces the first North American ReSoul Lab, offering resoling services for climbing footwear to extend product life and reduce waste.

The opening of the Salt Lake City store reflects La Sportiva’s broader retail strategy to invest in key mountain towns and build spaces that are closely tied to the communities they serve. It’s the brand’s second retail location in North America, joining its Boulder, Colorado store, and expands a global network of stores across Europe.

“Our products are born in the mountains and refined through testing in alpine environments,” said Lorenzo Delladio, president and CEO of La Sportiva. “Opening a retail location in Salt Lake City allows us to stay close to that process, with a direct line to the people using our products every day. That connection is fundamental to how we are continuing to evolve as a brand.”

La Sportiva is holding its Grand Opening celebration on Saturday, April 18 from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. at the new store. Food and coffee will be available throughout the day, along with opportunities to meet athletes, connect with the local community, and experience the space.

Contact La Sportiva PR representative Sean Van Horn at sean.vanhorn@backbone.media for more information.

About La Sportiva
With over 90 years of heritage, La Sportiva has unrivaled experience in building the world’s finest performance mountain footwear. Creating innovation through passion, La Sportiva now offers the most versatile technical climbing, mountaineering, Mountain Running® and hiking shoes on the market, along with a full line of ski mountaineering hardware and apparel. For more information on La Sportiva visit www.lasportivausa.com or follow @Lasportivana on Instagram.

RED LODGE, Mont. (April 14, 2026) – Crazy Creek Products is proud to announce the return of its Smokey Bear Original Chair. This special-edition design brings one of America’s most recognizable conservation icons together with the chair that helped define ground-level outdoor comfort.

Available now exclusively at REI in a ‘Smokey Bear Blue’ and ‘Smokey Bear Yellow’ colorway, the Crazy Creek Smokey Bear Original Chair celebrates both outdoor adventure and the importance of wildfire prevention. To support that mission, Crazy Creek will donate 10 percent of proceeds from each of these chairs sold to the U.S. Forest Service to support wildfire prevention education.

“The Crazy Creek Original Chair was designed to help people get outside and enjoy wild places comfortably,” said Andy Simpson, Director of Sales at Crazy Creek Products. “Partnering with Smokey Bear and supporting the U.S. Forest Service is a natural fit for us because the places people use our chairs, like national forests, campgrounds, rivers, and trails, are the same places that depend on responsible fire use and wildfire prevention. If this chair helps remind people to protect those places while they’re enjoying them, that’s a win for everyone.”

First introduced more than 39 years ago, the Crazy Creek Original Chair changed the outdoor seating category and remains the gold standard for ground-level comfort. Outdoor lovers across the globe have embraced the chair for its versatility, packability, and durable construction. Whether you’re on rocky trails, sandy beaches, campsites, music festivals, or soccer game sidelines, the Original Chair makes it easy to sit comfortably and endure years of adventure.

The Smokey Bear Crazy Creek Original Chair is built for comfort and durability in any environment. High-density closed-cell foam provides cushioned support, while carbon-reinforced fiberglass stays deliver solid back support that holds up during long sits around the campfire. Adjustable side straps allow users to dial in the perfect recline, shifting easily from upright support to a laid-back lounging position.

Constructed with tough 600D polyester and a high-tenacity nylon hinge system, the chair offers exceptional durability while maintaining flexibility and resilience over years of use. A DWR coating helps protect against moisture, helping to keep users warm and dry even when the ground is damp. Despite its rugged construction, the chair remains lightweight and portable, packing flat for easy transport. A water-resistant ground barrier adds an extra layer of comfort by helping keep users warm and dry even when the ground is damp.

The Smokey Bear Crazy Creek Original Chair is available now online and in stores at REI. It retails for $74.95 USD.

For more information about Crazy Creek and its range of outdoor seating, please visit crazycreek.com. For media inquiries, please contact crazycreek@verdepr.com.

The name and character of Smokey Bear are the property of the United States, as provided by 16 USC 580p-1, and are used with the permission of the Forest Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture.

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About Crazy Creek

Founded in 1987 in Red Lodge, Montana, Crazy Creek was born in the backcountry and built for people who spend real time on rough ground. For more than three decades, Crazy Creek has equipped people to “Take a Seat”—whether deep in the wilderness or close to home—providing dependable support wherever the ground works against them. Learn more at crazycreek.com.