Awards :Outdoor Research Earns Global Recognition with 5 Design Awards

Axiom Jacket

Seattle, Wash (Feb. 26, 2013) – Forget the Oscars. Outdoor Research, the independent, Seattle-based manufacturer of outdoor apparel and accessories, is kicking off awards season early, earning five esteemed accolades in the extremely competitive outdoor space.

Within the span of one month, five Outdoor Research products were honored by some of the industry’s most discerning critics. The Axiom Jacket earned a coveted spot on the Men’s Journal Gear of the Year list. The Gear Institute lauded the Floodlight as “...the coolest insulated jacket” in its Best in Show Awards, bestowed on the most innovative new products showed at Outdoor Retailer for Fall 2013. In Europe, the Valhalla Hoody earned an ISPO design award in the ski outerwear category, and the Lodestar and Alibi II Gloves took two out of the top three slots for best outdoor gloves/accessories.

The awards are an external validation of the ongoing investment the company has made in strengthening its innovation and design muscles.

Floodlight Jacket

"Over the past three years Outdoor Research has invested heavily in developing a strong internal team and process to bring truly innovative products to market,” said CEO Dan Nordstrom. “Over that period, our product offering nearly doubled in size, with innovative new styles like 2012’s Axiom Jacket. For Fall 2013, we were able to spend more time on groundbreaking new styles, like the Floodlight Jacket, Valhalla Hoody and Lodestar Gloves, while simultaneously improving our existing best-sellers, like the Alibi II Gloves. Winning this many awards in one season speaks volumes to our team and our process for bringing innovation that works to the market. Our products are beautiful in their simple functionality, and it shows."

The elegance of the final design belies the extensive engineering and research that goes into making the brand’s technical apparel and gear. And the employees of Outdoor Research wouldn’t have it any other way. They make gear that works seamlessly for people whose passions, experiences and lives depend on it.

Valhalla Hoody

To read the reviews associated with all five awards, please click the links below.

• “Men’s Journal” Gear of the Year Award: Axiom Jacket
• The Axiom Jacket also earned a Gear of the Year Award from “Outside Magazine” earlier in 2012
• “Gear Institute” Best in Show Award, Outdoor Retailer: Floodlight Jacket
• ISPO Awards, judged by an independent, international jury of design and product experts
• Award in Ski Outerwear: Valhalla Hoody
• Gold Award Winner in Outdoor Gloves/Accessories: Lodestar Glove
• Award Winner in Outdoor Gloves/Accessories: Alibi II Glove

Lodestar glove

About Outdoor Research
Outdoor Research® is Designed by Adventure®. We provide Innovation and Inspiration for the Relentless Adventurer. Based in Seattle – with in-house manufacturing and prototyping capabilities at our company headquarters – Outdoor Research was founded in 1981 after a failed piece of gear on an Alaskan climbing expedition inspired ideas for a better design. Ever since that first product, the X-Gaiter, put Outdoor Research on the map, we have been dedicated to building better outdoor apparel, gloves, hats and an array of other outdoor accessories informed by real-world testing. We develop innovative, functional, bomb-proof products that are beautiful in their simplicity. Design abides by the maxim ‘make it better, not just new or different,’ and our gear is backed by our Infinite Guarantee®. We listen, value and empower each other and our fellow adventurers – we invite input from our customers, athlete ambassadors and the International Federation of Mountain Guides Associations Test Team. We’re independent, letting us strive to provide the best value to our customers, not shareholders. We are committed to our core sports: alpinism, rock and ice climbing, hiking, backpacking, paddling, trail running, and backcountry and sidecountry skiing. We’re growing, as a company and as individuals. And we’re having fun along the way.

Dave Simpson / Verde PR & Consulting / dave@verdepr.com / (970) 259-3555 x2

Through OIA