Helly Hansen

Helly Hansen is the world’s most experienced sailing apparel and footwear brand with more than 130 years under its belt. The company, based in Moss, Norway, is recognized for inventing the first waterproof fabrics in 1877, the first fleece mid layers in the 1960s, and LIFA®, the first technical base layer in the 1970s. The combined three layer system of dress has become the reliable standard for staying warm, dry and comfortable in cold, wet conditions. Today Helly Hansen is a global leader in technical apparel and footwear designs for a range of outdoor and water sports activities. Helly Hansen products are distributed in more than 40 countries. For more information visit www.hellyhansen.com.

History of Merrell

What began in the Green Mountains in Vermont, now roams the world.  For more than 26 years, Merrell has been providing outdoor enthusiasts with quality performance footwear.

As the needs of the outdoor enthusiasts have changed, so too has Merrell's approach to addressing those needs.  Over time, the concepts of "outdoor" has broadened to include all types of activities and environments - both natural and urban.  Merrell is driven to keep pace with this evolution of "The New Outdoor," and continues to evolve.

It's been written that what's important is not the destination, but the journey.  So join us as we take you through The Merrell Journey - from all-leather hiking boots to plastic telemarking boots to the moc that created the Aftersport category.

History of Outdoor Research

In 1980, Ron Gregg, a physicist and dedicated mountaineer, found himself on Alaska’s Denali in a perilous situation. His climbing partner had suffered extreme frostbite due in part to poorly designed gaiters. Snow had been pushed between gaiter and boot, worsening an already nasty situation. After his friend was airlifted to safety and the expedition over, Ron reacted by searching for a solution to keep this situation from happening in the future. The result was a functional, insulated gaiter, the X-Gaiter™, which held snug and was versatile enough to fit a variety of boots. From this original inspiration and its resultant innovation, Outdoor Research was born the following year.

"The result was a functional, insulated gaiter, the X-Gaiter™..."

Ron’s goals in those next formative years remained focused on creating practical, functional tools and solutions to the problems faced by outdoor enthusiasts in the backcountry. Early examples include the Water Bottle Parka^®, which still remains the standard for keeping water from freezing in cold places and OR medical kits, which were the first soft-sided medical kits designed for outdoor adventure.