What an incredible year it’s been! From groundbreaking innovations in material technology and design to exciting collaborations, unforgettable events, and the launch of new collections alongside reimagined heritage pieces—not to mention the grand reopening of our flagship Seattle store—2024 was truly remarkable for everyone at Outdoor Research. To all who joined us on this journey, thank you for being part of our outdoor community. And if you’re just discovering Outdoor Research, welcome to the family! While we’re gearing up for big things in 2025, let’s take a moment to reflect on some of the milestones we’re most proud of from the past year. Product Innovations: In 2024, we expanded our lineup with dozens of new technical styles and colors, blending cutting-edge sustainable technologies with reimagined heritage designs. After gathering insights from our customers and athletes—and spending countless hours perfecting details like color palettes—we introduced exciting additions, including our first dedicated mountain bike gear, the Freewheel MTB Collection. We also reintroduced the customer-favorite Transcendent Down Collection, now featuring enhanced lightweight warmth, weather resistance, and packability. Our Astroman Sun Collection became lighter and more breathable. We strengthened our technical mountaineering assortment with the Headwall GORE-TEX 3L Jacket and Pant, built for the most challenging alpine conditions. Updates to our legendary Ferrosi Collection and the debut of the Team GORE-TEX Gloves and Mitts highlighted our commitment to innovation and performance, rounding out an epic year for our product team. Award Winners: OR gear and apparel hit so many top 10 lists in 2024, it was hard to keep track! From the Deviator Collection hitting Gear Guide Selects to the hiker's favorite Ferrosi Short to the Skytour AscentShell kit landing on numerous Ski Gear lists, the most discerning editors choose OR over and over again. A standout moment for us was being recognized by ISPO—an international leader in outdoor news and trends—for our reimagined Foray 3L and Aspire 3L Collection, hailed as a game-changing innovation that redefined the product category. This collection represents our most sustainable technical apparel yet, featuring a 100% recycled nylon face fabric, PFAS-free Nikwax DWR, and groundbreaking status as the first carbon-neutral technical apparel in the outdoor industry, certified by Climate Impact Partners. Top Rated Styles: Word-of-mouth recommendations from friends and family are often the strongest marketing tool in a brand’s toolkit. The next best thing is verified customer reviews. We invite you to discover the best of the best according to your fellow outdoor enthusiasts! The items below represent the most loved and highly recommended styles of 2024, from performance base layers and sun protection to ultra-cozy down jackets and technical outerwear. The good news is that all these styles will be offered in 2025, so you too can discover the must-have items everyone is raving about! Men’s Foray 3L Jacket “The number one thing I liked was breathability. The new AscentShell™ Dry breathes way better than any GORE-TEX I have ever owned. Combine that with OR TorsoFlo™ venting which allows you to vent either from armpit to waist or waist to armpit—the ability to control where the venting is awesome. It really made sweat management easy while hiking.” – Shaun “As a professional downhill mountain bike racer, performance is key when I choose to use. This jacket has been great in some of the toughest conditions i.e. Fort William World Cup Track. Biggest positive I see is that I took a pretty big crash and slid on my arm for about 10-15 feet and the jacket had no signs that it even happened besides a dirty spot that will wash off.” – Henry Men’s Ferrosi Pants “If you’re looking for a lightweight, stretchy, comfortable hiking pant I don’t think you’ll find anything better than the Ferrosi.” – Trekkingtn “These pants are perfectly fitted, have just enough pockets to be useful, and most importantly the material is incredibly lightweight and breathable. Definitely my favorite hiking pants now.” – Rich “The Outdoor Research Ferrosi Pants are outstanding for outdoor activities. Extremely breathable and stretchy, they provide unmatched comfort and flexibility. The fit is excellent, with an adjustable waistband for a perfect custom fit. I've used them for backpacking, hiking, spelunking, and rock climbing, and they've performed flawlessly every time. Durable and versatile, these pants have become my go-to for any adventure. Highly recommended!” – Devon Men’s Echo Hoodie “This hoodie is absolutely perfect for summer! It's lightweight, comfortable, and fits perfectly. It's a 10/10 and keeps me cool!” – Case “There's not a layer that is more versatile than this hoodie. I leave it scrunched up in the outer pocket of my pack, ready to slip over a tee if the wind picks up or the temp drops. Always looks unwrinkled. It also handwashes easily and dries quickly. One of the lightest items in my pack!” – A-dre Women’s Aspire 3L Jacket “My new go-to outdoor shell. I cannot wait for the wet PNW fall, so I can really put this jacket to the test. There’s no such thing as bad weather, just bad gear. Get the jacket.” – Gabrielle “I had time to hike in full on downpours for over a week in the Sierra and it really held up. I was kept dry, comfortable and it was very breathable. Not once did water soak through and it dried quickly. I love the hood and how well it covered my head—including my hiking hat. I’m extremely impressed with Outdoor Research and this newest Aspire jacket” – Andrea Coze Down Parka “I absolutely love this jacket. I was looking for something that would be warm from top to bottom while walking the dogs or walking around mountain towns on ski trips, and this is perfect for that. It keeps me so warm, my arms, my legs, and my core. I've worn it when it's about 20-37 degrees outside and every time I have it on, I am just amazed with how warm I feel.” – Allie “The best longer-length puffy we’ve come across. Pair it with some tall boots and you’ll stay warm from head to toe.” – Erica “If you’re looking for comfort and warmth you’ve found your coat. It feels like I’m wearing an incredibly comfortable sleeping bag but still looks cute.” – Whitney Women’s Ferrosi Pants “Ferrosi pants are lightweight, dry quickly and are incredibly comfortable. The waistband is soft and non-irritating. A great pant for hiking or everyday activities.” – Elaine “These pants are amazing! Super comfortable like a legging but breathable and dry super quickly! It's flattering and I love the short version. First hiking pants that fits me perfectly!” – Sam | Calgary (9 months ago) Sustainability: Sustainable product manufacturing is a complex and ongoing journey, but it's one we're deeply committed to improving. From increasing recycled material content and sourcing responsible down to powering our facilities with renewable energy, we embrace our role as stewards of the outdoor spaces we cherish. In 2024, we achieved a significant milestone: eliminating PFAS-based waterproofing across our product line. Our Fall 2024 collection proudly features a blend of proprietary and partner-driven PFAS-free solutions, including our innovative AscentShell™ Dry technology and GORE-TEX's advanced ePE membrane. As new materials and technologies emerge, we remain dedicated to refining, improving, and elevating the protective performance of our gear. Collaborations: Mark Abma Skytour AscentShell™ Multicam™ Alpine Collection: Mark’s signature style and legendary mountain feats have earned him icon status among his peers. Since the early eighties, Outdoor Research has crafted elite gear for adventurers, explorers, and special forces personnel worldwide. Launching last November, the Skytour AscentShell™ Multicam™ Alpine Collection combined the expertise of one of freeskiing’s best with our industry-leading Skytour Ascentshell™ Jacket and Bib, featuring the exclusive Multicam Alpine™ camouflage. This limited-edition version of our Skytour AscentShell outerwear kit was a truly a labor of love for our product, marketing, and athlete team to inject energy into OR and showcase the direction of our brand. Blaze Your Trail Sweeps: To celebrate the launch of our Freewheel Mountain Bike Collection, we curated the ultimate mountain bike prize pack. Last June, we introduced the Outdoor Research Blaze Your Trail Sweepstakes, offering over $30,000 in prizes from Pivot Cycles, Dometic, Fox, Race Face, Alaska Airlines, and OR—including an epic grand prize trip to Whistler, B.C. This was the biggest giveaway in OR’s history, providing a fantastic opportunity to connect with our core mountain bike customers and the wider MTB community while collaborating with like-minded, trail-focused brands. Partnerships: Our non-profit partners connect Outdoor Research to the causes and organizations you care about. From conservation and education initiatives to creating access and opportunities for underserved communities, we partner with organizations that create and preserve access to the outdoor spaces we love. In 2024, Outdoor Research donated over $120,000 to our dedicated non-profit partner organizations. In early 2024, we proudly introduced our newest partner, Evergreen Mountain Bike Alliance (EMBA). Since 1989, EMBA, the nation's largest statewide mountain bike association, has represented thousands of riders through eight regional chapters throughout Washington State. EMBA is committed to sustainable recreation, trail maintenance, advocacy, education, volunteerism, and trail building, partnering with public land managers and contributing over 29,000 hours of trail work per year. Volunteer Hours: Balancing the effort of nurturing family and friend relationships with work and everyday tasks makes it challenging to find time to give back to the causes important to our team. Each year, we encourage our team to step away from their daily work duties to donate their time by designating three working days specifically for them to work with their favorite cause or organization, from trail restoration and cleanup to legislative initiatives and regulatory change, social assistance programs, or other philanthropic or charitable causes. In 2024, OR employees donated 268 hours to their communities. Athletes: Our styles are driven by the input of our diverse athlete team. From concept to production, their feedback is critical to developing gear that surpasses our customers' expectations while identifying the details that set our collections apart. From fit to color selection, we rely on the knowledge and experience of our experts who are out there daily and know how outdoor gear and apparel should function and feel. In 2024, we expanded our ambassador team, adding an athlete whose values and passion for their sport mirror our own. We proudly welcomed Tom van Steenbergen to the fold. Events: X-Games Aspen: The annual Winter X Games in Aspen, Colorado were one for the books. The premier winter action sports event of the year was packed with elite performances from the world’s best skiers and snowboarders, along with sneak peaks and gear leaks of next year’s product! OR athletes OR’s own Troy Podmilsak won gold, his first X Games medal, in Men’s Ski Big Air, and Zoe Atkin backed up her gold medal in 2023’s event with a silver in Women’s Ski Superpipe. Crankworx Whistler 2024: Crankworx Whistler 2023 event was our first as a principal sponsor, and we had so much fun that we knew we were going back the day we left. 2024’s event kicked off in July, so we loaded up the van, grabbed our bikes, and headed up I-5 to dive back into the world’s greatest celebration of all things mountain bike. The epic mix of riding, music, parties, and mountain bike culture was a feast for the senses all week long! This year, Outdoor Research Athletes Georgia Astle, Tom Van Steenbergen, Bas Van Steenbergen, and Damon Iwanaga will be competed throughout the week, showcasing their skill and style across a variety of disciplines and events. If you’re a mountain biker, you simply have to make a trip to Crankworx Whistler at least once in your lifetime. Redbull Rampage: Red Bull Rampage, the world’s premier freeride mountain bike competition, returned to the Utah desert in October. For the first time ever, the best female riders on the planet were there to show the rest of the world what they knew all along—they belong front and center on the sport’s biggest stage. OR athletes Georgia Astle and Tom van Steenbergen squared up against the best freeride mountain bikers on the globe on a course that featured heart-stopping drops, massive gaps, and a bevy of perfectly manicured jumps. Georgia shocked the world by placing 2nd in the inaugural women’s event, and Tom threw one of the biggest, scariest tricks ever performed on a mountain bike—a mammoth 60’ front flip off a drop—to secure Best Trick. As the sun set on another historic Red Bull Rampage, it was only natural to start dreaming about what's next. The future is bright for these athletes, and if there's anything we've learned from this year's event, it's that there's always more to come. Flagship Seattle Store Remodel: Over the summer, we put on our hard hats and got to work reimaging and renovating our Flagship Seattle Retail Store. After a few months of pounding nails, painting walls, and installing fixtures, we reopened our doors, and in December we held a grand re-opening with a mix of our closest friends and our local outdoor community. Located in the heart of Seattle’s SODO neighborhood, the completely redesigned 2,900 square-foot store sits on the ground floor of a historic 1926 building that also serves as our corporate headquarters. The new, modern retail space reflects the brand’s evolution over the past four decades and spotlights our growing product offering including mountain bike gear, outerwear, and technical layers and sportswear, alongside award-winning heritage pieces including gloves, gaiters, and headwear. We can’t say it enough – thank you for supporting Outdoor Research in 2024. In a market stacked with high-quality outdoor gear and apparel, we know there are endless options where you can spend your hard-earned dollars. Thank you so much for the opportunity to earn and build your trust in our brand in 2025––we can’t wait to show you what we have on deck!
