Osprey Packs
Osprey Packs

Osprey History

Osprey Art History

Osprey History Timeline

1953- Mike Pfotenhauer, Osprey Packs founder and Head Designer is abandoned as a newborn in Roswell, New Mexico-complete with sample patterns and an odd assortment of buckles in hand.(confirm date)
1974- Mike Pfotenhauer and Laurie White start up Osprey Packs in Santa Cruz, Ca.
1976 – Breathable mesh panel introduced on Osprey packs
1979 – First Osprey travel pack, the Outlander, released upon the masses
1986 - Osprey adds partners Gabriella Salinas and Diane Wren and begins selling packs wholesale
1990 – Mike Pfotenhauer and Diane Wren move Osprey into former Gore-Tex factory in Dolores, CO (population 864). Hires new skilled workforce, primarily from Navajo Reservation. 

 

1993 - Osprey introduces the Isis an innovative custom fit women's backpack, the first in a legacy of women's custom fit
1994 - Osprey moves production to new location in Cortez, Co.
1995 – Pika kid’s pack receives Backpacker Magazine Editor’s Choice Award
1995 – Recycled HDPE framesheets introduced in Osprey Packs
1998 - Mike Pfotenhauer literally dreams the Straightjacket suspension compression system
1998 –Osprey ErgoPull hipbelt closure and introduced to the masses and changes backpack hipbelts forever.
1999 - Osprey expands facility in Cortez and all operations are moved from Dolores.
2000 - Osprey begins to move some production offshore to Korea and Vietnam
2002 - Aether 60 receives the Grand GG award from Outdoor Life Network
2003 - Aether 75 receives the Outside Magazine Gear of the Year Award
2003- Osprey partners Mike Pfotenhauer and Diane Wren and family move to Vietnam
2003- Design and Quality Control Center in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) is formed with Vietnamese staff  
2004- Switch 55+5 is awarded Editors' Choice by Backpacker Magazine
2005 - Osprey introduces Custom Molding technology
2005-Osprey Atmos 50 is awarded the 2005 Outside Magazine Gear of the Year Award
2006-Osprey Meridian 22, the first wheeled travel pack designed by Osprey Packs, wins the 2006 Outside Magazine Gear of the Year Award
2007-Osprey Circuit daypack designed using 71% recycled materials by content is awarded Outside Magazine’s Green Gear of the Year Award
2007-Osprey expands Cortez, Colorado headquarters incorporating LEED like standards and adding an additional 3600 square feet of office space
2008-Osprey Packs Inc awarded REI’s Vendor Partner of the Year Award
2008-Osprey expands U.S staff to a total of 29 Team Members while the Vietnam Design Studio increases to 12
2008-Osprey selected by Outside Magazine as one of America’s Best Places to work
2009-Osprey celebrates 35 years of independent design and innovation
2009-Osprey Exos 46 awarded Outside Magazine’s Gear of the Year Award
2009-Osprey Ace 48 receives Backpacker Magazine’s Editor’s Choice Award
2009-Osprey receives Outside Magazine’s Best Places to Work Award for the second year in a row
2009-Osprey awarded REI’s Vendor Partner of the Year-Camping Division
2009-Osprey Packs expands product warranty coverage introducing the All Mighty Guarantee-Any Reason, Any Product, Any Era
2009-The Osprey Exos 46 wins a 2009 Good Design Award for the World’s Best Design
2009-Osprey Manta 25 hydration pack receives Gold Industry Award for design from Outdoor Europe
2010-Osprey releases first dedicated hydration packs, the revolutionary Hydraulics™ Series featuring the Manta and Raptor.
2010-Osprey Raptor 6 receives 2010 Best of Adventure Award from National Geographic Adventure Magazine

 
 
Osprey Packs