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Osprey History Timeline
1974 – Mike Pfotenhauer and Laurie White start up Osprey Packs in Santa Cruz, Ca.
1976 – Breathable mesh panel introduced on Osprey packs
1977 – Osprey offers custom fit internal frame mountaineering packs
1978- Slide adjustable chest strap introduced on Osprey packs
1979 – First Osprey travel pack – the Outlander
1982 – Outside magazine reviews 2.5 lb. 4000 cu. in Ariel backpack
1984 – Convertible top pocket/fanny pack is introduced
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.
1991 – Fortune Magazine profiles Osprey in article on “America ’s Best”
1992 – Women’s harness and hipbelt introduced
1993 - Osprey introduces the Isis an innovative custom fit women's backpack, the first in a legacy of women's custom fit
1994- Fusion EX Suspension is introduced
1994 - Osprey develops first diecut laminated and taped shoulder straps
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
1995- Osprey’s first email address acquired
1995 – Osprey begins annual canyon testing trips with sales force
1996 – Vector compression/accessory add-on system introduced
1997 – Osprey begins sewing Leave No Trace principle tags into their backpacks
1997 – Osprey athlete, Anatoli Boukreev summits Everest, Lhotse, Gasherbrum II and Broad Peak
1998 - Mike Pfotenhauer literally dreams the Straightjacket suspension compression system
1998 – ErgoPull hipbelt closure introduced
1998 – Advent wins Editor’s Choice from Backpacker Magazine
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
2001– Osprey begins adding independent distributors around the globe
2001- Erik Weihenmayer becomes the first blind climber to summit Everest while wearing an Aether 60. Erik and his Aether 60 make the cover of Time magazine.
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
2004 – Osprey’s first dedicated travel line is introduced
2005 - Osprey introduces Custom Molding technology |
