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. inch 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

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 30 team members while the Vietnam Design Studio increases to 14

2008 Osprey selected by Outside Magazine as one of America’s Best Places to Work

2009 Osprey 35th Anniversary Celebration – stay tuned for more!