Wow, what a year! 2023 was a wild one for us here at Outdoor Research. Material technology and design innovation powered the development of new styles and the reimagining of heritage pieces, we expanded our inclusive sizing offerings across all categories, set ambitious sustainability targets, won a major international award, and threw a giant party in Whistler—just to name a few of the highlights. To all our existing customers, thank you for joining us along the journey. And for those of you who are just discovering Outdoor Research, welcome to the family! We have big plans for 2024, but for now let’s take a moment to look back at some of the achievements we’re most proud of from last year.

1. Product Innovations

In 2023, we proudly introduced over 300 new colors and styles to our product assortment. We embraced modern technologies and design processes to reimagine heritage styles, conducted market research to find out exactly what our customers want from their gear, spent far too much time flipping through color books, and brought bold and innovative new styles that redefine product categories to market. Stand-out styles from the 2023 collection include:

SPRING

FALL

 2. Award Winners

Every year, ISPO, the international industry leader in outdoor news, trends, and background information, recognizes game-changing products that redefine or establish new product categories with its coveted ISPO award. Out of the new products we launched in 2023, one really stood out to our internal team, early product testers, and customers for its unique construction and features as a probable ISPO award winner—the Deviator Hoodie.

Early in the Deviator Hoodie's re-design process, we knew what problem we wanted to solve, and our goal was clear – to provide our customers with a versatile layer that seamlessly blends weather protection and unmatched breathability for running, cycling, hiking, and even backcountry touring in chilly climates. Our approach involved strategically placing insulation on the jacket’s exposed areas—the shoulders, hood, chest, and top of the arms while incorporating ultra-breathable and stretchy grid fleece on the underarms, sides, and back. We knew we were on to something.

We sent the jacket all the way to Germany to be pulled, probed, stretched, and examined to find out if their discriminating testers agreed. The results? We walked away with another ISPO award, now proudly on display in our home office in Seattle, Washington. Check out the award-winning Deviator here -> Men's | Women's

 

A woman runs along a trail during winter


3. 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 2023, 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 2024, so you too can discover the must-have items everyone is raving about!

MEN'S

Men's Echo Hoodie

    • This is my go-to top for all summer outings—hiking, sup, climbing, lounging on the beach. I own 4. – Clay
    • Great sun shirt - ultra light fabric. So Comfortable. Almost like not wearing a shirt at all but all the benefits of UV protection and breathability. – Brian
    • One of the best layering pieces I have ever used. Originally used for sun protection in the desert, but over time have discovered that this is a wonderful base layer year around. Would recommend this a must have base layer for anyone who spends time outdoors. – Daniel

Men's Ferrosi Pants

    • These are truly a do-it-all pant, great technical pants for hiking and getting outdoors in mild temperatures, but also look good on the street. Highly recommend these. – Get Outside
    • Great hiking pants. What I have decided for me is that these are the equivalent to yoga pants for women, I wear them everywhere. – Michael
    • Wore for a week, still looked fresh. Repelled rain. Washed in hotel sink, dried overnight. Wish I'd found them years ago! – Stan

Men's Foray II Jacket

    • Excellent fit & features, and waterproofing can't be beat- worn today in a torrential downpour and was dry (and comfortable) all day long. – Siri
    • This thing is the perfect shell; super lightweight and water proof. Perfect for stuffing it into your day pack, commuter, or weekender bag. – Dave
    • I found this jacket to be the perfect rain jacket for so many situations, it's packable, light, and super versatile. The extended pit zips are the biggest selling point for me and what I think sets it apart. – Bridger

WOMEN'S

 Women's Echo Hoodie

    • I have tried numerous sun hoodies by different companies, and this is by far the best in terms of breathability and comfort. Great features include a pony tail slit in the hood and thumbholes. The best thing about this hoody is the lightweight breathable material. – Sarah
    • This is my third Echo Hoodie and I love them! Super light and comfortable, you almost forget you are wearing it... – Michaela
    • I wore this shirt 18 days of a 21 day trip rafting down the Colorado River. Better than sunblock on my skin, breathable in the 100 degree temps, held up to swims in the muddy water, and washed well with Bronners soap. I'm buying more! – Denise

Women's Coze Down Parka

    • Hands down, this is the best thing I've ever bought for myself. Oddly enough, I live in Duluth, MN and have never been a huge fan of the cold. But this coat makes it tolerable. It feels like a cozy hug…or like walking outdoors in a sleeping bag. – Molly
    • Literally the warmest coat ever. I was recently in 32 degree windy weather all day and everyone was jealous of my coat. I did not feel cold AT ALL. This coat might be made of magic. – Jackie
    • To say I love this coat would be an understatement! I am usually always cold and this bad boy keeps me SO warm! I took it to Minnesota where the temps were -10F and with two basic layers under it, I was warm! – Jen

 Women's Trail Mix Cowl

    • I want to live in this sweater, it's the most comfortable, no fuss, winter sweater I've ever purchased. Definitely will be getting more colors! – Dani
    • I now have two of these pullovers because I love them so much. Living in Alaska means I need warm clothing, and this does not disappoint. Love the fit too! – Maria
    • ...add a cowl neck, of course. This thing is as cozy and warm as it gets. Funny thing, when the temperature rises, the Trail Mix series seems to self-regulate really well. From a base layer on cold winter days to a standalone on shoulder seasons, you won't be disappointed in any of the Trail Mix line, trust me, I now have 4 pieces! - Charlie

 4. Sustainability

After years in the making, we released our company’s inaugural annual impact report in August 2023. The extensive effort required to accomplish this task cannot be understated. From setting carbon emission baselines and evaluating material compositions across our entire collection to converting our energy draw for our North American facilities to 100% renewable sources, our dedicated sustainability team worked tirelessly to aggregate data into a comprehensive report. This included reducing our Scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) to essentially zero and setting a science-aligned sustainability target for reducing our Scope 3 greenhouse gas emissions per unit of volume added by 48% by 2030. You can view the report in its entirety here.

 5. Inclusive Sizing

Outdoor Research continues to lead the industry in the outdoor apparel inclusive sizing category, offering a robust collection of technical gear in sizes up to 4X. In 2023, we increased our YoY plus-size style count by 40%, adding pieces in key categories to further align with our brand pillar of outdoors for everyone.

6. Partnerships

Our non-profit partner strategy centers on connecting Outdoor Research to the causes and organizations our customers value. From conservation and education initiatives to creating access and opportunities for underserved communities, we aim to create and preserve access for all to the outdoor spaces we love. In 2023, Outdoor Research donated over $120,000 to our curated partner organizations and generated an additional $110,000 through our VIP Pro Program. This past December, we proudly introduced our newest partner, Big City Mountaineers. Big City Mountaineers curates transformative outdoor experiences to traditionally underserved youth through free, fully outfitted, professionally led outdoor and backcountry trips, allowing participants to discover outdoor spaces, improve their mental and physical health, enhance their social-emotional well-being, and instill a sense of joy.

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7. Volunteer Hours

Balancing the effort of nurturing family and friend relationships with the tasks of everyday life often makes it challenging to set aside time to give back to the causes our team members relate to. Each year, we offer our employees the opportunity to step away from their daily work duties to donate their time. We set aside three working days for our employees to get out of the office and 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 2023, OR employees donated 175 hours to programs of their choosing.

8. Ambassadors

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 2023, we expanded and refined our ambassador team, adding four athletes whose values and passion for their sport mirrored our own. We’re proud to welcome Damon Iwanaga, Bas Von Steenbergen, Georgia Astle, and Max Djenohan into the fold.

9. Films

Outdoor Research founder Ron Gregg died in an avalanche in Kokanee Glacier Provincial Park, B.C., while backcountry skiing on March 17, 2003. His relentless passion for immersing himself in what he called "The Big Office" gave him first-hand insights on building outdoor gear that outperformed other gear available on the market while allowing him to be away from his desk and doing the outdoor activities he loved as much as possible.

In early 2023, 20 years after Ron's accident, Outdoor Research ambassadors Mark Abma, Neil Provo, Ian Provo, and Zach Giffin traveled to British Columbia to retrace Gregg's steps. What began as a seasonal photoshoot evolved into a compelling narrative––a project that prompted Gregg's friends and family to share insights into his legacy while sparking a broader discussion about the role of risk-taking in the winter backcountry while pursuing the experiences and emotions that make people feel alive. The result is our 2023 brand film "Any Fool Knows."

Watch the film here.

10. Events

Outdoor Research sponsored several events in 2023, but none bigger than the world’s premier mountain bike festival, Crankworx Whistler. Every year, tens of thousands of mountain bikers and fans of mountain biking descend on Whistler, B.C., to revel in the spectacle of insane downhill and freestyle competitions that dot an amazing week of thrilling mountain bike riding. Our partnership with Crankworx served as a launching pad for the upcoming Freewheel Mountain Bike Collection, an embodiment of our history of progressive technical apparel design, available this spring. Our cutting-edge materials and innovative technologies are tailor-made for the rigors of mountain biking, and we can’t wait to unveil the collection to the world. Coming Spring 2024.

We can’t say it enough – thank you for supporting Outdoor Research. In a market stacked with high-quality outdoor gear and apparel, we know there are many options where you choose to spend your money. We appreciate the opportunity to earn and build your trust in our brand in 2024, and we can’t wait to show you what we have on deck.

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