Outdoor Research founder Ron Gregg, a nuclear physicist by profession, was a man who truly lived his passion for adventure. He saw the outdoors as the ultimate workplace, referring to the mountains, rivers, and oceans he often explored as "The Big Office."

In 1980, Ron watched his frostbitten partner get airlifted off a glacier during a summit attempt on Denali. He'd spent months planning a new route in the purest style, skiing 100 miles from the road to the base of the climb. Halfway to the summit, their trip ended because of the failure of a pair of gaiters. Stubborn to the end, Ron refused a seat on the helicopter and descended alone for two weeks back to his car, pondering what had happened.

Somewhere along the way, he realized he could fix the gear problem and devote his life to pursuing his passion for adventure. By the end, he knew one thing: He wasn't returning to his old job.

Back in Seattle, Ron reacted by searching for a solution to prevent this situation from happening again. The result was a functional, insulated gaiter, the X-Gaiter™, which held snugly and was versatile enough to fit a variety of boots. The following year, Outdoor Research was founded from this original inspiration and its resultant innovation.

Our Products

In the 1980s and early 90s, Outdoor Research built a reputation on functional, quality outdoor gear that pushed the limits of innovative possibilities. Ron led a function-forward approach to creating solutions that allowed people to explore the outdoors with the best protection against the elements. Today, we still manufacture, sell, and earn awards for these same products year after year. Our gear and commitment to innovation stand the test of time.

Our Manufacturing

We've been building outdoor gear and apparel in Seattle since 1981. Creating American jobs and building Made in the USA products are a hallmark of our business. Today, we operate out of two U.S. factories, one of which shares our corporate headquarters in Seattle, WA, and another in El Monte, CA. The proximity to our production floors allows us to make, test, improve, and distribute our products with accelerated speed and efficiency. This accessibility and expertise allowed us to respond to the medical community's needs in 2020 by manufacturing PPE for essential healthcare personnel.

Our Athletes

Our athletes are community builders who pursue greatness through their sports with passion, style, and fortitude. Our styles are driven by their input, and their feedback is critical to develop gear to meet and exceed our customer’s 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 every day and know how outdoor gear and apparel should function and feel.

Our Community

Outdoor Research Community Partners work to create safe, accessible, and equitable outdoor spaces for current and future generations. These organizations help us reach a broader base of new outdoor enthusiasts. We support them with funding, events, volunteerism, and sharing content that helps amplify their voices and the voices of the community members they serve.

Our Films

Outdoor Research Films use media as a vehicle to tell the stories of our athletes, community members, ambassadors for change, and non-profit partners who challenge us to do better and think together.