Osprey Packs, Inc., an independent pack company located in the high desert and mountains of Southwestern Colorado, introduced a new collection of youth backpacks this spring, the Sprint Series, and they are now available in retail stores in North America and worldwide.

The Sprint Series brings Osprey’s legacy of deluxe custom fit to kid backpacks, and was designed with the understanding that a child’s body dimensions, proportions, and biomechanical properties are markedly different than those of an adult. These packs provide the best carry of any youth packs on the market by combining ergonomically correct fit, technical features tailor-made for youth, and Osprey’s signature design, quality, customization and durability.

“We’ve already seen great demand for these packs from our customers. These are high quality packs with sharp pricing. They have a large range of adjustment, so they essentially grow with the child, providing years of value,” said Gareth Martins, director of Marketing for Osprey. “The Sprint Series brings custom fit and comfort to young hikers – an essential for making the outdoor experience enjoyable. We hope these packs will help parents share their love and reverence for the outdoors with their children.”

Osprey understands the importance of distinguishing the dimensional, proportional and biomechanical difference between children and adults, and engaged Spine Colorado as an independent contractor to design and test the Sprint Series packs. Based in Durango, Colo., Spine Colorado currently acts as a regional center of excellence for back and neck problems, and receives the most complex cases of back and neck pain from across the state of Colorado.

The Sprint Series is comprised of three pack sizes best suited for children between the ages of eight and 16. Each pack offers five inches of torso adjustability. Some key features of the Ace 48 (2900 cubic inches), the Jib 35 (2100 cubic inches) and the Imp 23 (1400 cubic inches) include: an aluminum frame with rigid foam framesheet, Osprey’s AirScape ventilated foam backpanel, perforated EVA harness with mesh outer, size adjustable foam hipbelt with spacer mesh outer, a built-in rain cover and hydration compatibility.

The Ace 48, Jib 35 and Imp 23 are available in the colors Blue Yonder and Cherry Shake and retail for $149, $129 and $99 respectively.

From now until May 10th, if you buy an Osprey Pack from Moosejaw, they guarantee that you’ll love it. Go ahead and use and abuse the backpack. If its not your favorite pack ever, just send it back within 60 days of your purchase date for a full refund. No questions asked and Moosejaw will cover the shipping both ways.

Recreational Equipment, Inc. (REI), a national retail cooperative providing quality outdoor gear and clothing, announced its 2007 vendor partner awards at the winter Outdoor Retailer trade show. Osprey Packs, Inc., best known for it high-performance outdoor gear, received top honors as REI’s Vendor Partner-of-the-Year.

“REI is honored to work with some of the most innovative companies in the retail industry today,” said Angela Owen, REI’s vice president of merchandising. “It is our pleasure to recognize some of our partners in the outdoor industry who are leading the way.”

The annual awards program, established in 1993, recognizes three key vendors and one overall vendor partner-of-the-year for efforts that have built a strategic and successful relationship with REI. The co-op’s three merchandising divisions – camp/travel, action sports and outdoorwear – nominate companies based on several measures, including financial performance, community and industry involvement and product quality, among others. In addition, REI retail employees vote from the slate of nominees to help determine the winners.

“We’re proud to recognize Osprey as our 2007 Vendor Partner-of-the-Year because of its technical and innovative products, strong sales performance, and company values, including a solid commitment to corporate and social responsibility,” said Owen. “This year REI and Osprey partnered in an exclusive early launch of its ReSource product line, made almost entirely from recycled materials. We have great confidence in Osprey as an excellent business partner, now and into the future.”

This year’s top award recipient, Osprey is based in Cortez, Colo. and has more than 32 years of pack-making experience. From its humble beginnings building custom backpacks and sleeping bags in Santa Cruz, Calif. to its current recognition as an industry leader, its mission is to create innovative high-performance gear that reflects a love of adventure, and a devotion to the outdoors and the environment. For more information, visit ospreypacks.com.

The other 2007 vendor partner award winners are:

• Camp/Travel Division Winner: Big Agnes (Steamboat Springs, Colo.) – Named for a peak in the nearby Mt. Zirkel Wilderness, Big Agnes, Inc. produces award-winning sleeping bags, pads and tents. For more information, visit bigagnes.com.

• Action Sports Division Winner: Electra Bicycle Company, LLC (Vista, Calif.) – Since 1993, Electra has stayed true to its commitment to bring its customers the finest cruiser and comfort bikes in the world. Marrying great designs with the best technology available, Electra creates bicycles that are meant to be enjoyed, ridden and treasured, not just admired. For more information, visit electrabike.com.

• Outdoorwear Division Winner: Mountain Hardwear (Richmond, Calif.) – Established in 1993 by a group of outdoor industry veterans, Mountain Hardwear makes cutting-edge mountaineering and outdoor equipment, apparel and accessories for the most extreme conditions. The company distributes its products through specialty outdoor and sporting goods retailers in the U.S. and more than 40 countries worldwide. For more information, visit mountainhardwear.com.

Other vendor partner award nominees included Arc’Teryx, Black Diamond Equipment, Ltd., CamelBak Products, LLC, Clif Bar, Inc., Hydro-Photon, Inc., Outdoor Research, Patagonia, SmartWool, Thule, Todson and Vasque.

Past recipients of the REI Vendor Partner-of-the-Year Award include Yakima (1993), Black Diamond Equipment (1994, 2006), Vasque (1995, 1996), Bell Sports (1997), Columbia Sportswear (1998), Atlas Snowshoe (1999), Eagle Creek (2000), Cascade Designs (2001), Smith Sport Optics (2002), prAna (2003), Keen Footwear (2004) and Eagle Creek (2005).

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Looking to get out of town with everything you need strapped to your back? The Osprey Packs Waypoint Series are designed to get you and your gear comfortably to your worldwide destination. And once you arrive, Osprey made sure you’ll have the freedom to take day trips with the detachable daypack. The big dog of the line, the Waypoint 80, comes in both a Mens and Womens specific fit. Both styles of backpacks boast the comfort and wearability of a trekking pack with the features and convenience of a travel bag. They share the same proven lightweight and comfortable Ethereal suspension as the Osprey Aether. Interchangeable IsoForm harnesses help you customize the fit while a built in ErgoPull hipbelt keeps the load comfortably on your hips without being bulky. The men’s Waypoint packs are sized in medium and large torso lengths with male specific harness and hipbelt. The women’s Waypoint packs are sized in small and medium torso lengths with female specific harness and hipbelt.

Osprey Packs has set a Retail Price of $260 for the Waypoint 80 Backpack

Buy The Mens Pack Online Right Now @ MooseJaw.com
Buy The Womens Pack Online Right Now @ MooseJaw.com
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On October 3, Marilyn Cieszykowski, partner of Gareth Martins, director of marketing at Osprey Packs, was seriously injured during a bicycle crash in the highlands of Ecuador. Friends of Gareth and Marilyn are asking for support for a longtime industry member, and friend, in need.

A remarkable coordinated effort was made to medical air evacuate Cieszykowski to Denver University Hospital to receive emergency care within 48 hours. She sustained several serious injuries in the crash, including brain injuries and fractures to two vertebrae and the skull. While many aspects of her prognosis cannot be fully predicted at this time, the overall outlook is for a strong, full recovery over time. Her progress can be followed at www.marilync.blogspot.com

The exorbitant costs of medical air evacuation from a foreign country were not covered by health insurance. Fundraising efforts, organized by Osprey and the local community, have already raised more than a tenth of the incurred debt. An additional event to be held on Nov. 17 will bring further relief. But there is a long a way to go with over $50,000 of outstanding debt remaining.

Anyone interested in making a tax-deductible contribution can send a check to:

Greater Dolores Action
In the memo write “Marilyn Fund”
PO Box 14
Dolores, CO 81323

For more information, please contact Mary Buchmayr at Verde PR, mary@verdepr.com, or Sam Mix at Osprey, sam@ospreypacks.com.

Osprey Packs, Inc., an independent pack company located in the high desert and mountains of Southwestern Colorado, reports the completion of their headquarters expansion project.

Osprey is proud to have incorporated elements of LEED and sustainable building standards into the project. Sustainable choices included: Non-VOC paints, insulation comprised of recycled blue jeans, solar-tracking skylights that allow for a 75-percent reduction in electricity use, recycled carpet padding, recycled ceiling tiles, and waterless urinals. Additionally, cabinet backings were pre-finished to prevent off-gassing and the heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system was upgraded with improved air filters.

Expansion to the Osprey Worldwide headquarters in Cortez, Colo. was necessary to accommodate unparalleled recent growth and the required staffing increases to meet growing demand. The project converted an underutilized storage area into a 3,200-square-foot office space and conference room with views of the La Plata Mountains and Mesa Verde National Park.

The Cortez headquarters house Osprey’s U.S. Distribution Center and Sales, Marketing, Product Development, Customer Service, Warranty/Repairs and Operations.

Osprey Packs, Inc., an independent pack company located in the high desert and mountains of Southwestern Colorado, proudly reports the success of their expanded Volunteer Incentive Program for 2007 with a total of 160 volunteer hours reported.

The Volunteer Incentive Program encourages Osprey Team Members to donate their time and energy to local environmental and community organizations by allowing up to eight hours of paid volunteer time per year.

Introduced in 2006, Osprey’s Volunteer Incentive Program was revitalized for 2007 with a goal of increasing opportunities and participation among Osprey team members.

Volunteer projects for 2007 included: The Colorado Fourteeners Initiative Volunteer Trails Weekend, The Lower Gunnison River Clean-up with Chaco and the Bureau of Land Management, The Rose Wildlife Rehabilitation Center Project, The Cortez Parks and Recreation Carpenter Trail Erosion Project and The Cortez Senior Center Volunteer Day.

The projects represent Osprey’s continued evolution as an outdoor industry and community leader, becoming more eco-conscious and socially relevant through enhancement of local environmental and community well being.

Osprey hopes to continue the expansion of the program each year, making stepwise increases in opportunities and hours to allow for greater reach and scope of action.

For more information on the Osprey Packs Volunteer Incentive Program and how this exciting model can work for your community or organization, please contact: sam@ospreypacks.com

Osprey Packs, Inc., an independent pack and travel company located in the high desert and mountains of Southwestern Colorado, proudly announces the promotion of Phil Schmitt to chief information officer, a newly created position for the company.

“Osprey is committed to a strong technology base to support our dealers and sales team during this exciting growth period for our company,” said Tom Barney, Osprey’s CEO. “Phil brings to the CIO role terrific experience and enthusiasm. Our partners can expect the same advances in IT as they have seen in Osprey’s pack and travel lines as a result of Phil’s leadership.”

In his new role, Schmitt will lead the expansion of Osprey‘s technological support systems surrounding the company’s growing pack and travel business. He will oversee all hardware and software upgrades, Osprey’s Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software, data management and dealer and sales team member support. Schmitt will also maintain his role as associate sales manager, working with and supporting Osprey dealers. His new position is effective immediately.

Schmitt has been a valued member of the Osprey team for over six years, beginning his career in customer service and moving up through sales management. Additionally, he has made numerous contributions in the areas of technology and purchasing support. Prior to joining Osprey, Schmitt worked in sales and buying at River Sports in Knoxville while attending the University of Tennessee.

About Osprey Packs
From its humble beginnings building custom backpacks and sleeping bags in Santa Cruz California, to its current recognition as an industry leader, Osprey has always flown its own course. Their mission is to create innovative high performance gear that reflects a love of adventure and a devotion to the outdoors and the environment. Osprey defines success when it meets the demanding expectation of its most discerning customers. Based in Cortez, Colorado, Osprey has over thirty-two years of pack-making experience.

Osprey Packs, Inc., an independent pack company located in the high desert and mountains of Southwestern Colorado, announces an extension of its successful pack recycling program in partnership with The Mountain Fund.

The program was originally launched on March 1, 2007 and was slated to expire at the end of September. It will now continue through the end of the year.

Osprey and The Mountain Fund encourage pack owners to “Pass on the Passion” with the Triple ‘R’ Offer – Recycle and Redeem for Reuse. Donate old daypacks or backpacks by Dec. 31, 2007 and the packs will be routed for reuse with a wide variety of organizations focused on improving the quality of life in mountain communities. As a thank you, you’ll receive a 10-percent refund from Osprey when you purchase a new Osprey pack at your favorite retailer.

To date the program has received over 100 packs for re-use by organizations such as Outdoor Outreach in San Diego, Maywood Environmental Park in Sheboygan, Wis., The Alpine Fund in Kyrgyzstan, Empowering the Women of Nepal, Girls’ Education International in Pakistan, the ClimbHigh Foundation in Uganda and others.

If you’ve already purchased your new Osprey backpack, Download the rebate flyer and follow the instructions on how to send in your old pack and get your 10% rebate. If you haven’t bought your new Osprey backpack yet, we encourage you to use exclusive coupon code 22111 for 11% off full priced or 6% off on-sale backpacks and gear @ MooseJaw.com.