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Outdoor Research history
Outdoor Research company history timeline
Outdoor Research became that company, established in 1981.
1981: Outdoor Research is founded.
In 1982, REI, whose mailed catalogs were dog-eared by back-country enthusiasts in search of equipment, agreed to include Gregg's first-aid kit in its catalog, but the retail co-op gave the Outdoor Research product only a modicum of visibility.
Joining him was Randy King, a future vice-president and minority owner in Outdoor Research who came to Gregg's aid in 1983.
In 1984, OR Modular Mitts™ again revolutionized standards in the outdoor industry.
Brooks Ranger Overboots™ were introduced in 1988 to insulate the feet of the coldest of cold-weather adventurers.
The company developed a small but loyal base of customers who gave the OR brand a "utilitarian chic," as the Seattle Times called it in a March 20, 1997 article.
1998: The first Outdoor Research retail store is opened, concurrent with the debut of a line of women's apparel.
On March 17, 2003 the unthinkable rocked OR. While skiing the backcountry of British Columbia, Canada, Ron and a friend were caught and killed in an avalanche.
Since the summer of 2003, every aspect of OR has been scrutinized and improved - from product development to customer service to marketing, shipping, and beyond.
In 2003, the company began reaching out to its customers in the form of the Lab Rat program.
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Outdoor Research competitors
| Company name | Founded date | Revenue | Employee size | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| REI | 1938 | $3.1B | 15,000 | 127 |
| Outdoor Gear Exchange | 1995 | $30.2M | 50 | 5 |
| Eastern Mountain Sports | 1967 | $1.3B | 1,000 | - |
| Lolly Wolly Doodle | 2008 | $11.0M | 250 | - |
| Patagonia | 1974 | $209.1M | 1,000 | 15 |
| Mountain Gear | 1983 | $1.3M | 50 | - |
| Columbia Sportswear | 1938 | $3.4B | 8,900 | 329 |
| Campmor | 1978 | $66.1M | 300 | - |
| Thermal Solutions Manufacturing | 1915 | $79.0M | 350 | 1 |
| Uncas Manufacturing | 2014 | $610,000 | 7 | - |
Outdoor Research history FAQs
Zippia gives an in-depth look into the details of Outdoor Research, including salaries, political affiliations, employee data, and more, in order to inform job seekers about Outdoor Research. The employee data is based on information from people who have self-reported their past or current employments at Outdoor Research. The data on this page is also based on data sources collected from public and open data sources on the Internet and other locations, as well as proprietary data we licensed from other companies. Sources of data may include, but are not limited to, the BLS, company filings, estimates based on those filings, H1B filings, and other public and private datasets. While we have made attempts to ensure that the information displayed are correct, Zippia is not responsible for any errors or omissions or for the results obtained from the use of this information. None of the information on this page has been provided or approved by Outdoor Research. The data presented on this page does not represent the view of Outdoor Research and its employees or that of Zippia.
Outdoor Research may also be known as or be related to Outdoor Research and Outdoor Research, LLC.