Outdoor Goods History

By rar276
  • Raft

    The first known use of a raft in whitewater by John Freemont
  • Tent

    The first patented tent was invented by Henry Hopkins Sibley
  • Sleeping Bag

    The "Euklisia Rug sleeping bag", patented by Pryce Pryce-Jones
  • Swiss Army Knife

    Swiss cutlery company Victorinox began manufacturing the Soldier’s Knife in 1891.
  • Kerosene Burner

    the first pressurized-burner kerosene (paraffin) stove, was developed in 1892 by Frans Wilhelm Lindqvist
  • Crampon Snow Shoes

    English engineer and mountaineer Oscar Eckenstein Grivel created the 10-Point Crampon
  • Frame Backpack

    Ole F. Bergan created a prototype of a framepack using a juniper branch that he bent into the back of his pack for additional support.
  • Carabiner

    Otto “Rambo” Herzog saw firefighters practicing rescue with carabiners, and saw their potential for climbing applications.
  • Outdoor Boot

    LL Bean created a durable and weather-resistant boot suitable for exploring Maine’s woods.
  • Insulated Bottle

    William Stanley invented a certain new and useful Improvements in metal-insulated vacuum bottles
  • Down Sleeping Bag

    Ajungilak release their first down sleeping bag
  • Compass

    Silva release first fluid filled orienteering compass
  • Down Jacket

    Eddie Bauer formed Arctic Feather & Down Co. to manufacture his blizzard proof down jackets
  • Virbam Sole

    Vibram rubber mountaineering sole launched by Vitale Bramani
  • Velcro

    George de Mestral conceives Velcro
  • Thule Basket

    Erik Thulindeveloped the first easily transportable modular roof basket
  • Neoprene Wetsuit

    Jack O’Neill began selling what he claims were the world’s first wetsuits made of neoprene.
  • Surfboard

    Hobie Alter created the first urethane foam surfboard
  • Ski Boot

    Bob Lange created a ski boot with a thermoplastic shell, hinged cuff, and latching buckles
  • Skateboard

    Larry Stevenson created a surfboard for the road, which he called a skateboard
  • Snowboard

    Sherman Poppen created the Snurfer an early iteration of a snowboard later created by Burton
  • Windsurfing

    Hoyle Schweitzer and Jim Drake combined surfing and sailing to create windsurfing
  • Sorel Boot

    Sorel was the first boot brand to unite leather, vulcanized rubber felt liners for warmth
  • Trekking Poles

    Karl Lenhardt developed trekking poles
  • Fleece

    Patagonia tried alternatives to wool insulation creating fleece
  • Camelbak

    Michael Eidson created the camelbak