Osprey History Timeline

1974 – Mike Pfotenhauer and Laurie White start up Osprey Packs in Santa Cruz, Ca.

1976 – Breathable mesh panel introduced on Osprey packs

1977 – Osprey offers custom fit internal frame mountaineering packs

1978- Slide adjustable chest strap introduced on Osprey packs

1979 – First Osprey travel pack – the Outlander

1982 – Outside magazine reviews 2.5 lb. 4000 cu. in Ariel backpack

1984 – Convertible top pocket/fanny pack is introduced

1986 - Osprey adds partners Gabriella Salinas and Diane Wren and begins selling packs wholesale

1990 – Mike Pfotenhauer and Diane Wren move Osprey into former Gore-tex factory in Dolores, CO (population 864). Hires new skilled workforce, primarily from Navajo Reservation.

1991 – Fortune Magazine profiles Osprey in article on “America ’s Best”

1992 – Women’s harness and hipbelt introduced

1993 - Osprey introduces the Isis an innovative custom fit women's backpack, the first in a legacy of women's custom fit

1994- Fusion EX Suspension is introduced

1994 - Osprey develops first diecut laminated and taped shoulder straps

1994 - Osprey moves production to new location in Cortez, Co.

1995 – Pika kid’s pack receives Backpacker Magazine Editor’s Choice Award

1995 – Recycled HDPE framesheets introduced in Osprey Packs

1995- Osprey’s first email address acquired

1995 – Osprey begins annual canyon testing trips with sales force

1996 – Vector compression/accessory add-on system introduced

1997 – Osprey begins sewing Leave No Trace principle tags into their backpacks

1997 –  Osprey athlete, Anatoli Boukreev summits Everest, Lhotse, Gasherbrum II and Broad Peak

1998 - Mike Pfotenhauer literally dreams the Straightjacket suspension compression system

1998 – ErgoPull hipbelt closure introduced

1998 – Advent wins Editor’s Choice from Backpacker Magazine

1999 - Osprey expands facility in Cortez and all operations are moved from Dolores.

2000 - Osprey begins to move some production offshore to Korea and Vietnam

2001– Osprey begins adding independent distributors around the globe

2001- Erik Weihenmayer becomes the first blind climber to summit Everest while wearing an Aether 60. Erik and his Aether 60 make the cover of Time magazine.

2002 - Aether 60 receives the Grand GG award from Outdoor Life Network

2003 - Aether 75 receives the Outside Magazine Gear of the Year Award

2003- Osprey partners Mike Pfotenhauer and Diane Wren and family move to Vietnam

2003 – Design and Quality Control Center in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) is formed with Vietnamese staff  

2004- Switch 55+5 is awarded Editors' Choice by Backpacker Magazine

2004 – Osprey’s first dedicated travel line is introduced

2005 - Osprey introduces Custom Molding technology