Each year we highlight outdoor brands that are giving back—doing good in our communities and around the world. Usually, we focus on their environmental or social missions, but with the novel COVID-19 virus dominating every headline, we decided to switch gears and let you know how our brands are working hard to aid in the fight against the current pandemic.

 

Altra

Altra is part of the VF family of brands (The North Face, Vans, Smartwool, etc). The VF Foundation has pledged $1.5M and will also match your donations 2-to-1 for the Global Giving Coronavirus Relief Fund (up to an additional $500,000) to amplify collective impact. Altra is also offering free workouts & an online film festival to keep you healthy and entertained at home.

Arc’teryx

Cascade Designs

Cascade Designs is a family of brands (MSR, Thermarest, Platypus, Seal Line). In support of the medical teams fighting to protect our health, they have transitioned their Seattle manufacturing to produce ASTM Level 1 masks for 51 hospitals in the Providence network.

Chaco

Chaco has shifted the focus of its Michigan-based ReChaco factory and mobile factory bus from sandal repairs and product customization to the production of face masks and is also exploring specs for the production of gowns and aprons.

Cotopaxi

All direct contributions to the Cotopaxi Foundation will now go to the IRC’s COVID-19 Crisis Fund. Cotopaxi has also pledged to match the first 1,000 donations made to the foundation.

Merrell

Merrell has delivered 1,200 pairs of shoes and boots to their local hospitals, fire departments and police departments. Additionally, they have made a donation of 250 neck gaiters to be utilized as cloth masks should backups become needed.

Osprey

Equipped with sewing machines, patterns and material from their local quilt shop, Osprey’s warranty and repair team has temporarily suspended its business-as-usual operations to focus on their goal of sewing 100 fabric masks per day to aid in the response and are giving them to local health care workers, front-line responders, home health care workers and nursing homes. You can also download their pattern to make your own.

Outdoor Research

Outdoor Research has converted its manufacturing facility in Seattle to produce Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for the medical community. This will enable Outdoor Research to produce upwards of 200,000 masks per day. Over the past month, the company has invested in high-speed equipment and employee training that will result in a large-scale, FDA approved, face mask production.

The North Face

The North Face is leveraging their global network and supply chain to uncover impactful ways to aid those fighting the COVID-19 pandemic. They have committed to donating 60,000 gloves to healthcare professionals and first responders in their own backyard of Colorado.