45 Years of Redefining Outdoor Gear Design
Journey into MSR’s past to see the many MSR innovations that pioneered new safety and design standards in outdoor gear.
Flashback: Softgood Solutions—The MSR Mountain Parka
MSR is known for high-quality, reliable outdoor hardgoods. But did you know that in the company’s early years, MSR also made clothing? In fact, over the years, MSR offered such items as waterproof rain jackets to insulated footsacks that converted into puffy overpants. But our first foray into clothing started with the MSR Mountain Parka, which debuted in the April 1973 Mountain Safety Research Newsletter written by MSR founder and professional inventor Larry Penberthy.
Day in the Life: MSR Revo Explore Snowshoes
Winter weather is here and in many places snow has already blanketed the local hills. Here’s a dose of inspiration to get you excited for the snowshoeing season. Whether your mission this year is to complete a backcountry camping trip, a hut-to-hut, or simply enjoy many days of fun winter adventure and hiking, MSR snowshoes are engineered to back you up with confidence behind every step.
Day in the Life: MSR WindBurner Personal Stove System
From the rocks to the open road, see why our new WindBurner Stove System makes the perfect boiling and brewing machine to always have with you. Its fast, windproof performance lets you quickly brew your morning cup of joe to start the day, then warm up with a midday ramen snack, and later enjoy a hot chocolate in the backcountry—no matter the conditions. Take a few minutes to escape the cold with our crew as they venture to Bishop, Ca, for some camping and bouldering.
The Gear Institute Tours MSR’s Water Research Lab
Earlier this year, we gave you a behind-the-scenes look into the world of MSR’s on-site water research lab in this article. The microbiology lab was established in 1997 and has been dedicated to quality control, as well as researching, developing and testing water treatment solutions for outdoor users, the U.S. military and citizens in developing nations ever since. Recently, The Gear Institute stopped by to take a tour of the facility and find out why we go through such thorough testing on our water treatment devices. You can read all that The Gear Institute learned here.
Gear Overview: The New WindBurner™ Personal Stove System
The new WindBurner Stove System is the first truly personal stove system from MSR. The latest in our line of the world’s fastest, most fuel-efficient stoves systems, it features the same radiant burner and windproof technology that makes our Reactor a powerhouse in weather that shuts other stoves down. Yet, the WindBurner brings with it personal features that solo travelers or minimalist backpacking pairs seek most.
A Commitment to Safety: Inside MSR’s World-Class Water Research Lab
Behind every MSR water treatment and hydration product is a team of scientists dedicated to researching, developing and testing the latest in water treatment solutions. Established in 1997, our on-site microbiology lab is crucial to MSR’s water program and the safety and reliability of our products. Initially founded to ensure quality control, today the lab’s world-class efforts stretch into research of new technologies, testing and development for the U.S. military, and contracts with nonprofit organizations working in developing nations. The lab is located at our Seattle headquarters, in close proximity to our production lines, and is staffed by five scientists with advanced degrees in chemical engineering, biochemistry, microbiology, environmental science and cellular and molecular biology. The world inside this small space is fascinating, with an incredible amount of scientific knowledge….
Made in the USA: Building the WhisperLite Stove
A lot of outdoorsy folk can tell you where their WhisperLite has been – Yosemite, Canyonlands, Denali, Bryce – the list goes on and on. But how many of these people can tell you where their stove came from? Our new video answers that question in great detail. In this video we walk you through the making of a WhisperLite International stove, step by step, in our Seattle factory. The process starts with raw materials such as sheet metal, tubing and aluminum bar stock. These materials are machined and shaped into parts that are tested and hand-assembled to create each stove. The process is similar to that used on the first WhisperLite, manufactured back in 1984. Almost every MSR stove is manufactured in Seattle, including the Reactor, XGK-EX, SuperFly, DragonFly,…