Celebrating 50 years of inspiring adventures worldwide, Osprey, the renowned pack specialist, is marking this milestone with the launch of an epic competition, offering the chance to win up to £7500 towards an unforgettable adventure.

The search for the Osprey Pack Legend is on with proud owners of their treasured Osprey pack invited to share why their pack is a legend, including those that have faithfully accompanied through countless trails, peaks and extraordinary moments.  There are two chances to win; first prize is up to £7,500 and second prize up to £2,500 towards an adventure experience in partnership with Exodus Adventure Travels.

Explore the archives and discover Osprey's achievements of the past half century here since founder Mike Pfotenhauer started crafting his custom-fitted, made-to-order packs.  

Official timeline 

1974, Osprey Packs is established in Santa Cruz, CA  

Young entrepreneur Mike Pfotenhauer opens a retail shop in front of his rental house in Santa Cruz, California. Drawn by word of mouth, backpackers and travelers seek him out for his custom-fitted, made-to-order packs constructed over several days by Mike himself.  

1979, the first Ariel backpacking pack makes its appearance and is reviewed by Outside magazine. 

Osprey moves to Dolores, CO  

In 1990, as demand for the great-fitting packs increases, Mike and business partner/wife Diane Wren, move Osprey into an 8,000-square-foot former GORE-TEX factory in Dolores, Colorado, population 864. They begin working with a team of skilled sewers, primarily from the Navajo Nation.  

The first women's-fit backpack is created 

Osprey introduces the Isis in 1993, its first innovative custom-fit women's backpack, as part of the legacy for custom anatomical fit.  

Operations move to Cortez, CO 

In 1994, Osprey production moves to a new facility in Cortez, CO as the company scales to meet demand. Five years later, Osprey moves all operations to this facility in preparation for more expansion. 

StraightJacket compression comes to Mike in a dream 

In 1998, Mike literally dreams the StraightJacket suspension compression system into existence. These iconic compression straps with padded sidewalls protect contents and keep loads under control. 

1999, ErgoPull revolutionizes backpack hipbelts 

Osprey introduces its crossbody ErgoPull hipbelt which pulls weight into the lumbar when tightened, revolutionizing backpack hipbelts forever. 

2001, Erik Weihenmayer summits Everest  

Diagnosed with juvenile retinoschisis at 15 months old, Erik Weihenmayer becomes the first blind climber to summit Mt. Everest. He chooses the Aether 60 for his 2001 ascent and Time magazine features him, along with his pack, on the June 18 cover. 

Osprey Europe is founded in 2003  

Osprey Europe is established in the UK in 2003 to handle supply of Osprey products to the European market and to increase its recognition as an industry leader.

Mike and family move to Vietnam 

In 2003, Mike moves with his family to oversee the development of Osprey's Design and Quality Control Center in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Intending to live there for two years, they stay for four. Mike recalls, "We visited the factories almost daily to make sure production was running smoothly and that our designs were produced accurately and faithfully." 

The Talon™ Series is launched 

Osprey launches the award-winning Talon Series in 2007, which goes on to become one of the leading pack designs in the world.  

Osprey launches the All Mighty Guarantee™ 

After 35 years of independence and innovation, Osprey celebrates by introducing its expanded All Mighty Guarantee in 2009 to help increase the usable life of its products. Free of charge, the company will repair any damage or defect in its product – whether it was purchased in 1974 or yesterday.  

AntiGravity suspension is unveiled 

Osprey reveals its innovative AntiGravity suspension to the world. This technology provides a continuous backpanel of lightweight mesh that wraps the user in supreme comfort. It sets new benchmarks in carry comfort, breathability and load management in 2015.

2016, Osprey opens its European HQ: Talon House 

Osprey Europe relocates its headquarters to a brand-new bespoke building, referred to as Talon House, designed to support further business growth.  

Osprey opens its world HQ: Basecamp 

In 2017, Osprey opens its world headquarters in the heart of Cortez, Colorado, on the corner of Empire and Park streets. The roughly 28,000-square-foot building, nicknamed Base Camp, is home to a backyard amphitheater with two trellises designed to resemble Osprey wings.  

A new office is built in Ho Chi Minh City 

Osprey builds a new Vietnam office in 2019 for its design, quality control and sample room teams in Ho Chi Minh City and installs 80 rooftop solar panels two years later.

2020, Putting healthcare workers first, Osprey presses pause  

Equipped with sewing machines, patterns and material from the local quilt shop, Osprey's repairs team allocates its time and resources toward creating face masks for medical front-line workers during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic.  

Osprey develops an industry-leading sustainability roadmap 

In 2019, as part of Osprey's commitment to meaningful sustainability, it begins rolling out a plan to provide the highest performing and longest lasting technical carry solutions on the market and also be the industry hard goods leader in upstream and downstream sustainability.  

Osprey becomes a bluesign® System Partner 

In 2021, Osprey becomes a bluesign® System Partner, marking a significant shift toward textile sustainability throughout its supply chain. With its holistic approach based on Input Stream Management, the bluesign® system reduces the impact on people and on the environment, ensures responsible use of resources and guarantees a high level of consumer safety. 

Osprey helps found the OIA-sponsored Climate Action Corps 

While beginning to calculate, reduce and offset its carbon footprint through renewable energy purchases, Osprey helps found the Outdoor Industry Association-sponsored Climate Action Corps in 2021. By working together, the Corps aspires to become the world's first climate positive industry by 2030. 

Osprey launches Extended Fit packs 

In 2023, Osprey expands its fit range of backpacking and hiking packs with the launch of Extended Fit packs. This extension of our core pack families is designed to provide optimal performance for bigger bodies. Made with the direct help and feedback of in-field testers, Osprey reworked its hipbelts, shoulder straps, pocketing and more to deliver an extended fit that truly works like it should.