It’s all hands on deck in a global pandemic and many snow and outdoor brands in the USA have changed their manufacture focus from leisure to essential emergency production.
North American’s outdoor industry are doing what they can, where they can, to help provide much needed goods and services to the medical community and vulnerable locals in cities ravaged by COVID-19.
From eyewear to gowns, face shield, paramedic services and more, your favourite brands are all working for the good of their communities.
Backcountry.com
Outdoor retail company, Backcountry.com, has donated over 9000 masks to New York City’s most vulnerable, those who are homeless. You can donate to provide more masks for the city that is currently experiencing tragic fatality numbers.
Burton
The crew at Burton have donated half a million KN95 masks in the USA to hospitals across Vermont where the company is based and New Hampshire where Jake Burton Carpenter was treated for Miller-Fisher Syndrome. They are also distributing to New York City.
The Burton factories are no manufacturing face shields from their facility in Burlington. The goal is 500 face shields a week for hospitals in need. They have also donated 1300 Anon Optics goggles to the Goggles for Docs initiative.
Vail and Beaver Creek ski patrol
Ski patrollers who lost their seasonal jobs early on March 14 when Vail Resorts closed resorts down in the coronavirus crisis, have been recruited by the ambulance service. A quick training program for patrollers, who already know emergency medical care, ensured that 20 patrollers could provide back up staff for any providers that fall ill.
Arc’teryx gowns
In Canada, medical gowns are in short supply. It’s why Arc’teryx began production on 500 level 3 certified gowns for Vancouver hospitals, in collaboration with local health authorities to ensure patterns and fabric meet required criteria. This is the first run of 30 000 gowns they hope to produce. The company will be, in total, sourcing 90 000 gowns, with another 60 000 produced in partnership with Mustang Survival and Boardroom Clothing.
Outdoor Research medical masks
In Seattle the team at Outdoor Research have been making medical grade masks. With five new machines on site to produce Level 3 surgical masks, Level 1 face masks plus respirator masks. They are looking to produce over 200 000 masks a day.
Utah face shields
The DPS skis factory in Salt Lake City at the base of the mountains has joined forces with Goal Zero, Petzl and Eastman Machine Company to create face shields for medical workers in Utah. The colab combines tooling, materials, machinery and more for the manufacturing of Personal Protective Equipment.
Dakine masks and gowns
Dakine have also shifted their manufacturing from snow gear to gowns and masks for local hospitals in the Pacific Northwest of the USA. They originally had enough materials for 6000 masks and are looking to create home sew kits for locals to create their own masks.
Goggles for Docs
In the USA Goggles for Docs launched as a way to get used or new goggles into the hands of healthcare workers who currently have no eye protection as they treat COVID-19 patients. Over 25 000 goggles have been donated by skiers and snowboarders as well as snow brands so far. An Australian branch has also launched this week.
