Columbia Montrail
IndustryClothing
PredecessorOne Sport
Montrail
Founded1982
HeadquartersWashington County, Oregon (near Beaverton),
United States
45°31′46″N 122°49′31″W / 45.52938°N 122.82535°W / 45.52938; -122.82535
ProductsAthletic footwear
ParentColumbia Sportswear
Websitewww.columbia.com/montrail/

Columbia Montrail is a sub-brand of Columbia Sportswear that manufactures and distributes shoes for trail running, hiking, and general long-distance running.[1]

History

The company was originally called Brenco Enterprises with a line of boots called One Sport. Enthusiastic outdoorsman Menno van Wyck liked their boots so much that he bought the One Sport line from Brenco Enterprises in 1993. As chief executive officer, Van Eyck expanded the line of boots.[2]

In 1997, it was rebranded as Montrail.[3] The same year, their hiking boot Moraine was rated Best Hiking Boot in Backpacker Magazine.

In 1999, Montrail patented stretchable Gore-Tex in the Java GTX shoe. In 2002, it created the first "shoftshell" shoe made with Schoeller fabric. In 2004 "Gryptonite" ultra-sticky rubber was introduced, and in 2005 PRFRM thermo-moldable foam was introduced in the Molokai and Molokini flip flops, Enduro-Soles, and rock climbing shoes; Gryptonite rubber was extended to trail running shoes; Hardrock was introduced.[4]

In 2006, Montrail was acquired by Columbia Sportswear for a cash payment of $15 million plus the assumption of certain liabilities.[5] Columbia Sportwear had wanted to expand from selling winter coats and apparel.[6] Montrail's employees relocated to Portland within the year. Columbia continued to use the Montrail brand until, in 2017, it discontinued the Montrail brand and sub-branded it as Columbia Montrail.[7]

Awards and recognition

  • 2003 — Excelerace XCR won Editor's Choice in Backpacker Magazine and the D7 earns Editor's Choice in Climbing Magazine.
  • 2005 — Hardrock won awards in Health Magazine and Outside Magazine
  • 2006 — Continental Divide wins Best Trail Shoe Debut by Runner's World Magazine and Editor's Choice by TrailRunner Magazine.
  • 2007 — Namche was named Best Fastpacking Boot and the Java XCR is named Most Supportive Ultralight Boot by Backpacker Magazine.

Sponsorships

The company has sponsored ultrarunning athletes, rock climbers, and related events in the United States since 1996, and now supports 88 athletes. It also hosts and sponsors ultrarunning and trail running events in the United States. The Montrail Ultra Cup is a series of six ultrarunning events, culminating at the Western States Endurance Run, a 100-mile ultramarathon.[8]

References

  1. ↑ John Vonhof (2006). "Fixing Your Feet: Prevention and Treatments for Athletes". Wilderness Press. p. 187. ISBN 0899974171.
  2. ↑ "Shoemaker blazes a trail". Associated Press. Statesman Journal (Salem, Oregon). April 28, 1997. p. 12.
  3. ↑ Gantenbein, Doug (November 13, 1997). "Re-plumbed pedaler braces for winter". Great Falls Tribune (Great Falls, Montana). p. 3.
  4. ↑ What is softshell shoe?
  5. ↑ "Columbia Buying Boot Maker". thestreet.com. January 26, 2006. Archived from the original on September 30, 2007. Retrieved August 22, 2007.
  6. ↑ Fought, Tim (February 4, 2006). "Columbia Sportswear buys footwear company". Associated Press. The World (Coos Bay, Oregon). p. A8.
  7. ↑ Casimiro, Steve (February 5, 2016). "Montrail Shoes to be Rebranded As Columbia". Adventure Journal. Retrieved February 6, 2019.
  8. ↑ "Montrail Ultra Cup". Western States Endurance Run. Archived from the original on 21 October 2014. Retrieved 21 October 2014.
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