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With little fanfare, Osprey Packs ticked off more than four decades of continuous operation this year. What started as a small shop selling custom packs designed and sewn by Mike Pfotenhauer (photo above) grew over the years into the industry-leading manufacturer of performance packs.
Pfotenhaur has remained hands-on with the company (he is still head of design), including moving with his family to Vietnam in 2003 when Osprey was forced to transition manufacturing overseas.
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Today, Osprey is still independently-owned, and it makes packs and accessories for backpacking, cycling, hydration, snowsports, climbing, travel, and kids.
Headquartered in Cortez, Colorado, Osprey maintains a product development office in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, near the factories where it manufactures. We caught up with Pfotenhauer for a look at 40 years of pack design.
Take a journey through time and the history of Osprey Packs.