1974 – FOUNDED: Mike Pfotenhauer and Laurie White start up Osprey Packs in Santa Cruz, California, designing and manufacturing custom made technical backpacks for hikers and mountaineers bound for the Sierra.
1974 – 1976, The MP. The original “Osprey” internal frame pack. Note that it used metal buckles and leather patches, and a Velcro adjustable hipbelt. It featured an innovative internal compression-sack liner for the sleeping bag. “I sewed this bag entirely by myself,” said Pfotenhauer.
1976 – MESH PANEL: Breathable mesh panel introduced on Osprey Packs.
The first “Ariel” was introduced in 1982. “This pack was reviewed by Doug Robinson at Outside magazine,” Pfotenhauer said. It was unique because the sleeping bag is loaded along the backpanel to act as a sort of semi-rigid frame support. The bag weighed between 2-3 lbs with no frame or plastic framesheet. Another unique feature is the vertically adjustable sliding sternum strap.
Osprey founder Mike Pfotenhauer sewing an early model pack
