Outdoor Research continues to broaden variety of men’s technical sportswear for Spring 2014

April 2, 2014 - PRLog -- SEATTLE, Wash. – Variety is the spice of life, as the old cliché goes, but nowhere is that more true than in sportswear. Because what one person likes is always different than another’s tastes, Outdoor Research has continued to evolve its men’s technical sportswear line for Spring 2014, offering shirts, shorts and pants all made with different fabrics, different technical fabrications, and different styles and silhouettes – as well as with different end uses in mind.

The bigger-picture vision, however, remains the same – build technical sportswear that is great looking, but also has underlying beauty in how it functions. Outdoor Research sportswear looks casual in construction but always has underlying technical performance, so it works for all manner of outdoor activities, but also makes a seamless transition to any kind of more casual use. That’s never been truer than in the Spring 2014, where OR tapped the decades of experience of athlete ambassadors like Hans Florine and Martin Volken for input on specific pieces.

Astroman Shirt – What makes a great shirt in gritty, high-stakes situations like climbing a big Yosemite Valley route in a day? We asked valley veteran and Outdoor Research ambassador Hans Florine, who’s closing in on 100 ascents of El Cap. The result is the Astroman Shirt. Made with 85 percent nylon for stout abrasion resistance, 15 percent Spandex for superb stretch, and offering UPF 50 sun protection, the Astroman is durable, breathable, dries quickly and offers excellent mobility. With front snap closures, a subtle check pattern, an understated chest pocket, and a collar that stands up and snaps together when you need added sun protection on your neck, this shirt transitions seamlessly from the vertical world to more casual endeavors at day’s end. $85.

Backcountry Boardshorts – Burly enough for the trail, quick drying enough for the water, and stylish enough for the town, the Outdoor Research Backcountry Boardshorts answer the call for a single pair of shorts that can do anything and everything – from surfing in Sayulita to hiking in Colorado or lounging on a beach in Thailand. Made with a lightweight 100-percent polyester Twill fabric, the Backcountry Boardshorts have triple-stitch seams and a 9¼-inch inseam. Laser-cut belt loops are low profile and discreet if you’re not using a belt, but are there when you need them. Details include UPF 50 sun protection, a zippered thigh pocket and a Velcro fly closure. $65.

Jinx S/S Shirt – An airy, lightweight stretch Madras fabric means the Jinx is the shirt to reach for when temperatures soar. The fabric is 98 percent cotton, 1 percent spandex and 1 percent polyester so it’s slightly stretchy, and its puckered face won’t stick to your body in the heat. Front button closures and a front button pocket cap the details on this classic-looking yard-dyed plaid. $70.

Riff S/S Shirt – Do you like the feel of cotton but crave the performance of synthetic? Reach for the Riff S/S Shirt, built with a blended fabric that’s 28 percent Coolmax polyester and 72 percent cotton. The Coolmax works to quickly transport moisture away from your skin, while a puckered face to the fabric helps prevent it from sticking to your body, all while retaining the look and feel of a classic summerweight yard-dyed cotton plaid. UPF 30 protection helps safeguard in the sun. $70.

Ascendant Pants – Built as a go-to for warmer-weather rock climbing, the Ascendant Pants are constructed with a burly cotton ripstop fabric to resist the grit in chimneys and offwidths. Then, a stout cotton-spandex fabric is strategically mapped into the knees, inner thighs and back of the waist for stretch and resulting mobility. The fabric offers UPF 50 sun protection, and details include front slash pockets, back patch pockets and a thigh pocket. $85.

Cooper Polo – At home for adventure travel but game for an unplanned mountain bike ride or hike, the Cooper Polo minds the style points with modern take on the venerable polo shirt built with a thin pinstripe fabric. Although the Cooper is casual in look, it’s up to the task when the unanticipated activity arises thanks to blended 50 percent recycled polyester and 50 percent cotton fabric. That means this shirt is breathable, wicks sweat and dries quickly. A front chest pocket, button-front placket, and split tail hem cap the details. $59.

About Outdoor Research
Outdoor Research® is Designed by Adventure®. We provide Innovation and Inspiration for the Relentless Adventurer. Based in Seattle – with in-house manufacturing and prototyping capabilities at our company headquarters – Outdoor Research was founded in 1981 after a failed piece of gear on an Alaskan climbing expedition inspired ideas for a better design. Ever since that first product, the X-Gaiter, put Outdoor Research on the map, we have been dedicated to building better outdoor apparel, gloves, hats and an array of other outdoor accessories informed by real-world testing. We develop innovative, functional, bomb-proof products that are beautiful in their simplicity. Design abides by the maxim ‘make it better, not just new or different,’ and our gear is backed by our Infinite Guarantee®. We listen to, value and empower each other and our fellow adventurers – we invite input from our customers, athlete ambassadors and the International Federation of Mountain Guides Associations Test Team. We’re independent, letting us strive to provide the best value to our customers, not shareholders. We are committed to our core sports: alpinism, rock and ice climbing, hiking, backpacking, paddling, trail running, and skiing and snowboarding. We’re growing, as a company and as individuals. And we’re having fun along the way.