How the Outdoor Industry is Helping Our Healthcare Workers

Instead of making performance outerwear, Arc'teryx is making protective gowns for healthcare professionals. Arc'teryx photo.

These days we could all use a little more good news, and the outdoor industry has been one place to find some. The pandemic hasn’t been easy for many brands with layoffs, temporarily closed shops, and warehouses full of goods that are just waiting to be sold. Despite these hurdles, outdoor companies have risen to the challenge, using ingenuity to better assist our healthcare workers on the frontlines. Hospitals all across the country are dealing with shortages of personal protective equipment (PPE), gowns, and ventilators. Many brands—especially small ones who keep their manufacturing in-house—have realized that they’re equipped to help. 

RELATED: Pro Skier/ Nurse Lucy Sackbauer Speaks From the Frontlines of COVID-19

No nurse or doctor should be showing up to work without the essential tools to do their job safely, so these outdoor brands want to fill the gaps. It’s inspiring to watch. Feeling inspired yourself? If you’re financially able to, consider supporting some of your favorite outdoor brands. It’s a good way to put that stimulus check to use, and it could make the difference in keeping the lights on for a business you love.

Arc’teryx - Reusable Hospital Gowns

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A post shared by Arc'teryx (@arcteryx) on Apr 14, 2020 at 12:44pm PDT

The apparel company has teamed up with Mustang Survival and Boardroom Clothing to produce 90,000 reusable medical gowns. The pattern, design, and technical specifications of the garment are accessible here. Unfortunately, the gowns don’t come with an Arc’teryx logo.

Clif Bar - Donating food

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A post shared by CLIF BAR (@clifbar) on Apr 3, 2020 at 9:00am PDT

Clif Bar is donating 6.6 MILLION of their bars to healthcare workers, EMTs, fire departments, nursing homes, and food banks in what they’re calling “feed the fight”.

North Face - Making Gowns + 50% off to all healthcare professionals or first responders

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A post shared by The North Face (@thenorthface) on Apr 20, 2020 at 1:54pm PDT

TNF has partnered with The Renewal Workshop to help make protective gowns for hospitals in Oregon and Washington. The brand is also offering a 50% off discount to all healthcare and first responders. If you’re a nurse and you’ve been eyeing a sweet new Futurelight jacket then go ahead and treat yourself. You deserve it.

Spark R&D - Making Reusable Masks

Lead designer/Co-owner Will Ritter shows off Spark R&D's final product. Spark R&D photo.

Two weeks ago we published a story about how the splitboard binding and accessory company was using injection molding to create reusable masks. When the story was published Spark R&D had delivered 4,800 masks. Their mask count now is just over 26,000. Keep up the good work!

Wild Rye - Masks for Mountain Towns

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We’re dreaming of life post-pandemic. To help, we’re still running our Masks for Mountain Towns campaign, in efforts to keep the people who live in the places we play safe during the COVID-19 pandemic. Thanks to so many of you, we already have THOUSANDS of masks on order to be donated in the coming days. If you’re interested in joining our effort here are a few ways you can contribute: 1) every order over $50 automatically leads to a donation of 50 masks 2) contribute to our matching fund - as little as $5 goes a long ways - 100% of funds donated go directly to producing masks for organizations in need. All info and more is available through the link in our bio. • Why mountain towns? At the time of our Masks for Mountain Towns launch, our home town of Blaine County (Sun Valley), ID was (and maybe still is) leading the nation with the highest rate of COVID-19 infection. Higher than NY. Higher than Wuhan. That said, we know we are far from the only mountain town hurting right now. Park City, Crested Butte, Aspen, Lake Tahoe, Lake Placid, Jackson and so many more mountain communities have been hit hard by this pandemic. Our rural medical systems are simply not properly equipped to handle community needs while keeping those on the front lines safe. • #PlayWild #StayHome #SmallButMighty #MasksForMountainTowns #WRDayDream • Please note: this is in no way meant to minimize the dire circumstances elsewhere in the country, NY in particular. We’re just doing our best to chip on where we feel we can be most impactful.

A post shared by Wild Rye (@wild_rye_) on Apr 15, 2020 at 3:43pm PDT

Some brands don’t have the capability to create PPE, but they have the ability to source them through their distributors. Back on April 3rd, Wild Rye launched a Masks for Mountain Towns campaign pledging to donate $50 towards PPE for every $50 spent on their products. As of April 15th, they purchased 10,000 masks for healthcare workers with the funds they’ve raised, but they're not done yet.

These Ski brands are Creating PPE

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@jasonlevinthal, along with the folks at @shaggys_skis, @whiteroomcustomskis and @venturesnow are leading the charge in the ski industry's fight against #COVID19!⁠⠀ ⁠⠀ Read the article (link in bio) to see what we're doing and how you can help save lives right from your own home by making PPE for hospitals in need. All information available on makerexchange.org or @maker_exchange

A post shared by J skis (@j_skis) on Apr 3, 2020 at 9:03am PDT

J Skis, Shaggy Skis, White Room Custom Skis, and Venture Snow are currently working to get more PPE in the hands of healthcare workers. The brands have pivoted their production from making skis to ER face shields. J Skis owner Jason Levinthal even created the website  Makers Exchange to connect outdoor manufacturers with medical professionals so that equipment gets to where it’s needed the most.

About The Author

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stash member Katie Lozancich

TGR Staff Writer and photographer. Fond of bikes, pow, and dogs. Originally from Northern CA, home for me has ranged from the PNW to a teepee in Grand Teton National Park.