Arc'teryx - Company History

Company History

Needing a larger manufacturing space the company moved its headquarters to Burnaby in 1999. In 2005, the Arc'teryx head office moved home, back across the Burrard Inlet to North Vancouver. Arc'teryx products are usually associated with climbing, skiing, snowboarding, backpacking, and hiking-related activities.

Originally named Rock Solid by founders Dave Lane and Jeremy Guard, the company's first line of products were climbing gear. Using a heat laminate (thermolamination) technology, the partners designed and marketed the Vapor harness, which would become the company's most popular item. In the second year of operations, after a series of relocations and staff additions, Arc'teryx released the Bora backpack using the same Vapor technology. In 1996, after obtaining a license from W. L. Gore & Associates for use of the Gore-Tex fabric, the company adapted it for its new line of outdoor technical apparel. Top selling items in their clothing line include the Theta AR and Gamma MX jackets. Over the years Arc'teryx' designs have won a number of awards from Backpacker, Outside, Climbing, Men's Journal, and Powder magazines.

The Arc'teryx LEAF (Law Enforcement and Armed Forces) product line is composed of equipment targeted to the military and law enforcement markets. Although some items are simply counterparts in design to their civilian models, other items, such as Arc'teryx's Tango and Charlie packs, are made in camouflage patterns and constructed to military specification, including numerous PALS-type attachment loops and fabric featuring neutral and camouflage coloring. Due to dissatisfaction with the MOLLE gear, the United States Marine Corps chose Arc'teryx's Tango design for their new backpack, the ILBE.

In January 2001, Arc'teryx was purchased by the Adidas owned Salomon Group. In May 2005, Amer Sports purchased the Salomon Group from Adidas. The Arc'teryx head office is still located in North Vancouver, although harnesses, backpacks, and much other laminated equipment is made in its own factory in Burnaby, BC. Their apparel line has expanded, thus Arc'teryx has consequently outsourced to plants in China, Vietnam, and New Zealand.