Introduction
This program has been in development for a combined total of 70 plus years. From the Appalachian Mountains to the Delores River and everything in between. Goth music, trance music, desert raves on a full moon on the backside of Big Bear. Chunky plastic waterproof zippers, convertible pants, and aftermarket cargo pockets with or without proper gusseting. Wall rides and wallies and late shove-its in the Utah high desert. The evolution of the Carabiner in contemporary fashion to Dyneema Gospel. We consider everything.
If you have an idea. Send it to us.
If you need to vet a material or an application. Tell us about it.
If you need to be in a 3-7 month long email thread the subject title of which is: Gorpcore, Poseurs and Fetishism—using tools vs. being a tool. This is your chance.
Lockeed had Skunkworks.
Marmot sold ski jackets in the 90’s.
Horny Toad made hideous supplex “clothing” in the early aughts.
Black Yak is a Korean mountaineering incarnate.
Our animal is probably a Badger or a Wolverine.
We are open source. We will share everything. Patterns, beta, all of it.
Now you know.
Tacticool
ENOUGH IS ENOUGH: Pockets don’t need to be OEM!!!!!!!! Also, does cotton kill, or does cotton KILL IT?
KZ LAB manager @josh.direen is at it again and this time he’s tackling a systemic and catastrophic lack of aftermarket pocket options in the Outdoor and Endurances fields. Preppers and Tacticals have molle which uses too much velcro and is an ineffective use of space. Also, it’s loud. Lash Tech vs Strap Tech? What about augmentation and modification? Does someone in your family sew? We’ll send you the patterns for free.
Our pockets are light and hold many things. Important things. Useful things. Lanyard loops provide access and quick solutions when carbinners are present.
Cotton is nice when it’s hot. It’s T A C T I C O O L.
What’s your favorite pocket? Are you a cargo type? Do you need zip closure? Do you have pocket anecdotes you need to share? Let’s talk pockets.
Here is the thing. Pockets provide storage of equipment that can positively (and/or negatively) affect your experiences. If you’re a Subject Athlete in pursuit of ULTRA and metaphysical Fitnes you can’t sleep on pockets. Pockets are an integral part of the Ascension process. You joke. You think I’m joking. No. Dude. I think you’re joking. POCKETS HOLD. Think about that. What are you holding? What does your future hold?
Play and Endurance
Man, Play and Games is the influential 1961 book by the French sociologist Roger Caillois, on the sociology of Play and Games or, in Caillois’ terms, sociology derived from Play. Caillois interprets many social structures as elaborate forms of games and much behavior as a form of play.
Caillois suggest that play is best described by six core characteristics:
- It is free, or not obligatory.
- It is separate (from the routine of life), occupying its own time and space.
- It is uncertain, so that the results of play cannot be pre-determined and so that the player’s initiative is involved.
- It is unproductive in that it creates no wealth and ends as it begins.
- It is governed by rules that suspend ordinary laws and behaviors and that must be followed by players.
- It involves make-believe that confirms for players the existence of imagined realities that may be set against ‘real life
Caillois argues that we can understand the complexity of games by referring to four play forms.
1) Agon, or competition. E.g. Sky Running is an almost purely agonistic game.
2) Alea, or chance. E.g. Bikepacking in challenging topography and demanding climates is taking a chance.
3) Mimicry, or mimesis, or role playing. Endurance is role playing. In the absence of causation, need and utility, while doing shit that sucks for fun, we’re simulating survival.
4) Ilinx (Greek for “whirlpool”), or vertigo, in the sense of altered perceptions and states E.g. taking hallucinogens, sleep deprivation, extreme exhaustion, hunger, suffering, pain, portals, vortices, etc.
Art by Phillip Kim
Season 2: FLÈCHE IT OUT
Which team pushed their Physical, Spiritual, Mental and Emotional limitations the hardest to win season 2 of the All Terrain Bicycle Challenge; Fleche It Out, and the ultimate ATB prize package—
- $3000.00USD 💵 3 sets of Enve Wheels 🚲
- 3 “One Year’s Supply” of Fat Tire Ale 🍻
- 3 Mission Workshop / Acre Supply ATB Kits 🧥
- 3 Mythical State Of ATB Kits ❤️🔥
In an effort to be as fair and accurate as possible, we assembled a team of ATB experts from around the world to collectively observe, evaluate and intuit each team’s P*S”M*E score from their unique POV and wicked-valid area of expertise. We call them: The Panel
Season 1: Vermont Mangler
The All Terrain Bicycle Challenge Episode 1 is finally here. See what happens when five contestants are taken to Vermont and embark on the World’s Most Challenging ATB Route. Armed with the ultimate ATB, a little local knowledge, and a lot of false confidence, the contestants embark on the biggest challenge of their lives.
Red Hoodie
Pushing your Physical, Mental, Spiritual and Emotional limits INSIDE THE OUTSIDE may cause Transcendence and Transformation.
