A list of “Firsts” for the global Outdoor Industry.
No doubt many will contest some of these. Happy to revise the list, if evidence can be provided to show alternative products/dates.
The First ...
Date
Designer and/or Manufacturer
Modern bicycle
1885
Starley & Sutton Co Rover Safety bicycle
Down suit for mountaineering
1922
Australian George Finch's custom design for British Everest expedition
Cross Country Ski Binding
1927
Bror With’s Rottefella ("Rat Trap")
12 point crampon
1932
Grivel
Quilted goose down jacket (America)
1936
Eddie Bauer (patent application 1939)
Rubber sole for mountain boots
1937
Vitale Bramani patents his Vibram sole
Fibreglass canoe
1942
Tom Johnson
Aluminium Karabiner commercialised
1947
Pierre Allain (prototyped in 1939)
Stretch ski pants
1952
Bogner Helanca
Kernmantle rope
1953
Edelrid
Commercial neoprene wetsuit
1952
O’Neil (1953 Body Glove)
75mm 3 Pin ski binding
1963
Rottefella
Dynamic climbing rope
1964
Edelrid
Climbing harness (chest)
1965
Edelrid
Rigid crampon
1968
Curved pick ice-axe
1969
Chouinard Piolet
Integrated tent flysheet/inner
1964
Stephenson Warmlite (non-breathable inner)
Belay device
1970
Salewa Sticht plate
Sit harness
1970
Troll Whillans harness
Waxless Cross Country Skis
1970
Trak Non Wax (fishscales)
Aluminium pole dome tent
1971
Adventure 16 Half Dome
Wicking, quick drying underwear
1971
Helly Hansen polypropylene LIFA
Integrated tent flysheet/inner
1972
Early Winters Omnipotent (breathable inner)
Self Inflating Mattress
1972
Cascade Designs Therm-a-rest
Factory stitched ‘quickdraw’
1973
Edelrid
Baffled down jacket
1973
Adventure 16 Wide Temperature Range Jacket
Underarm zips (on outdoor garment)
1973
Adventure 16 Wide Temperature Range Jacket
Modular ice tools
1974
Lowe Alpine Humming Bird
Internal frame packs
1973
Lowe Alpine Expedition (USA) Berghaus Cyclops (Europe) 1974, Kelty Tour 1974
Plastic kayak
1974
Hollowform’s River Chaser, by Tom Johnson
Telecopic ski pole
1974
Leki Makalu
Consumer use of Lithium batteries
1975
MSR head torches
Multifuel stove
1975
MSR MF stove
Diagonal chest pockets (hipbelt free)
1975
Rohan Starkhorn
Softshell mountaineering legwear
1975
Rohan Salopettes & Striders
Fat tube Aluminium mountain bike
1975
Klein bicycles
Silicon coated tent flysheets
1976
Hilleberg Keb
Gore-Tex waterproof/breathable fabric
1976
Early Winters (Light Dimension tent)
Step-in crampons
1976
Lowe Alpine Footfangs
Snowboards
1977
Burton Backhill
Gore-Tex Jacket, Anorak & Pants
1977
Gore-Tex freestanding dome tent
1977
Bibler I Tent
Underarm zips (on Gore-Tex garments)
1977
Geodesic dome tents
1978
The North Face Oval Intention
Gore-Tex Geodesic tent
1978
Early Winters Earth Station
Spring Loaded Camming Device (SLCD)
1978
Wild Country Friends (via Ray Jardine)
Lightweight travel pants
1978
Rohan Trotters
Nylon Pile garments
1979
Helly Hansen W pile
Plastic side-release buckles
1979
ITW Nexus
Softshell jacket
1979
Rohan Tundra
Softshell pants
1979
Rohan Trotters Winter
Lightweight fabric/leather footwear
1980
Karrimor Sports Boots (KSBs)
Real sticky climbing shoes
1980
Boreal Fire
Approach shoes
1981
Nike′s Magma, Approach & Lava Dome
Sports sandal
1982
Teva
Tent pole clips
1982
Sierra Designs Swift Clips
Ratcheting ice screws
1983
Lowe Alpine RATS
Pocket pliers
1983
Leatherman Pocket Survival Tool
Commercial Mountain Bike
1985
Specialized Stumpjumper mountain bike
Tubular belay device
1988
Lowe Alpine Tuber
Plastic Telemark boot
1992
Scarpa (& Black Diamond) Terminator
Elasticated down sleeping bags
1993
Mont-Bell Down Hugger
Wire-gate climbing carabiner
1995
Black Diamond Hotwire
LED head torch
2000
Petzl Tikka