JanSport announced this week that they have joined forces with International Mountain Guides (IMG) for testing JanSport's newest outdoor gear. As part of the deal, IMG will also lead JanSport's annual Mt. Rainier summit climb, now in it's 38th year.
Select IMG guides will contribute content to JanSport's Be Outdoors blog, sharing their insights and expertise about everything from gear and trip recommendations to training tips. Lately, JanSport appears to be pulling an Eddie Bauer and heading back to their roots as a technical outdoor backpack maker.
"It is a privilege to partner with long-time friends and climbing partners Eric Simonson, George Dunn and Phil Ershler," says Skip Yowell, JanSport co-founder. "This dream team started guiding on Rainier in the early 70s and has guided more people to the summit of Mount Everest than any other in the industry."
I am curious to see whether this move means JanSport will head back into technical outdoor apparel as well. I used to own a JanSport waterproof jacket that I recently donated to Big City Mountaineers in exchange for a signed copy of Skip Yowell's "Hippie Guide To Climbing The Corporate Ladder" book.
What do you think- will the IMG partnership help JanSport get it's mountaineering mojo back?