Outdoor Research has announced that effective January 1, 2005, they will be the exclusive Exped distributor for North America. This strategic business move will make available Exped's tents, sleeping bags and mats, along with OR's existing line of apparel, handtools, headware, gaiters, and accessories, to a broader number of US specialty retailers.

Exped means expedition equipment and since 1997, they have designed and built the highest-quality specialized gear for outdoor enthusiasts. Based in Zurich, Switzerland, Exped was founded by Andreas and Heidi Brun as an extension of their lifelong passion for exploring the boundaries of human survival in extreme environments. Exped equipment appeals to anyone from a casual hiker of the Appalachian Trail to a technical climber in the Himalayas. Their products focus on high function and value, and the company's credo is: Maximum Performance and Multiple Function through simple, relevant innovation.

Exped has received numerous awards and product recognition, most notably, the European Outdoor Award Product of the Year in 2002/03 (an award given by 5 of the finest European outdoor magazines) for their Down Air Mattress and Backpacker Magazine's Editors' Choice Award for their Sirius Extreme tent.

Erhard Loretan, the third man to climb Earth's 14 8000m peaks said this about Exped's Down Air Mattress: “Finally – a warmer mat with less weight! In extreme conditions, I experienced that a warmer mat was far more critical than just a warmer sleeping bag.” As further testimony, Erhard equipped all members of his latest team with the Exped Down Air Mat for their planned scaling of the Jannu North Wall.

Andreas Brun from Exped stated, “We are excited about the new partnership between OR and Exped. We have distributed OR in Europe for many years so we are old friends with a long history of working together.”

“Exped shares OR's commitment to functional design,” said OR's Owner and CEO, Dan Nordstrom. “There is a lot of sameness and mimicry in the outdoor market these days; it is rare to find new ideas. When you look at Andi's designs and the patents that support them, it's easy to see the potential for growth. We are honored Exped has chosen OR to bring these truly innovative products to the US market.”