The great outdoors of Washington is calling!  For the fourth year in a row, Egan & Associates LLC on behalf of our vendors will sponsor TrailsFest 2008, Saturday July 19, 9am - 4pm at Rattlesnake Lake near North Bend east of Seattle.  This year, Gregory, Chaco, Teko and Ibex are all donating raffle prizes in support of the event.  All are cordially invited to stop by our booth and say hi to Dave, Jason, or Val if you're able to attend!

For more information on TrailsFest: (206) 625-1367 / http://www.wta.org.

TrailsFest is a hands-on event for all ages, providing families and other adventurers with a fun and safe environment to explore the outdoors.  This outdoor extravaganza is free and open to the public, and features clinics on everything from wilderness first aid to hiking with kids to backcountry cooking. More than 3000 + outdoor enthusiasts are expected to attend and visit dozens of exhibitors, including gear companies and outdoor groups. 

TrailsFest is presented every summer by Washington Trails Association. Sponsors for TrailsFest 2008 include Gregory, Chaco, Teko, Ibex, Hilleberg the Tentmaker, KPLU, Green Trails Maps, REI, CLIF Nectar, Outdoor Research,  Helly Hansen, Erin Baker's Wholesome Baked Goods, Freezer Bag Cooking, and Marmot Mountain Works. 
 

Egan & Associates LLC is very proud to support the efforts of the Outdoor Industry Association's (OIA) Eco Working Group.  Currently, we're the only sales rep agency participating as a voting member of the group and our very own Jackton Downard is serving on the Executive Committee (way to go Jackton!).  Jackton was there for the recent meeting -- see the article below -- and would be happy to talk details with anyone interested in learning more. 

OIA Eco Working Group Makes Strides Toward Industry Index

At a three-day OIA Eco Working Group meeting in Boulder last week, more than 90 participants representing over 50 brands started working on the framework for a manufacturing index that will determine how the industry measures its environmental footprint. The meeting marked the one-year anniversary for the working group. Over the past year, members donated countless hours to develop the group's mission and vision, benchmark other industries, research possible outcomes for the group and reach consensus to begin the process by developing an index. During the meeting, attendees split into groups representing apparel, footwear and equipment and began discussing how design, materials, toxins, waste and packaging determine a company's or a product's impact. Members of the Leather Working Group also provided valuable benchmarks with a progress report on their efforts to develop tannery standards, and Alex Boian, OIA director of trade policy, provided an overview of the political environment and sustainability opportunities on the horizon at the government level. Most of the hard work needed to create an index remains and the group will now narrow its focus in upcoming months to: Distill the notes from the meeting and narrow the definition of the index's framework. A smaller taskforce consisting of working group members will develop strawman frameworks for the group's comments. Hire a third-party convener before the Outdoor Retailer Summer Market. This organization will manage the multi-year process of designing the index. Ensure that the process serves companies large and small, regardless of their resources. Identify packaging as a potential "quick win" and fast track development of packaging standards. The next Eco Working Group meeting will be August 10, 2008, from 7:30 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. at the Marriott Hotel, Salt Lake City. The group's efforts are entirely voluntary, and individuals interesting in reviewing the group's work or participating are invited to visit the Eco group website. At the beginning of the meeting, each attendee was tasked to have a take-away that they could provide to the first individual that they met on their way back home. "Our future just got a little brighter," summed up Greg Scott, of Mountain Equipment Co-op.

It's that time of year to get back out on your bikes. Check out an awesome review of our Fausto jersey over on bicycling.about.com.

"What I learned was first of all, what a nice jersey this is. It is obviously well-constructed, with deep pockets, solid seamwork and snappy design. Then I got an education on how well wool works in so many different temperatures. The Merino wool with Lycra-stretch blended in the Fausto jersey allows your body to breathe, letting air circulate around and through the jersey."

Read the rest here LINK

Gear Of The Day: Ibex El Fito Biking Knickers    

Gear Of The Day: With wool from Down Under, and a design and build from the U.S.A., the Ibex El Fito biking knicker is a must-have for riding on colder days

By David L'Heureux

The Ibex El Fito Biking Knicker
© Courtesy Ibex

Some review products we grow to like over time. Some we grow to hate. And some, like the Ibex El Fito Wool Knicker ($120), we absolutely love from the very first pedal stroke. The Merino wool El Fito is a great three-quarter biking pant for chilly spring and fall days, and milder days in the dead of winter. Unlike some road pants that aren't tough enough for the trail, and some mountain bike bottoms that are too bulky for the road, the El Fito is a great choice no matter what kind of bike you're riding.
Part of the magic of these pants is the 13-panel construction. Ibex didn't just take a piece of spandex, shape it like a pant, and slap in a chamois. The majority of the body of the pant is 92 percent Merino wool, six percent nylon and two percent lycra. It's warm, but not hot, and stretches with the movement of your legs without feeling baggy. The panels in the seat and behind the knee are 87 percent polyester and 13 percent spandex allowing for great breathability in the spots that tend to get wet and hot on long rides. Finally, the all-important knee sections are made of a wind- and water- resistant Climawool Lite double weave which stretches nicely but maintains a snug fit while turning the pedals over. Pull these various working parts together and you are left with an amazingly comfortable, dry and durable biking pant. They're so nice you'll be looking for reasons to ride on those chillier days if you need one.

A quick word of caution: the fit is on the large side - I'm normally a large and my large El Fitos were a little big - so keep that in mind if you order online, and consult the sizing chart on the Ibex website. One complaint about these pants (and it's more of a wish than a complaint): I'd like to see them in a bib to help them stay put around the waist a little better.
If you try the El Fitos and love them right away like me, check out the rest of Ibex's Merino wool cycling and clothing line. They have cycling gear tailor made to fit your ride regardless of the season.
PRICE: $120
INFO:: IbexWear.com
The Gear Of The Day archive: All gear, all year, click here.

By STEPHEN REGENOLD
SPECIAL TO THE P-I

Ibex Outdoor Clothing LLC (www.ibexwear.com) touts its merino wool Qu T shirt as a "rediscovery of something you thought you knew all about." They're talking about the humble T-shirt, that next-to-the-skin American icon that generally costs $10 or so. Well, Ibex's goes at $85.

But the "rediscovery" that the company claims, I found to be true: This T fits perfectly; it's breathable and sweat-wicking; it's warm when needed, though cool enough to wear year-round. Travel bonus: The Qu T will go for days between washings, as wool is naturally antibacterial and much less stink-prone than cotton.  Complete article here.

"It's like there is a hidden thermostat inside." commented one tester on this top's outstanding natural temprature regulation.

 

This month's "Global Warming Issue" of Backpacker Magazine features the Ibex Norgie Crew.  Backpacker commends Ibex for its practice as a "100% cow-powered" company, "buy(ing) its energy from a local methane-capturing facility (experts say methane is 20 times more potent than CO₂ as a greenhouse gas)."  Posting great marks is the Norgie Crew, a piece which is "incredibly soft and performs beautifully in a wide range of conditions."

 

October's Issue of Bicycling Magazing highlights the Ibex Fausto Jersey, "the lightest wool jersey we've yet sampled; it's great for layering and itch free, thanks to that fine merino wool" says Matt Phillips of Bicycling Mag.

A quick glimpse into the life of Ibex's CEO and a nice picture of the new Fall '07 Shak Sport.
Courtesy of Fortune Small Business.
Click here for the link to the rest of the story.

via: The Ibex Buzz