Canadian outdoor equipment company Durston has announced that president and product architect Dan Durston has made two significant advancements: he has established an in-house prototyping division and he has hired Chris Stone (formerly of The North Face) as senior designer to work alongside him.
“Bringing prototyping in-house means a much faster pace of innovation and will give us the ability to really push the limits of what we can do technically. Plus, having such a talented designer as Chris Stone on site is a major advantage.”
Widely respected in the ultralight backpacking community, Durston has built a strong reputation for design innovation through its award-winning X-Mid tents and Kakwa packs. The X-Mid is now one of the best-selling ultralight tents on the planet.
Durston is one of the original members of KORE Outdoors, a Kootenay-based industry alliance for gear makers, designers, and repair technicians. “KORE’s mission is to establish the Kootenay region as a global leader in outdoor gear innovation,” says Board Chair Matt Mosteller. “Durston’s decision to bring prototyping in-house is a meaningful win for the region and reinforces the Kootenays’ growing role in shaping the future of outdoor gear.”
On March 31, Chris Stone was a featured presenter of the KORE Outdoors Speaker Series, a free, monthly webinar that showcases leading voices in design, sustainability, entrepreneurship, and innovation. In his presentation “The Weight of the Logo: Trading Corporate Resources for Design Autonomy,” he spoke candidly about his experience designing for major brands, and his decision to move to a more nimble and innovative company like Durston.
