At some point in time, we went from being mere outdoor recreationalists to full blown obsessives. From hiking to rock climbing, snowboarding to mountain biking, we picked up every activity our regional geography could support. Before long, our fixation for gear began to rival the activities themselves. And though our attention remains firmly on finding the next great Gore-Tex parka and lightweight backpack, our appreciation for hard and soft goods alike extends well beyond current model years. Thanks to the archival magic of the Internet, the golden era of outdoor recreation remains at our fingertips.
Beyond old Tumblr accounts, aging Flicker albums, random Pinterest boards, and of course, the never ending IG Stories of Organic Lab dot Zip, exists the little known but truly unmatched Outdoor Recreation Archive, a special collection housed within the Utah State University library.
The unique treasure trove consists of over 2,700 physical catalogs and magazines, with the earliest catalogs dating back to 1905–an early catalog from once legendary outfitter Abercrombie & Fitch, which was founded in 1892. If you're wondering, we can safely confirm no moose embroidered polo shirts or six pack abs appear in those pages, for better or worse.