Mountain Safety Research
Encyclopedia
Mountain Safety Research, or MSR, is an American
corporation located in Seattle, Washington
, and owned by Cascade Designs
. It was founded in 1969 by Larry Penberthy because he was not pleased with the safety and reliability of outdoor equipment.
In 1973 Penberthy developed the MSR Model 9 camp stove, a breakthrough design because of its relatively efficient performance in cold weather. He separated the stove burner from then small fuel tanks, and then pressurized auxiliary fuel bottles as the tank. And then he made a better wind screen. He also invented an ice-axe
design that was believed to dig into the ice better and stop a slide. Penberthy also introduced possibly the first metal-shafted ice axes that have now wholly replaced earlier wooden-shaft designs.
Penberthy produced a newsletter and experimented widely on outdoor gear in the Pacific Northwest. He is credited with the Penberthy crampon wrap as a way to prevent wet snow from balling up under crampons. He was instrumental in implementing testing of mountaineering and bicycle helmets. Penberthy also helped to change the manufacturing of climbing ropes in the USA, he tested the windproofing of tents on top of cars on highways as well as the addition of arm-pit vents and face masks integral to jackets.
Today MSR produces camping
, hiking
and mountaineering
equipment such as portable stove
s, water filters and tent
s, specialising in lightweight equipment. MSR has also had a large impact on the snowshoe
industry being the first to design and distribute snowshoes made of composite materials. Composite snowshoes are lighter and MSR snowshoes provide the option to add additional length to the back in order to provide more flotation.
The company was acquired by REI
in 1981. In 2000 MSR merged with Edgeworks the manufacturer of Moss, Walrus and Armadillo tents. Shortly afterwards these brand
s were discontinued and all tents are now branded under the MSR label. In August 2001 MSR was acquired by Cascade Designs.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
corporation located in Seattle, Washington
Seattle, Washington
Seattle is the county seat of King County, Washington. With 608,660 residents as of the 2010 Census, Seattle is the largest city in the Northwestern United States. The Seattle metropolitan area of about 3.4 million inhabitants is the 15th largest metropolitan area in the country...
, and owned by Cascade Designs
Cascade Designs
Cascade Designs is an American company specializing in outdoor recreation products. It is located in Seattle, Washington, and was founded in 1972 by two former Boeing engineers, who were avid backpackers...
. It was founded in 1969 by Larry Penberthy because he was not pleased with the safety and reliability of outdoor equipment.
In 1973 Penberthy developed the MSR Model 9 camp stove, a breakthrough design because of its relatively efficient performance in cold weather. He separated the stove burner from then small fuel tanks, and then pressurized auxiliary fuel bottles as the tank. And then he made a better wind screen. He also invented an ice-axe
Ice axe
An ice axe, is a multi-purpose ice and snow tool used by mountaineers both in the ascent and descent of routes which involve frozen conditions. It can be held and employed in a number of different ways, depending on the terrain encountered...
design that was believed to dig into the ice better and stop a slide. Penberthy also introduced possibly the first metal-shafted ice axes that have now wholly replaced earlier wooden-shaft designs.
Penberthy produced a newsletter and experimented widely on outdoor gear in the Pacific Northwest. He is credited with the Penberthy crampon wrap as a way to prevent wet snow from balling up under crampons. He was instrumental in implementing testing of mountaineering and bicycle helmets. Penberthy also helped to change the manufacturing of climbing ropes in the USA, he tested the windproofing of tents on top of cars on highways as well as the addition of arm-pit vents and face masks integral to jackets.
Today MSR produces camping
Camping
Camping is an outdoor recreational activity. The participants leave urban areas, their home region, or civilization and enjoy nature while spending one or several nights outdoors, usually at a campsite. Camping may involve the use of a tent, caravan, motorhome, cabin, a primitive structure, or no...
, hiking
Hiking
Hiking is an outdoor activity which consists of walking in natural environments, often in mountainous or other scenic terrain. People often hike on hiking trails. It is such a popular activity that there are numerous hiking organizations worldwide. The health benefits of different types of hiking...
and mountaineering
Mountaineering
Mountaineering or mountain climbing is the sport, hobby or profession of hiking, skiing, and climbing mountains. While mountaineering began as attempts to reach the highest point of unclimbed mountains it has branched into specialisations that address different aspects of the mountain and consists...
equipment such as portable stove
Portable stove
A portable stove is a cooking stove specially designed to be portable and lightweight, as for camping or picnicking, or for use in remote locations where an easily transportable means of cooking or heating is needed...
s, water filters and tent
Tent
A tent is a shelter consisting of sheets of fabric or other material draped over or attached to a frame of poles or attached to a supporting rope. While smaller tents may be free-standing or attached to the ground, large tents are usually anchored using guy ropes tied to stakes or tent pegs...
s, specialising in lightweight equipment. MSR has also had a large impact on the snowshoe
Snowshoe
A snowshoe is footwear for walking over the snow. Snowshoes work by distributing the weight of the person over a larger area so that the person's foot does not sink completely into the snow, a quality called "flotation"....
industry being the first to design and distribute snowshoes made of composite materials. Composite snowshoes are lighter and MSR snowshoes provide the option to add additional length to the back in order to provide more flotation.
The company was acquired by REI
Rei
-People:*Rei, the Biblical term for those who retained their allegiance to King David when Adonijah rebelled, as mentioned in 1 Kings 1:8*Rei Hiroe*Rei Igarashi*Rei Kawakubo*Rei Kikukawa*Rei Mikamoto*Rei Munakata*Rei Okamoto*Rei Omishi...
in 1981. In 2000 MSR merged with Edgeworks the manufacturer of Moss, Walrus and Armadillo tents. Shortly afterwards these brand
Brand
The American Marketing Association defines a brand as a "Name, term, design, symbol, or any other feature that identifies one seller's good or service as distinct from those of other sellers."...
s were discontinued and all tents are now branded under the MSR label. In August 2001 MSR was acquired by Cascade Designs.
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