Lowe Alpine
Equip Outdoor Technologies · United States
Lowe Alpine is an outdoor brand best known for backpacks, founded in Boulder, Colorado by climber Greg Lowe. It was bought in 2011 by Equip Outdoor Technologies, the owner of Rab, and has had a UK base since.
| Founded | 1967 (sources differ; 1972 also cited) |
|---|---|
| Founder | Greg Lowe (with brothers Mike and Jeff, per Wikipedia) |
| Owner (since 2011) | Equip Outdoor Technologies |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Main product | Backpacks |
| Website | lowealpine.com |
What is Lowe Alpine?
Lowe Alpine is a mountaineering and hiking brand whose core product today is the rucksack. It originated in the United States and later became a British-managed brand under the same owner as Rab.
History
Sources differ on the founding date. A 2011 report in Grough states that climber Greg Lowe founded the brand in Boulder, Colorado, in 1967, while Wikipedia's article text gives 1972, when the Lowe brothers (Mike, Greg and Jeff) started the business in Utah and Mike registered Lowe Alpine Systems as a manufacturing business. This profile therefore treats the founding year as approximate.
In July 2011, Equip Outdoor Technologies, a company based in Somercotes, Derbyshire, that already owned Rab and outdoordesigns, signed an agreement to buy Lowe Alpine. Grough reported that the previous owner was in difficulty and that Italian banks had forced a creditors' agreement. Lowe Alpine's international headquarters and packs development team were moved to Kendal, Cumbria.
Products and positioning
Wikipedia lists backpacks as the brand's main product and notes that clothing production ended in 2014, when Rab's range was extended. At the time of the acquisition, Equip said it intended to re-establish a Lowe Alpine clothing line, keeping the Rab and Lowe Alpine design teams separate, but the later change of direction toward packs is recorded by Wikipedia.
Why it matters
Lowe Alpine is a historic name in technical rucksack design and an example of how heritage outdoor brands have been consolidated under specialist groups. Readers should check current ownership with the company, as the sources used here do not record changes after 2011.
Frequently asked questions
Who owns Lowe Alpine?
Equip Outdoor Technologies bought Lowe Alpine in 2011, and Wikipedia lists it as the parent company. Equip also owns Rab. Later ownership changes are not recorded in the sources used.
Where is Lowe Alpine from?
Lowe Alpine was founded in the United States by the Lowe brothers, with Grough placing its foundation in Boulder, Colorado. It has had a UK base in Kendal since the 2011 acquisition.