Thru-hiker and filmmaker Elina “Tip Tap” Osborne on the 812 mile Hayduke trail proving that in Hikerkind gear, form and function can coexist.
New York, New York - June 27, 2024: Hikerkind, the New York-based women’s outdoor brand and hiking community, today announces the launch of their Athlete Archive. The Athlete Archive was created to document the transformation of Hikerkind's gear after the outdoor athletes' wear, proving that form and function can coexist.
Hikerkind’s athletes are individuals who are proficient and persistent in outdoor activities such as hiking, backpacking, climbing, biking, canoeing, skiing, fishing, running, and mountaineering. These activities can be performed over an extended period, either continuously (i.e. thru-hiking) or throughout their lifetime.
We hope for the Athlete Archive to inspire more conscious consumerism, and for it to highlight the beautiful evolution of clothing with time spent outdoors. Much like the stages of a flower, the best pieces of your wardrobe bloom with each wear and become part of your experiences, your identity, and your favorite memories. With this brand new initiative, we aim to document and preserve them.
Applications for donations can be made here.
Meet the 800* Mile Shorts
We’re launching the program with thru-hiker and filmmaker Elina “Tip Tap” Osborne's gear donation. In April 2023, Elina set out to hike through Utah and Arizona on the Hayduke trail wearing Hikerkind Shirt 01 and Shorts 01 for *812 consecutive miles. When she brought the gear back to Hikerkind after completing the trail, the bud of this idea was planted.
Shirt 01: Blending timeless style with cutting-edge outdoor performance. Equipped UPF 50+ and fortified with antimicrobial and moisture-wicking properties, this long-sleeve shirt delivered unparalleled comfort and protection against the elements for 812 consecutive miles.
Now in its second iteration, Trail Sun Shirt 02 features a bonded placket and hem, extra long sleeves for maximum sun coverage, and a roomy fit for ventilation.
Fabric: 94% recycled nylon, 6% Spandex material that offers moisture-wicking and antimicrobial properties. bluesign® certified with two-way stretch and a soft cotton-like hand feel.
Colors: Crownshy, Bluet and Buckwheat (shown)
Sizes: XS-3XL
Price: $128.00
Shorts 01: A combination of lightweight comfort with uncompromising performance. Made from a premium four-way stretch material with a plant-based, water-resistant finish and double weave interior designed for durability and abrasion resistance ensured comfort for 812 consecutive miles.
Now in their second iteration, Trail Shorts 02 feature belt loops and zippered front pockets for added security. The high-rise elasticated back waistband provides a secure yet comfortable fit underneath your pack, whether you hike with or without a hip belt. The A-line shape provides airflow and flattering coverage with a wide leg opening.
Fabric: 37% polyester, 53% recycled polyester and 10% Spandex that has been treated with C0 DWR — a vegetable-based, water-repelling technology. It’s bluesign® certified fabric, is durable and breathable with four-way stretch, and offers a soft double weave interior.
Colors: Olivine, Iolite and Garnet (shown)
Sizes: XS-3XL
Price: $98.00
In their second iteration, Trail Shorts 02 feature belt loops and zippered front pockets.
In their second iteration, Trail Sun Shirt 02 features a bonded placket and hem.
About Elina "Tip Tap" Osborne
Elina Osborne, or "Tip Tap" as she's known on trail, is a storyteller and adventurer. She’s currently directing two projects, including one about hiking 812 miles through the desert, the canyons, and the wash of Utah and Arizona on the Hayduke trail. After following Elina’s Pacific Crest Trail thru-hike on YouTube and watching her film It’s The People, we connected with Elina and gifted her Shirt 01 and Shorts 01 for her Hayduke trail hike. We expected nothing in return but some stories, and to live vicariously through her and our gear. Instead we received the bud of this idea when she brought our gear back to us after completing the trail. We knew then that we had to preserve her gear and its memories.
The Hayduke Trail
The Hayduke Trail is an extremely challenging, 800-mile backcountry route through southern Utah and northern Arizona created by Joe Mitchell and Mike Coronella.
Located entirely on public land, the trail links six of the National Parks on the Colorado Plateau in Southern Utah and Northern Arizona and encompasses miles through the Arches, Canyonlands, Capitol Reef, Bryce Canyon, Grand Canyon and Zion National Parks as well as Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, Glen Canyon National Recreation Area and numerous National Forests, BLM Districts,
Primitive Areas, Wilderness Areas and Wilderness Study Areas.
Yes, those are the actual shorts.
Yes, that is the actual shirt.
About the Brand
Hikerkind is a women’s outdoor brand and hiking community based in Brooklyn, NY. The brand creates outdoor apparel and accessories for women, by women, featuring relevant colors and versatile silhouettes, making it easy to transition from trail to town in Hikerkind.
Hikerkind was launched in the spring of 2021 by Allison Levy and Chelsea Rizzo after decade-long careers in apparel and over 1,000 miles hiked between them. Hikerkind is challenging the “hiker” archetype by creating clothing options for women hikers that consider both form and function.
Allison and Chelsea started their careers working in the fashion industry and bonded over their mutual love for the outdoors. Allison has been hiking for as long as she can remember all over the world. Chelsea, who was new to hiking until she thru-hiked the Colorado Trail in 2018, was set to hike the Pacific Crest Trail in 2020 before the pandemic hit. During quarantine, Allison approached Chelsea to take an idea they had been kicking around since they met to the next level, and in June of 2021, Hikerkind was born.
Contacts:
For further information on Hikerkind or the Athlete Archive: Chelsea Rizzo chelsea@hikerkind.com
For further information on Elina Osborne or the Hayduke film project: Elina Osborne elina.osborne@gmail.com
Project Credits:
Photos: Jonathan Tasker
Creative Direction: Chelsea Rizzo
Sculptures: Jacqueline Draper
Set Design: Jocelyn Cabral