Dakine | Dakine Snow Wear | Dakine Snow Bags | Dakine Wetsuits | Dakine Wetsuit Boots

DAKINE

Founded in Hawaii in 1979 and located at the base of Mt. Hood in Hood River, Oregon, Dakine builds backpacks, travel bags, accessories, outerwear and clothing for people who love to surf, snowboard, skateboard, mountain bike, ski, windsurf, kiteboard and travel.

THE CANNERY

Dakine got its start on Maui’s North Shore in 1979. Rob Kaplan was a surfer first, but he was also a tinkerer who loved building stuff. Word got out, and soon fellow surfers began turning to him with their gear problems—most often busted surf leashes. After repairing enough leashes, he set out to make a new leash with the kind of bombproof materials and stitching only someone who’s lost a board to the rocks would know how to make.

WIND REVOLUTION

In 1980, Dakine introduced windsurfing’s first adjustable foot strap, followed in 1982 by a waist harness and a whole bunch of travel bags, then the sport’s first seat harness in 1983, and then the now-ubiquitous thermo-molded waist harness. These advances in equipment design helped windsurfers sail faster, jump higher and ride in more intense conditions. They also established Dakine as one of the new sport’s most trusted brands.

HOOD RIVER, OREGON

By 1986, windsurfing’s center of gravity had shifted to Hood River, Oregon. While Dakine would keep a presence on Maui, its headquarters moved to the mainland. Hood River also sat at the base of Mount Hood, where snowboarders and skiers from all over the world trained in the summer. Now, not only were we talking to some of the world’s best surfers and windsurfers, but we also had world-class snowboarders and skiers coming in and out of the office too. It was one of those snowboarders that led us to the first Heli Pack. He had come off the mountain and wandered into Dakine with a request: He needed an essentials-only pack for his heli trips to Alaska. Dakine created a custom pack that had everything he wanted and nothing more. That favor for a friend eventually turned into one of our most iconic products ever.

ALL ABOUT THE DOWNHILL

By 2005, Hood River had grown into a legitimate mountain bike destination, and those same friends started to bring a different set of problems into the shop: What’s the best way to load three bikes into a pickup without dinging the down tube? How do I ride down with full-face helmet and pads on, but ride up without sweating to death? Is there a way to carry a chain saw, hammer and set of loppers up a trail on a bike? The answer we found, was yes!

MORE DAYS

We always try to answer those kinds of questions with the same resourcefulness, integrity and craftsmanship that Rob built into that first surf leash. All told, Dakine is responsible for hundreds of product firsts that have helped snowboarders, surfers, kiteboarders, skiers, windsurfers and mountain bikers grab more days on the mountain and in the water. Through every one, our approach has never changed: Build gear we’d be proud to give friends who love being on the mountain and in the water as much as we do.

Dakine produce a massive variety of snow products that we then go on to sell here at S2AS. From the gloves to the snow bags all the different materials, qualities and pricing go up and up all still being very high range products, even on the cheaper end.

Dakines aim when producing snow equiptment is to give everyone of any age or ability a comfortable and safe time on the mountain. When it comes down to gloves technology the majority of the time they infuse their designs with 'Gore-Tex' which is top quality waterproofing and thermability for that comfortable, warm and dry fit whatever the condition is.

Dakines travel bags are the best on the market! For any sport from kitesurfing to snowboarding Dakines Travel bags for in the car or on the plane are top quality. The padding consists of multiple technologies infused to let any of your possesions have the most protection possible. The exteria of these unique travel bags also holds a lot of high end technologies such as, waterproof shells/zippers, hidden pockets, super comforable backpack straps but also clips and holders to holster multiple other items whilst on the move!

Dakine have been in the kitesurfing game for a while now, using the knowlage and experience they have gained throughout the years they have been able to produce multiple types and styles of harnesses, impact vests and spreader bars. Dakine are a big name in the harness game which has had a big impact on the way people are kitesurfing and windsurfing, making the sport more enjoyable and comfortable suiting all the riders needs.