Gert’s husband Neal Boyle takes over the family business, expanding from quality hats to diverse outdoor gear. When Gert hears from Neal that his customers are asking for a more practical fishing vest, she whips up a prototype of the Henry’s Fork™ Vest—on her own sewing machine. The vest becomes an instant bestseller and puts Columbia Sportswear on the map. All in a day’s work.

Gert, Tim, and a small group of dedicated employees steadily turn the company around, setting the stage for what would become a global leader in outdoor gear. By 1984, we introduce Interchange, our 3-in-1 jacket system that adapts to any weather. In '86, the bestselling Bugaboo™ Interchange makes its mark. Also in this decade, Gert becomes “One Tough Mother,” an exacting boss who demands perfection, in the irreverent ad campaign with Oregon firm Borders Perrin Norrander.

While we’ve been innovating in the angling space since the 60s, it was in 1996 that we officially launched Performance Fishing Gear, establishing icons like the Bonehead™, Tamiami™, and Bahama™ that continue to be bestsellers. We also first stepped into the footwear business in ‘93 with the Bugaboot™, designed by visionary Peter Moore.

Tenacious grip. Inside‑out waterproofing. Little silver dots. These technologies are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to our relentless innovation. Many of our tried‑and‑true technologies take hold in the early 2000s, including industry‑first waterproof-breathable OutDry™ Extreme, Omni‑Grip™ outsole innovation, and thermal-reflective Omni‑Heat™, a.k.a. those little silver dots that keep you warm. In 2020, Omni‑Heat™ Infinity elevates our warm tech. By 2025, it had been to the Moon (twice) while protecting lunar landers in space. Apparently the sky isn’t the limit.