Compass: Charting the Evolution of Outdoor Gear

Raichle History

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1909

Louis Raichle establishes company in Kreuzlingen, Switzerland, making footwear and slippers

1912

adds military boots to the range

1924

includes ski and hiking boots in the line

1958

begins specialising in ski, mountain and hiking boots

1964

Winter Olympics in Innsbruck, Austria, mark transition to buckle ski boots.

Raichle promote their buckle boot with world’s first coloured advert for ski boots

1968

introduces their first plastic ski boot as a clamshell fibreglass outer, over a lace-up leather inner

Known as the Fiber Jet (aka Red Hot)

Boot is recorded for innovation by Museum of Modern Art (MOMA) in New York

1969

American subsidiary of Raichle Molitor, United States Inc., is founded

1978

Eric Giese, ex-spacesuit engineer, based in Aspen USA designs a new type of ski boot

Shows his prototype boot to Raichle Molitor, who send him to Swizterland to meet Raichle president

1980

introduce the Giese inspired Flexon 5, the first “three piece” style ski boot

1983

Production and administration building rebuilt and surrounded by fruit trees, in Kreuzlingen, Switzerland

Two manufacturing facilities combined into one

Brand celebrates 75 years since founding

Company sold to Peter Werhan

1984

Bill Johnson win Downhill Gold at Sarajevo Winter Olympics wearing Flexon Comp boots & Maria Walliser a Silver

1986

development of the corrugated Flex Tongue provides pressure-free, progressive power transmission from leg to ski.

1996

Business on the verge of bankruptcy and sold to Austrian ski brand, Kneissl & Friends

1999

Company re-branded as Kneissl-Raichle

2001

Kneissl & Friends sold to Roces

2003

Swiss outdoor company Mammut acquires Raichle

Raichle sales, logistics and procurement managed from Mammut Sports Group AG headquarters in Seon

Product development and design out of Frauenfeld.

2004

K2 Sports bought original Flexon moulds planning to enter boot business

2005

Mammut (owned by Conzzeta AG) with 200 employees, has sales of 150 million Swiss Frances

2009

all Raichle products now branded Mammut