Based in Hood River, Oregon, DAKINE was founded in Maui, Hawai'i in 1979 by longtime surfer, Rob Kaplan. DAKINE'S first product, a revolutionary new surf leash, quickly gained worldwide popularity. This first leash led to more surfing related products, built to withstand the punishing conditions of the surf on the north shore of Hawai'i. In Hawaiian slang, "Da Kine" means
the best and the company has lived up to this standard through attention to detail, focus on accessories, and a notoriously thorough design process.
With its reputation for top quality products and attention to detail, DAKINE quickly grew beyond its surfing roots and has become the standard in board sports accessories for the top athletes in the worlds of snowboarding, skiing, skateboarding, mountain biking, windsurfing, and kiteboarding, as well as surfing.
To better serve the growing worldwide demand for DAKINE product, a factory and distribution center were opened in Hood River, Oregon in 1986 and the facility soon replaced operations on Maui's north shore to become the principal factory and point of distribution. DAKINE's Oregon location, in the heart of the Gorge and the base of Mount Hood--a hot spot with North American windsurfers and snowboarders--also helps the company maintain its competitive edge by giving the product development team a demanding new environment for developing and testing products. A testament to the standards and success of DAKINE product, the pro team roster reads like a who's-who of action sports.
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Today, DAKINE offers a complete range of innovative products, including sport-specific and street-savvy backpacks, bags, travel gear, and accessories as well as a fashionable girl's bag collection. The company remains focused on building durable, innovative products of the best quality for the most demanding action sports athletes. The original quest led by a group of dedicated surfers has taken on a life of its own and has spread throughout all board sports. For 30 years, this passion has given DAKINE its longevity in the action sports industry and has personified its reputation for excellence.
Owner Reviews, Ratings, Comments and Criticism
I got this to replace my small pandora backpack from north face and it's really cute and the plaid design is cute as well, but it's not as usable as my northface one. It can still hold most of my stuff like my day planner, a book, wallet, phone, ipod,and keys. I don't think it can hold as much as my old backpack because I used to fit my camera and water bottle too, although the dimensions are the same. I like backpacks that have padding on the back and straps, which this one lacks, so it's not as comfortable to wear. If things slip, it pokes me in the back as I'm walking. I use it every day since I don't use a purse, so comfort is important for me. I don't think I can wear it when I go hiking like I did with my old one.
