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 love this backpack! There are lots of pockets to stay organized and it can fit everything I need during the day for school (I'm a sophomore in college). It is also very comfortable. Even with my mac, a giant organic chemistry book, and some notebooks, it doesn't feel too heavy. I really like the separate computer pocket so my mac is protected, but if I don't have my computer it is out of the way. I thought that the cooler pocket would be wasted space for me, but it's a really nice, deep pocket that I use for carrying fruit, computer cable, or any other little things. I have used it for one semester and it seems very sturdy - I'm sure it will last a long time!
