Cold-climate footwear and apparel provider Baffin successfully completed The End-to-End Project: Bruce Trail Adventure. This product-testing expedition spanned over 936 kilometers along Canada’s Bruce Trail, which is regarded as the country’s oldest and longest-marked footpath.
On March 19, 2024, Baffin SVP, Mark Hubner completed an end-to-end journey that took him from Tobermory, Ontario through the Niagara Region, a feat that only 4,400 people are bellieved to have completed, per the Bruce Trail Conservancy. This group functions as one of Ontario’s largest land trusts, acquiring, protecting and restoring the vulnerable habitat and biodiversity of the Bruce Trail. Baffin has been a supporter of the Bruce Trail Conservancy for the past decade, helping fund the conservation programming that is designed to conserve, restore and manage land along the Niagara Escarpment UNESCO World Biosphere, as well as its ecosystems.
The Bruce Trail served as the ultimate testing ground, offering some of Ontario’s most challenging terrain. With treacherous rocky outcrops, dense forests and unpredictable weather conditions, each step of the journey tested the durability, comfort and reliability of Baffin products. Hubner spent 48 days on the trail and was joined on select legs by family, the Baffin community and high-profile Canadian guests, including Juno award-winning band Arkells, comedian Tom Green, conservationist and TV personality Blake Moynes, hockey hall of famer Doug Gilmour and Olympians Elvis Stojko and Donovan Bailey.
“This expedition wasn’t just about putting our products to the test; it was about pushing the limits of innovation and performance while pushing ourselves to achieve the extraordinary. With every step we not only gained crucial insight to ensure the best quality for our customers, but we triumphed in the face of challenges, doubts, and fears,” said Hubner. “Embarking on this journey in our own backyard along the Bruce Trail and meeting our community on the trail added a special dimension to this trek. It reinforced our shared bonds and common purpose and reminded us of our role in the bigger picture of conservation. Through this experience, we shed light on the vital work of the Bruce Trail Conservancy, underscoring the importance of safeguarding our natural spaces for future generations. It’s a reminder that our actions, even in our own backyard, have global implications.”
Twenty-four footwear and apparel products were tested throughout the expedition, 16 of which are currently in market and eight prototypes in their developmental phase. The prototypes tested will serve as the basis for a new hiking category that Baffin is developing for a 2025 launch.
