OUR STORY
TSL OUTDOOR. ITS INNOVATIONS ARE PART OF THE HISTORY OF SNOWSHOEING
It’s said that snowshoes were invented over 10,000 years ago as an ingenious aid to moving around and hunting. An instinctive way of effectively distributing body weight on snow. At the time, snowshoes were made of a wooden frames tied together by leather straps or animal skins.
A NEW SPORT IS BORN
It was not until 1981, when TSL was founded in the heart of the Alps, in Thônes (France), that the product underwent its first major revolution. TSL took its inspiration from a wooden snowshoe and manufactured it in plastic. The JCB, the first model to be used for recreation and sporting purposes, was born.
THE BIRTH OF THE TECHNICALLY SOPHISTICATED SNOWSHOE
During the 90s, TSL developed and marketed the 225 RANDO, the first snowshoe with an articulating binding that combined comfort, technical design and firm foot support. Its unique hourglass shape offered walking comfort and became the recognisable footprint for all the brand’s composite snowshoes. It was an immediate success and is still the most widely sold model in the world.
SNOWSHOEING ENJOYS A WORLDWIDE BOOM
As a result of TSL’s enthusiasm and constant improvements (Step-In, Up & Down System, heel lifts, etc.) enabling users to walk on all types of terrain, TSL snowshoes travelled beyond France and were exported as far as Japan and other European countries. Supported by the brand, a European snowshoe racing cup competition was set up, along with a large number of marked trails.
SYMBIOSIS BETWEEN SPORT AND NATURE
2013. A year to remember. Escaping into nature, freedom and exploring magnificent scenery are the very essence of the sport. But ever since the snowshoe was first created, hikers have had to adapt their stride to the structure of the product and this has moved them further away from nature. TSL is shaking up the rules to bring you the first model of a new generation of snowshoes that offer unrivalled advantages. We have designed and developed a snowshoe that adapts perfectly to the shape of the terrain. We have carefully designed the roll of the foot, various contact points, flexibility, lightness and grip so that the hiker can walk naturally over the snow. Using advanced technologies, we have managed to bring this snowshoe to life. After more than 10,000 years, winter hiking enthusiasts are FINALLY in total symbiosis with nature. That is why we have called this new model TSL SYMBIOZ.
2016. Innovation, quality, sustainable development and products made in France have always been our driving force (Snowshoes, Sleds, Yooner, Nordic walking poles, etc.). We want to do the same for our other ranges of poles. We have invested in a new workshop specialised in the manufacture of poles on our Annecy-le-Vieux site (French Alps, France). This means that we can offer you the very best in technology and meet all of your needs with our different customisation options. The pole is not simply a product, it is symbiotic link between practice and nature.
MAKING HISTORY
2021, TSL celebrates 20 years of existence. We are making history while maintaining our spirit, our guiding principle, our uniqueness. In other words, we are forging our own path:
Forging our own path by creating sporting activities close to nature, Forging our own path by manufacturing in the French Alps with a commitment to eco-design, Forging our own path by maintaining our passion for innovation and quality.
Forging our own path together with you. Our authenticity, unique culture and human values have enabled us to build a close and trusting relationship with you over the last 40 years. Together we share a passion for the mountains, the fresh air, the product, the emotion and the dream. The 2020s, we are going to continue writing this story together.
GO your own Way.
