Eastern Mountain Sports was founded in 1967 in Wellesley Massachusetts by two rock climbers who had become dissatisfied with the poor selection of climbing equipment they found in existing stores. In addition to selling climbing gear, they added a selection of camping equipment in hopes of making money from the hobby that had turned into a viable business.

– From this small store outside Boston Massachusetts, EMS has grown into one of the nation’s leading outdoor specialty retailers, with more than 80 retail stores, as well as a formidable online presence. The company is now based in Peterborough, New Hampshire.

-EMS designs and offers a wide variety of gear and clothing for outdoor enthusiasts-from backpacks and insulated parkas to cycling gear and summer shorts.

– The backcountry veterans who staff our product development and quality assurance teams share an unshakable goal: to provide our customers with uncompromising quality at prices that reflect honest value.

– Much of our product is evaluated by the EMS Climbing School, with Mount Washington – home of the world’s worst weather – as our testing lab.

– In July 2004, the Eastern Mountain Sports Adventure Racing Team introduced itself to the global Adventure Racing community. There was not a lot of small talk. In its first outing-the high-profile Balance Bar 24-hour ordeal in Beaver Creek, Colorado, Team EMS took eighth place out of 42 teams, 22 of which were ranked Elite.