Yakima Products Garners Two Industry Awards at 2011 Outdoor Retailer Summer Market - Largest U.S. Outdoor Trade Show

BEAVERTON, Ore., Aug. 17, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Yakima (www.yakima.com), the innovation leader in vehicle racks for boats, bikes, camping, winter sports gear, trailers and cargo solutions, won two key industry awards at the recent Outdoor Retailer Summer Market. Outside named Whispbar, the quietest, most aerodynamic and fuel-efficient line of roof racks, as one of top ten Gear of the Show. GearJunkie.com, a respected outdoor website, designated the Whispbar and the RocketBox Pro Series as Best in Show. Whispbar's aerofoil wing shape reduces drag by up to 70%, significantly decreasing noise and maximizing fuel economy. The RocketBox Pro Series is the first full-featured "UPS-able" box in the category offering a 50% reduction in packaged size resulting in less inventory space and more convenient shipping. Both are available now through select U.S. retailers.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110817/NE53535 )

Whispbar roof racks represent a major simplification of the shopping experience by reducing a vehicle base system purchase to two boxes utilizing the proprietary Smartfoot™ attachment technology.  

The pushdown in-fill and flush bar option, exclusive to Whispbar in the rack category, showcase the premium features and aesthetic appeal.

The RocketBox Pro cargo box assembles in five minutes with no tools, has a dual sided opening and a new push button latch.  The RocketBox Pro Series is shipped with the base and lid "nested" resulting in 50% less carton volume than the current RocketBox. In addition, 50% more units can be shipped in a truck reducing freight costs and Yakima's carbon footprint.

"These important awards validate the research behind these next generation designs; we are honored by the recognition from Outside and GearJunkie.com," said Ron Ten Berge, senior vice president and chief marketing officer. "To be recognized by these outlets as the best among the thousands of new products at OR is a true honor.  We continually strive to make it easy for outdoor enthusiasts to get to their destination quickly, while expressing their personal style. Retail reception has been strong across the board. Both awards will help our dealers drive sales," continued Ten Berge.

For more information:

www.yakima.com

www.whispbar.com

SOURCE Yakima