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A PR & digital marketing agency representing outdoor, endurance, hunt/fish, and mountain lifestyle companies.

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Darby Communications is a fun-loving, hard-working team of communicators who bring a fresh approach to PR and digital marketing. We combine original ideas with good old elbow grease to deliver extraordinary campaigns and events. Never a one-person show, we incorporate teamwork into every aspect of our work and consider ourselves an extension of your marketing team.

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Strengthening Authority Through Thought Leadership

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Now that we got your attention with cute dog pics, Now that we got your attention with cute dog pics, head over to our blog to find out who these two cuties are and what else the Darby Comm team has been up to these past few months! Link to the blog is in our bio. 🐶
Team Darby is headed all over the country next wee Team Darby is headed all over the country next week to meet with media on behalf of our clients! You can find us at the: 

⛰️ @outdoormarketalliance Media Event where we'll be representing brands KUIU, Farm to Feet, TRAVOCA USA, and HydraPak, LLC,

🎣 the @keepamericafishing @icastshow with Shimano North America Holding, Inc. and Johnson Outdoors, or at

🗽 the annual NYC Holiday Gift Guide Media Event with brands Mountain House and Farm to Feet.

If you're at one of these shows, be sure to stop by and say hello! We look forward to seeing old friends and making new connections.

In this pic: just a few of the friendly Darby faces you'll see on the road next week.
In Matthew Kadey's latest Outside RUN article, he In Matthew Kadey's latest Outside RUN article, he does a great job of distilling the data around high carb fueling. He characterizes the nuances, and outlines fueling guidelines for athletes at every level.

Kadey highlights the Skratch Labs Super High Carb Drink Mix stating "With Skrach Labs Super High-Carb, you can easily adjust the amount of mix you use to hit the carb numbers you want. That’s ideal if you are working up to handling a greater carb load." 

Read about why this is important and learn how high carb fueling can enhance your training at the link in our bio.
Did you know that freeze-drying food goes all the Did you know that freeze-drying food goes all the way back to the Incas? Have you ever wondered how that Mountain House meal you enjoyed on your last backpacking trip tastes so delicious after just adding hot water?

Oregon Public Broadcasting recently did a feature on Oregon-based brands making freeze-dried foods and the history of this unique food-preservation technique. In the article, they interview Drew Huebsch, Director of Research and Development at Mountain House. Drew takes a deep dive into the history of Mountain House and shares what it takes to make a freeze-dried meal from conception to the tasty meal you enjoy when you're in the backcountry. 

Check out the full article at our link in bio and share with us your favorite Mountain House meal! Ours is definitely the new Cheesy Beef Enchilada Bowl -- those corn tortillas! 😋
No praying necessary! By executing a strategic pro No praying necessary! By executing a strategic product launch campaign with custom media events, we help our clients build better brand-media relationships and ensure a pipeline of in-depth product coverage during launch week. You can learn more in our recent case study that highlights our successful PR campaign for Jetboil's product launch of the Flash 1.0L Fast Boil System at the link in our bio.
🥇 Runner's World selected BRANWYN's Essential C 🥇 Runner's World selected BRANWYN's Essential Compressive Short as the Best Compression Short for Running in their recent "Best Running Shorts of 2025" list. Editors said "If you need a pair of running shorts that hug you in all the right ways, look to the Essential Compressive Shorts from Branwyn." 

The Essential Compressive Short is made from merino wool and offers a body-sculpting, second-skin feel with natural fiber comfort and sustainability.
What started as a small effort by HydraPak to redu What started as a small effort by HydraPak to reduce plastic waste in the hydration space with the Re_Pak program is now expanding to 100+ retail and event locations in 2025. The goal for this year is to collect 4x more bottles than the program’s inaugural year and continue giving used bottles a second life through HydraPak’s partnership with a CHaRM (Center for Hard-to-Recycle Materials) facility in Boulder, CO. 

Re_Pak is an innovative recycling initiative that gives used sport bottles a second life by transforming them into durable composite construction materials through a partnership with a CHaRM facility in Boulder, Colorado. During its pilot year, the program collected approximately 900 bottles, diverting 170 pounds of plastic from landfills. The results demonstrated that outdoor consumers are eager to participate in more circular systems, especially when offered easy access and a clear impact. 

Want to learn more about HydraPak's sustainability efforts or know a retailer that wants to participate in the program? Visit HydraPak's site by going to the link in our bio.
Congratulations to our newest client, TRAVOCA, who Congratulations to our newest client, TRAVOCA, who had a successful debut at Overland Expo West two weeks ago! TRAVOCA designs elegantly rugged products that make cooking, relaxing, and connecting easier in the great outdoors, like dual-zone e-coolers, portable power stations and solar panels, and titanium drinkware. We're excited to be partnering with this brand and sharing their products with overlanding and camping enthusiasts across the U.S. 

Check out what OVR Magazine had to say about them in their recent Overland Expo West round-up.
We were moved when we first read Maggie Slepian's We were moved when we first read Maggie Slepian's Substack piece titled "An Honest Reflection of the Media Landscape, Plus the Rate Chasm Between SEO and Essays.” Maggie’s piece hit home. Our initial reaction was a head-shaking damn, it’s hard out there for freelancers. Then a second wave of realization hit us. This is a must-read for our team AND clients.

It’s our job to educate our brands on what is happening in the media world. If they don’t have at least a basic understanding of the landscape, our PR efforts and results might not make much sense. 

On the flip side, it’s also our job to make connections, ideate story angles, and share products that make getting placements easier for media. So we’re sharing our thoughts in response to Maggie’s piece (and a link to Maggie's original piece) in a recent blog at our link in bio. 

After you read it, come back here and share your thoughts with us in the comments.
Cash Lambert of American Surf Magazine has three p Cash Lambert of American Surf Magazine has three pain points when it comes to sunglasses: 
1. They always break
2. He loses them
3. He gets tired of the style and wants a new design. 

When he found out the founders of Ombraz had created a solution for all 3 of his pain points, he knew he had to learn more. This spring, Lambert sat down for a one-on-one interview with Jensen Brehm and Nikolai Paloni to chat with them about how they've revolutionized the sunglasses market. Head on over to the link in our bio, to read the full interview where Lambert gets his burning questions answered "about how <Ombraz> have re-imagined the sunglass experience with attention to detail, craftsmanship and a cord, and how they’ve planted 2 million trees along the way."

🕶️ Shoutout to Cash Lambert and Mark Sawyer-Chu for making this magic happen! 
📸 courtesy of Ombraz
🗳️ Calling for votes!! Wildwater, the Southea 🗳️ Calling for votes!! Wildwater, the Southeast's original professional outfitter, is a finalist in the USA Today 10 Best, and they need your votes! As one of the oldest outfitters in the area, Wildwater's guides are the perfect balance of professional and fun, and they take folks down some of the most rugged rivers in the Southeast, including the Chattooga. Please head over to the link in our bio and give them a vote! We'd love to see them take home the #1 spot in 2025!
Darby Comm Acct Exec, Gordon Brown, and Ally Spaig Darby Comm Acct Exec, Gordon Brown, and Ally Spaight, Senior Marketing Manager at Johnson Outdoors, hit NYC this week for an outdoor industry media event, where they gave over 25 media walkthroughs of the new Ocean Kayak Sonata 106 MK. It was a fresh audience for a brand that’s been building boats since 1898...and the interest was real. 

After the event, Gordon strapped the Sonata to the roof of his ’97 Jeep and hit the road to Vermont. Legacy Gear, modern momentum.

Thanks @aspaight for the great shot of Gordon's parallel parking job in Broadway.
Welcome Kaleb Brown to the Darby Comm team! Kaleb Welcome Kaleb Brown to the Darby Comm team! Kaleb joins us from MA and grows our New England contingency to 3 team members. Kaleb's an experienced angler and hunter (rumor has it he started this week with a 3:30 a.m. turkey hunt and brought one home all before the Monday morning meeting)! Kaleb will be an Account Coordinator on our hunt/fish accounts, and we're thrilled to welcome him to our team.
 
Learn more about Kaleb, including his background of being a collegiate and pro tournament angler, at the blog linked in our bio. 🎣
Our founder, Coral Darby, is headed to D.C. this w Our founder, Coral Darby, is headed to D.C. this week with the Outdoor Industry Association for the Capitol Summit to advocate for protecting our public lands and for tariff relief. 

We're excited to have Coral on the ground fighting the good fight with other leaders from the outdoor industry. Before she left, she spoke with one of our clients operating on a federally designated Wild & Scenic River who has faced delays in securing a special use permit due to federal staffing shortages. This is a small but poignant example of how fewer permits mean fewer visitors, fewer dollars flowing into rural communities, and even lost revenue for the government.

As part of the public lands team, Coral will advocate for the preservation of public lands and contribute stories highlighting what’s at stake. 

At Darby Communications, we support outdoor, hunting, and fishing brands that rely on safe, sustainable access to public lands. When that access disappears, so do the benefits—to businesses, local economies, and the people who turn to nature for connection, health, and recreation.

Coral shared in a LinkedIn post recently, “We need continued bipartisan support for the Public Lands in Public Hands Act and the extension of the Legacy Restoration Fund, part of the Great American Outdoors Act, which expires this fall. These policies keep our public lands open, funded, and well-managed.”

Thank you, Outdoor Industry Association, for providing this opportunity for our voices to be heard in D.C.
At the crossroads of some of the most scenic trail At the crossroads of some of the most scenic trails in America, the little Virginia town of Damascus inspired Farm to Feet's most technology-packed hiking sock. A favorite amongst hikers and backpackers, the Damascus was recently highlighted by Naomi Hudetz in Treeline Review's Best Hiking Socks of 2025 round-up. Treeline named them the Best Lightweight Socks, saying, "We found the unisex Farm to Feet Damascus Light to be exceptional at moisture-wicking and breathability."

Also, if you happen to be headed to the AT Trail Days in Damascus, May 16-18, be sure to stop by the Farm to Feet booth and say hello to the team!
🎣 Great job to our Shimano PR team on securing 🎣 Great job to our Shimano PR team on securing Best Overall Spinning Reel in Field & Stream's recent round-up of the 6 Best Spinning Reels. Thank you to Pete Robbins for selecting Shimano's Stradic FL for this award, saying, "In any of its previous iterations, the Stradic would’ve been worth the price, but this model goes above and beyond the call of duty. It has a waterproof drag, long stroke spool, and a one-piece bail. All of these features connote durability, so you don’t have to worry about it failing or underperforming at an inopportune time." 👏

Full review can be seen at the 🔗 in bio.
2024 was a banner year for The Landmark Project's 2024 was a banner year for The Landmark Project's commitment to conservation and ethical leadership, contributing an unprecedented $311,563.56 to various conservation and community initiatives. This milestone marks the brand's most significant annual giveback since the program’s inception in 2018. In 2024, they made substantial donations to key conservation organizations:​

🏕️ Leave No Trace: $28,690.84 to promote responsible outdoor ethics.​
🌲National Forest Foundation: $14,337.69 to support the health and sustainability of national forests.
🐾 National Wildlife Federation: $11,435.23 to aid in wildlife conservation efforts.​
🏔️ Public Lands Alliance: $500 to foster the preservation and enjoyment of public lands.​
🔥 U.S. Forest Service (Wildfire Prevention Education): $221,510.30 to bolster wildfire prevention education initiatives.​
🦦 Friends of the Reedy River: $7,698.50 donated to support local environmental restoration.​

Additionally, in the wake of Hurricane Helene’s devastating impact on Asheville, North Carolina, and surrounding areas, The Landmark Project swiftly redirected efforts to support local recovery:​

✨FIND Outdoors: $12,500 allocated for Hurricane Helene recovery in Western North Carolina.
✨Equal Plates Project: $12,500 contributed to assist in Hurricane Helene relief efforts.​
✨The brand also organized online and in-person warehouse sales, with every dollar spent directed toward these recovery partners. Surpassing the initial goal of $15,000, these initiatives raised an impressive $25,000 for Hurricane Helene relief, reflecting the community’s robust support.​

All of this in addition to actively engaging employees and the broader community in volunteer efforts with the following initiatives: ​

☀️ Moab Spring Spruce Up: Sponsored cleanup and restoration activities.​
🏞️ Yosemite Facelift: Collaborated on park maintenance and preservation projects.​
🌊 Reedy River Cleanup: Organized local efforts to enhance the health of Greenville’s waterways.​

Join us in giving The Landmark Project a round of applause and thanking them for truly living out their values as a brand!
🎉 We're celebrating a major milestone at Darby 🎉 We're celebrating a major milestone at Darby Comm this week: Angie Robinson's 15-year anniversary!! In that time, Angie has grown with the agency—from its second full-time hire to its president today! She's the driving force behind the team and always leads with compassion and humor. Join us in giving a big Darby cheers to Angie!! 🥂
It’s a busy spring for Skratch Labs with the ann It’s a busy spring for Skratch Labs with the announcement of a new athlete team and the launch of multiple new products, including the latest Cinnamon + Oatmeal Energy Bar drop! On top of all that, this past weekend they had athletes from the team breaking course records and earning new titles including: 

🚴‍♀️💨 Haley Batten winning both the Sea Otter Classic Gravel and the Fuego XL!

🔥🏃‍♀️‍➡️ Tara Fraga taking 1st at Yakima Skyline 50k AND setting a new course record in the process!!

💥🏃‍♂️‍➡️ Adam Peterman breaking a course record at Gorge Waterfalls 100k!!!

Skratch supports all athletes in their pursuit of excellence by providing them with the real food nutrition and hydration they need. 💪
The start of spring has special meaning in western The start of spring has special meaning in western North Carolina this year, as colorful blooms brighten up a landscape forever changed by Hurricane Helene. As we welcome warmer weather and new life blossoming around us, we also celebrate new additions to our client roster and Darby team. Check out how things are going in our corner of the world recently at the link in our bio. 

Photo courtesy of Old Town Kayaks and Canoes
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