Founded in 1992 by Michael Akira West, 686 is an independent, founder-led technical apparel brand born in California. The brand was created in a college classroom to blend the raw style of Los Angeles skateboarding culture with the high-performance demands of mountain snowboarding.

686 is famous for its relentless focus on technical innovation, pioneering features like the Thermagraph temperature-regulation lining and unique collaborative collections. As a certified B Corporation, the company engineers premium, durable winter outerwear, everyday apparel, and mountain accessories utilizing eco-conscious manufacturing and recycled materials. Operating under the philosophy that average is not acceptable, they design gear meant to transition seamlessly from the city streets to the highest peaks