Osprey Packs was named to Outside magazine’s fourth annual “Best Places to Work” list on Aug. 10.

Osprey was ranked number 29 out of 50 selected companies, and is one of only five companies to be chosen every year of the award, according to a written statement from Osprey Packs. The full list and related story is published in the September issue of Outside magazine, which became available on newsstands Aug. 16.

Outside’s “Best Places to Work” project celebrates the innovative companies setting a new standard for a healthy work-life balance, according to the statement from Osprey. The list was compiled with the help of the Outdoor Industry Association and Best Companies Group. The year-long selection process began with an outreach effort that identified a wide range of nonprofit and for-profit organizations with at least 15 employees working in the United States. Participating companies were then sent confidential employee-satisfaction surveys and employer-questionnaires to collect information about benefits, compensation, policies, job satisfaction, environmental initiatives, and community outreach programs.

All of the results were analyzed by Best Companies Group experts, who selected the 50 companies that strive to enhance their employees’ enjoyment of active endeavors, and environmental and social involvement.

“We know that the more our employees are fulfilled in their own lives and engaged with their community and the outdoors, the happier and more productive they are,” Erik Wegner, Osprey director of human resources, said in the written statement from Osprey. “It’s our goal to help nurture this work-life balance and to give back to our community, and we’re thrilled to be recognized for these efforts once again from Outside.”

“These 50 companies are successful precisely because they support a proper work-life balance,” said Michael Roberts, executive editor of Outside. “Happy workers that feel part of an active community are guaranteed to be more engaged and productive. And the companies on our list are offering amazing benefits: organic cafeterias, on-site fitness classes, reimbursements for gym memberships and ski passes, opportunities for on-the-clock community service, and much more.”

Called out by Outside in their “Best Places to Work” feature article is Osprey’s commitment to corporate responsibility and the company’s annual gear sale, where five percent of all proceeds from the Local’s Sale event go to select local nonprofit organizations. In 2010, the Fall Local’s Sale raised $1,396 for the Telluride-based environmental group Sheep Mountain Alliance, while the Spring Local’s Sale raised $1,411 for The For Pet’s Sake Humane Society. The Osprey Local’s Sale is a reflection of Osprey’s appreciation for and dedication to the Southwest Colorado regional community.

Osprey’s Volunteer Incentive Program allows each team member paid time off to participate in a wide range of Osprey-sponsored volunteer projects. In 2010 Osprey donated a total of nearly 220 volunteer hours to a wide variety of projects, including the Conservation Alliance’s Backyard Collective, Trails 2000 Make a Difference Day, plus projects in Mesa Verde National Park and the local Carpenter Preserve Open Space.

Other aspects to Osprey’s positive workplace culture that stood out for Outside include generous vacation time (three weeks for starting employees), a fitness program that includes paying employees to walk or bike to work, a floating “powder day” in winter and one eight-hour Osprey Outings Holiday. Team members also receive free recreational facility passes and a bike after one year of service.

Osprey Packs makes outdoor gear that includes packs and bags designed to help adventurers enjoy their outdoor, biking and travel pursuits. The location of company headquarters is in Cortez. Osprey also maintains a product development office in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, near the factories where they manufacture their products, ensuring face-to-face relationships and transparency with their suppliers. In 2009, Osprey opened a design office in Mill Valley, California, a hub of design talent and the birthplace of mountain biking.

Outside is an active lifestyle magazine, with more than 2 million readers a month. For more than 30 years, the magazine has covered travel, sports, adventure, health, and fitness, as well as the personalities, the environment, and the style and culture of the world Outside. Along with receiving many other accolades, Outside is the only magazine to win three consecutive National Magazine Awards for General Excellence.