Michael Akira West started 686 in 1992 after years of skateboarding and snowboarding. West spent a lot of time in the Hermosa and Venice Beach skateboarding scenes and plenty of his ideas for 686 originated there. He took his experiences in the music and snowboarding scenes and translated them into workable parts for his company. The name 686 comes from an important date in West's life, and adds up to West's age when he started the company. 686 prides itself on following the DIY school of thought. Improving on ideas and moving forward are huge parts of the 686 philosophy. If you're not seeing advancements being made, do it yourself. 686 puts this reasoning directly into the technologies they feature in their clothing. They've pioneered the creation of a versatile zipper, with their new EZ-trak zipper. Their Youth Evolotion features allow parents to get an extra season or two out of their kids snowboarding pieces. Their infamous Toolbelt line allows riders to take all of their tools with them in a functional package. 686 also keeps up with industry sustainability standards with it's Reclaim Project, which uses recycled materials to create fabrics and takes scrap fabrics and creates one-of-a-kind garments. 686 also strives to push the industry forward through their Times line of limited edition co-branded products. Collaborations with New Balance, Levi's, and KR3W help to push the envelope and create new ideas within the snowboard industry. 686 is dedicated to helping it's customers have the best time on the slopes possible, and so are we. We carry them because we're huge fans of their products. If you have questions or we can offer assistance on our 686 products, give us a shout at 1-888-SKICENTER.