Seattle-based entrepreneur and inventor of the modern backpack, Murray McCory, died last month at the age of 80.

Murray McCory, a free-spirited outdoorsman who co-founded the rugged gear and pack company JanSport, designed a widely imitated dome tent, and created a durable but lightweight backpack that ...

By Clay Risen Murray McCory, who founded the outdoor equipment company JanSport while still in college and whose signature innovation, a lightweight backpack, revolutionized school life for ...

After the death of Murray McCory, a founder of the outdoors equipment company JanSport, readers recalled how their backpacks served them on life’s journeys. By Amisha Padnani Amisha Padnani is ...

Murray McCory, who founded the outdoor equipment company JanSport while still in college and whose signature innovation, a lightweight backpack, revolutionized school life for millions of students ...

Take the school backpack, for example. Its invention can be traced to one man, Murray McCory, who died last month. McCory founded JanSport in 1967 with his future wife (Jan, the company’s namesake).

The death of Murray McCory, the founder of JanSport, has generated tributes from generations of brand devotees who grew up using its now-iconic school backpacks. Its signature product, based on ...

Murray Pletz’s winning design. Illustration courtesy Hippie, Inc. Traditional hiking backpacks at the time featured one-size-fits-all wooden frames. McCory founded JanSport with his soon-to-be-wife, ...