Triple Aught Design has a Quest for you.

The idea of heading out into the unknown with only a vague clue alluding to your destination awakens the adventurous spirit in most of us. While many outdoor brands outfit their customers for their chosen journey, few actively provide destinations and motivation to get out and use the gear. That’s exactly what Triple Aught Design has been doing since the launch of their Quest program and mobile app. It’s worth noting that this is not TAD’s first foray into brand based experiences. Since 2017 Triple Aught Design has offered Waypoint excursions. These free in-field adventures hosted by TAD staff have included canyoneering, offroading, spelunking, and high alpine adventures. The Waypoint trips were understandably limited to a reasonable number of participants and the amount of resources it took to plan and execute each trip.

Then in 2019, Quest launched as a portion of the TAD website. It included 50 clues, one per state, that would lead participants to a particular objective. Some were trails and overlooks, others abandoned structures, and even a few caves were thrown into the mix. The first few participants to complete each Quest were rewarded with exclusive patches. In and of itself this version of the program was a great addition to Triple Aught Design as a brand, and most definitely upheld the TAD motto of, “to inspire our community to live more adventurous lives through legendary products and experiences.” However, this was just the beginning of Quest. During the summer of 2020 TAD quietly released invitations to Quest for a limited beta of the app.

This updated version of Quest included numerous objectives per state, digital quest that served as a kind of online scavenger hunt, and even missions for TAD fans in the United Kingdom. Within a few weeks, the number of participants in the program was closing in on 2,000. The rapid growth is in part due to the community aspects of Quest. Users not only score points by completing the objectives, but also by doing so with other members of the application, being some of the first to complete each mission, and incorporating Triple Aught Design’s apparel and equipment into their trips. Lastly, some of the Quest objectives include skills that if completed can score users additional points. Rappelling, land navigation, off-road driving, paddling, and backpacking are included in these skill sets.

Phil Adams, marketing director at TAD, says that Quest is, “Six years old, but only one month old to the world.” He noted that the idea had been in the works, but that they finally had the time and resources to launch, and felt like it was the right time. While the company is very pleased, they’re by no means done with Quest. Now that the application is live, it will continue to grow with 25-30 Quest added per week. Phil says, “It’s all about finding everyday adventure, and getting people engaged beyond just the hike or whatever the activity might be.”

All in all the Quest app feels like a game, but while the scores are displayed through rank, and eventually users will be able to use their points to purchase items from the in-app shop, the heart of Quest lies in the experiences it introduces users to. Chances are there is a Quest or two within easy driving distance of most reader’s homes, but the real fun begins when you make a day of it, or better yet a weekend trip that links together several Quest. I’ve personally tackled a few solo, driven three hours to hike in slot canyons with my wife, and made a long weekend road trip with a friend to knock out five Quest in a row. On all of the above, I’ve enjoyed the research and found adventure, and not just in the chosen objectives. It really does feel like you’re on a quest to a special destination, and that kind of mystery and romanticism is a nice addition to any excursion. If you’re looking for some motivation or just some ideas for future trips take a look at the Quest app.

If you would like to join the Quest app click HERE to sign up!

 

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