Since early 2021, groundbreaking climber and influential snowboarder Lonnie Kosuko Kauk has been on-board with 686. Today we are proud to announce the release of the 686 x Magic Line Pants. A collaborative project between both parties, built from the ground-up with new climbing specific features. Inspired by pants that iconic Yosemite climbers like Ron Kauk (Lonnie’s dad) and John Bachar used to wear but modernized for the crags and streets of today.
“It’s perfect to have these white painter pants because it represents that Bachar and Stonemasters style. I like to honor the guys that came first. Nothing was fabricated, it was just finding white pants in the thrift store and then getting all these iconic photos that turned into history,” describes Lonnie. “Then we added the key features: extra vented pockets for big wall climbing, places to stuff snacks or whatever you need, and then we have the subtle Magic Line lightning bolt to make sure the style is on point. I used to think, there’s no way I’d be wearing my climbing pants around town, I only wear what I like. Now it’s cool, I can wear these everywhere.”
There are two colorways available: the vintage inspired white and pure black, which is a nod to the future. Those that follow Lonnie’s adventures on Instagram (@lonniekkauk) know he’s fond of the “Man in Black” look. These pants fit his image in the streets and hint at his desire to pursue his passions in the shadows. Cameras or crowds be damned, Lonnie is always out there pushing his limits.
As an Ahwahnechee descendent raised in the Yosemite Valley, Lonnie’s elders raised him discover his purpose in the mountains and to share it with the people. That’s exactly what he is doing with Magic Line Co. As Lonnie says, “I’ve found my Magic Line, now it’s about helping others find there’s. Whatever it may be.”
The 686 x Magic Line pants are available now on 686.com for $119.99
