Pelican Taps Explorer Chris Burkard for 50th Anniversary Storytelling

TORRANCE, Calif. – March 25, 2026 – Pelican, the global leader in high-performance protective cases, is marking its 50th anniversary by forging a significant global partnership with world-renowned explorer and photographer Chris Burkard. The year-long collaboration positions Burkard as a Global Ambassador, tasked with celebrating the brand's half-century legacy while actively shaping its future through authentic storytelling and rigorous field testing of new product lines.

This strategic alliance moves beyond a typical endorsement, integrating Burkard directly into the company's ecosystem. The partnership kicks off with the launch of “Case Chronicles,” a content series designed to engage the brand’s loyal community, and will see Burkard stress-test new equipment in some of the planet’s most demanding environments. It represents a pivotal moment for the Torrance-based manufacturer, leveraging its storied past to chart a course for its next 50 years.

A Legacy of Protection Meets Modern Storytelling

For five decades, Pelican cases have been the unsung heroes in countless missions, safeguarding critical equipment for photographers, first responders, and adventurers. To honor this history, the brand is launching “Case Chronicles,” a campaign hosted by Burkard that invites users to share the unique stories their well-worn cases have lived. From March through December, one standout mission will be featured each month, transforming individual customer experiences into a collective narrative of resilience and reliability.

This initiative reflects a sophisticated understanding of modern brand building, shifting the focus from product specifications to the human experiences they enable. In an era where authenticity drives consumer loyalty, user-generated content (UGC) campaigns like this are proven to be highly effective. By turning its customers into storytellers, Pelican aims to deepen its community connection and reinforce its core value proposition through powerful, real-world testimonials. Burkard, a master storyteller with a social media following of over 4 million, is the ideal figure to lead this charge.

"Pelican has traveled beside me for my entire career, protecting the gear that allows me to tell stories," said Chris Burkard in the official announcement. "I've always said that a piece of gear is only as good as the places it can go. I'm honored to help Pelican celebrate 50 years of missions and to help tell the stories of the people who rely on this gear every single day."

Burkard's own brand, built on capturing raw, untamed landscapes and his past collaborations with respected companies like Patagonia and Sony, lends significant credibility. His involvement ensures the campaign will resonate deeply within the photography and adventure communities, where trust in equipment is paramount.

From the Field to the Factory: The Future of Rugged Gear

More than just a narrator, Burkard will serve as a crucial “test pilot” for Pelican’s next generation of products. This hands-on role is central to the partnership, providing the company's R&D department with invaluable feedback from extreme, real-world conditions. The collaboration immediately highlights the brand's expansion into the competitive travel gear market with its TRVL collection.

Burkard recently put the new Aegis 4-wheel case, a hybrid hard-shell and soft-side piece of luggage, through its paces across the diverse terrains of Japan. The Aegis line, along with the hard-sided ATX series, represents Pelican’s effort to translate its legendary DNA of extreme protection into products for modern travelers and creators. This direct pipeline from field-testing to product refinement is a powerful differentiator in a market crowded with competitors like Nanuk, SKB Cases, and high-end brands like Rimowa.

By subjecting its new designs to the same unforgiving environments that Burkard explores, Pelican is not just marketing a product; it is validating its performance claims in the most transparent way possible. This commitment to durability is what established the brand's reputation, and this partnership signals that the same ethos is driving its expansion into new categories like travel luggage, coolers, and advanced portable lighting.

Charting the Next 50 Years

The collaboration with Chris Burkard is a cornerstone of Pelican's strategy to honor its legacy while aggressively pursuing future growth. Over 50 years, the company has evolved from a specialist in protective cases to a diversified brand serving a wide array of professionals and enthusiasts. This partnership is designed to bridge that history with a forward-looking vision.

Shawn LaRowe, Chief Product and Marketing Officer at Pelican, emphasized the synergy between the explorer and the brand. "Chris Burkard embodies the spirit of the Pelican brand – pushing boundaries, pursuing the unknown, and trusting gear that performs when the mission demands it," LaRowe stated. "Our partnership with Chris celebrates that legacy while helping us pioneer what comes next: designing products that inspire confidence, deliver unrivaled protection, and equip people everywhere to go further and accomplish their mission."

As Pelican celebrates its golden anniversary, this alliance is more than a marketing campaign; it is a declaration of intent. By aligning with a figure who personifies adventure and reliability, the brand is reinforcing its identity for its long-time customers while simultaneously reaching a new generation of users who value authenticity and proven performance. The stories collected and the products tested throughout 2026 are set to define the next chapter for a company built on being indestructible.