Muslim Hikers in partnership with Wiggle and Adidas TERREX have developed the first-ever outdoor praying mat, which comes just in time for this year’s Ramadan and will be available from April 2023. The innovative mat comes after the Muslim Hikers were subject to a slew of racist abuse online when they took part in a Christmas Day hike in 2021.
About 100 mats have been created and donated to Muslim Hikers, further mats will be produced next month for commercial sale. Haroon Mota, Muslim Hikers founder, said working with Wiggle and adidas TERREX allowed the group to take a huge step in the right direction when it comes to promoting inclusivity in the outdoors. “Everyone should feel empowered to get outside and enjoy nature, and the prayer mats and signs have made it easier for us within the Muslim community.”
Justin Cader, Senior Brand Marketing Manager at Adidas TERREX, said the company wants to ensure that everyone has access to nature. “Our partnership with Wiggle and Muslim Hikers demonstrates our commitment to making the outdoors more inclusive. Through products and activations, we continue our aim to remove the barriers that prevent some people from enjoying the countryside.”
Huw Crwys-Williams, CEO at Wiggle, said by partnering with the Muslim Hikers and Adidas TERREX, they want to bring awareness to the fact that any form of exercise is for everyone, and will strive to improve accessibility for all communities.
The Innovative Prayer Mats
The prayer mats have been designed with QM Design, and signs have made it easier for persons within the Muslim community to do this without having to worry about the practicalities of prayer. It features map-inspired typography and boasts pockets in each corner for the user to weight it down when used for prayer.
Moreover, the lightweight, waterproof mats can be rolled into a compact size to fit into rucksacks and have been specifically designed to withstand all elements of the outdoors. The new mats also feature the direction of the Mecca that will help Muslims with incorporating prayer time into their outdoor explorations. The new hiking pray mat will making praying in the outdoors easier and comfortable. This will empower Muslims to enjoy the benefits of time spent outdoors.
