Muslim Hikers and adidas TERREX Develop First-Ever Outdoor Prayer Mats

Navi Ahluwalia
·2 min read

Wiggle and adidas TERREX have joined forces with Muslim Hikers to revolutionize the outdoor hike and make it more inclusive and accessible for the Muslim community.

Within the partnership, adidas and Muslim Hikers have worked to develop the first-ever outdoor praying mat, specifically manufactured for outdoor use. The innovation comes after the Muslim Hikers were subject to a slew of racist abuse online after taking part in a Christmas Day hike back in 2021, in a bid to make the countryside feel like a place that Muslims can enjoy safely.

At present, 100 mats have been created and donated to Muslim Hikers as part of the partnership, with further mats set to be produced next month for commercial sale. Designed in partnership with QM Design, the mats feature map-inspired typography and boast pockets in each corner -- to allow its user to weigh it down when used for prayer. 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.

Alongside the new mats, the partnership sees the addition of signs to Mecca located along one of the Peak District's most popular hiking routes: Cave Dale. The signs have been developed in the hopes that they'll help Muslims with incorporating prayer time into their outdoor explorations, pointing them in the direction of Mecca and reminding others that the outdoors is for all.

"Working with Wiggle and adidas TERREX has allowed us to take a huge step in the right direction when it comes to promoting inclusivity in the outdoors," says Haroon Mota, Founder of the Muslim Hikers Group. "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 to do this without having to worry about the practicalities of prayer."

Take a look at the new mats and signs above, and head to the Wiggle website for more information.

In other news, Shahed Saleem honors Muslim communities with a new V&A installation.