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John Florence putting together his Florence Impact Suit before the Eddie Invitational

JOHN JOHN FLORENCE

[ FOUNDER & ORIGINAL TEST PILOT / OAHU ]
Map of Test Pilot locations

TEST PILOTS IN THE FIELD

A GLOBAL R&D COMMUNITY

TEST PILOTS INFORMING RIGOROUS PRODUCT STANDARDS

JOHN JOHN FLORENCE

Founder and Original Test Pilot
North Shore, Oahu

NED HART

Big Wave Surfer
Western Australia

TOA PERE

Long Distance Paddler & Surfer
North Shore, Oahu

MADDIX ALOTIS

The Next Generation of North Shore Watermen
North Shore, Oahu

ERIK KNUTSON

Head of Cinematography, Parallel Sea
North Shore, Oahu

KAIWI BERRY

Shark Diver and Outer Reefs Charger
North Shore, Oahu

TOA PERE

[ LONG DISTANCE PADDLER & SURFER / OAHU ]

HOW TO BECOME A TEST PILOT

CYCLES + HOW TEST PILOTS ARE SELECTED
Bi-monthly (6x per year) is our Test Pilot cycle cadence. The gear is always different, and it can be either a prototype or an existing piece of equipment we may be looking to improve. 

A question we get often is: how are Test Pilots selected? It isn’t a science, and each cycle is different, but there are some requirements and certain things we look for in potential candidates.

REQUIREMENTS TO JOIN
- You must be a Florence member
- You must have applied to be part of the Test Pilot program.

THINGS WE LOOK FOR
- A passion for the outdoors and/or sport. 

- Being an engaged member of our social community, or the Florence Discord. 

- Members who’ve left multiple, thoughtful reviews on our gear.

- Legends who absolutely send it.

From there, our selection process is fun. We narrow down candidates, get insight and recommendations from our founder John Florence, and we select the crew. 

If you’re not selected, the good news is you don’t have to apply again – you’re already in the pool and will be considered each cycle.

CORDURA TRAIL SHORT

[CURRENT CYCLE 012 ]

Built with the storied fabric that’s become a key innovation across our Utility Shorts & Boardshorts, this trail short features unique front zip pockets modeled over body-mapped topology called ‘Langer’s Lines.’

The result is our most advanced, mobility-centered Trail Short yet.

PAST TEST PILOT CYCLES

August 2024

April 2024

February 2024

November 2023

June 2023

April 2023

Test Pilot Cycle 005: Airtex Kit

February 2023

Test Pilot Cycle 004: Burgee Boardshort

July 2022

Test Pilot Cycle 003: Expedition Shirt

June 2022

Test Pilot Cycle 002: 3-Layer Waterproof Shell

February 2022

Test Pilot Cycle 001: Airtex Short

February 2022

Test Pilot Cycle 000: Windshield

June 2021

Test Pilot Maddix Alotis Pig Hunting

MADDIX ALOTIS

[ PIG HUNTER, OUTER REEF CHARGER, SPEARFISHERMAN / OAHU ]

Test Pilot Testimonial: Craig Yester

We recently hopped on the phone with our second round of Florence Test Pilots to review their findings. We love these calls – it’s a chance for us to connect to our community and hear real valuable feedback around our gear. Near the end of this particular call, Craig Yester – a test pilot from the North Shore of Oahu and a former professional windsurfer – was given the floor and reminded us all why we started this brand and this program in the first place.