2026 Richard Brigade
Richard was a fun loving and tough as nails pack mule who got an extra spring in his step every time he stepped on a trail with a full load. Adventuring outdoors and awaking to crisp mountain air is what he lived for--we think he was on to something. It's in his honor that we've formed the Richard Brigade.
If you're reading this, it means you've been newly recruited to the 2026 Richard Brigade. Welcome aboard and get ready to celebrate the outdoors and enjoy some time with your friends (human and animals, alike)!
Unfortunately for you, as a Pack Mule Recruit in the Richard Brigade, you are currently lower than the skid mark left by a dung beetle pushing a donkey turd across the trail! You probably want to promote to a new station in life... and quickly.
Here's how you promote to the next ranks, if you think you have it in you...
(notice that this year, all promotion submissions are via our website)
Rank: Pack Mule Apprentice
Here's how to get promoted: simply submit a photo of yourself here enjoying any activity in the outdoors... walking, trail running, riding a mule, gardening, spearfishing, skiing, swimming... ANYTHING.
What's in it for YOU: an awesome Pack Mule Apprentice rank sticker, memories, the relief of no longer being a desperately pitiful Pack Mule Recruit, and a personalized discount code for 10% off a bag of coffee.
Rank: Pack Mule
Here's how to get promoted: submit a photo of yourself here enjoying any activity in the outdoors ALONG WITH either another human or an animal comrade.
Your Pack Mule Apprentice rank sticker must be present in the photo you submit or you must send us an additional photo with your rank sticker present--gotta prove you aren't trying to take a whole bunch of photos on one outing and skip ranks, you scalawag.
What's in it for YOU: an awesome Pack Mule rank sticker, memories, the relief of no longer being a very lowly Pack Mule Apprentice, and a personalized discount code for 12% off a bag of coffee.
Rank: Richard Head THIRD Class
Here's how to get promoted:
Submit a photo of yourself here taken while you...
- Hike or Run 5 miles
- Mountain bike 8 miles
- Road cycle 15 miles
- Do any sort of sustained outdoor activity for an hour
What's in it for YOU: an awesome Richard Head THIRD class rank sticker, memories, the relief of no longer being a lowly Pack Mule, and a personalized discount code for 14% off a bag of coffee.
Rank: Richard Head SECOND Class
Here's how to get promoted:
Submit a photo of yourself here taken while you...
- Hike or Run 8 miles
- Mountain bike 13 miles
- Road cycle 23 miles
- Do any sort of sustained, outdoor activity for an hour-and-a-half
What's in it for YOU: an awesome Richard Head SECOND Class rank sticker, memories, increasing pride in your accomplishments (you are solidly gaining rank now), and a personalized discount code for 16% off a bag of coffee.
Rank: Richard Head FIRST Class
Here's how to get promoted:
Submit a photo of yourself here taken while you...
- Hike or Run 12 miles
- Mountain bike 19 miles
- Road cycle 30 miles
- Do any sort of sustained, outdoor activity for two hours
What's in it for YOU: an awesome Richard Head FIRST Class rank sticker, some good times, and a personalized discount code for 18% off a bag of coffee.
Rank: CHIEF Richard Head
Here's how to get promoted:
Submit a photo of yourself here while you are sipping any non-water beverage in the outdoors-- coffee, kombucha, beer, etc -- with at least one other companion (human or animal). This is about taking some time to enjoy and appreciate your surroundings.
Your Richard Head FIRST Class rank sticker must be visible or in a separate photo attached to your submission.
What's in it for YOU: an awesome CHIEF Richard Head rank sticker, a FREE Café Mulé hat, and a personalized discount code for 20% off a bag of coffee. (There is extra credit for any submission involving an animal that can drink a beverage while holding their own bottle. Drink responsibly.)
Rank: SENIOR Chief Richard Head
Here's how to get promoted:
Submit a photo of yourself AND at least one comrade here taken while you are on an overnight camping trip (car or trailer camping counts... backyard camping doesn't) and sipping any non-water beverage in the outdoors-- coffee, kombucha, beer, etc.
Your CHIEF Richard Head rank sticker must be visible or in a separate photo attached to your submission.
What's in it for YOU: an awesome SENIOR Chief Richard Head rank sticker and a personalized discount code for 22% off a bag of coffee.
Rank: MASTER Chief Richard Head
Here's how to get promoted:
Complete the following in a single outing:
- Backpack at least 4 miles (it can be round trip-- this is about the trip and experience)
- Undertake an overnight camping trip
- Submit a photo featuring yourself and at least two other comrades enjoying a "campfire" moment (real campfire is awesome, but if there happen to be fire restrictions where you are at... maybe gather around your JetBoil with some mallows.)
Submit a photo of yourself and your comrades here
Your SENIOR Chief Richard Head rank sticker must be visible or in a separate photo attached to your submission.
What's in it for YOU: the knowledge that you have ascended to the highest ranks of the Richard Brigade, an awesome MASTER Chief Richard Head rank sticker, and a personalized discount code for 25% off a bag of coffee. Job well done!!!
When you submit your photo to us, we'll share it with the rest of the Brigade and all of Richard's fans on our socials and website.
Don't worry about logging your miles on Strava, Garmin, etc. though you are more than welcome to submit screenshots of your route with your photos if you'd like... but you don't need to--this is all about enjoying the outdoors, and you're on your honor, here.
The Richard Brigade will build anew every year, and that means that on 31 December 2026 all members will resume the rank of Pack Mule Recruit going into 2026 and all unused coffee discounts earned in 2025 will be cancelled and void. 2027 will bring the opportunity to earn a distinct new set of rank stickers and discounts.
Disclaimer: staying inside all the time is likely way more dangerous for you in the long-run, but doing activities in the outdoors can be dangerous and any of those activities that you undertake while a member of the Richard Brigade are taken by your own choice and at your own risk. In short, we implore you to be like 99.9% of the reasonable human beings in the world who evaluate risk appropriately, accept risk where they take it, and take responsibility for their own actions. Richard would want that for you.