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FeedHomegrown Outdoor Adventure Gear
In-the-trenches design and corporate responsibility distinguish the makers of everything from outerwear to camping gear and skis to sunglasses — all based in Colorado.
Photography by Michael Robson
Going local is all the rage these days, and in Denver, the trend is extending to the outdoor gear we buy. From skis and bikes to climbing gear and more, chances are there’s a company here that makes whatever you need.
The benefits of buying local are no doubt familiar: support the area economy, reduce your environmental footprint (by avoiding the impact of long-distance shipping), and superior quality — because typically, these companies are founded and run by people who practice what they preach. For them, work and play are one and the same. Product development and testing might involve hitting a nearby trail or crag or spending the day at a ski resort. They’re experienced enough to know exactly what they want out of a product, so they design and build gear to meet their own needs, which conveniently enough, perfectly match the exacting demands of Colorado’s consumers.
As an added bonus, throw in commitment to the environment and social responsibility, and you’ve got a seriously winning combo with a lot to love: superb products, a green ethic, support for social causes, and giving back to the community.
Yeti Cycles
Five years after it was founded in California in 1985, Yeti — which makes a series of mountain bikes ranging from XC to all-around performance to downhill bombing — decamped for Colorado. (The company’s staff was lured to the Rockies after coming to Durango for the first mountain bike world championships; their offices are now in Golden). They’re also “intolerant of all things corporate,” says the official company bio on the Yeti website. It’s a fitting business ethic, given that in the company’s younger days it was bought by Schwinn (1995) and Volant (1999), only to be bought back by the employees (2001). The company is run by people who are enthusiastic mountain bikers themselves — guys like Chris Conroy and Steve Hoogendorn — and they ride the same trails as the folks who buy their bikes. In August, Yeti gets back to its Colorado roots, celebrating its 25th anniversary with a three-day “tribe” gathering in Durango, a long weekend of camping, riding, beer, and socializing with the Yeti crew and one or two hundred of their new best friends. yeticycles.com
Melanzana Outdoor Clothing
With a name that means “eggplant” in Italian — a tongue-in-cheek reference that grew out of the founders’ status as self-described “pretend fashion designers” — this Leadville-based company makes hoodies, vests, long- and short-sleeve shirts, pants, hats and other outdoor clothing, all from Polartec fabrics. True to the company’s mantra of being “original, functional, soulful,” a handful of people design, cut, sew, and sell everything the company makes. What was once a five-person company has grown modestly to now include 12 total employees, with eight sewers and one full-time cutter. Last year, they turned out nearly 17,000 garments. Not bad for a home-grown, low-impact, no-foreign-labor business model with a less-is-more mentality. What you get, in turn, is pure performance from the threads. melanzana.com
Wagner Custom Skis and Snowboards
Colorado skiers demand a ski that meets their specifications, their style of skiing, and their snow (preferably bottomless powder). Off-the-shelf, mass-produced skis can’t measure up, which is where Wagner (based in Placerville near Telluride) fits in. Wagner crafts custom skis, one pair at a time, in a solar-and-wind-powered shop. Every component of the skis has been upgraded from industry standards: ash and maple wood cores, rather than weaker spruce or fir; aircraft-grade aluminum paired with tempered carbon steel edges; Kevlar (the same material in bulletproof vests), which protects against rock impacts, is paired with fiberglass and resins. The resulting skis start at around $1,700, but they just might become the favorite arrow in your quiver. wagnerskis.com
RockyMounts
Founded in 1993 by Bobby Noyes — a fixture in the local cycling community and an activist behind Boulder’s new Valmont Bike Park — Boulder-based RockyMounts makes bicycle mounts for rooftop car racks. The mounts fit both factory racks and aftermarket options such as Thule and Yakima. RockyMounts’ mission: making bike mounts that are simple, durable, and dependable. You’ve heard the joke: “You’re a Coloradan if … the bike on your car is worth more than your car.” This is a low-key way to protect that investment. rockymounts.com
Osprey Packs
This Cortez company makes gear bags for all purposes, day packs to large expedition packs to specialized technical packs. Osprey has earned quite a reputation for comfort, durability, functionality, and ability to carry heavy loads —Outside, National Geographic Adventure, and Backpacker have sung their praises. Osprey began in California (in Santa Cruz in 1974), but later relocated to the San Juans. In 1990, Osprey moved into a former Gore-Tex factory in Dolores, Colorado, and, in 1994, to Cortez. Today, while some of Osprey’s operations have moved overseas to Vietnam, the company retains strong ties to Colorado, even incorporating LEED green building principles at its facility, such as energy and water conservation, reduced CO2 emissions, and improved indoor environmental quality. ospreypacks.com
Backcountry Access
Backcountry Access is perhaps best known for its Tracker avalanche beacon/transceiver — likely the most widely used beacon in the Rockies when the snow starts to fall and slides are a concern. The Boulder-based company also makes shovels, probes, and climbing skins for skis. Founded in a Boulder garage in 1994 by Bruces McGowan and Edgerly, BCA has become a heavyweight in the world of avalanche safety. Recently, BCA developed the Float 30 Avalanche Airbag, which allows the user to pull a ripcord attached to a compressed air canister that inflates a giant airbag. Ideally, the airbag carries him or her to the top of the snow, minimizing the potential of getting buried. In addition to in-house research on snow science, the company is also deeply committed to education. Throughout Colorado, you’ll find more than 10 BCA beacon training parks where you can practice your skills. As the company mission declares, the foremost emphasis isn’t selling products — it’s saving lives. backcountryaccess.com
Big Agnes
Named for a peak in the nearby Mt. Zirkel Wilderness Area, Steamboat Springs–based Big Agnes focuses on sleeping bags, pads and tents. The company is a strong supporter of outdoor nonprofits, including the Continental Divide Trail Alliance, the American Alpine Club, the American Mountain Guides Association, the International Mountain Bicycling Association, and more. Corporate social responsibility is also a big deal at Big Agnes. For example, the Re-Routt Collection (named for the county in which they’re located) features products made from 100 percent recycled content. In 2008 when the collection launched, it diverted the equivalent of more than 500,000 16-ounce plastic soda bottles from landfills. The company also offsets 100 percent of its energy with wind — no surprise, given that co-founder Bill Gamber has lived off the grid with solar power for 15 years and recently installed a wind turbine at his home. bigagnes.com
Moots
With some 17 years in the bike business, Moots is devoted to ride quality. This Steamboat Springs–based company features hand-built mountain, road, and cyclocross bikes with either stock or custom frames. Forget the aluminum and carbon fiber; Moots uses hand-welded titanium in models from the Vamoots and Mootour road bikes to the Zirkel mountain bike. Titanium makes the bikes super light, yet ultra strong and durable, yielding a custom frame tailored to you that could last 20 years or more. moots.com
Optic Nerve
In the sunglasses business for nearly 25 years, Wheat Ridge–based Optic Nerve is heavily active in the corporate philanthropy department. ON supports groups such as SOS Outreach, Susan G. Komen for the Cure, Save the Poles, and Romp to Stomp in addition to many other nonprofits. Their 100 percent UV protecting, impact-resistant sunglasses include the Foresee collection with frames made from 100 percent organic castor bean oil. And with prices ranging from $59–$69 for most glasses, you get high-end performance eyewear without breaking the bank. nerveusa.com
Sierra Designs
Since 1965, Boulder-based Sierra Designs has been making tents, sleeping bags, and apparel. In addition to many others, SD supports the Women’s Wilderness Institute, the Colorado Fourteeners Initiative, and the Student Expedition Program. The company’s Green Effect program integrates comprehensive environmental considerations into operations and products. For example, SD’s Cocona fabric is made from coconut husks, a version of Polartec fleece is made from recycled plastic bottles, solvent-free membranes are used in shell jackets, and PVC-free materials are used for seam tapes and fabrics. sierradesigns.com
Skirt Sports
Launched in September 2004 by triathlete Nicole DeBoom, Boulder-based Skirt Sports features stylish exercise clothing for women. DeBoom came up with the idea when she was out for a training run and started to wonder why women’s’ sports apparel couldn’t be feminine and performance-based at the same time. Skirt Sports also launched the nationwide Skirt Chaser 5K race series, which includes an event in Denver in August. The company’s line of tops, bottoms, dresses, and outwear includes the Kendall Kollection — five pieces that feature a signature floral print. The collection is named for Kendall Sierans, a 6-year-old whose cancer is now in remission, and proceeds from its sale benefit the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. skirtsports.com
Honey Stinger
A relative newcomer (founded in 2002), Honey Stinger in Steamboat Springs offers honey-based gels, energy chews, and protein and snack bars. Started by a team that included an athletic entrepeneur, a honey industry veteran, a food product developer, and a beekeeper, HS products are perfect for an intense day of endurance racing or a casual day in the mountains. In fact, the company counts Lance Armstrong among its latest sponsored athletes; he discovered Honey Stinger products after using them in the 2009 Leadville 100 mountain bike race. honeystinger.com
Peter Bronski is an award-winning writer and frequent contributor to Denver Magazine. He’s the proud owner (and user) of an Osprey expedition pack, Backcountry Access avy beacon, Sierra Designs four-season tent, and Honey Stinger energy chews, to name a few.
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