With an endless playground out the door, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that Colorado is home to some of the best outdoor brands in the country. Here’s a roundup of some of the best summer gear designed and made in Colorado.
Mountain Biking
Pearl Izumi X-Alp Summit Shoes
The versatile X-Alp Summit shoe is for the everyday rider who likes to stop and scramble around on the rocks during a ride. The Vibram sole is durable and grippy, and the BOA Fit System helps dial in a perfect fit.
Louisville, CO
$150 | pearlizumi.com
Photo courtesy of Pearl Izumi
Flylow Dirt Glove
Lightweight and grippy, with great bar feel, these are the perfect full finger summer mountain biking gloves.
Denver, CO
$35 | flylowgear.com
Photo courtesy of Flylow
Osprey Raptor 10
Osprey makes some of the the most comfortable packs in the business. With a 10 liter capacity, 2.5L reservoir, tool roll, and thoughtful gear storage options, the bike-specific Raptor 10 is for big rides. Available in a women’s specific Raven 10.
Need more storage, check out the Raptor 14 and Raven 14.
Cortez, CO
$165 | osprey.com
Photo courtesy of Osprey
Optic Nerve Molotov
When it comes to cycling sunglasses, I say MORE ELVIS! The Molotov by Optic Nerve is polarized, stays put on the wildest rides, and looks great off the bike. And you can’t beat the price!
Denver, CO
$39 | opticnerve.com
Photo courtesy of Optic Nerve
Rocky Mounts GuideRail
If you need to haul your bike on your car or truck, chances are Rocky Mounts has a solution for you. The GuideRail is a high end two-bike hitch mount that fits up to 3″ tires…
Grand Junction, CO
$849.95 | rockymounts.com
Photo courtesy of Rocky Mounts
Colorado is also home to a number of bicycle brands, including Yeti Cycles (Golden), Moots (Steamboat Springs), and Guerilla Gravity (Denver).
Stand Up Paddle
Sol SOLTrain Inflatable Paddle Board
The SOLTrain inflatable paddle board is durable, versatile, and stable for all types of flat water paddling adventures. Equipped with tie downs at the front and rear, and d-rings on each side, you can load this board up with all sorts of gear. It also happens to be one of the best looking boards on the market. Includes everything you need to get started.
Telluride, CO
$999 | solpaddle.com
Photo courtesy of Sol Paddle
Carbon Playa Inflatable SUP Kit
Looking for something a little more racy? Hala’s sleek Carbon Playa is lightweight and stiff, thanks to a strip of carbon along the base, for better handling in choppy water. The kit includes roller bag, pump, fins, and paddle.
Steamboat Springs, CO
$1499 | halagear.com
Photo courtesy of Hala
Grass Sticks Bamboo Stand Up Paddle Board Paddle
Upgrade your paddling experience with a beautiful bamboo stand up paddle board paddle. Hand made in Steamboat Springs, and available in stock lengths or fully customized.
See my full review here.
Steamboat Springs, CO
$239 | grasssticks.com
Photo courtesy of Grass Sticks
Running
Point6 Ghost Runner Ultra Light No Show Socks
An ultra light Merino wool no show sock for those hot summer runs. Sustainably made in the USA. Guaranteed for life.
Steamboat Springs, CO
$17.95 | point6.com
Photo courtesy of Point6
Smartwool Active Lined 5″ Short
These versatile shorts are great for summer runs or everyday chill time. Lightweight recycled stretch fabric, Merino wool liner, side and back pockets, and reflective elements.
Steamboat Springs, CO
$65 | smartwool.com
Photo courtesy of Smartwool
Festival & Concert Gear
Strafe Scout Jacket
Don’t believe that “20% chance of rain” forecast! If you attend enough outdoor concerts in Colorado, you’re sure to get rained on eventually. Wind and waterproof, lightweight, and packable, the Scout Jacket is the perfect jacket for concerts and festivals. Available in men’s and women’s.
Aspen, CO
$199 | strafeouterwear.com
Photo courtesy of Strafe
Mountainsmith Trippin’ Fanny Pack
Pack all of the essentials for your next festival or Red Rocks show into Mountainsmith’s throwback Trippin’ Fanny Pack. Also great for those short rides, when you just need to carry a few things, like a lightweight jacket and cold beverage.
Golden, CO
$29.95 | mountainsmith.com
Photo courtesy of Mountainsmith
EcoVessel Wave Water Bottle
Stay hydrated, music fans! Hook this lightweight, BPA free bottle from EcoVessel to your pack at your next show.
Boulder, CO
$15.99 | ecovessel.com
Photo courtesy of EcoVessel
Car Camping
Big Agnes
Big Agnes makes a wide range of sleeping bags, sleeping pads, and tents for backpack and car camping. The Big House 4 (pictured) is a 4-person, 3-season tent with a large vestibule, and full mesh ceiling, designed for car camping.
Steamboat Springs, CO
Photo courtesy of Big Agnes
Kelty
Kelty is well known for their durable, thoughtfully designed camping gear, including tents, sleeping bags, and camp furniture. The new Caboose 4 tent is designed to connect to your vehicle via a large canopy, but it can can serve as a standalone shelter with a large vestibule.
Boulder, CO
Photo courtesy of Kelty
Roofnest
If rooftop camping is your jam, check out Roofnest’s wide range of rooftop tents. The Sparrow XL pops up to sleep 2-3 people on a 2.8″ foam mattress.
Boulder, CO
Photo courtesy of Roofnest
Sunscreen
Rocky Mountain Sunscreen
If you’re spending any time outside in Colorado, sunscreen is an essential. Rocky Mountain Sunscreens are reef friendly, broad spectrum, and feature a “bonding base” formula that interlocks tightly with the skin’s upper layer, so it won’t clog pores. Available in SPF 30 and SPF 50, and various sizes from 1 oz to a gallon.
Rocky Mountain Sunscreen also makes lib balm!
Arvada, CO
$24 for 16oz | rmsunscreen.com
Photo courtesy of Rocky Mountain Sunscreen
Nutrition
Honey Stinger Nut + Seed Bars
You probably know Honey Stinger for their waffles, but the Steamboat Springs based brand has a variety of energy and recovery products. Their tasty new Nut + Seed Bars are packed with 14g of protein and antioxidant vitamins. Available in Peanut Sunflower Nut and Almond Pumpkin Nut flavors.
Steamboat Springs, CO
$34.99/12-pack | honeystinger.com
Photo courtesy of Honey Stinger
Honey Stinger Stingarita Lime Caffeinated Energy Chews
Looking for extra energy for long runs or big backcountry rides? These caffeinated chews from Honey Stinger pack a punch, with sodium, potassium, electrolytes to help get you through extended workouts.
If you don’t want the caffeine, check out their Pink Lemonade energy chews.
$33.99/12-pack | honeystinger.com
Photo courtesy of Honey Stinger
Recovery
Tailwind Nutrition Recovery Mix
Chug a shaker bottle of this mix immediately following your outdoor workouts during the hot summer months. The blend of protein, carbohydrates, and electrolytes helps with recovery. My personal favorite is Salted Carmel. Also available in Vanilla, Chocolate, and Coffee (caffeinated)
Durango, CO
$39.99 | tailwindnutrition.com
Photo courtesy of Tailwind Nutrition
Roll Recovery R1 Percussion Massage Gun
With four speed settings, four attachments, and 7-hour battery life this compact, durable massage gun is perfect for travel and athletes on the go.
$129 | rollrecovery.com
Photo courtesy of Roll Recovery
Sunset photo captured near Telluride, Colorado by Mitch Kline.