Need holiday gift ideas for the skier, cyclist or all-around outdoor enthusiast on your list? Or even for someone who's planning a ski vacation and needs everything from base layers to goggles and everything in between?
Here’s a Colorado gift giving guide featuring products from outdoor brands who are based in or had their roots in Steamboat, Breckenridge or the Vail Valley. Sustainability, innovation and hand crafted are the themes of the season.
Ski/Snowboard Equipment
Bamboo isn’t just for pandas. Turns out it makes super strong, super lightweight, durable, and environmentally friendly ski poles. Grass Sticks also makes SUP, raft, and canoe paddles. They are hand-built by self-described “ski bums and river rats” in Steamboat Springs. And you can get ski poles as colorful as your outfit. They are fully customizable, and you can have them engraved.
Born in: Steamboat Springs
Headquartered in Avon at the base of Beaver Creek, Liberty Skis has won awards for its innovative use of materials (notably bamboo) and shapes. The company debuts new models and technical advances every year and available now is the all-new 2024 Origin Series.
Born in: Beaver Creek
RMU might not be the most familiar ski brand to those outside of Colorado, but they’ve been building their award-winning Apostle line of skis for ten years. The company’s name, Rocky Mountain Underground, came about “literally because they were pressing skis underground in the Rocky Mountains.” The Apostle 106 was included in Blister’s Best of 2024 and SKI Magazine called it a “supremely fun all-mountain ski.” And since skiers and riders enjoy a cold beer after a day on the slopes, you can visit their RMU-concept bar on Main Street in Breckenridge.
Born in: Breckenridge
Also based in Breckenridge, Glade debuted its first goggles in 2016. Since then, the brand has received several awards, including Best Of lists in Outside and SKI magazines. Their newest model, the Fathom+, boasts photochromic technology that adjusts to light conditions and a lightning-fast magnetic lens interchange system.
Born in: Breckenridge
Founded in 1999, off "Pearl Street" in Boulder, Colorado, the family-owned and operated company is now based in the Vail Valley. The company produces ski and snowboard wax without the use of toxic fluoro or other toxic additives. Purl Wax is also a member of 1% for the Planet, donating to environmental conservation organizations. A couple of bars of wax is better than a piece of coal in a stocking!
Born in: Boulder
Outdoor Clothing
Over 20 years ago Steamboat-based, Big Agnes Products, known now as BAP, first made a name for itself with a sleeping-bag-with-attached-pad system. The company has since grown to include tents, camp furniture, apparel, and more. If you happen to find yourself in Steamboat, visit the BAP factory store in the Little Red House in historic downtown. You’ll also find all Moving Mountains team members sporting BAP puffy jackets!
Born in: Steamboat Springs
Smartwool, the first merino wool ski socks manufacturer, was founded in Steamboat. While known for its socks, Smartwool makes base layers, sweaters, jackets, and other fashionable and functional clothing for all your outdoor pursuits.
Born in: Steamboat Springs
Socks, socks, and more socks! Besides, who doesn’t get socks and underwear in their Christmas stockings! Family-owned and headquartered in Steamboat, Point 6’s merino wool socks are the favorites of many a local. The name comes from 98 point 6 degrees Fahrenheit (the body’s optimal body temperature) and reinforces how the stabilizing properties of wool help maintain that temp during outdoor activities.
Born in: Steamboat Springs
It can be a challenge to find good outdoor clothing made specifically for kids. Which is exactly why a group of parents in Steamboat started Town Hall. They wanted better, more sustainable choices in kids’ clothing. Town Hall is all about building quality gear that lets kids find joy in the outdoors and stay comfortable doing it.
Born in: Steamboat Springs
Base layers are key to staying warm on the slopes, but pure merino wool can irritate some people’s skin. So, the Vail-based founders of Bambool set out to create base layers out of a blend of bamboo viscose and merino wool that’s as warm and cozy as it gets, without the itch!
Born in: Vail
Luggage/Travel Gear
If you use organizing cubes to pack, it’s a good bet they’re from Eagle Creek. For the travelers on your list, turn to the packing experts. Eagle Creek is known for its durable adventure travel gear, including luggage, duffels, backpacks, organizing cubes, and travel accessories. The company’s headquarters are in Steamboat.
Born in: Steamboat Springs
Outdoor Gear
Who would have thought one of the leading SUP companies would get their start in land-locked Colorado? But on the banks of the Yampa River that runs through Steamboat, Hala Gear was started with the vision to create gear for whitewater standup paddling. Hala is now a leading innovator in inflatable paddleboards for all types of water.
Born in: Steamboat Springs
If you’re a cyclist, here’s one gift you’re going to wrap up and put a bow on for yourself – one of the world’s best titanium frame bikes. Choose from a road, gravel, mountain, or e-bike from Moots. Moots Cycles has been handcrafting bikes in Steamboat for the past 40 years, 30 of those spent perfecting titanium masterpieces for all types of terrain.
Born in: Steamboat Springs
The perfect gift for the fly fishers in your family – a handcrafted rod. New West Fly Company in Steamboat offers two models - a five-weight fly-fishing rod called the Tailwater and a four-weight rod called the Yampa.
Born in: Steamboat Springs
fuel
For those last-minute stocking stuffers, add some fuel for everyone’s outdoor exploits. Honey Stinger bars, waffles, or energy chews are perfect to throw in your ski jacket pocket for a quick energy boost between runs. You’ll find them all over town in Steamboat. It’s where the company started and is still based.
Born in: Steamboat Springs
Can't make it off the couch to shop on Black Friday, support these brands on Small Business Saturday, the Saturday after Thanksgiving. Or stop by a store that carries these items when you’re visiting Breckenridge, Beaver Creek, Steamboat or Vail.
