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We attended a top-secret media event on Monday (seriously, you’ll need to read about it on the site this coming weekend!) and used Tuesday to meet up with a few outdoor brands at their headquarters in Boulder and the surrounding towns.
The area is a Mecca for gear companies, including 30+ major brands who have offices, labs, stores, and distribution centers on the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains.
Scenes from our day-long brand tour in Boulder, Colo.
As a part of a larger article we’re developing on gear companies in the region we visited and photographed the people, office dogs (lots of them!), facilities, and, of course, the gear at Boulder area stalwarts Sea to Summit, Cocona, Pearl Izumi, Newton Running, La Sportiva, Kelty, Sierra Designs, Isis, and Ultimate Direction.
It was a whirlwind of a day. Here are a few candid images from the action. —Stephen Regenold
Front Range of the Rocky Mountains, as seen from American Rec HQ
Jersey wall of fame (Pearl Izumi); photo by Sean McCoy
The many soles of Newton; photo by Sean McCoy
In the lab at Newton; photo by Sean McCoy
President of La Sportiva NA (middle) in the brand’s massive shipping center; photo by Sean McCoy
Strike a pose (trying on fashion garments at Cocona); photo by Sean McCoy
Ad hoc branding meeting in halls at American Rec. “Which name is better?”; photo by Sean McCoy
Sierra Designs test table; photo by Sean McCoy
Goose down still art at American Rec; photo by Sean McCoy
Through the looking glass at American Rec, home to a half-dozen major outdoor brands. Front Range mountains reflected across the road
Ian Adamson of Newton Running gets into foot anatomy and product design in a basement lab at the company’s Boulder center
Prototype Newton Running shoe (below) from around 2005; newer progeny on shelf above (Newton MV2 model)
Boxes of boots, trail shoes, and other La Sportiva gear in the brand’s massive shipping center behind the main office
Burned on wood: La Sportiva logo on wooden wall art
Office pups at Sea to Summit
Stainless steel, polished, shimmering sign greets visitors to Cocona
Kody Riley shows off a bike jersey template destined for the Pearl Izumi sublimation-printing machine
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