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Longer, warmer days and the return of patio happy hours mean another Coloradical summer is nigh. So, it’s time to pull out, dust off, and give your warm-weather gear a once-over before hitting the trail, rock, or river. Tune-up and repair what you can, and then turn to one of these long-standing local outdoor shops—all along the Front Range—to fill the gaps in your gear closet.
We chatted with their in-house experts to find out what makes their stores special, what gear they expect to fly off the shelves, and why they love summer in the Centennial State.
Jump Ahead:
- Established: 1955
- Locations: Fort Collins, Loveland, Lafayette, Broomfield (plus: Ames, Iowa)
- Specialty: Started with military surplus gear (“the original outdoor gear,” says president Jim Quinlan) and morphed into offering top outdoor brands
Why it’s different: “We offer a selection of products unlike any other retailer,” Quinlan says. “In addition to the very best outdoor equipment, we offer fishing, hunting, hardware, and farm and ranch supplies. From lattes to shotgun shells, chickens to down sleeping bags—plus clothing to dress you from head to toe for any condition imaginable—JAX has you covered. While we offer the very latest in technical outdoor gear, including clothing and footwear, we have not forgotten our roots and still offer some great values in military surplus.”
Hottest gear pick for this summer: The JAX team expects cookware sets from Sea to Summit to make local campers happy. Meanwhile, the Wide Brim T3 Wanderer Hat from Tilley will protect you from the sun while floating Carter Lake on the new Solstice Lanai Inflatable Paddleboard.
Favorite way to play during a Colorado summer: “I love to be up in the alpine to take in wildflowers and the spectacular views,” Quinlan says. “Getting out in nature is soothing for my soul.”
- Established: 1973
- Location: Boulder
- Specialty: Gear and apparel for climbing, hiking, camping, and skiing
Why it’s different: In addition to offering major outdoor brands, Neptune has a try-before-you-buy climbing wall, in-house cafe, and one of the biggest collections of mountaineering history in the world.
Hottest gear pick for this summer: Anything from Jackson Hole–based mountain lifestyle brand Stio, says marketing director Joel Nunez-Smith, adding that Neptune has a strong collection of their apparel for both everyday use and epic outdoor adventures. He also calls out the new Therm-a-Rest NeoLoft sleeping pad, which weighs next to nothing but boasts an impressive five inches of sweet-dreams-inducing cushion.
Favorite way to play during a Colorado summer: “[I love] the access to a variety of outdoor sports and activities for all levels,” Nunez-Smith says. “From car camping to technical mountaineering, Colorado has it all, and we’re here to help everyone explore it.”
- Established: 1994
- Location: Golden
- Specialty: Backcountry skiing and rock climbing gear and apparel
Why it’s different: “We are a community-focused shop,” says Bentgate’s general manager Ryan Mayer, “and we enjoy sharing our passion for the outdoors with our customers.”
Hottest gear pick for this summer: Bentgate’s proximity (just three blocks) to Golden’s Clear Creek make the Bedrock Cairn Evo Sandal a popular choice among their tubing and fly-fishing customers. The team has also seen grippy hiking shoes from Salewa, specifically the Pedroc PTX and Pedroc Pro Mid PTX, pick up traction recently, as well as the all-terrain-ready Aventon Aventure 3 Fat Tire E-bike.
Favorite way to play during a Colorado summer: “We love the long days and getting out after work to enjoy the ample outdoor activities around our home here in Golden,” Mayer says.
- Established: 2000
- Location: Denver
- Specialty: Black Diamond gear and apparel catering to climbers, skiers, trail runners, and hikers, plus a consignment and discount section to promote affordability and circularity of outdoor gear
Why it’s different: “Partnering with Black Diamond and other top brands in the outdoor industry allows us to curate the best of the best in apparel and gear for the mountain sports enthusiast,” says Black Diamond x Wilderness Exchange owner Don Bushey. “Wilderness Exchange’s expanded consignment shop and outlet continues our 25-year mission of making the outdoors more affordable and accessible.”
Hottest gear pick for this summer: “Black Diamond’s Distance series backpacks are perfect for the peak bagger and mountain runner looking to carry the 10 essentials at a minimum weight with a perfect fit and balance,” Bushey says. “The Topo Athletic Trailventure shoe has been a hit with folks looking to move fast and light in the mountains, especially fourteeners.”
Favorite way to play during a Colorado summer: “We have a running joke at the shop about the three-helmet day,” Bushey says. “Where else in the world can you ski, climb, and mountain bike all in the same day?”
- Established: 2016
- Location: Denver (plus: Grand Rapids, Mich.)
- Specialty: Used outdoor gear alongside new options, plus a rental shop and gear and clothing repair services
Why it’s different: “We actually focus on driving down prices with our used selection,” says FERAL founder and owner Jimmy Funkhouser. “We are also one of the few shops in the country that offers new gear, used gear, gear rental, and gear repair.”
Hottest gear pick for this summer: “At FERAL, we think the last best thing is still good enough,” says Funkhouser. “So, we don’t really push new trends in our community. We like slow fashion over fast fashion and using something for a decade rather than always chasing the new toy. What will be hot this season? Hopefully a renewed embrace of a circular economy that puts a disproportionate value on things that already have a little tarnish rather than whatever the industry is promoting as the new object of desire.”
Favorite way to play during a Colorado summer: “Colorado truly has some of the best weather in the country year-round,” Funkhouser says. “There’s always an escape route. Too hot in the city? Just head two hours west. Weather bad in the mountains? It’s probably sunny somewhere within driving distance.”
