The Local newsletter is your free, daily guide to life in Colorado. For locals, by locals.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Longer, warmer days and the return of patio happy hours<\/a> mean another Coloradical summer is nigh. So, it\u2019s time to pull out, dust off, and give your warm-weather gear a once-over before hitting the trail, rock, or river. Tune-up<\/a> and repair<\/a> what you can, and then turn to one of these long-standing local outdoor shops\u2014all along the Front Range\u2014to fill the gaps in your gear closet.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Jump Ahead:<\/strong><\/p>\n Why it\u2019s different:<\/strong> \u201cWe offer a selection of products unlike any other retailer,\u201d Quinlan says. \u201cIn 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\u2014plus clothing to dress you from head to toe for any condition imaginable\u2014JAX<\/a> 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.\u201d<\/p>\n Hottest gear pick for this summer:<\/strong> The JAX team expects cookware sets from Sea to Summit<\/a> to make local campers happy. Meanwhile, the Wide Brim T3 Wanderer Hat from Tilley<\/a> will protect you from the sun while floating Carter Lake on the new Solstice Lanai Inflatable Paddleboard<\/a>.<\/p>\n Favorite way to play during a Colorado summer:<\/strong> \u201cI love to be up in the alpine to take in wildflowers<\/a> and the spectacular views,\u201d Quinlan says. \u201cGetting out in nature is soothing for my soul.\u201d<\/p>\n Why it\u2019s different:<\/strong> In addition to offering major outdoor brands, Neptune<\/a> has a try-before-you-buy climbing wall, in-house cafe, and one of the biggest collections of mountaineering history in the world.<\/p>\n Hottest gear pick for this summer:<\/strong> Anything from Jackson Hole\u2013based mountain lifestyle brand Stio<\/a>, 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<\/a> sleeping pad, which weighs next to nothing but boasts an impressive five inches of sweet-dreams-inducing cushion.<\/p>\n Favorite way to play during a Colorado summer:<\/strong> \u201c[I love] the access to a variety of outdoor sports and activities for all levels,\u201d Nunez-Smith says. \u201cFrom car camping to technical mountaineering, Colorado has it all, and we\u2019re here to help everyone explore it.\u201d<\/p>\n Why it\u2019s different:<\/strong> \u201cWe are a community-focused shop,\u201d says Bentgate<\/a>\u2019s general manager Ryan Mayer, \u201cand we enjoy sharing our passion for the outdoors with our customers.\u201d<\/p>\n Hottest gear pick for this summer:<\/strong> Bentgate\u2019s proximity (just three blocks) to Golden\u2019s Clear Creek make the Bedrock Cairn Evo Sandal<\/a> a popular choice among their tubing and fly-fishing customers. The team has also seen grippy hiking shoes from Salewa, specifically the Pedroc PTX<\/a>\u00a0and Pedroc Pro Mid PTX<\/a>, pick up traction recently, as well as the all-terrain-ready Aventon Aventure 3 Fat Tire E-bike<\/a>.<\/p>\n Favorite way to play during a Colorado summer:<\/strong> \u201cWe love the long days and getting out after work to enjoy the ample outdoor activities around our home here in Golden,\u201d Mayer says.<\/p>\n Why it\u2019s different:<\/strong> \u201cPartnering 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,\u201d says Black Diamond x Wilderness Exchange owner Don Bushey. \u201cWilderness Exchange\u2019s expanded consignment shop and outlet continues our 25-year mission of making the outdoors more affordable and accessible.\u201d<\/p>\n Hottest gear pick for this summer:<\/strong> \u201cBlack Diamond\u2019s Distance<\/a> series backpacks are perfect for the peak bagger and mountain runner looking to carry the 10 essentials<\/a> at a minimum weight with a perfect fit and balance,\u201d Bushey says. \u201cThe Topo Athletic Trailventure shoe<\/a> has been a hit with folks looking to move fast and light in the mountains, especially fourteeners.\u201d<\/p>\n Favorite way to play during a Colorado summer:<\/strong> \u201cWe have a running joke at the shop about the three-helmet day,\u201d Bushey says. \u201cWhere else in the world can you ski, climb, and mountain bike all in the same day?\u201d<\/p>\n Why it\u2019s different:<\/strong> \u201cWe actually focus on driving down<\/em> prices with our used selection,\u201d says FERAL<\/a> founder and owner Jimmy Funkhouser. \u201cWe are also one of the few shops in the country that offers new gear, used gear, gear rental, and gear repair.\u201d<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/cdn.5280.com\/2025\/07\/5280Covers-SubOffer-widget-JuneJuly-720x720.png\")
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