This Colorado-based outdoor clothing company makes awesome gear and manufactures all of it in the US
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Simplicity, functionality, and outdoor gear designs that still allow the scenery to take center stage. Sounds pretty good, right?
Two Colorado natives thought so, too.
Topo Designs is a company influenced by childhoods spent in the powerful landscape of the Rocky Mountain West and purposefully lodged at the base of the Colorado Rockies. All of the company's products, from conception to fruition, are marked by their surrounding community and environment.
Inspired by the experiences they had outdoors in the dramatic backyard of the West, co-founders Jedd Rose and Mark Hansen set out to make the kind of gear that looked and felt natural in a nature setting, a goal that sounds more intuitive than much of what's currently available on the market might make it seem.
The backpacks, bags, apparel, and accessories that accompany you into the wild should not hinder your appreciation of it, but should rather reinforce your aims in purchasing them in the first place. In a perfect world, you and your gear should simply meld into the experience.
True to that intention, Topo Designs makes pieces that complement the simplicity and calm of the outdoors, without sacrificing utility or style. To achieve this, their bags are designed as crossovers with the strongest characteristics of classic French ski gear and simplistic Japanese daypacks. Each bag is purposeful in detail and aims to maintain a balance between technicality and style.
As their lives in Colorado helped to emphasize the interconnectedness with nature and community that became their mission, ethos, and aesthetic, it seemed only natural that Rose and Hansen should make their products in the US and base their company out of Colorado.
So when the time came, their first brick-and-mortar location was built in Denver, and out of modular recycled shipping containers rather than bricks. After all, how do you make sure you never drift from the path you've chosen? By never leaving.
Designing products for neighbors and with neighbors helps their intentions stay local and organic, even as the brand expands and gains popularity. The way they see it, working with friends and the community has made Topo products what they are: smart, but simple tools that further aid the endeavor of connecting — with community or nature.
Topo Designs' founders understand that people are starting to favor supporting locally grown companies that have perhaps fewer products, but more of an experience to participate in that outlasts their credit card swipe.
If any of their company story has appealed to you, check out some of our favorite gear from Topo Designs below.
Klettersack
Topo Designs
This is Topo's most classic pack design. It's an ideal travel companion, workmate, or pack mule for your daily hike into the hills. The natural leather lash tabs allow you to secure extra gear or attach safety devices, like a bike light, easily.
Puffer Cardigan
Backcountry
Whether you're layering for a trip to the office or the mountain, this nylon ripstop fabric provides durability without compromising on style. PrimaLoft insulation offers lightweight, packable warmth under a trim, tailored fit.
Men's Puffer Cardigan, $183.20
Camp Pant
Backcountry
These camp pants are made from soft cotton twill, built to be both lightweight and tough enough to overperform during extended time in the woods.
The trim fit allows for a transition into city life, but it was also designed with long strides on the trail in mind. You'll be happy to find multiple pockets for essentials and reinforced stress-point stitching for both style and extra durability.
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