Filling out the field
Quickly establishing itself as the center of the Montana gear universe, Bozeman hosts a constellation of additional gear companies. The welded-seam specialists at Pacific Outdoor Equipment (www.pacoutdoor.com) craft sleeping pads, dry bags, panniers and other assorted products. Carl Strong over at Strong Frames (www.strongframes.com) handcrafts steel and titanium cyclocross, mountain and road bikes. Backpack guru Dana Gleason and his company Mystery Ranch (www.mysteryranch.com) sell innovative backpacks and bags for recreationists, firefighters, and the military. Simms Fishing Products makes a full line of innovative waders, boots and other fishing attire (www.simmsfishing.com). Missoula is the home of Nargear (www.nargear.com), a young company specializing in rugged backpacks for firefighters and skiers. Up in Kalispell, there’s Counter Assault, whose canisters of grizzly-repelling spray have become fixtures on the hips of hikers everywhere (www.counterassault.com). Yet another noteworthy company, Boulder Creek Packs in Hamilton, sells durable wildland fire packs, gear bags, backpacks and hunting gear (www.bouldercreekpacks.com). The good news is that even when these companies grow fast, they’re staying true to the Montana outdoor-junkie ethos. As Oboz co-founder Josh Fairchilds puts it, “When there’s more than 6-to-8 inches of snow, the phones aren’t getting answered that morning.” That’s the kind of business we need more of in Montana. And if the last few years are any indication, they’re on their way.
Montana Headwall
Page 53 Summer 2010