25 Outdoor Startups You Need to Check Out

I have a confession to make: I love gear. No, but seriously - I really love gear. I love researching it, looking at it, trying it on, buying it, receiving it in the mail, and above all else, I love wearing the heck out of it.

It's no secret that outdoor gear doesn't come cheap, and when you want your gear to stand up to anything you throw at it, you're going to have to lay down a pretty penny. You might also be like me in that you do your best to buy local, ethically-made, or environmentally conscious products from brands that walk the walk and talk the talk - and by now you've come to the realization that this just tacks on a few more zeros to the seasonal bill. 

Well, I recently came across ReddyYeti, and I am happy to report that gearheads worldwide now have a reason to rejoice. This is an online community with a mission to highlight innovative startups (and the people behind them) in the outdoor space while offering monthly giveaways and exclusive discounts on all of this rad gear to its members. No, I'm not making this up. Yes, you should check them out - and you can even try it out for a month for free!

In addition to sharing ReddyYeti with you, I also wanted to dive into a few of the startups that they work with. Here are 25 outdoor startups that you need to check out if you haven't already:

Apparel

Farm to Feet

Making awesome adventure socks that are "100% American," this North Carolina company is changing the name of the game in sustainably-focused manufacturing without sacrificing on quality or innovative products.

Bulletprufe

If you have ever wondered why pants can't be both rugged and "insanely" comfortable, then this company will blow your mind all while taking your adventures to the next level. My only complaint is that they don't make women's pants....yet.

Boulder Denim

From office life and the weekend road trips to yoga poses and climbing gyms, this is the perfect pair of jeans - plain and simple. 

Cirque Mountain Apparel

Based in Vail, Colorado, Cirque is made up of mountain-minded folks with a passion for showing off what matters most to them through their clothing. Oh, and they're really good at it. 

Northwest Tech Outerwear (NWTEK)

Fully custom ski and snowboard outerwear? Yes, please! And I would be remiss if I didn't mention their new line of customizable mountain biking apparel, which I will most definitely be putting to the test this coming bike season.

Give'r Gloves

They make excellent gloves that can take on everything from work, life, and the most rigorous of playing. If you're trying to "give'r," you'll want a pair of these on your mitts, and you'll be hard pressed to have a bad time. 

Wild Rye

Ladies, listen up. If you're backcountry-bound or shredding singletrack, then Wild Rye should be on your radar for high-quality apparel to make your uphills, downhills and everything in between that much more rad. Plus, you'll look awesome in anything they make.

Bags and Packs

BE Outfitter

Functional backpacks designed by an adventure brother duo, BE has flipped the way outdoor photographers approach packing up gear and hitting the trails. Both you, your gear, and your camera will stay comfortable

Gobi Gear

Trying to keep things organized while on the go is never easy, and trail-life is no different. That's why I literally use Gobi Gear SegSacs to for organization in all of my packs, from my day-to-day backpack to each of my adventure packs. This is a simple solution to the chaotic life of a backpack, and they have many other great packing products that'll change your life. 

Piorama

How many bags do you have in your gear closet? Big, small, skinny, duffels, rollers, packs, the list goes on. Enter Piorama, the fully adjustable and rugged bag to fit your adventure - no matter how big or small!

Trail snacks

This is by far my favorite section of this article. Why you ask? I LOVE food, and nothing beats having the ultimate snack while exploring the great outdoors around me. Even in an incredibly competitive market with big-box name brands, each of these startups is making a name for themselves with tasty treats while staying true to their values and roots. I highly recommend checking these brands out and at least give them a try:

• Voke Tab
• Bearded Brother
• Windword Jerky
• Gutsey Bars
• Huppy Bar
• Play Hard Give Back
• K'ul Chocolate (personal favorite) 

Snowsports 

Deviation Skis & Snowboard Works

Deviation offers 100% custom, high-performance skis and snowboards that are handcrafted in Oregon from locally sourced raw lumber. What's even cooler is that you can design your own topsheets or even work with their in-house designers to get everything to where you want it!

J Skis

If you've been in the ski world long enough, you've likely heard of Jason Levinthal before - or maybe you've heard of a couple of other companies that he started, LINE Skis and FULL TILT Boots? Welcome to his newest venture to advance the sport of skiing starting with the boards strapped to your feet. If his past pursuits are any indication, we'd say J Skis has a chance of sticking around for a long time.

Coalition Snow

Making skis and snowboards for women that don't suck. Enough said.

Grass Sticks

Now these are some ski poles you can be proud of. Made from eco-friendly material boasting the lightness and strength of carbon fiber paired with a classic look that will have heads turning, these bamboo poles rock! Oh, and Grass Sticks now makes SUP paddles, too.

Meier Skis

Based in Colorado, this ski startup is making waves in the local community while changing the definition of what it means to be eco-friendly and environmentally conscious. You could pretty much hand them anything and they'll try to make a ski out of it...and somehow they'll pull it off!

...and even more!

Parks Preserve 

Full disclosure - I'm a sucker for buying gear that gives back to the places and lands that I love most, and so this California startup benefiting our public lands was a no-brainer for this list. These guys make anything from blankets and backpacks to journals, T-shirts and beanies, all with the protection of the great outdoors in mind.

DMOS Collective

Designed in Jackson Hole and manufactured in Oregon, the DMOS shovels are go-anywhere, do-anything tools that can survive anything you throw at 'em. It really doesn't matter where you live or work, DMOS products are notorious for allowing anyone to "do my own stuff" - get it?

GNARBOX

If you're an outdoor photographer, you may have heard of GNARBOX and their revolutionary product to make file storage and editing easy and fun while on-the-go. If you haven't heard of them yet, prepare to have your mind blown. With their rugged and portable device and their easy-to-use phone application (iOS or Andriod), you are well on your way to store, backup, organize, edit, and share HD videos and photos - all from the great outdoors!

Learn more about these brands, their stories, their founders, and their game-changing products with ReddyYeti. And if you join in on the ReddyYeti membership, you can receive up to 50% off on all of these startups - plus many more! Over 100 outdoor startups are currently included, and more are being added all the time.

Get your free month with ReddyYeti today and start saving some serious cash while supporting small businesses!