Made in Colorado

For some outdoor gearmakers, bringing their manufacturing to Colorado was not even a question, even though it can be much more expensive. Here are the stories of just some of Colorado's outdoor companies that are bringing manufacturing home.

A pioneer in open-source operating systems, System76 has been selling custom Linux-based computers since 2005, but it only started making its own machines in 2018.

There’s been some doomsaying and trepidation going into 2020, but there is still plenty of upside for manufacturers in Colorado. In many cases, it’s even less expensive to make a higher-quality product right here in Colorado.

VP and third-generation owner Alan Pursell’s father and grandfather, Richard and Bill, started making wooden stands in Oregon “lumber country” in 1968, then consolidated the operation in Colorado in the late 1990s largely due to its central location.

After a first career in tech, Dean Wiltshire started making teardrop trailers as a security measure against bears. Since then, the company built a rental fleet of trailers, has retooled its manufacturing process to bring everything in house and is rapidly growing.

Once Hohl's passion was ignited, he devoured books and took online classes on “the art and science” of distilling, then decided to start a craft distillery in 2013. He sold his first bottle in late 2017 after bottling it the year before.

President and CEO Sue Frank’s father, Bill Patterson, started the company in 1980 in Littleton and transplanted the fledgling heavy-duty rock drill manufacturer to Montrose in 1988.

The big move for 2020? Bringing manufacturing in-house. As of February, Bolder Surgical is making all of its new products in Colorado. Not only has this improved the quality of the products, but its decreased the cost.

As the batteries in an electric vehicle (EV) typically account for 30% to 40% of its price tag, big automotive manufacturers are on the hunt for ways to mitigate costs. Co-founder and CEO Doug Campbell says he thinks Solid Power’s technology could cut a battery’s cost by a third.

SAS Flight Factory | Arvada | Product: Aerospace & Aircraft The manufacturing arm of Boulder-based Special Aerospace Services, SAS Flight Factory has taken on larger and larger projects from NASA, the Department of Defense and aerospace primes. It’s come a…

Now under the guidance of fourth-generation owners, President Steve Polidori and VP Melodie Polidori Harris, Polidori Sausage moved to a new facility in northeast Denver in 2016, tripling its floor space while emphasizing sustainability via energy efficiency, water conservation and other initiatives.

COO Scott Yarberry says they’re popular because they’re built to last, with simple and elegant designs. The 10V, unchanged since 1981, uses only two moving parts to belt out a 115-decibel wail 100 meters in all directions. There are currently more than 5,000 10Vs in service on Earth.

From snowmobiling accessories to gear to keep you warm, these four Colorado-made winter products are must-haves to get through the winter season.

Don't know what to get for the friend or colleague that has everything? Look no further than these unique four locally-crafted gifts.