Made in America: outdoor brands who make products made in the USA
Products from brands who manufacture gear and more right here in the United States
USA, North America: Apple pie, Dolly Parton, fireworks, golden retrievers, Abe Lincoln’s beard, and Oprah are just a few things which are quintessentially American. But which brands in the outdoor industry are based in the US and produce the gear we love right here in our own backyard? Fortunately Verde works with several brands who have committed to produce all or some gear in the USA. Take a look below at our partners and their latest products your readers will love to learn more about and feel good about purchasing - helping support local jobs and our neighbors.
James Niehues
Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
The great American ski artist, James Niehues has traveled and painted most the ski resorts in the USA, since hanging up his brush painting ski resort maps, James’s shifts his focus to painting and drawing our iconic American landscapes, via his American Landscape Project - a project years in the making to celebrate America's most beloved National Parks and breathtaking landscapes.
Astronaut Ice Cream
Boulder, Colorado, USA
Astronaut Ice Cream, the original source for freeze-dried astronaut ice cream developed with NASA in 1974, is back and now available for purchase on its redesigned website, the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum, Disney Theme Parks, Universal Studios, Ron Jon Surf Shops, and Paper Source stores, as well as select outdoor retail stores. Astronaut Ice Cream is made through the process of lyophilization, commonly known as freeze-drying, to turn real ice cream into a crunchy, creamy sweetness that melts in your mouth. Freeze-drying removes 98% of the original water content. The same process is used to freeze dry fruits, which brings out the sweetness and adds an unexpected crunch, while allowing the fruit to retain all of its nutrition.
Key Features of Astronaut Foods:
● 100% real ice cream and fruits
● No refrigeration needed - ready to eat
● Three-year shelf life
● Made in the USA (Boulder, Colo.)
Astronaut Ice Cream is available in two flavors, Vanilla and Neapolitan. Individual sandwiches are available for purchase for $4.99 USD. There are also 12-Packs available for $59.99 USD, as well as bulk case options of 50 or 200 sandwiches.
Outdoor Research
Seattle, Washington, USA
As long as Outdoor Research has been in business, it has had onshore manufacturing at its Seattle headquarters with highly skilled sewers and manufacturers making technical apparel and gear. That continues today, with onshore manufacturing producing high-end products for the elite units of the U.S. military and - during the pandemic - PPE .
Being steps away from production floors allows the OR team to create, test, improve, and distribute protective equipment with the greatest speed and efficiency. Because this gear is tested in the most extreme environments by our military partners, Outdoor Research is able to leverage the same materials, techniques, and products for the outdoors. OR's onshore manufacturing produces technical apparel and gear for adventurers, armed forces and everyone else who needs protection outside of their home.
Learn about Outdoor Research’s commitment to US manufacturing here>
Tailwind Nutrition
Durango, Colorado, USA
Before Tailwind Nutrition launched in 2012, co-founder Jeff Vierling was having trouble finding a sports nutrition product that agreed with his stomach during endurance mountain bike events like the Leadville Trail 100. That lead to the creation of Tailwind Nutrition's Endurance Fuel offering, and 10 years on, the nutrition brand has continued to manufacture its products at Tailwind HQ in Durango, Colorado, creating jobs for the area's rural economy and giving back to the community of local endurance athletes. In Fall 2022, Tailwind moved to a new production and warehouse facility in Durango and now counts 30 employees in La Plata County.
Endurance Fuel and Recovery Mix
Tailwind Endurance Fuel
Tailwind Nutrition Recovery Mix
Tailwind offers two flagship products— Endurance Fuel and Recovery Mix. Endurance Fuel contains calories, which help athletes maintain consistent energy levels in addition to balancing electrolytes and hydration. Plus it’s designed to taste good and be easy on the stomach. Tailwind Recovery Mix offers a mix of carbs, complete protein, and electrolytes to help athletes have a smooth recovery after their exerted effort.
Therm-a-Rest Sleeping Pads
Seattle, Washington, USA
For a minimal pack size and maximum performance, our NeoAir XLite offers the gold standard in lightweight backpacking comfort. The unrivaled Triangular Core Matrix offers the best warmth-to-weight ratio of any air sleeping pad construction. The construction gives the 2.5 inch (6.4 cm) thick pad superior stability, boasting the most inches of weld for maximum camp comfort. The compact pad boasts a 4.2 value, allowing users to camp comfortably year-round. Available in several sizes, including a roomy regular wide, the XLite features the high-performance WingLock valve, allowing the pad to inflate three times faster thanks to a larger opening and one-way inflation. Like all Therm-a-Rest pads, the NeoAir XLite is made in market to ensure quality and minimize environmental impact. The pad includes a breath-saving pump sack, compact stuff sack and field repair kit.
*Note: Therm-a-Rest produces its sleeping pads in the USA. Sleeping bags are produced outside of the US.
Wyoming Whiskey
Kirby, Wyoming, USA
Wyoming Whiskey has a simple goal: to create America’s next great bourbon. The company and product is a collaboration between its partners and 97,818 square miles of Wyoming. The Mead family first came to Wyoming as ranchers in 1890 and the state defines them, and their whiskey. They use the finest corn, wheat, barley, and water from the Big Horn Basin and promote Wyoming’s natural and human resources. Every drop of this bourbon is 100% Wyoming.
Wyoming Whiskey 10 Year Anniversary Edition
Wyoming Whiskey celebrates a decade of whiskey making with the release of a 10 Year Anniversary Edition Straight Bourbon Whiskey. In honor of the anniversary, Wyoming Whiskey founding Master Distiller Steve Nally and Master Blender Nancy Fraley have barrel selected and batched a rich and balanced 10-year-old rye bourbon worthy of the milestone. This masterpiece whiskey reflects 20 of the rarest casks at the Wyoming Whiskey distillery that were filled in November and December of 2011 and is the oldest product ever released by Wyoming Whiskey.
Backpacker’s Pantry
Boulder, Colorado, USA
Backpacker’s Pantry is a Boulder-based, family-owned producer of gourmet adventure meals made with healthy and sustainable ingredients. Since 1951, the company has been delivering high-quality freeze-dried meals with an emphasis on taste. To give back to the community and planet, Backpacker’s Pantry donates 1% of every sale, everyday to nonprofits around the world through 1% For The Planet and its facilities are 100% solar-powered. The company welcomed Duane Primozich as its new CEO in 2022 and, over the course of the past year, donated a combined total of approximately $178,000 to 12 organizations.
A hearty, protein-packed, gourmet outdoor camping meal for foodies who appreciate authentic Pad Thai and world cuisine and demand nothing short of the best food in wild places.
Rice noodles, vegetables, Thai spices, all-natural, white meat USDA chicken & a flavorful Sriracha lime sauce
Gluten-free
3-year shelf life (exact expiration date found on product packaging)
820 calories per pouch
41g of protein per pouch
2 servings per pouch
Hearty and filling, Backpacker’s Pantry Three Cheese Mac & Cheese is a protein-packed freeze-dried camping food staple you’ll enjoy with creamy real cheeses and elbow pasta. Whether you’re at home, in the field, the cabin, or the dorms, you can’t go wrong with this comfort food.
Elbow pasta, Parmesan, Romano, and Cheddar cheese
Vegetarian
10-year shelf life (exact expiration date found on product packaging)
510 calories per pouch
24g of protein per pouch
2 servings per pouch
Chamois Butt'r
Chamois Butt'r makes all of its products in the USA. The brand's product line includes the classic Chamois Butt'r Original, the convenient Chamois Butt'r GoStik, as well as the new Chamois Butt'r Ultra Balm. This versatile balm is made for the most demanding conditions (think your longest rides or the wettest, hottest conditions). Our founder, Steve Mathews, originally made this product for himself to fill a need for longer distances, to be longer lasting than our creams so he didn't need to reapply as much, AND be easier to carry than an 8 oz tube of Butt'r.
Life Time Athletic Events
Life Time produces more than 30 cycling and running events across the United States. From Garmin UNBOUND Gravel presented by Craft Sportswear in Emporia, Kansas, to the Life Time Miami Marathon & Half Marathon in Florida, Life Time's events showcase unique communities throughout the West, Midwest, South, and Northeast regions. Each event represents Life Time's Healthy Way of Life philosophy and offers a fun and challenging environment for journey people and pros alike.
