It's the little things. Specifically, little stickers that remind me of how this shop was once just a dream of ours and how it's come so far because of our incredible customers who advocate on it's behalf.
When Chase and I first started planning the business that would become Durango Outdoor Exchange, we met with Tim Kapustka (of Studio &) to design a logo that would encompass all that we originally wanted the shop to be. What he came up with was perfect. There are many ways to interpret what you see with the center circle, the obvious green arrows pointing out and the more subtle while arrows pointing in. It leaves room for you to fill in your experience.
Right away, we put that logo everywhere we could and started getting our name out there. Stickers were high on the list of marketing tools and we ordered them immediately. A solid shout out to Sticker Mule for providing stickers that stand the test of time. Be it their laptop stickers or the one's meant for outside use, they hold up to the elements!
In the beginning, we knew every person who displayed a sticker (read, our moms). As the business grew, so did the visibility of our stickers around town. On cars and roof boxes, the cement blockers at Durango Joes, and I really felt like we'd made it when I saw one on the Natures Oasis light post.
Seven years later, I am still just as giddy and grateful when I see our sticker displayed. I imagine to some, it is really personal and a vote of support for a business they appreciate. To others, it might just be a sweet sticker. Either way, it still makes me smile and gives me comfort to know the shop has had an impact on someone in a positive way.
We've grown, no doubt. But, we hope that everyone who comes in feels a sense of belonging, appreciation for outdoor adventures and a sense of gratefulness from us which continues to drive our enthusiasm for this business that was once just a dream.
When it comes to outdoor sports, a quality jacket can make all the difference between comfort and misery. Whether you’re hiking, skiing, climbing, running, climbing, or simply out and about nature, a jacket serves as your first line of defense against the elements.
That said, there are a LOT of jackets out there, in different styles, materials, weights, and weather proofness. How do you know which is best for you? We put together this guide to help you sort out what jacket you need and when you should whip it out.
Keep in mind that these jackets can be ridiculously expensive, and buying a ski jacket, rain jacket, puffy, light puffy, and a wind jacket new can easily mean you run up a tab of $2,000 or more. What’s the solution? Qualityused gear in Durango from Durango Outdoor Exchange.
It’s snowy and cold, but you want to get out. Downhill skiing is too expensive and backcountry skiing is too difficult. What’s a happy medium? Snowshoeing.
Think of snowshoeing as hiking in the snow, but you can traipse across deep snow and go where there are no trails. You only need basic equipment to get started and it you have ever skied then you probably have most of it already. Here’s a primer on where to go and what to bring. Oh, and when it comes to gear, save money buy buying used gear in Durango from Durango Outdoor Exchange.
Maybe you’ve seen other telemarkers carving beautiful turns on the mountain, maybe you are looking for a new challenge, or maybe you want to really work those quads–either way, getting into telemarking is fun and challenging.
Telemark skiing is a blend of Nordic and alpine skiing that combines the grace of cross-country with the thrill of downhill turns. Central to this style is the telemark binding, which allows the heel to lift, enabling a skier to lunge gracefully through turns.
Ready to pick up some telemark gear? Here’s some great news: Unlike downhill bindings, telemark bindings don’t get put on indemnified lists, meaning there is no set age at which they cannot be mounted. This meansbuying used telemark gear can be a great deal.