From humble beginnings in a one-car garage, the vision to bring quality gear to outdoor enthusiasts at an affordable price has led to one of the most successful outdoor companies in the United States, and this year, ALPS (Active Lifestyle Products & Services) celebrates its 30th anniversary.
“Enjoying the outdoors is a blessing in so many ways,” said ALPS owner and founder Dennis Brune. “Whether we are camping by a beautiful lakeside with our family or taking a path less traveled deep in the backcountry, outdoor adventures edify the soul and instill memories that last forever. For our family and our employees, the outdoor lifestyle and our loyal customers have blessed us greatly.”
Brune and his wife, LaRayne, began ALPS in their garage with a mission to create performance-driven outdoor gear at a reasonable price. What started as a line of fanny packs grew to include tents, packs, camping furniture, sleep systems and more.
In 2009, the company entered a licensing partnership with Browning to produce camping gear under the Browning Camping brand — gear built to align with Browning’s “The Best There Is” philosophy. Core Browning Camping products include outdoor furniture, tents, screen houses and sleeping bags.
A few years later, ALPS introduced another brand called Cedar Ridge. The idea of Cedar Ridge was to provide a “starter set” camping gear and accessories for the family-friendly budget. This coincided with a strong push by ALPS to get more young people involved in outdoor recreation.
Today, ALPS and its family of brands expand through innovation, product development and refinement.
The latest effort incorporates the company’s new R3 initiative, which boils down to “Reduce, Reuse and Recycle.” The R3 program represents an increased push to use more recycled content in materials and packaging and further mitigate environmental impact.
“As we recognize our 30th year of business, we also celebrate our customers who have brought us here,” Brune said. “And in some small way, we live vicariously through them. When we pack a tent or ship a backpack, we often think, ‘Where is this going? What adventures will it see? Who is the person who will sleep in this bag?’
“From the product designer who first puts pen to paper to our warehouse crew who sends the boxes out the door — it may sound trite or cliché, but it is true — we feel a personal connection to our consumers through each and every product we manufacture,” he said.
For information on ALPS Mountaineering, visit alpsmountaineering.com and alpsbrands.com
