Testing 1, 2, 3 ...
10/22/2025 02:16PM ● By Eugene Buchanan
Jay Lambert, co-founder of Town Hall Outdoor Co, visits the new Outside Lab at CU Denver. Photo courtesy of Town Hall Outdoor Co.
A lot of top gear brands test their wares at expensive, in-house R&D facilities, for which smaller outdoor brands don’t have the resources. Steamboat Springs’ Town Hall Outdoor Co, which makes children’s outdoor apparel, solved this problem by hopping over the Continental Divide to downtown Denver.
Launched in 2024 in conjunction with “Outside” magazine and CU Denver’s College of Engineering, Design and Computing, the new Outside Lab at CU Denver is a cutting-edge gear facility – and the first of its kind in Colorado – dedicated to gear testing, education and product reviews. In short, it serves as a hub for evaluating outdoor equipment, so that when you’re on the trail, you don’t have to.
Brands like Town Hall bring their products to the lab for a variety of tests, while “Outside’s” network of magazines uses it to test everything from hiking-shoe durability and running-shoe cushioning to backpack volume and abrasion resistance. The lab can also test such things as water filter flow rates, sleeping bag warmth retention and backpack load capacity, and it is working on tests to measure ski strength and flex.
“The lab has been a great partner in helping us refine and test our products,” says Town Hall founder Robin Hall, whose company also recently became B Corp-certified. “Their technology, expertise and passion has helped our ability to deliver high-quality gear for outdoor families. Its tests ensure our fabrics pass our durability, breathability and waterproofing standards. Then our gear gets put through the paces in real life – in our own backyard here in Steamboat on our little mountain rippers.”
Led by mechanical engineering professor and biomechanics researcher Dr. Dana Carpenter, the lab, housed in a 1,800-square-foot facility in Denver, is part of the school’s four-semester Master of Science degree in Outdoor Gear program, designed for those pursuing careers in the outdoor recreation industry, from product design to sustainability. It gives students access to design methodologies, testing equipment and real-world case studies.
“Some companies might use it for a specific piece of material to measure its water and air permeability, strength, abrasion resistance, durability and more,” says Ph.D. student and lab manager Trevor Young. “We have dedicated machines for all of that. And it was great to collaborate with Town Hall, whose team was involved in the whole process. I think we got them some useful information.”
The lab has contractual agreements with some partners and one-time arrangements with others. Other examples of companies using their testing services include Send-it, a maker of mountain hike tailgate pods, and the Colorado River Surfing Association. “We can work with any size company, but we really want to help people in the gear production space,” Trevor says. “We’re aiming to really test the gear, get some data and set some testing standards. Companies like Town Hall are perfect, and we’re super appreciative of them working with us."
A lot of top gear brands test their wares at expensive, in-house R&D facilities, for which smaller outdoor brands don’t have the resources. Steamboat Springs’ Town Hall Outdoor Co, which makes children’s outdoor apparel, solved this problem by hopping over the Continental Divide to downtown Denver.
Launched in 2024 in conjunction with “Outside” magazine and CU Denver’s College of Engineering, Design and Computing, the new Outside Lab at CU Denver is a cutting-edge gear facility – and the first of its kind in Colorado – dedicated to gear testing, education and product reviews. In short, it serves as a hub for evaluating outdoor equipment, so that when you’re on the trail, you don’t have to.
Brands like Town Hall bring their products to the lab for a variety of tests, while “Outside’s” network of magazines uses it to test everything from hiking-shoe durability and running-shoe cushioning to backpack volume and abrasion resistance. The lab can also test such things as water filter flow rates, sleeping bag warmth retention and backpack load capacity, and it is working on tests to measure ski strength and flex.
“The lab has been a great partner in helping us refine and test our products,” says Town Hall founder Robin Hall, whose company also recently became B Corp-certified. “Their technology, expertise and passion has helped our ability to deliver high-quality gear for outdoor families. Its tests ensure our fabrics pass our durability, breathability and waterproofing standards. Then our gear gets put through the paces in real life – in our own backyard here in Steamboat on our little mountain rippers.”
Led by mechanical engineering professor and biomechanics researcher Dr. Dana Carpenter, the lab, housed in a 1,800-square-foot facility in Denver, is part of the school’s four-semester Master of Science degree in Outdoor Gear program, designed for those pursuing careers in the outdoor recreation industry, from product design to sustainability. It gives students access to design methodologies, testing equipment and real-world case studies.
“Some companies might use it for a specific piece of material to measure its water and air permeability, strength, abrasion resistance, durability and more,” says Ph.D. student and lab manager Trevor Young. “We have dedicated machines for all of that. And it was great to collaborate with Town Hall, whose team was involved in the whole process. I think we got them some useful information.”
The lab has contractual agreements with some partners and one-time arrangements with others. Other examples of companies using their testing services include Send-it, a maker of mountain hike tailgate pods, and the Colorado River Surfing Association. “We can work with any size company, but we really want to help people in the gear production space,” Trevor says. “We’re aiming to really test the gear, get some data and set some testing standards. Companies like Town Hall are perfect, and we’re super appreciative of them working with us."