What's Up at Great Outdoor Clothing Co.?

Breckenridge Snow Sculpture Championships

2012-01-30T16:03:00.000-08:00

Last weekend Breckenridge hosted the Budweiser International Snow Sculptures Championships. April (the manager of Great Outdoor Clothing Co. in Breckenridge) managed to snap a few photos. For information about skiing, lodging and events in Breckenridge visit GoBreck.com.

Upcyling for the future

2011-06-17T14:01:00.000-07:00

LOOPTWORKS is a Portland, Oregon based company that upcycles pre-consumer excess into limited edition clothing and accessories.

Come by and check out our new Ladies Looptworks TShirts. Not only are they "Upcycled" but also very Stylish at a Great Price!

AMGEN Bike Race May 15-16 in Lake Tahoe Area

2011-05-06T12:05:00.000-07:00

The largest cycling event in America, the 2011 Amgen Tour of California is a Tour de France-style cycling road race, presented by AEG, that challenges the world’s top professional cycling teams to compete along a demanding course from May 15-22. Founded in 2005 by Amgen, Breakaway from Cancer® is a national initiative to increase awareness of the important resources available to people affected by cancer from prevention to survivorship.

Outdoor Inspired Apparel from Avalanche

2011-01-26T18:17:00.000-08:00

Check out our great selection of Men's and Women's Jackets and Pants from Avalanche. Made from new and interesting textiles of all textures, weight and density ... Avalanche is taking the apparel industry by storm. Their development of a "unique fit specification" makes this line of winter clothing as stylish as it is functional.

Hiking Moms of Alaska

2010-09-22T17:00:00.000-07:00

Natalie, the Manager of our store in Anchorage, Alaska belongs to a great group of Hiking Moms.

Natalie wrote: "Today was one of those days where you just wouldn't want to live anywhere but Alaska! Gorgeous fall day, great hike with the mom group. Thought I would share some of our scenery. The last photo is of bear tracks we saw in the mud. Also, I've been sporting that orange hat since the first year with GOCC. It is my fave!"

Happy 14th Wedding Anniversary

2010-08-31T14:20:00.000-07:00

Sigi and Natasha from our store in Mammoth Lakes, CA recently celebrated their 14th Wedding Anniversary by climbing the Beeline Route at the Incredible Hulk Climbing Area in the Sawtooth Range.

Ultimate Directions Hydration Packs

2010-04-30T10:45:00.000-07:00

New in the Stores.
Hydration Packs from Ultimate Directions.

Testimonials from our Store Managers:

"Through the years, I have had great experiences with Ultimate Directions Packs. The company continues to be among the industry leaders in innovative designs and functionality. "
Doug from our Breckenridge, Colorado Store

"I would second Doug's review of their packs. They gave our adventure racing team packs to race with. They make well thought out technical packs."
Bronwyn from our Steamboat, Colorado Store

Here are some great tips from
Ultimate Directions about Staying Hydrated:

How to Stay Hydrated: The most important thing we can tell you about is how to stay hydrated: Don't wait until you feel thirsty because by then you're already dehydrated. Hotter temperatures and increased levels of activity call for increased intake of fluids. Here are a few other tips to follow:

Set your watch to beep every 15 to 30 minutes to remind you to take in gels or liquids that can be quickly converted to energy. This will help maintain energy levels and help keep you from hitting that proverbial "wall".

The body loses 64-96 ounces of water per hour during high intensity activities (hiking, skiing, running, cycling, and showshoeing). To stay hydrated, athletes should use Ultimate Direction activity-specific hydration products to drink at least 8 ounces of water every 15-20 minutes.

Constant hydration keeps a person in the peak operational zone and reduces the involuntary wear and tear of exercise under stress. As a result they race and train, recover faster and are more comfortable. Our packs category offers several packs to meet the needs of intense training sessions.

Hydration Guidelines for Exercise Lasting Less than One Hour:

Drink adequate fluids throughout the day, and consume approximately 16 ounces of water during the 2 hours prior to exercise. Fluids should be kept at a cool temperature (between 59° & 72° F). That's why Ultimate Direction offers an insulated reservoir pocket to keep liquids cool. Use a hydration system, such as an Ultimate Direction sports bottle, or reservoir that allows one to drink easily while exercising. Consume approximately 16 ounces of water for every pound lost during exercise (acute shifts in body weight during exercise indicate fluid loss).

We recommend the following amount of fluid based upon the duration of your activity:
20-32 oz. of water for 0-1 hour
20-56 oz. of water for 1-2 hours
40-48 oz. of water for 2-3 hours
64-98 oz. of water for 3-4 hours
128 oz. of water for 4+ hours

Layering 101

2009-10-26T12:25:00.000-07:00

Comfort in the cold is the name of the game. Whether you are sitting in the bleachers at a football game or strenuously cross-country skiing, the layers you choose become extremely important. Dressing too warmly can always be adjusted with the peeling of a layer.

Base Layer, AKA “Long Underwear”
Start with the appropriate thickness of base layer. Choices include Light Weight, Medium Weight and Expedition Weight. Fabrics that wick and/or transfer moisture keep you warmer and dryer. Wool, silk and polyester blends work well at wicking. Cotton will keep you warm but not dry. Polyester blends are rated the best in performance tests.

Insulation Layer, AKA Synthetic Fleece, Wool Sweater, Down, etc.
This is another layer that will benefit from the quick drying properties of wool, silk or polyester. Synthetic Fleece is the most popular way to insulate the body between the base layer and the outer layer. Down works extremely well in very cold and dry climates.

Outer Layer, AKA Waterproof Shell or Insulated Shell
The outer layer protects you from the “tangible elements” like rain, snow and wind. Any outer layer should offer at the very least great wind protection (nylon or microfiber). Waterproof jackets on the other hand, are always wind proof as well. There are two types of waterproof jackets, breathable and non-breathable. GoreTex fabric will bring the wicked moisture through the fabric allowing the moisture to escape, thus making it breathable. Outer layers offer innumerable features like extra pockets, a roll away hood, pass pockets, etc. Under arm zippers (aka “Pit Zips”) provide additional ventilation to allow moisture to wick out.

Accessories
Always remember – 90% of your heat escapes from your head. Hats then become an important layer. If your hands and feet are cold, take a look at the quality of your gloves and socks.

Great Outdoor Clothing Company offers great quality layers at fantastic prices. Need more information? Ask a sales associate the next time you visit one of our stores.

Special Thanks to Bronwyn at our Steamboat Store for keeping our customers well informed on products.

Eye Protection - Style, Price or Substance?

2009-06-30T11:38:00.000-07:00

In a recent online article published by HealthDay News, the question of eye protection focused on whether people buy sunglasses based on price, style or protection . Here is an exerpt:

"Price and style -- not protection from the sun's harmful rays -- are most people's main considerations when buying sunglasses, a new survey has found.
But that's not a good thing, health-wise, says the American Optometric Association, which conducted the survey.
"Overexposure to UV [ultraviolet] rays has been linked to a variety of problems, including age-related cataracts and degeneration of the cornea," Dr. Gregory W. Good, an optometrist and association spokesman, said in a news release from the group. "Other disorders that can occur are abnormal growths on the eye's surface and even sunburn of the eyes. These conditions can cause blurred vision, irritation, redness, tearing, temporary vision loss and, in some instances, blindness."
He recommends that people wear quality sunglasses that offer proper UV protection and a wide-brimmed hat whenever they're outside. Some contact lenses, Good noted, contain a UV blocker that helps protect the eyes.
To prevent UV-related eye damage, the association recommends that people: Wear UV-protective eyewear even on cloudy days and in the winter. Select quality sunglasses or contact lenses that block out 99 to 100 percent of UV-A and UV-B radiation and screen out 75 to 90 percent of visible light. Make sure that sunglass lenses are perfectly matched in color and free of distortions or imperfections. Select gray-colored lenses because they reduce light intensity without altering the color of objects, which means they provide the most natural color vision."...

At Great Outdoor Clothing Company, you can get Sunglasses that are Affordable, Stylish and Offer Great Protection!

Redington Pants

2009-04-23T10:34:00.000-07:00

Dear GOCCO,

Thank you for recommending the Redington Topwater Pants for my river rafting trip. I knew that Redington was a great source for fishing gear, but I never thought their clothing would be such a great fit for a river rat like me. I was able to dry out instantly. My girlfriend bought me two Redington shirts for the office and I must admit, they are as comfortable as they are good looking.

Thanks, LVS