There is little better feeling in the world than going straight from a long day on the hiking trails to the bar stool for a cold beer.
But Tevas and pants that zip off into shorts are definitely not going to earn you any fans at said bar. Toad & Co. has been at the forefront of what they correctly call “Trail to Tavern” clothes and, in celebration of 20 years of dressing the sophisticated mountain man, they’ve released the Telluride Heritage Collection.
It all started in 1991 in a garage in Telluride, Colorado. Handmade fleece hats grew into a socially conscious company making some of the best outdoor clothing around. The Telluride Heritage Collection represents some of their favorite designs retooled for the modern man with sustainability in mind, using reclaimed wool Sherpa fleece, 100% organic cotton, and Bluesign-certified polyester fleece. Reclaimed wool Sherpa fleece is made up of scraps of Italian wool, combined with a bit of polyester and nylon (for comfort and strength) and mechanically processed–which is much kinder to the environment–by an Italian factory that’s been doing this for decades. The Bluesign certification is particularly awesome: it’s a Swiss tech company that strives toward making the textile industry environmentally responsible. According to the National Resources Defense Council (NRDC), getting that Bluesign certification means you’ve achieved the “gold standard” for sustainability. So, Toad & Co. is making some impressively eco-friendly gear.
One of the most versatile pieces is the Ajax Fleece Pullover: it’s two-tone (choose either “Nightsky” or “Smoke”) and feels damn good in the woods or at the pub rocking that band of mid-chest embroidery. This particular pullover is inspired by one of their 1990s designs they rediscovered on eBay. The fleece is pill-resistant and provides warm and breathability, so you won’t yo-yo between sweltering and freezing on the autumnal trails.
Maybe you’re looking for something that can stand up to the chill of the coming winter nights but you don’t want to have to look after a jacket at the bar? Meet your new favorite piece of clothing: the Mojac Overshirt. The plaid flannel (made of that organic cotton) is subtle, classic, and lined with Chambray. It’s perfectly at home amongst the towering trees on a mountainside or the dartboard at a hip bar.
Toad & Co. didn’t forget about your lower half also needing to function and be stylish. Our particular favorite from the Telluride Heritage Collection would have to be the Seward Canvas Pant. It’s got all the durability you would want in a work pant but it looks like a chino. It’s organic cotton with 2% Spandex, which makes it soft and movable. It also makes the transition from being paired with your favorite hiking boots and the Ajax Pullover to a nice dinner out with leather Oxfords and the Malamute Crew Sweater.
Whether you need clothes to transition from your life in the great outdoors to the great indoors, or you just like looking sporty, the Telluride Heritage Collection has everything you need.
