Why Glade?

Here at Glade, we live and breathe the mountain lifestyle. Whether we’re chasing first chair, picking our way down a ribbon of high-alpine singletrack, or sneaking in dawn-patrol laps, the mountains are home — and where our gear is put through its paces to earn its keep.

We’re here to build gear you can actually trust in those moments. No hype, no gimmicks — just thoughtfully designed gear that works as hard as you do, backed by a team that treats you like a mountain town local, even if you’re thousands of miles from your favorite pow stashes.

We believe premium performance doesn’t have to come with ego, and that the best gear is the gear you forget about — because it’s doing its job without fail. We’re proud to be rooted in the mountain town communities that shape this culture, and we’ll always build products for the people who know the difference between fluffy marketing claims and gear that can handle a proper storm cycle.

If you daydream of mountains, value gear that performs for you every time, and want to support a brand that knows why the first chair on a powder day matters, Glade is for you.

MEET THE TEAM

Why Glade?

MEET THE TEAM

Curt Nichols

FOUNDER

Cody Hopkinson

OPERATIONS

Drew Weingart

BRAND & CREATIVE LEAD

Megan Gustafson

MARKETING

Judson Pitman

HEAD OF ACCOUNTING

Stefan Stahl

HEAD OF PRODUCT

Tanner Gray

CUSTOMER HAPPINESS GURU

Curt Nichols

FOUNDER

Cody Hopkinson

OPERATIONS

Drew Weingart

BRAND & CREATIVE LEAD

Tanner Gray

CUSTOMER HAPPINESS GURU

Megan Gustafson

MARKETING

Stefan Stahl

HEAD OF PRODUCT

Judson Pitman

HEAD OF ACCOUNTING

Why Glade

We love the mountains. Whether we’re sliding on snow, trekking through the woods, ripping singletrack, or drifting dries; the mountains are where we truly feel alive.

We’re here to share the joy we’ve found, drive accessibility through product design, and encourage folks to experience the same feelings we have when we're deep in the mountains.

As kids we were inspired by the dirtbags, the ski bums, and the crusty river rats that founded our industry. While many brands have grown, their founding principles have faded - and that doesn’t sit well with us. We’re here to get back to the roots.

We’re here to create high-fives and inspire adventure. If you daydream of mountains, Glade is for you.

CURT NICHOLS
FOUNDER

A SKI BUM WITH A VISION.

Our fearless leader. Curt built Glade to shift the outdoor industry status-quo and return to a time when mountain businesses were built, and run, by mountain people. He lives the life… one that prioritizes dawn patrol ski tours, lunch laps, and alpenglow singletrack shred sessions.

DOG: ELLIE (aka: Drop it!). GOLDEN RETRIEVER

MICHAEL BARKER
PRODUCT & SUSTAINABILITY

IDAHO-BASED. DAD. CHARCUTERIE AFICIONADO.

His smile is infectious, as is his passion for mountains and the streams that run from them. In his 20+ year outdoor-industry career we’re not sure he ever turns off his brain. Which is a perk as he spends his time testing his ideas while sliding snow, chasing trout, and ripping through the woods with his kiddos and pups.

DOGS: ISHKA & TALVI. SIBERIAN HUSKIES

DREW WEINGART
BRAND & CREATIVE LEAD

COLORADO-NATIVE. HYPER CREATIVE.

The snowboarder in the group. Drew wakes up every morning thinking of how to destroy the saying, “Jack of all trades, master of none”. When not curating the Glade customer experience, or shooting a lot of our killer photography, you’ll find him sewing bags for his other venture, or whisking his wife away for some bikepacking fun.

DOG: PROFESSOR J.L. RABBIT. WIRE-HAIRED POINTING GRIFFON

CAROLINE FLETCHER
ECOMMERCE GURU

EAST-COASTER. BACKPACKER. (VERY) AMATEUR COMEDIAN.

An outdoor enthusiast living in a concrete jungle, Caroline spends her free time hunting down green space and thinking of ways to get more people outside. If she’s not busy perfecting the Glade Shopping Experience, she’s probably out walking miles through the city discovering new coffee shops or trying the weirdest restaurants she can find.

DOG: NONE YET! IN THE MEANTIME, SHE’S WALKING ALL THE NEIGHBORHOOD DOGS SHE CAN.

OUR DNA

GEAR SHOULD BE “TOOLS, NOT JEWELS"

Our gear is built for the actual conditions the people who rely on it face — from whiteout storm days to intense high-alpine sun — and we never cut corners. We obsess over fit, performance, and durability so you can trust it without question. Your Glade gear is made to get the job done and do it exceptionally well; let’s not overcomplicate it.

VERSATILITY IS PERFORMANCE

Conditions change, plans change — your gear should be ready for it all. We design everything with a “run what you brung” approach in mind; save the guesswork and leave all the extra lenses at home. Your gear should do the work for you & only enhance your outdoor experience.

SERVICE, WITHOUT EXCEPTION

Premium isn’t just about product — it’s about how we take care of you — the customer. Our service reflects our mountain-town values: do the right thing, every time, no excuses.

MOUNTAIN TOWN ROOTS

Our gear is designed, tested, and perfected amongst Colorado's best skiing/snowboarding, mountain biking, trail running, flyfishing, and all-around outdoor living. If our gear doesn't pass the test after a day of use & abuse, we have to hear about it from our own buddies at the local watering hole (and we don't take that lightly).

HONESTY OVER HYPE

We respect your knowledge and experience. No flashy gimmicks, no exaggerated tech claims — just honest performance, straight talk, and gear that delivers.

A note from our founder

Hey - I'm Curt. I grew up exploring the peaks of New England before venturing west in search of big mountains, endless sunshine, and powder. I started Glade as a natural extension of my love for the mountains, and to create products that help me and my friends have longer, bigger, and better days in the backcountry.

I am so stoked to share everything we've built with you.

I'll see you out there.

Our DNA

1. Gear should be “Tools, not Jewels”

Our gear is built for the actual conditions the people who rely on it face — from whiteout storm days to intense high-alpine sun — and we never cut corners. We obsess over fit, performance, and durability so you can trust it without question. Your Glade gear is made to get the job done and do it exceptionally well; let’s not overcomplicate it.

2. Service, Without Exception