Outdoor equipment company Durston has expanded its design capabilities here in Golden.
The business has grown exponentially since its establishment in 2018, and this year, president and product architect Dan Durston has made two significant advancements: he established an in-house prototyping division, and he hired Chris Stone, formerly of The North Face, as senior designer to work alongside him.
“Bringing prototyping in-house means a much faster pace of innovation and will give us the ability to really push the limits of what we can do technically,” Durston says. “Plus, having such a talented designer as Chris Stone on site is a major advantage.”
Stone relocated to Golden from Denver, Colorado, where he was a designer for The North Face, one of the world’s largest global outdoor apparel brands with more than 5,000 employees. Prior to that job, Stone held positions in the design and sustainability departments at Arc’teryx and Burton Snowboards. “Durston’s geographic location is an amazing benefit,” Stone says of the company. “I love being able to prototype where I play. Going straight from the lab into the field to test in our backyard is very satisfying.”
Widely respected in the ultralight backpacking community, Durston has built a strong reputation for design innovation through its award-winning X-Mid tents and Kakwa packs.
The X-Mid is now one of the best-selling ultralight tents on the planet, and the company’s Iceline trekking poles are the world’s lightest three-piece adjustable poles, weighing in at only 134 grams.
Durston is one of the original members of KORE Outdoors, a Kootenay-based industry alliance for gear makers, designers, and repair technicians. “KORE’s mission is to establish the Kootenay region as a global leader in outdoor gear innovation,” says Board Chair Matt Mosteller. “Durston’s decision to bring prototyping in-house is a meaningful win for the region and reinforces the Kootenays’ growing role in shaping the future of outdoor gear.”
On March 31, Chris Stone was a featured presenter of the KORE Outdoors Speaker Series, a free, monthly webinar that showcases leading voices in design, sustainability, entrepreneurship, and innovation. In his presentation “The Weight of the Logo: Trading Corporate Resources for Design Autonomy,” he spoke candidly about his experience designing for major brands and his decision to move to a more nimble and innovative company like Durston.
Here is a recap and video recording of that presentation: https://koreoutdoors.org/speaker-series/chris-stone.
About Durston
Durston is an award-winning outdoor gear company based in Golden, British Columbia.
Founded in 2018, Durston designs premium ultralight gear, including backpacks, tents, and trekking poles, with a focus on creating more functional equipment for backcountry travel.
The company emphasizes lighter weight, simplicity, weather protection, and design efficiency grounded in first-principles thinking.
About KORE Outdoors
KORE Outdoors is an economic development and diversification initiative managed by the Kootenay Outdoor Recreation Enterprise Society in Kimberley, BC. It is an alliance of outdoor recreation gear manufacturers and designers across the Kootenays, bringing together a network of more than 80 craft gear makers who have organically launched production in the region. KORE fosters growth through education, collaboration, and by connecting businesses to resources, grants, financing, and capital. It also works to attract outdoor product manufacturers and designers to relocate to the region or launch new ventures. Committed to circular design, KORE helps brands build durability, repairability, and end-of-life planning into products from the outset. Through its repair and reuse initiatives, KORE reduces waste and keeps outdoor gear in use longer across the Kootenays.
