Sierra Designs Observatory.

• Author: Peterson, Eric
• Position: Colorado Cool Stuff

Founded in California in 1965, venerable outdoor manufacturer Sierra Designs traded Berkeley for Boulder County when it relocated its headquarters to Louisville in 2003. "We can get a lot more economically (in Colorado)," said Marketing Director Kristine Carey, who also cited the benefit of proximity to its sister company, Boulder-based Kelty. (Both are owned by American Recreational Products, a New York-based holding company.) "It's been good for us, for product development, testing, and even photo shoots." The company's catalog includes sleeping bags and...