One of the greatest things about the great outdoors? It鈥檚 largely free. It doesn鈥檛 cost a thing to walk your dog or hike a trail or run through a park. But that doesn鈥檛 mean everyone has equal access. Barriers exist. Some are cultural, some are physical (are there even trails nearby?). And then there are economic barriers, like the often prohibitive cost of high-quality outdoor clothing. There are no easy fixes, but is doing something about the last one. The family-owned company has been producing quality technical apparel at an affordable price for more than 30 years, helping to make the outdoors more accessible to all.
Ironically, outdoor gear can be too expensive and too cheap. The market is saturated with waterproof rain jackets that work fine but cost as much as a car payment. At the other end of the spectrum, you can find plenty of cheap apparel that can鈥檛 handle real weather, and will leave you cold and wet and ensure your first trip outdoors is your last. This is exactly the problem that Free Country鈥檚 founder Ira Schwartz set out to solve three decades ago. While skiing in Colorado, Schwartz was dismayed at the prices of ski jackets in retail stores. So, he decided to do something about it, making a puffer jacket and a shell that he hoped more people could afford.
Affordability is an even bigger issue today. The gap between the needs of people who want to get outside and the cost of apparel necessary to enjoy the outdoors comfortably has never been more apparent. Millions of people are discovering鈥攐r rediscovering鈥攖he outdoors thanks to a global pandemic. And they need apparel that won鈥檛 let them down.
鈥淲e鈥檙e not about climbing Mount Everest. We鈥檙e about getting the everyday person outside.鈥
Free Country delivers, with water- and wind-resistant that have four-way stretch, loaded with synthetic down, fully waterproof jackets鈥攁ll at prices that other brands typically charge for long sleeve t-shirts. And Free Country is dedicated to sustainability, offering market-leading tech like recycled poly shells and insulation that saves water bottles from the landfill. As for versatility, look no further than Free Country鈥檚 reversible vests, which give women an outer shell that鈥檚 water and wind resistant and an inner shell that鈥檚 supersoft and cozy. Flip it inside out and you have a completely different look. Or the , which is really two jackets in one, with an inner puffer and an outer shell that can be worn separately or zipped together for particularly cold days.
This commitment to performance, style, and affordability runs across the brand鈥檚 entire line. 鈥淭he general public might not have $600 to put into a jacket to go skiing,鈥 says Ronna Wolf, VP of Merchandising for Free Country. 鈥淏ut people are still looking for quality, value, and layers that have versatility. We鈥檙e not about climbing Mount Everest. We鈥檙e about getting the everyday person outside, walking around the block, exploring the trail, no matter what the weather.鈥
To that end, everything Free Country makes is at an entry-level price point. 鈥淲hy does anything have to be so expensive?鈥 Wolf wonders. 鈥淚t really doesn鈥檛. Our puffers are just as warm as the competition for a quarter of the price. And our jackets last just as long.鈥 The brand鈥檚 most expensive item is around $250.
Free Country鈥檚 commitment to accessibility goes beyond the price tag. The company partners with The Fresh Air Fund, which helps get underserved youth into the outdoors by facilitating a summer camp experience near Sleepy Hollow, in upstate New York. The staff at Free Country helps prep the summer camp for the kids and volunteers as counselors (Covid notwithstanding).
鈥淲e truly believe the 鈥榦utside is ours鈥 and we want that to resonate with a lot of people,鈥 Wolf says. 鈥淲e don鈥檛 see this new interest in the outdoors as a trend. We see it as a movement. The way we see it, Free Country is situated to democratize the outdoors.鈥
Free Country is an American lifestyle brand that values family, friends, and shared experiences. We embody the spirit of adventure and empower our community to lead a fun, active, outdoor lifestyle. From peaks to parks, from woods to backyards, we all belong outside. Discover the best value on quality outerwear, activewear and accessories at .