Mountainsmith Names Rio Telge New Senior Designer

October 13, 2021

Colorado Company Welcomes back Industry Veteran with new Challenges Ahead

Golden, CO (October 2021) /OUTDOOR SPORTSWIRE/ – Mountainsmith, the Colorado-based company that has spent more than 40 years as a leading gear manufacturer specializing in durable goods for hiking and camping, announced today that it has named Rio Telge its new Senior Designer, placing a proven industry veteran in charge of the company’s ambitious design plans for 2022 and beyond.

Telge (right) has worked as an industrial designer in the outdoor and travel space for nearly two decades, and has run his own successful design firm, Riot Design, since 2006. During that time he proved to be a valuable and versatile designer working with some of the top brands in the outdoor space, including Camelbak, Eagle Creek and Burton. He’s also worked extensively with brands specializing in fishing and hunting, including projects for BassPro Shops and a recent role as the Senior Designer at Fishpond, a leader in fly fishing packs and gear.

He also boasts previous experience with Mountainsmith, when he oversaw a series of product initiatives and design processes for the company from 2004-05.

“It’s a completely different Mountainsmith from the first time I worked with the company, but so many of the fundamentals are the same,” Telge said. “It’s a tremendous opportunity to build on the heritage of the company, but we’re also having great conversations about what’s possible and what we want to design for the future. One of the questions they asked me was, ‘What do you want to make?’ That’s always a good sign for any designer.”

Telge will be responsible for both iterating on the designs for Mountainsmith’s existing line of packs, and potentially expanding the company’s roster of products for new customers as well as expand its presence in the camping space as it looks to grow its global footprint.

“We are very excited to have Rio back on board with us, this time as our senior designer. He brings a vast amount of knowledge from his many years of work in the outdoor industry as well as fresh insights and perspective to our team,” said Mountainsmith General Manager Jonathan McFarland. “With his passion and experience, I am excited for him to fill this critical role where he will guide our efforts as it relates to bringing world class products to our customers.”

To learn more about Mountainsmith, please visit www.mountainsmith.com.

About Mountainsmith

Founded in Golden, Colorado in 1979, Mountainsmith was born and bred in the Rockies and celebrates the gear, stories, adventures, and experiences that have defined the rugged, Colorado-grown, no B.S. lifestyle we continue to share. Though production has since been transformed, Mountainsmith is still designing, testing, and living out the brand only miles from where it all began. Nestled in the Front Range of the Rockies, we are right in the thick of the changing outdoor world. Our heritage—our passion for smart, durable gear and wild adventures—continues to drive the Mountainsmith culture.

Media Contact

Meteorite PR | Eric Henderson | ehenderson@MeteoritePR.com | 307.690.2984