Fifteen years is a long time in the gear game. In an industry where trends come and go faster than a storm cycle, it takes something real to stick around. Outdoor Tech has managed not only to hold their ground, but to carve out a spot as the brand for riders, skiers, and adventurers who want their soundtrack rolling no matter where the day takes them. And they’re not done yet, stay tuned to see what's coming this season.
From the Garage to the Mountains
Outdoor Tech kicked off in Southern California back in 2009 with a simple idea: make audio gear tough enough for the outdoors, but clean enough in design that you’d actually want to use it. At the time, “outdoor audio” pretty much meant dragging a clunky Bluetooth speaker to the beach or stuffing wired earbuds under your helmet. Riders knew it wasn’t cutting it. ODT’s mission was to change that.
The Turtle Shell Breakthrough
If you were around in those early days, you probably remember the Turtle Shell. That rugged little Bluetooth speaker was shockproof, water-resistant, and designed to take a beating—aka perfect for tossing in a backpack or strapping to your tailgate. It didn’t just play music; it set the tone for what Outdoor Tech would become: functional gear built for the way we actually live and ride.
Bringing Sound to the Slopes
The real connection to the snow world came with the Chips® helmet audio system. For the first time, riders could drop wireless audio directly into their helmets—no dangling cords, no half-baked hacks. Simple glove-friendly controls, Bluetooth connectivity, and audio you could actually hear over the wind and snow. Suddenly, the soundtrack of your run wasn’t whatever the lift was blasting—it was your playlist, your vibe, your session.
From core locals to weekend warriors, the Chips® became a staple in liftlines and backcountry zones alike. Over time, Outdoor Tech kept refining the system—better battery life, cleaner sound, and better connections that kept crews synced up.
Expanding the Playground
It didn’t stop at snow. Outdoor Tech expanded into waterproof speakers, rugged chargers, and accessories that could take the abuse of dirt, sand, rain, and, of course, powder. Whether it was the Buckshot bike speaker blasting down singletrack, or a Big Turtle Shell (now Range) keeping the campsite alive, ODT stayed true to that original vision: sound made for the outdoors.
15 Years Later
Fast forward to today, and Outdoor Tech is celebrating 15 years of keeping the mountains loud. They’ve grown, evolved, and launched new tech, but the ethos hasn’t changed. It’s still about making gear that works where we ride, surf, hike, or camp—gear that doesn’t quit when the weather does.
Looking Ahead
As tech keeps pushing forward, Outdoor Tech is already testing what’s next: smarter helmet audio (eyes glued on the site 10/1, hint hint wink wink), longer-lasting batteries, and integration that makes life on the mountain smoother and safer. But at its core, it’s still about the same thing it was back in 2009: keeping the soundtrack alive no matter where the adventure takes us.
Fifteen years of sound on the slopes isn’t just a milestone - it’s proof that when a brand actually listens to its community and builds for real riders, it lasts. Outdoor Tech isn’t just part of the snow scene anymore - it’s part of the culture. Here’s to the next 15 years of first chairs, road trips, storm days, and the music that carries us through it all. Go forth and play!
Love,
Outdoor Tech
