TREW Gear is based out of Hood River, Oregon. If you’re familiar with the area, you’ve probably enjoyed a powder facial and a beverage at the Hood River Pub. I spoke with Tripp, co-founder of TREW Gear to pick his brain about the company, the outerwear and everything in between.

How did it all begin?

Tripp: John, Chris, and I have been friends for nearly our entire lives. For many years, the only time we saw each other was on the mountain – that’s when we were the happiest. Those short periods where the three of us could slide around on snow were such positive times (hence the thumbs up logo) and the realization that being on the mountain with your friends is so fulfilling ultimately led us to start TREW.

Tell me about the marriage between tech & fashion at TREW.

T: We thought the options for garments that are technically advanced yet fashion forward were limited.  Why should you have one jacket/pant for the park and another for the backcountry? That’s silly. We’ve tried to incorporate a look and fit that most modern riders demand with the technology that mountaineers desire when they are bagging peaks and putting on crampons. It’s the best of both worlds – ideal for any serious skier or snowboarder.

Were you dissatisfied with the current outerwear on the market?

T: Yes, to some extent we were dissatisfied with our options. We appreciated the technology in traditional mountaineering shells from companies like Arteryx, Rab, and Mountain Hardwear, but wanted a different style — both look and fit. We believe many of the garments on the market lack durability, especially those that have some “style.”

We utilized some very interesting technology to enhance our durability like SuperFabric on the pant cuffs, a thick nylon face fabric on our primary fabric, and rugged YKK Aquaguard zippers to keep the elements out.

What made you pick the name TREW?

T: The name TREW came from a combination of my first name, Tripp, and John and Chris’ last name, Pew. That’s cool and all, but more importantly it reflects our attitude towards our company and life — be true to yourself and follow your true passions. Plus, it’s catchy and can be used in lots of fun sayings!

What was it like starting an outerwear company in an already saturated market?

T: There is certainly a lot of competition in this industry and we realize that. We do believe, however, we have a pretty unique product and a new “philosophy” that bridges the gap between skiing and snowboarding. If you are out there having fun, that’s all that matters.  Our thumbs up logo represents that attitude.

I love the logo! How’d that come about?

T: The logo idea surfaced in the very early stages of TREW. Once we had the idea it took a while for it to develop into its current form, but the concept and meaning behind the logo fit perfectly with our attitudes and TREW’s mission from the very beginning. It’s best described by this.

TREW supports independent retailers & local businesses. *High five*
How does that impact the company?

T: The local brick and mortar stores are the epicenters of information and general stoke for riders across the globe. Our reception with these retailers has been extremely positive and we expect good things to continue in the future.

And what’s this Shopatron thing? Kiiiinda sounds like a robot.

T: It’s not a robot, haha. It is in fact a major component of our efforts to support the local stores. Basically, Shopatron connects us with retailers around the country and allows them to make sales on product sold on our website.

So, for example, if someone in Asheville, NC bought a product from our website, a notification would be sent to retailers around the country notifying them of the sale and giving them the opportunity (with those stores closer to Asheville getting priority) to send the product to the person who bought from our website. If no stores have the particular product in stock, we will fulfill the order and send to the customer.

It’s simple and extremely effective. Most retailers are thrilled to find out manufacturers utilize Shopatron.

I’m still kind of disappointed it’s not a robot, but it does sound pretty awesome.

So… about “Stinky.” Does he know you’re calling him that?

T: Yep, he knows. It’s his college nickname. And he doesn’t smell that bad, for the record.

Powder, park, backcountry… what’s your pleasure?

T: I love it all, but nothing beats a pow day, either in-bounds or in the backcountry!

What TREW Gear do you rock on the regs?

T: My casual every day piece is our softshell. Soooo comfy, keeps you dry from wind, snow and rain. On the mountain, I tend to rock the Bibs and Bellows or Pow Funk. I love the storage in the Bellows— the front pockets can carry my skins, multiple sandwiches, my hat and gloves when hiking, or basically whatever else I have on me.

Haha, multiple sandwiches. I like your style.
So… can I look forward to a women’s line in the near future?

T: For the 2010/2011 line we will be adding an XS size so that more women can fit into our gear. Our hope is to have a women’s specific line the following year.

Learn the TREWth at: www.trewgear.com

The jackets below are a few that don’t have dual front pockets. I’ve had a few jackets with them, and if you put too much in those pockets, you’ll look like an irresponsible mother-to-be charging through the park. Anyway, check ‘em out.

The Angela Jacket in Citron

I’m really liking the subtle detail of those stripes at the bottom of the jacket. I’m also a fan of the pocket on the arm and the lack of “pregger pockets.”

The Chrissy Jacket in Bamboo

Yeah, it’s only got 5k waterproofing and I probably wouldn’t get it for that reason, but I do appreciate its simplicity. Sometimes, you just want a jacket. One color, a simple fit, no bells and whistles.

The Hadad Jacket in Regal

I love this jacket. The buttons on the cuffs and neck are awesome little details and who wouldn’t want a faux fur trimmed hood? (It’s removable in case you don’t.) This jacket looks wicked warm and I really like color, too. They call it Regal, I call it rust.

Ok, so I took a look at the pants, and they didn’t really do anything for me. The pictures may be deceiving and I could be wrong, but they all just look like straight-legged pants. Not tight, certainly not baggy… just kind of, there. Those interested a low-profile, no-nonsense pant, it might be perfect for ya. To me, they resemble ski pants, and that’s no fun.

Check out the rest of Foursquare’s 2010 lineup at: www.foursquareouterwear.com.