A look inside CU Denver's new Outside Lab for gear testing
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Outside's Adam Trenkamp tests materials for abrasion at CU Denver's new lab. Photo: John Frank/Axios
Inside a classroom at the University of Colorado Denver, two hiking boots spin on a machine and land on a treadmill in constant rotation. Thump, thump, thump.
State of play: The Heeluxe Time Machine is testing the boots' durability, simulating a 180-pound person walking 150 miles over a few days.
It's part of the new Outside Lab at CU Denver, a state-launched initiative to test products and materials for outdoor gear companies and improve product reviews for consumers.
Why it matters: The lab is designed to help outdoor recreation companies in Colorado, particularly smaller ones with fewer resources, develop better products and succeed in a competitive marketplace.
- The initial $450,000 in funding came from the state's economic development and outdoor recreation offices to boost the state's image as a hub for the industry.
What they're saying: "It's a public space for the betterment of the outdoor recreation industry when it comes to gear," says Adam Trenkamp, Outside's lab test editor.
The big picture: Operated in partnership with Boulder-based Outside Interactive, the company behind Outside, Run and Backpacker magazines, the lab is one of a handful across the country dedicated to testing outdoor gear.
- Where most are specialized in certain disciplines or materials, the CU lab hopes to become the larger facility that tests all types of products, says Dana Carpenter, a mechanical engineering professor who leads it. The revenue from gear testing will keep the lab operational.
- It's also building a master's program around the research.
Between the lines: For Outside, the lab will provide objective data to supplement its expert field review and allow more precise tests for real-world use cases.
- "That's why Outside is excited about the lab. … People today are distrusting of bigger media brands so we want to add some science behind it to support what we are doing," Trenkamp adds.
The intrigue: Because there are few industry standards when it comes to product testing, many of the research protocols and methodologies are being invented by the lab's managers.
Zoom in: On a recent weekday, Trenkamp and lab workers planned to develop a testing protocol for a bike pad that goes on a truck's tailgate; run water-based abrasion resistance experiments; and examine battery life and brightness for headlamps.
- "We're trying to inform people and make products better," Trenkamp says.
What's next: Next is testing bikes for pedal grip and brake function. By the fall, the lab hopes to feature machines to test ski flex tester and backpack loads.
- And all along, the Time Machine will continue spinning, testing more running shoes and hiking boots one thump at a time.