Bentgate Mountaineering

After 5 years of foot pain and other failed fittings, Ethan and Tod at Bentgate Mountaineering completely changed the game for me. They took the time to truly understand my feet and fit me properly for ski boots—and for the first time in years, I was able to ski pain free. They have a great selection of boots and were incredibly patient and thorough, continuing to punch out and heat treat the boots until the fit was just right. My feet would go completely numb or cramp up so bad I had to take boots off mid-run. Now I’m skiing all day pain free. I can get back into backcountry skiing without fear of getting stranded. You can tell they genuinely care about getting it right, not just making a sale. Their dedicated boot fitting area in the basement is impressive and shows how serious they are about the craft. The service was top-notch, knowledgeable, and never rushed. If you’re dealing with foot pain or think skiing just isn’t for you anymore, go try Bentgate. I honestly can’t recommend them enough. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

I went into Bentgate for a new ski touring set up, boots, skis, poles and skins. I was approached as soon as I stepped into the store and got help with finding boots. Not easy with my small feet, but they had several good options. Then picked skis to fit the purpose and me. It was quick and painless. So was the pickup after the skis were mounted. I would recommend this store to anyone who is an avid mountaineer. They are super friendly and knowledgeable and not pushing for certain brands but genuinely care.

These guys have quickly and professionally mounted bindings on two pairs of skis for me over the last few years and have gone there for all my tunes since then. I’ve also bought quite a lot of climbing gear for them, including for canyoneering trips that had pretty complicated gear needs. Everyone in the shop is super knowledgeable and helpful

I walked in today to browse touring boot sales and was lucky enough to snag an open boot fitting spot. Todd was my fitter and he was FABULOUS. He could tell how the boot fit my foot with just looking at how I stood in it, and he quickly steered me to the perfect pair. He was incredibly helpful and kind, and I would highly recommend him for any bootfitting appointment! The shop had a great selection, and a bigger bootfitting space downstairs. I also browsed the skis with him and he let me know about their demo days and rental options which was incredibly helpful as well. Overall highly impressed with the store and Todd. Highly recommend!

I came to Bentgate after a debacle elsewhere so now I’m a customer for life! They were able to mount bindings and trim new skins in a day and a half, saving my hut trip plans! Super knowledgeable, kind, responsive, and absolute legends. Best ski shop city-side for sure!

Giving one star after an honestly disturbing experience with a ski tech (dark hair, mustache) when I came in try to on some boots and was forthcoming about planning to use my pro deal as a ski patroller. I didn’t need an actual “boot fitting experience”, just wanted to try on two sizes of the dynafit ridge. He immediately said we’re not going to help you cuz it’s a waste of our time and then proceeded say he gets even better pro deals than ski patrol in a weird flexing way. His negativity, unwillingness to help even in the slightest, and given I’d recently held someone’s skull together from a major accident/covered in blood/saved their life, I felt genuinely hurt and triggered. Thankfully some other staff offered the grab the boots and let me try them on🙏🙏 Also worth noting, I’ve purchased over $1K from them, have the upmost respect for local shops, and meant no disrespect via plans to use pro deal. Sharing this experience as a warning to other first responders/ski patrollers/SAR members.

This place will be my new go-to for mountaineering equipment. We were helped out by Ethan while sizing a couple pairs of boots and he was incredibly helpful and knowledgeable. He really helped us with our decision to buy some Scarpas and had such great advice for so much more! I don’t think there’s a better store for anything mountaineering in the Denver area!

Just bought a second Aventon Solterra 2.5 from Bentgate in Golden, even though we live 45 min drive. Full high recommend - both the bikes and the shop. Added service, attention, care, friendliness all greatly appreciated. They respond fastest and easiest to texting main number.

If you're looking for climbing ,skiing , and outer wear , the store has it. Is it cheap no ! But none of the high quality gear is. They have good prices . And they are knowledgeable and helpful. They can give you guidance in the right direction, if you're not sure ask for help. There good.

The ski shop here is unbelievable. Greg is literally a lifesaver and is incredibly generous and willing to help. He completely salvaged my ski by replacing the broken telemark binding in a super quick convenient timeframe. Honestly, I couldn't be any happier and will be a loyal customer at Bentgate Mountaineering for the rest of my life.

Highly recommend this store and staff. I purchased two e-bikes and had a great experience from start to finish. Really good crew that I worked with.

Just stopped in to look at ebikes as I am in the market. After about 10 mins, i was invis to staff and was not even acknowledged. No "we'll be right with you", no "can I help you". I finally gave up and walked out. two staff sat happily at the cash registers and again didn't even acknowledge my presence. I'll take my 2k someplace else I guess?

As a long-time climber (35 year) and resident of Golden Colorado (12 years) I would like to LIKE my local mountaineering shop! However, I gotta be honest and say I have had some disappointing interactions with the staff at Bentgate Mountaineering in Golden. They can be condescending and inflexible. I went in to inform them that I made an error (I was NOT expecting a refund), and I informed them that I crushed my new Mammut climbing helmet that I bought there 3 weeks ago. I told them I did not expect a refund, but that perhaps they could consider verbally informing other customers of the delicate nature of a lightweight (foam) climbing helmet. The first women I spoke with (after a lengthy exchange), said "well climbing's not really my thing so you'll have to talk to someone else." So I spoke with the guy at the climbing counter and I asked him if he would consider warning customers about the nature of the lightweight foam helmets and he said he would not and this is not an REI. He also said he would expect an experienced climber to know that (I am paraphrasing him). Well, guess what! I didn't think I would crash my helmet by sitting on it! MY BAD! If they had even said "bummer so sorry for your loss! We could for sure let others know! Thanks for coming I. To let us know and make your suggestions!" (Etc). But instead they got all defensive and arrogant on me!! So much for a boutique service mountaineering shop! You'll get better service and kinder people at REI!

Fabulous shop with a huge selection and great staff. They know there products and are very helpful. There are sale racks that always worth checking out. They do classes. They have email blasts on sales and events. Check them out and then get outdoors.

One of the big problems growing up in the Midwest is that even the best ski shop employees wouldn't qualify as part-time idiots out here in Colorado. One of the big problems living here in Boulder is that so many Boulderites are so full of Boulder they can't listen to anyone other than themselves. Cue Bentgate Mountaineering. These guys are the real deal - and worth the drive from Boulder. Oh yeah, a lot of what they sell you can get online, but what you can't get online is the hands on advice to avoid making expensive purchase mistakes. Guys like Chad who listen first and then present alternatives to make the best choice for you, the customer - whether you're heading up Denali or chasing your kid into a snowbank. Chad got my Stockli skis remounted with the correct width binding, all set to go. Bentgate is now my "go to" mountain store, whether I stay in Boulder or relocate to Jackson or Driggs. Bentgate is there for me and they'll be there for you too. Ask for Chad.

This is such an amazing business. The staff are incredibly attentive and knowledgeable. They will Spend time Understanding your needs and are great listeners. I just got my boots custom fitted by Matt. I have a petty messed up left foot and Matt spent the time to get the orthotics and liner perfect. I won't go anywhere else, or work with anyone else. The pain in my ankle and foot is gone. A great place for all your winter and summer outdoor gear!

Return policy is misleading and deceitful! Very disappointed with Bentgate and will never walk through their doors again. I've been a customer for years as a Golden native and enjoy supporting local businesses. I'm completely appalled at the lack of customer service I received at Bentgate for trying to make a simple return. The entire staff scrambled and cowered when they realized I had a return and nobody had any information whatsoever. The clerk said they get in trouble for doing returns and can't do anything without a manager. When I finally spoke to the manager he refused to return my item, even though it was in new condition and with original tags as stated on their website, but he said he'd give me a discount on other items in the store. Why would I want to waste more money on overpriced items that I can't return? Overall the return policy is misleading and deceitful. They will not return anything once it leaves the store. This is a terrible business practice, especially for an outdoor gear shop. I will take my business to REI and other shops that prioritize customer's needs.

The perfect fit. Bought some new boots from Ben. He did a bang up job with the fitting. Took the boots, bindings and skis for a test run at Copper and I could've happier. Now SNOW! Jim

The staff has incredible knowledge of skiing, ski gear, and all things related. They know boots, they know skis, they know bindings. The staff here are passionate about the Colorado lifestyle, and will give you recommendations on just about anything. I highly recommend them if you are a skier, telemarker, or just want some cold weather gear. Great stuff, especially Ryan!

Talia was suuuper helpful in explaining climbing ski skins to me. The staff is the nicest here

Here's why I love bentgate. 1 awesome selection and the occasional good deal (realistically the prices aren't that good) 2 the services for skis and skin and splitboards are solid. They are however slightly pricey. Now here's why bentgate is getting 2 stars. WHO IN THEIR RIGHT MIND CLOSES EARLY ON FRIDAY AND IS CLOSED ON SATURDAY AS A RETAIL BUSINESS? Yes caps was needed, people need gear for their weekend adventures and when you can't be counted to supply that gear if there's a last minute issue then REI just took your customer. I realize you want to let your employees out to have fun. That's fine, but couldn't they go have fun on a week day? The weekend is when everyone wants to go out and do stuff and also shop for their next adventure. I think better hours would be slightly earlier on Saturday and sundays and slightly later on Friday's. Nobody shops at 10am on a Wednesday anyways you could shift hours to the important days without taking hours away from the staff. If the complaint is they want weekends then boohoo don't work retail. Use your head bentgate and close at 6 during the week but stay open later on the weekends. One last thing- phone etiquette needs major work for tuning shop techs. You don't call someone and ask is this so and so. Try "Hi this is bentgate, we're calling to reach conrad." Ringing up peoples phones, as a random number, and asking to speak to someone drives me insane. I do not call clients without immediately identifying myself when they pick up, especially new clients. Not only that but when I asked who's calling I got silence and "Is this conrad." I was on the brink of cussing the clerk out. It's common courtesy to identify yourself on the phone.

They have great gear that other places don't have like a spit board for rent. I ran into some trouble with my car and I was stuck in the mountains for 2 extra days and they gladly waived the extra days for me. Thanks Bentgate!

Bent Gate 2/25/21 To whom it may concern: First I want to communicate that for the past 10 years Bent Gate has been my go-to backcountry gear shop.  I love my ski and boots and the service I experienced with these purchases. However, last month my husband and I had time after work to visit the store to do some research on new AT skis and bindings.  Just a nice evening out. The sales person who approached us did not introduce himself (which has always been customary when we're there).  We explained our skiing background, our current AT set up (again that we bought at Bent Gate), that we're a one set up couple-same set in bounds and backcountry, that I've skied all of my life and have skied various terrain/difficulty in Colorado, Utah  and Austria. The sales person then basically instructed me to not ski on an AT set up, buy an Alpine set up and he went on criticizing what I have done as a skier and known as a ski instructor for 30 years. I left the monologue of  the sales person, my husband graciously continued to listen. Since this incident I have surveyed multiple expert skiers who ski on an AT set up in bounds and in the backcountry very aggressively.  These people told me, as I knew, continue what I know is right for me and don't listen to that sales person. Sales is a skill.  Sales is a skill that that sales person has not perfected.  He lost a future sale of Skis and AT bindings for Bent Gate. I wish I didn't have to write this. I am glad Bent Gate is making it through the pandemic

Great store that has everything you need to get into backcountry skiing/split-boarding. Any time I need any gear this is where I go. Super helpful staff that has an array of knowledge if you don't exactly know what you want.

Beyond exceptional service. I just moved in down the street from here and the rocky early season has wreaked havoc on my bases and edges requiring a ton of work: p-tex, screwing, grinding, even had a delam going on. I was quoted $100 for it. I was shocked. I figured it would be $200 and if that were the case, I would have just bought new skis. Anyway, when I came in to pick them up, Alex said it was going to be $165. I told him I didn't want to be "that guy" and he said "Say no more. I got you." And he honored the quote. Exceptional service is what makes me loyal to a company. Not only was Alex awesome, the workmanship was great, as well. I'll be back.

Being a climber and living in Evergreen, Bent Gate has always been my go to for equipment and apparel. For the rock climbers, Bent Gate has quite possibly the largest selection of climbing shoes in Colorado. That's saying something. Moreover, Bent Gate has a great knowledgable staff that has always been prompt to assist me and answer any questions I may have. Not to mention, the clearance section for climbing harness and such always has some inexpensive gems. For anyone on the front range, I strongly recommend checking out Bent Gate and their extensive selection of outdoor equals apparel.

I am more than impressed with the service at Bent Gate. My Scarpa boot broke and I was panicked about ordering hardware. I decided to just swing by and see what they could do. They were awesome. They had the hardware, fixed my boot and proceeded to hook me up with new liners. I asked if my shell was good and the gentlemen said yes. We may have a liner in your size. He was so attentive. I ended up getting new liners, which I desperately needed and fixed my boot. I feel like I have a new pair of boots and they felt great on the slopes.. In addition the owner as there as well and I met him. He was great and I will return when I am ready for a new pair of boots.. Thank you Bentgate for a great, positive experience :)

This is a great local climbing shop! They also having backpacking and ski supplies. Since I've never been here for those activities I won't speak on them except to say selection appears to be good. They have a lot of clothing brands that can be hard to find at brick & mortar stores. The staff is knowledgeable and very friendly. I bought my first pair of climbing shoes elsewhere and mis-sized them. The staff at bent gate did great to help me find a pair in the right size based on what type of climbing I enjoy. I always value being able to give my dough to a local outfit rather than a corporate one. I'm sure this will become my regular shop for gear and advice!

Walked in to look at touring boots with one in particular in mind, I was presented with a bunch of options, sizes, and brands to choose from and compare! The staff was rad and took all the time needed to make sure I was gonna be happy in my new boot!

Bent Gate Mountaineering is freaking sweet. My boyfriend and I stop by there almost every time we climb at Clear Creek (which is quite a lot). The dudes are super friendly and I love their selection of guidebooks and approach shoes. Nice work!

I am writing this review for my 17 year old climbing nut daughter. We were visiting School of Mines in Golden, and stopped in Bentgate. The sales people were very helpful and friendly. After we left, she said "That was the best store ever!" 'Nuff said?

This is a great high end gear store! I've been in a few times, but had to review it after my latest experience- I stopped into Bent Gate to get some new climbing shoes and the sales person was very helpful and talked me into getting a more expensive shoe than I was anticipating. I was pretty bummed when a few month later the toe was separating and the velcro that holds the top strap down was halfway off. I brought the shoes into Bent Gate and they not only contacted La Sportiva and got a brand new shoe for me at no cost, but they even gave me a free rental shoe until the process was done. I definitely recommend these guys!!

Since I found myself delving deeper into rock climbing, ice climbing and ski mountaineering, this shop has become an invaluable resource for information, gear, and amazing customer service for me. The store is clean, and the staff friendly and patient. I recently bought a pair of boots and demo bindings from them, and while I have bought a lot of other gear from them without any issues, I found out how professional impeccable their customer service is when there was an issue with the bindings. They went out of their way to take care of things. I am beyond impressed! Colorado is lucky to have a shop like this!

This is a great shop in downtown Golden. The customer service is top notch and everyone you meet is so willing and happy to help with whatever your needs might be. I recently had an issue with a pair of boots I purchased from them (not their fault, the manufacturer's poor design) and they were happy to step in and help navigate the back and forth with the manufacturer to ensure I got the best possible outcome. They have a decent selection of gear and reasonable prices. Check this place out for your outdoor needs.

This place is great. If you need any backcounty ski gear or climbing gear, this is the place to go. Everyone that works there is knowledgeable about their gear that they have. I have been trying on ski boots and every time I go in they are very patient with me. Their website is also helpful so you know what they have in the store. Keep in mind that the web site may not reflect the sale that they have going on in the store but that is because of vendor issues.

Sales aren't bad here, otherwise prices are definitely full-price. Useful store though, good selection of quality stuff. You can both go to the store and mail-order. The have a huge selection of climbing gear - biners, shoes, cams, ropes of all brands. They also have a decent library of books. If you care how a store looks, they do a good job here, it looks very modern. Personally, I don't care if a gear shop is a warehouse, as long as it has the stuff I want. Pay attention to the hours of the store before visiting, they are a bit non-standard. The other nearby store to visit is Neptune in Boulder. They have even more stuff, but I think you'll develop your own preference for this store or that one. I think both struggle with the elite employee attitudes, your mileage is likely to vary. Have fun!

Ive been into Bent Gate a number of times for quite a few things ranging from AT/Mountaineering boots, AT bindings, ski clothing, and just to shoot the shit and talk gear with the staff. These guys know their stuff..from boot fitting all the way to clothing selection for specific mountaineering/etc purposes. Not only do they work there they use the gear frequently.. When I bought my AT/Mountaineering boots here I was in the shop for a few hours trying on a number of different boots. They asked me all the right questions about what i want to do/how things fit/etc..and were able to find me the perfect boot for my skiing needs. Once I found the boot they did an included heat mold to my foot and custom footbeds. These things fit like a dream!! They also tossed in the mounting to my skis as well. This place is not a bargain bin shop by any means. They carry the latest and greatest gear..however they do run frequent sales on things - I recently got the brand new G3 Ion AT bindings at about 20% and they just came out. Solid deal!! They carry a number of brands but may not always have every product..ive asked about a few things and they have ordered it for me or told me they can order it if I want it. Very good especially for clothes since I wear small or XS.

Bentgate mountaineering followed through and took care of this situation. They offered to ship the BD AV bag to and from the store for updates. Thank You!

I have had nothing but amazing service from Bentgate. I live in Nebraska where it's essentially impossible to buy mountaineering or backcountry skiing equipment. They always accommodate my crazy requests such as yesterday when they two-dayed five jackets to me knowing I am only buying one but I wanted to be certain I bought the correct one for my next adventure. Their prices are competitive and their selection of gear is top notch. I highly recommend them.

Extremely poor, no customer focus on service. Do not buy hiking shoes from this store. Purchase shoes after bring them home and trying them on local dirt road they we too tight and painful. Returned to store to exchange for larger size or different brand. After initial okay, staff changed position and refused to exchange saying it was illegal. I had previously purchased climbing gear and was prepared to spend thousands more over the coming year on backcountry gear. Not from this store. The owners and management need to take courses in basic customer service. Stay away. Unfortunately the large box stores like REI understand customer service.

Do not shop here. Negligent, snooty back country jerks. Will take your money to install gear and not even secure the screws. Otherwise will cut the skins horribly or ruin your snowboard. Owned by a pompous jerk who will waste your time a belittle you if you complain.

Expensive, but good service. I stopped in to pick up some wool socks. They had the socks I wanted, but overall selection was so-so. Could you do better online? Absolutely, and for socks, it's not going to make that much difference either. Customer service, however, was impeccable and I found the sales staff very friendly and available.

Bent Gate has always been my go to shop for climbing and skiing gear. Both online and in person I've always had a great experience with knowledgeable staff to share their experience with the gear and provide direction on what works best for me. Specifically, Mike Smith, he's got a good fix on climbing gear and helped steer me in the right direction when I purchased my next pair of climbing shoes. That's a hard thing to do when you are not sure how much they will stretch after you get them. Thanks Mike!

Bentgate is my favorite store, now that I am an adult. My most recent purchase was a pair of Alpine Touring Ski Boots. I have a difficult foot to fit ski boots comfortably. This was a non-issue at Bentgate. I had Jake help me with my fitting. He was incredibly helpful, knowledgeable, and patient. Bentgate was referred to me by other local shops that had difficulty with my boot fitting. Jake did a tremendous job. So much so, that we later revisited the store and purchased a complete ski touring setup for my wife! If Jake's available, I would strongly encouraging requesting him!

We only stopped in cuz the hubby wanted to look. We're not skiers, etc. Good thing, as being curious, looked at prices for boots, boards. OMG! Good Lord, it's expensive to ski! Anyway, I'd lost an earring, went back over to look; the guys were very nice, helped me look. Took my name & number. I found it the next morning & let them know. I hope your business continues to prosper.

I did not have a good experience at Bentgate. After waiting 15 minutes for someone to help me with rentals, the man that I thought was going to help me, measured my foot, brought out the ice climbing rental boots and walked away without helping me any further. I then waited another 10 minutes for someone else to help me as the first guy seemed to disappear. The first guy that helped me also told me he was going to cut me a deal on rentals and not charge me the weekend fee since I was just going to be climbing on Sunday but when it was all said and done, I ended up paying $70 for their weekend price all due to the fact they are closed on Saturday's. I will not be going back to this place and I definitely won't recommend it to others. Incredibly poor customer service and very poor prices.

Brought my ski boot in to get fixed back in October. 3 weeks later, I still had not received a phone call with an update. Went in and was told that the technician who took my boot had quit and no one picked up his work after he left. "We forgot".... No one had ordered the part and it sat on the shelf for those three weeks. Went back a week later and still no one had ordered the part or worked on my boot. They had it for over 4 weeks and now I have 2 weeks before my avalanche courses and hut trips to try and get my gear fixed. Took my boot to Larson's and they called me within 24 hours. Go to Larson's Ski and Sport if you want your gear taken care of and your time respected. Bent Gate just lost multiple customers today.

I'm writing this review to let you know that they don't sell bike locks here :-(. This is definitely something that has to be done a a proper bike store. That being said, they have great rock climbing equipment and are walking distance from the CO School of Mines and it is centrally located in downtown golden. The cashier located near the front of the store is very knowledgeable about the equipment sold there and can quickly direct you to what you need.

We searched all over the front range and even Summit County for some specific high quality ski clothing and came up empty handed. To our delight, someone mentioned Bent Gate and we made the short trip out from Denver. Excellent selection! Yes, a lot of it is pricey, but if you only buy a jacket every five or ten years, this is the place to go. There really isn't any place left that has this sort of high quality ski clothing & gear selection. Most of the stores in Denver, Boulder and even Summit County have closed, so go support your local...ish shop.

Good prices and no shipping or sales tax shipping to WA State. Look for periodic coupons.

Super friendly and knowledgeable staff, go here when you are looking for higher cost higher performance gear the big chains don't carry. I got a top of the line Gore-Tex Pro Arc'Teryx jacket (the winter before last) and still love it. To this day I still haven't found any other retailer that carries it. They also offer lots of ski and winter rock climbing gear, and I'm talking about stuff beyond simply clothing.

Great service. Just getting back into skiing, John was extremely helpful and patient with my boot fitting. He was super helpful in answering my questions and making sure I got the right boot, not the most expensive boot. I'll gladly come here for my future skiing needs. Thanks John!

I have been in this shop several times, as I live in Golden. They have always acted very elitist to me and never had the equipment I was looking for. The young lady I recently talked to about skis acted astounded that I would be looking for a heavy duty back country ski with fish scales for trail climbing. She said there was no such thing. Guess what? I bought just what I wanted somewhere else! Unless you want to go in and deal with attitudes, avoid this place.

I had a great experience at the Bent Gate. My boys and I drove here from Kansas City to get one on one personal service. I'm new to the sport and needed someone's time to walk me through it all. Nick was excellent! He spent hours with me explaining every piece of gear, from where it was made, how it was made, why it worked a certain way, how it worked, and when I would use it. He could have sold me the moon and I wouldn't have known any better. Instead he only sold me exactly what I needed based upon what I told him I was going to do. I couldn't be happier with my experience and have purchased twice more from them online since my visit.

First off, I want to thank Bent Gate for taking me seriously as a female athlete. I have been in many high end sporting good stores around CO and the country, and i don't take this for granted. Bent Gate's knowledgeable staff and great selection are worth the drive. Their prices (at least in regards to ski stuff which i bought) were comparable if not better than similar stores in the Front Range and the mountain counties. I bought an entire AT setup at Bent Gate. I'm just getting started in AT, so I had many questions. Matt Fries helped me with everything. He was very patient and knowledgeable. It is frustrating when you go to buy equipment (especially expensive equipment) and you have questions, but know more than the people selling the gear. This was not the case with Matt. He not only helped me find the set-up that was best for my needs, he spent time getting my boot fit perfect. So far after 3 trips i have had no issues or blisters. There are ski shops closer than me in Boulder, but the next time i need anything ski related, i will make the trip to Golden. Its well worth it. Great evening hours make this possible even after work.

If you are a Tele Skier then this is the place to go. They have a wide selection and the staff is very knowledgeable. They took the time to fit me in at least 5 pairs of boots and gave me all kinds of tips. They moved so make sure you look at the address before you go.

Knowledgable staff. Good active shoe and gear selection. If your searching for new ideas and great gear come here, especially if you're tired of the same old same old at REI.