Hugh Bette's Give'r Blog

Good groomsmen gifts - 5 cool, unique and personalized ideas!

From sunglasses and gloves customized with your groomsmen’s initials to a trucker hat that uses magnets to hold lures and flies, we have an awesome selection of cool, unique and personalized groomsmen gifts. These ideas are ones that will daily remind the men at your side to give life their all.

WOODY WAYFARERS

Sunglasses customized with your groomsmen’s initials or nicknames, or your wedding date

CLASSIC AND 4-SEASON GIVE’R GLOVES

Gloves customized with your groomsmen’s initials or nicknames, or your wedding date

RIVER RUNNER NECK COOZIE

Hands-free coozie customized with the bride and groom’s name or initials (e-mail us at hughbette@give-r.com to create a custom design)

WYO-MAGNENT TROUT HAT

Trucker hat that uses hidden magnets to hold your lures and flies

SILKWEIGHT ALL SPORT

Performance shirt that’s as comfortable as it is functional

From prototype to product: our extensive R&D process!  

Since the first days of Give'r, we've understood that substantial time and energy is needed to get an idea or a product done right.  The original Give'r hats made for a kayaking trip in Canada, took many months to develop.  Around a dozen sample hats were reviewed before we landed on the one that fit the style we were looking for.  Similarly, we meticulously kept tweaking the Give’r logo the look and feel were just right. 

It is tough to say if something is "right" or "wrong," but in our gut there is a feeling that is unmistakable when enough iterations and prototypes have been made and we land on the final result.   

This process of sampling, experimenting, evaluating, testing and refining is used with every Give’r product. Here are a few examples of how products evolved into the end result you see today:

1) The River Runner Neck Coozie

Give'r Neck Coozie Prototypes: Evolution to the present day River Runners

The River Runner Neck Coozie began with the combination of string or webbing and tying it or looping through two holes cut into the coozie base. While rudimentary, the first neck coozies were enough to prove the concept for a hands-free way to keep your drink of choice cool and close by when fishing, floating, canoeing, kayaking, tubing, SUPing and the list goes on...

The next iteration combined a standard foam coozie with a fishing lanyard and some webbing that wrapped around the outside of the foam beverage receptacle. While Bubba's sewing wasn't Project Runway worthy, the hand-stitched modified neck coozies made for awesome gifts, and they lasted longer and were more comfortable than Prototype #1 (shown with red Wyoming Coozie below).

But we weren’t finished yet. We soon realized neoprene would offer a more compact, comfy and durable design.  After several iterations, the resulting River Runner Neck Coozie was born!

 >>>Shop the River Runner Neck Coozie!<<<

2) 4-Season Give'r Gloves

4-Season Gloves: Concept, prototyping, testing, iterating, more testing...annnnd repeat!

The 4-Season Give’r Gloves originated with sketches and mockups detailing the layers we desired to incorporate into a single multi-functional BA glove. We took the designs to several manufacturers who told us one after another that what we wanted couldn’t be done...or rather, couldn't be done without a lot of work.

We kept working on the design with many tweaks and iterations, knowing the juice was worth the squeeze.  At long last we connected with a creative leather working team willing to take on the project, and several months later, we had the first working prototype to test out, refine and build upon. 

It took four more prototypes and just shy of 14 months to end up with the final "working prototype" which we felt confident was ready for action. After testing that final prototype in the fall and brutal winter season here in Jackson (aka we beat the hell out of 'em), we knew these were Give'r ready.  That next spring we unveiled the 4-Season Give’r Gloves to the world via Kickstarter, where our kick-ass backer community made this dream a reality.

>>>Shop the 4-Season Give'r Gloves!<<<

3) Wyo-MAGNET Trout Hat

When it comes to testing and product validation, nothing compares to the real deal of Mother Nature!

The Wyo-MAGNET Trout Hat resulted from the outright failure of another project. We were working on an idea to incorporate magnets into a shirt, and while this idea went absolutely nowhere, it did mean we had lots of random magnets "sticking" around the Give’r Garage.  

When the fly boxes and fishing rods started to emerge this spring, there was a eureka moment when the idea for the Wyo-MAGNET Trout Hat hit ... what if instead of hooking flies into our favorite hats we found a way to magnetize the hats so they'd just stick right to them? 

This launched a series of prototypes and experiments to determine what size, shape and strength of magnets would be best. We also did some research to ensure that the magnets would not create a health concern or in any way risk our customers’ well-being.  

A few prototypes later (along with a lot of testing and tweaking) and voila! We released the Wyo-MAGNET Trout Hat just last week!

>>>Shop the Wyo-MAGNET Trout Hat<<<

Give'r Origins Adventure - Canada Spring 2017

Over 5 years ago, the Give'r story began when a crew of adventurers from Jackson, Wyoming headed into the wilderness of Ontario, Canada.  This trip was the fifth annual of it's kind, and to commemorate this milestone of radness, a handful of hats were created: combining the home mountain range of Jackson Hole (the Tetons) and the phrase that encompassed the philosophy of the trip: Give'r. 

Upon return from the epic adventure, the inquiries to the meaning of the hat and subsequent requests to acquire one of their own began to shed light on the potential of this philosophy and movement.  Thus began the Give'r story.

While Mother Nature kept things nice and spicy for the crew and their Give'r Gear, the magic of multi-day wilderness exploration made for an unforgettable experience, reinforcing the philosophy of what can be possible when we give something our all.

With the summer season upon us, we encourage you to seek out your next Give'r adventure, and give it your all!

Dave with a toothy Musky

Bill with a beaut of a Northern caught on the fly

Subsurface view of a Musky, up close and personal

What do Lebron James, Sports Illustrated and Give'r Have In Common?

While not a question I could have imagined in late 2016, it is one that has myself and the Give'r community all sorts of fired up!  In the same issue where Lebron James was crowned Sportsperson of The Year by Sports Illustrated, the 4-Season Give'r Gloves were featured as a top pick for the winter season and gift giving.

"Whether you're splitting logs or building the family snowman, these versatile gloves have you covered, hands down."

We couldn't think of a more glorious crown for these 4-Season Gloves that were taken from concept to reality in 2016.  For this, we give thanks to the Give'r Community and Kickstarter Backers who receive The Give'r Award for "Supporters of The Year".  The Give'r that lives within each of you has changed the game for our team and community, and we charge into 2017 letting you know we are giving it our all at Give'r HQ!

Oh yeah, side note...The King and I have been texting, and his pair of 4-Season Gloves are on their way to Cleveland.  Gotta keep those hands in prime condition to bring home another championship!

Keep on Given'r!

-Hugh Bette and The Give'r Crew

Steep & Deep – The Ultimate Teton Ski Giveaway

Today marks the beginning of a giveaway unlike any other!  Steep & Deep - The Ultimate Teton Ski Giveaway is giving away over $3,500 in prizes from Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, Sego Ski Co., Give'r, Kate's Real Food and Liquid Hardware.  Organized by Garage Grown Gear (The Experts on Outdoor Gear Startups), this giveaway has some spectacular rewards for this upcoming Ski Season.  Enter today for your chance at skis, overnight yurt and guide accommodations, 4-Season Gloves and Silkweight All Sports, Kate's Real Food and the best coffee mug around from Liquid Hardware.

Sign up and learn how to increase your odds https://www.garagegrowngear.com/pages/steep-deep-the-ultimate-teton-ski-giveaway

The Give'r Story: Co-Founder Bubba Albrecht interviewed on the ReddyYeti Podcast

4-Season Glove Love: Give'r Kickstarter in the Press!

After weeks of telling everyone who would listen that the 4-Season Gloves are the “best damn gloves ever,” we are happy to report that respected influencers and publications feel the same!

 Check out what everyone has to say: https://www.outsideonline.com/2066661/4-season-giver-gloves

http://www.themanual.com/living/giver-the-best-damn-gloves-ever/



http://www.gearinstitute.com/gear-news/gear-spotter/item/kickstarter-promises-to-deliver


http://read.garagegrowngear.com/new-4-season-giver-glove-kickstarter/


http://theeggoutwest.com/giver



http://hiconsumption.com/2016/04/4-season-giver-gloves/

http://www.thegearcaster.com/2016/04/the-best-damn-gloves-ever.html

http://www.wkyc.com/syndication/facebook-instant/bubba-albrecht-giver-31616/85452188



https://soundcloud.com/891fmkhol/khol-bubba-albrecht-of-giver

http://business.transworld.net/products/the-4-season-giver-gloves-the-best-damn-gloves-ever/#5V5uu7XwLABRhUi9.97




http://theupscout.com/gear/4-season-giver-glove/

http://planetjh.com/2016/03/29/creative-peaks-funded-by-the-people/



http://ski.curbed.com/2016/4/7/11382926/giver-gloves-jackson-hole-wyoming-

http://www.trendhunter.com/trends/tactical-gloves

http://www.gunproplus.com/giver-kickstarts-the-best-damn-gloves-ever-from-jackson-hole/



http://nealpinestart.com/2016/03/15/giver-four-season-gloves-review/

 

OUTSIDE is IN for Give'r!

So, it was a big day in Give’r Country last week. Outside Magazine featured Give’r as one of “The 6 Best Outdoor Clothing Companies You’ve Never Heard Of”. We’re not one to feather our own cap, but we’ve been psyched and appreciative of the shout out and are charging forward with excitement here in Jackson, WY.

The article has had over 5K shares, and we’re stoked to be in great company: NWAlpine, Bambool, Roscoe Outdoor, Ridge Merino, and American Mountain Co. all of which are available at Garage Grown Gear.  A BIG thank you goes out to author Amy Hatch, also the founder of Garage Grown Gear.  She and her team seek out innovative and wildly cool outdoor startups...and we're lucky to be working with them!  Thanks for Given'r Amy!

Check out our feature text below:

Part of the reason companies like Patagonia and Arc’teryx are so successful is because they were started by people who wanted to make the best clothing for their own adventures. Today, that same entrepreneurial spirit lives on with a new handful of boutique brands. Here are six we recommend keeping an eye on.

Give’r

In the small Canadian town where Bubba Albrecht spent time growing up, he often heard the term “give’r,” which meant “get after it.” A few years ago, Albrecht made a hat featuring the phrase and an outline of the Tetons (he now lives in the area). People regularly stopped to ask him about the hat, so he decided to start making them, and in March 2012 launched Give’r. The line has since expanded to include tees, hand-branded leather gloves, and high-performance base layers great for backcountry ski laps or practicing downward dog at your local yoga studio. Give'r is also a 1% for the Planet member, which means one percent of its profits support environmental work.

A few comments from the readers:

@Livefreeandhike: “Cool Stuff by Innovative People, time for some Christmas Shopping”

@kovasP – “So great to see small gear companies from the US being showcased”

@jigidy – “So great to see these companies highlighted!  I love my Bambool, softest baselayer I own and my Give'r Silkweight All Sport lives up to its name as I've used it fishing, running, skiing, etc."

Yes, we agree, the Silkweight All Sport is pretty darn neat. Check it out here and see what the hype is all about: Silkweight All Sport

Thanks for celebrating with us, and thank you to Outside Magazine for featuring us!

Teddi Hofmann and Latino Outdoors

Give'r Ambassador Teddi Hofmann has always enjoyed her time in the outdoors, and in particular sharing those experiences with family and friends.

More recently, Teddi learned of an opportunity to be a part of a larger community of outdoor enthusiasts, Latino Outdoors. This organization provides a network for Latinos to engage and learn in the outdoors while making cross-cultural connections. Within her own community, she has met a number of young Latinos who have been making strides to Give’r in the outdoors.

Outdoor enthusiasts (from left to right), Yair, Janet, and Bianca take a break from their freshman year studies at the University of Wyoming to enjoy the first snowfall of the year in Laramie!

Koozie, Croozie, Neck Coozie or Coozie-Kroakie?

The concept of an insulated can holder that hangs around ones neck gives way to many different names.  Is it a croozie, a koozie, a coozie-kroakie or a neck coozie?  While all are correct in some way, we prefer The Give'r River Runner...the neck coozie born in the waters where your beverage could not be set down safely, and your activity required the use of both hands.

This dilemma of keeping a beverage close by while keeping your hands free for action gave way to several prototypes, most of which were pretty rustic and rather junior varsity.  Following extensive research and development and trial and error, the Give'r River Runner Neck Coozie evolved to its current form, which is nothing short of gorgeous.

Featuring built-to-last sturdy construction, a non-abrasive smooth neck strap and general ability to stretch and flex with neoprene material, this accessory gets it done, day in, day out; season after season, and year after year.  The simple yet beautiful functionality of the River Runner is only fully understood once on your neck...from there, we can't wait to hear how much you love it.

Give'r recently partnered with Bud Light and their Whatever, USA campaign in creating custom River Runners for their fans and the fortunate thousand who won tickets to the 3-day event.  These fans were selected on the basis of being #UpForWhatever...which we see as synonymous with being Ready to Give'r.

Give'r,

Hugh Bette