From Steamboat to Startup: How Robin Hall Is Reinventing Kids Outdoor Gear with Town Hall Outdoor Co.

When her job at Smartwool was relocating to Denver, Robin Hall decided to do something a little wild—stay in Steamboat Springs and build a mission-driven kids’ outerwear brand from the ground up.

In this episode, Robin shares the raw, behind-the-scenes story of how Town Hall Outdoor Co. was born: from a career pivot she never planned, to designing gear that actually keeps kids dry, warm, and stoked to be outside.

Whether you’re a parent, a brand builder, or someone who’s ever questioned the next big move—you’ll want to hear this.

Episode Highlights:

• Why Robin turned down a corporate relocation to stay rooted in her mountain town
  

• The personal and professional leap from Smartwool to starting a new brand
  

• The early “we’re doing this” moment with her co-founders
  

• How they discovered white space in the kids' outdoor market
  

• Why the team built gear based on “KidSumer” feedback, not adult assumptions
  

• Designing for hand-me-downs, sibling sharing, and fun that lasts
  

Robin Hall: “We weren’t trying to build a brand to scale and flip. We were trying to stay in our town and solve a real problem for our kids.”

Robin Hall: “The best thing you can do for the planet is to make something that lasts—and that means gear that doesn’t fall apart after one season.”

Becca Babicz: “You make it sound simple—like, ‘Oh, we just decided to start a company instead of moving to Denver.’ But it’s a huge leap.”

• Sometimes the most meaningful businesses are born out of personal choices, not business plans.
  

• The kids' gear market is often overlooked or treated as an afterthought—Robin and her team are proving that it deserves purpose-built design.
  

• Involving actual users (kids!) in product development can lead to better, more thoughtful gear.
  

• A strong “why” rooted in community and values can sustain a brand through uncertainty and change.
  

• Town Hall Outdoor Co.