Grass Sticks
Grass Sticks is a handcrafted bamboo outdoor gear manufacturer in Steamboat Springs, Colorado, making custom ski poles, SUP paddles, and canoe paddles for skiers and paddlers through DTC e-commerce, a walk-in shop, wholesale to 50-plus retailers, and event-based sales.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2014
- HeadquartersSteamboat Springs, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Grass Sticks does
Grass Sticks is a privately held, founder-owned manufacturer of handcrafted bamboo outdoor equipment based in Steamboat Springs, Colorado. Founded in 2014 by engineer and ski coach Andrew Beckler, the company builds custom bamboo ski poles, stand-up paddleboard (SUP) paddles, and canoe paddles to order, with each item made-to-spec in length, grip, and basket configuration. The 8-person team draws on backgrounds in engineering, carpentry, physics, and design, and emphasizes bamboo's strength-to-weight ratio, vibration damping, and sustainability compared to aluminum or carbon fiber alternatives. Products carry an unlimited 2-year warranty and a 30-day satisfaction guarantee.
The business operates a hybrid go-to-market model. The primary channel is direct-to-consumer e-commerce through grasssticks.com, where customers configure custom builds using online length calculators, supported by a walk-in factory shop in Steamboat Springs that can produce custom poles on the spot in approximately 15 minutes. Wholesale distribution extends the brand into more than 50 ski shops and outdoor retailers across the United States and Canada, including REI, Scheels, and independent shops in resort markets. Grass Sticks also drives demand through experiential marketing — demo days at ski resorts and Brew & Build events at breweries such as Storm Peak Brewing and Broken Compass Brewing — amplified by a Pro Team of Olympic and freeride athletes and earned media in Outside Magazine, Bloomberg, Travel + Leisure, and Gear Institute.
Grass Sticks is bootstrapped, with no disclosed external funding, and reports eight employees as of the available data. Pricing for custom bamboo ski poles starts at $120 per pair ($108 during event promotions), with paddles and accessories adding incremental revenue. Geographic reach is concentrated in North American ski and paddle sports markets. The company remains founder-led, operating from a single Colorado workshop that serves as both production facility and walk-in retail experience.
Grass Sticks firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Grass Sticks
- Legal name
- Grass Sticks
- Website
- https://grasssticks.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2014
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Grass Sticks is a handcrafted bamboo outdoor gear manufacturer in Steamboat Springs, Colorado, making custom ski poles, SUP paddles, and canoe paddles for skiers and paddlers through DTC e-commerce, a walk-in shop, wholesale to 50-plus retailers, and event-based sales.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Grass Sticks industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Outdoor Sporting Goods
- SIC
- Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Paddle Sports Retail (Kayak, Canoe, SUP, Paddles) (CRAMAIAD)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Water Sports & Marine Recreation Retail (Paddle/Surf/Dive/Boat Accessories) (CRAMABAI)
Keywords
Where Grass Sticks is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Steamboat Springs
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Grass Sticks business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Custom Bamboo Ski Poles: Primary revenue stream from handcrafted bamboo ski poles sold directly to consumers and through wholesale partners. Poles are built to order with custom options including length, grip style, basket type, and accessories. Each pole comes with a 2-year unlimited warranty.
- Bamboo SUP Paddles: Revenue from bamboo stand-up paddleboard paddles built to custom lengths. SUP paddles have a 2-week production time and are offered with engraving options.
- Accessories and Add-ons: Additional revenue from bamboo plungers, gift cards, and ski basket ornaments. Accessories complement the main product lines.
- Wholesale/Retail Distribution: B2B revenue through wholesale partnerships with ski shops and outdoor retailers across North America. Products available at over 50 retail locations.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Base ski poles start at $120, discounted to $108 during promotional events |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Custom options add to base pricing |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Free shipping on orders $329+ |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels5 records
Grass Sticks product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Grass Sticks designs, handcrafts, and sells custom bamboo ski poles, stand-up paddleboard (SUP) paddles, and canoe paddles from its workshop in Steamboat Springs, Colorado. Each product is built to order with custom length, grip style, and basket options, and is backed by an unlimited 2-year warranty and 30-day return policy. The company sells primarily direct-to-consumer online and at its factory shop, supplemented by wholesale distribution through outdoor retailers.
Product overview
Grass Sticks is a handcrafted outdoor gear company offering a focused portfolio of bamboo products for outdoor enthusiasts. The core offerings include Original Grass Sticks (custom bamboo ski poles), SUP Sticks (bamboo stand up paddle paddles), and Canoe Sticks (bamboo canoe paddles), all built to order with custom length options. The product line is supplemented by accessories like the Bamboo Poo Plunger and Gift Cards. All products are handcrafted in Steamboat Springs, Colorado, with an emphasis on custom fit and the durability benefits of bamboo as a material. The company offers an unlimited 2-year warranty across its pole and paddle products.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Original Grass Sticks (Bamboo Ski Poles)
Quantifiable outcome
- Thousands of happy customers
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Grass Sticks
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles1 record
Grass Sticks technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Grass Sticks partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- REIcoreREI carries Grass Sticks products at locations that sell ski gear. Products available at REI Salt Lake City and REI Seattle Flagship stores, as well as all REI locations that sell ski gear nationwide.
- Monod SportsminorCanadian retailer located at 129 Banff Ave, Banff, AB T1L 1A4 carrying Grass Sticks products.
- Ski HausminorSki shop at 1457 Pine Grove Rd, Steamboat Springs, CO carrying Grass Sticks products.
- Ski WestminorCanadian ski retailer at 300 14 St NW, Calgary, AB, T2N 1Z7 carrying Grass Sticks products.
- Icelantic SkisminorColorado ski manufacturer and retailer at 1300 Washington Ave, Golden, CO 80401 carrying Grass Sticks products as complementary ski equipment.
- Steamboat Powder CatsminorSteamboat Powder Cats and Grass Sticks co-sponsored the 'Know Before You Go: FREE Avalanche Awareness Night!' event along with Mammut, demonstrating community partnership in avalanche safety education.
- Storm Peak Brewing CompanyminorRegular host venue for 'Brew & Build' events in Steamboat Springs. Storm Peak Brewing provides the venue for customers to build custom poles and receive free beer with purchase.
- Broken Compass BrewingminorBrewery host for 'Brew & Build' and 'SHRED FEST' events in Breckenridge, CO.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Grass Sticks competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Leki: Global market-leading ski pole and trekking pole manufacturer. Directly comparable to Grass Sticks in core ski pole product, though at very different scale and price positioning.
- Black Diamond Equipment: Manufactures and sells ski poles (among broader climbing, ski, and mountain sports gear). Comparable because it competes head-to-head in the ski pole category served by Grass Sticks.
- Komperdell: Austrian manufacturer of ski poles and trekking poles. Direct comparable to Grass Sticks in the ski pole category, including custom and high-end pole offerings.
- Bending Branches: Wisconsin-based maker of wooden canoe and kayak paddles. Directly comparable to Grass Sticks' Canoe Stick and bamboo paddle strategy in the paddle sports category.
- Werner Paddles: Leading US-based SUP and kayak paddle brand. Comparable to Grass Sticks' SUP Stick in the bamboo/innovative-material paddle segment.
- Aqua-Bound: US manufacturer of kayak and SUP paddles. Overlap with Grass Sticks' SUP and canoe paddle products in the same end-user market.
Broad incumbents
- Scott Sports: Global outdoor brand whose ski and mountain sports line includes ski poles. Broader incumbent operating across multiple categories versus Grass Sticks' focused niche.
- NRS (National River Supplies): Established paddlesports and water recreation brand offering paddles, PFDs, and apparel. Broader incumbent with overlapping customer base in paddle sports.
Emerging players
- Voile: Utah-based maker of custom backcountry skis, bindings, and ski accessories. Comparable emerging/small US craft brand with similar premium enthusiast positioning.
- Icelantic Skis: Colorado-based custom ski manufacturer and retailer that already retails Grass Sticks products. Comparable small craft ski brand with shared mountain-town roots and premium positioning.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Grass Sticks social profiles
Digital presenceGrass Sticks financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Grass Sticks leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles10 records
Grass Sticks funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Grass Sticks M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Grass Sticks
What does Grass Sticks do?
Grass Sticks designs, handcrafts, and sells custom bamboo ski poles, stand-up paddleboard (SUP) paddles, and canoe paddles from its workshop in Steamboat Springs, Colorado. Each product is built to order with custom length, grip style, and basket options, and is backed by an unlimited 2-year warranty and 30-day return policy. The company sells primarily direct-to-consumer online and at its factory shop, supplemented by wholesale distribution through outdoor retailers.
Is Grass Sticks a public or private company?
Grass Sticks is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Grass Sticks founded?
Grass Sticks was founded in 2014. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Grass Sticks based?
Grass Sticks is headquartered in Steamboat Springs, United States, in the North America region.
How does Grass Sticks make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Custom Bamboo Ski Poles are the primary driver. The others are bamboo SUP Paddles, accessories and Add-ons and wholesale/Retail Distribution.
Who are Grass Sticks's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Leki, Black Diamond Equipment, Komperdell, Bending Branches, Werner Paddles and Aqua-Bound. Broad incumbents are Scott Sports and NRS (National River Supplies). Emerging players are Voile and Icelantic Skis.
Does Grass Sticks have an API?
No public API is recorded for Grass Sticks.
What industry is Grass Sticks in?
Grass Sticks's product category is Outdoor Sporting Goods. Its primary akta.pro industry code is CRAMAIAD, Paddle Sports Retail (Kayak, Canoe, SUP, Paddles), with a secondary code of CRAMABAI, Water Sports & Marine Recreation Retail (Paddle/Surf/Dive/Boat Accessories). Its SIC code is 7900.