Boulder — March 21, 2024 – Nite Ize, a leading manufacturer of solution-based products, today marked its 35th anniversary, celebrating a journey of ingenuity, growth and commitment to ‘Inventing a Better Way’. Led by Founder and CEO Rick Case, Nite Ize has built a trusted reputation for inventing unique products solving life’s everyday problems, including the widely popular Gear Tie Reusable Rubber Twist Tie, S-Biner Dual Carabiner and the Steelie Magnetic Phone Mount. Innovation is the driving force behind Nite Ize, both in developing and protecting it, with the company winning a landmark patent case before the International Trade Commission and partnering with Amazon in a lawsuit to fight counterfeit sellers. Since its inception in 1989, Nite Ize has launched over 1,000 original inventions, enhancing and simplifying the daily lives of people in 55 countries and counting.
Case started Nite Ize in 1989 as an undergraduate at the University of Colorado and with a $1500 loan from his family. “I was making a winter ascent up the Grand Teton, and it was pitch dark,” said Case. “I brought a Mini Maglite with me as today’s modern headlamps did not exist. It was much brighter than the bulky old mountaineering headlamp I was wearing. So I thought, why not turn this into a headlamp? That idea became the first product I ever made, the Headband Mini Flashlight Holder.”
Today, Nite Ize is a global brand with award-winning designs recognized for its quality, performance and innovation. Offering over 600 products worldwide in categories including Illumination, Mobile, Waterproof Protection, Tie Downs, Key Accessories and Pet, the brand consistently releases new inventions twice a year and currently holds over 400 patents. Constantly innovating new ideas are always on the horizon at the Boulder headquarters, including the Tru Zip waterproof zipper. Created in 2019, the first toothless, sliding zipper is a fast-rising ingredient brand technology, featured in 20+ product collections by global outdoor industry leaders. “The secret to our success lies in our company culture,” Case noted.
“Our success is about our people,” Case continued. “We are built on the performance, thoughtfulness and innovation of each product. Together, that’s what creates our business. Our customers, our tenured employees and the trust they have in our ability to create reliable, valuable solutions serve as a pillar of the brand.”
