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My First Snowshoeing Trip - Part I: Gearing Up The first stop for this would-be adventurer is the JAX Coffee Bar to complete my morning routine! I followed the courteous directions over to the Climbing and Camping Department of JAX, where the Rental equipment and desk can be found. Read More Posted on Oct 30, 2018 by
Paddle Boarding Basics As the heat begins to climb, stand-up paddle boarding is a great way to stay cool with your friends and family. Whether you’re a seasoned pro or looking for a new summer activity, paddle boarding provides the fun and excitement your summer needs! Read More Posted on Jul 15, 2018 by Taylor Music
Outdoor Adventures in Colorado for the Whole Family Are you looking for the perfect outdoor activity for your family this summer? Something that not only your kids will love, but that you’ll enjoy too. We’ve partnered up with Northern Colorado’s local and family-owned JAX Mercantile Co. to get you prepared for your family’s next outdoor adventure.
    Read More Posted on Jul 12, 2018 by Taylor Music
Morel Mushrooms: Hunting a Springtime Delicacy With warmer temperatures, soil conditions change and one result is the growth of the highly sought-after Morel mushroom.  Morels have long been a springtime staple in Iowa, and as regular mushroom hunters will tell you, they are unpredictable, elusive, and entirely worth the hours spent hiking and searching for them. Read More Posted on May 17, 2018 by Stacey Brothers
Becoming a Bone Collector With spring comes a great outdoor activity – shed hunting, and as just about anyone who's done it will tell you, it's almost as addictive as hunting itself. Read More Posted on Feb 27, 2018 by Stacy Brothers
My First Snowshoe Trip - Part II Awaking to a message that my cousin (adventure chaperone for the day) was on his way, I quickly began shoving gear into my pack. I had stayed up past midnight with an assortment of everything camping and survival gear that I owned, now scattered across my living room floor. Read More Posted on Feb 22, 2018 by
America Recycles. JAX Recycles. Environmental responsibility is something we take very seriously at JAX. All of our stores recycle everything from broken hangers to fishing line. Remember, you too can make a difference by recycling! Read More Posted on Nov 15, 2017 by Jax Mercantile
JAX Joins with Over 350 Others In The Outdoor Industry to Defend National Monuments On August 17, the Outdoor Industry Association sent a letter to Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke urging him to preserve previously designated National Monuments and the legacy of the Antiquities Act. Jax Owner and President, Jim Quinlan, signed the letter along with over 350 other leaders in outdoor businesses. Read More Posted on Aug 21, 2017 by Jax Mercantile
Meet Marlo: New Jax Mercantile Mascot Announced! It's no secret that we love dogs at Jax. All of our stores and offices are dog-friendly, we keep dog treats behind our cashier counters, and our store in Ames, IA even has a greeter dog, Decoy. Dogs have long been part of the Jax history and culture, so when we decided it was time to change our mascot from Lucy the Goose, a Golden Retriever was the obvious choice. Read More Posted on Apr 10, 2017 by Jax Mercantile
#GirlPower Cross-Country Ski Trip | Courtney's Perspective Doing a new outdoor activity can be nerve-racking! As an employee at Jax, I get opportunities to try new things all the time. This time it was traveling to Gould, Colorado and staying in a yurt to do some back country skiing. Read More Posted on Feb 7, 2017 by Courtney Anderson
#GirlPower Jax Cross-Country Ski Trip | Annemarie's Perspective Renting gear from Jax was really easy, and affordable. We offer snowshoe and cross country ski rentals for all ages and abilities. Both sports are easy to try out on your own, although cross country skiing takes a little more balance than snowshoeing. Read More Posted on Feb 7, 2017 by Annemarie
5 Gifts That Give Back to Those in Need It is the season of giving! Or is it the season that keeps on giving? These five brands that can be found at Jax are aiming to make sure the giving continues long past the holiday season. Yes, you CAN make a difference and help those in need, just by doing your holiday shopping this year! Read More Posted on Dec 16, 2016 by Jax Mercantile
Make Camping a Blast with Nine Fun Gadgets for Kids Kids love camping, and this outdoor activity offers a great way to bond and share an amazing family experience. Although many kids simply love the act of going camping, others might not enjoy it without fun camping-related items to enhance the experience. Here are ten of the most fun camping toys and gadgets to bring if you plan on camping with children. Read More Posted on May 17, 2016 by Carla Bamesberger
Princeton Tec Sync Headlamp Review and Giveaway Princeton Tec has been a pioneer in lighting our way on the trail since 1975. The Sync Headlamp is one of their go-to headlamps for outdoor adventures at night. Features like an easy to use interface, direct access to a red LED, spot beam and flood beam and 200 hours of burn time make this model stand out. Read More Posted on Apr 29, 2016 by Sue Quinlan
The Right Gear to Protect You and Your Family from Zika Virus For years, we’ve learned to be vigilant of insect bites, primarily from mosquitoes, because of the potential in transmitting diseases such as West Nile Virus and malaria. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has warned of the increase of Zika virus. Read More Posted on Apr 26, 2016 by Tom Lucero
Chick, Chick, Duck? How to Raise Ducklings When you came to JAX for your 2016 flock, you were probably buying chicks and saw how cute the ducklings were and got them too! Read More Posted on Apr 4, 2016 by Hallie Craig
Where Am I Going? I got the National Geographic Guide to National Parks of United States" (seventh edition) so that I don't miss a thing! I know when peak season is, what permits I need to apply for and the permit deadlines! No "reasons" in 2016 - only action! Read More Posted on Apr 1, 2016 by Franchesca Guerra
Why UV Filters are Important Jim in our Optics department, we're always happy to help! Read More Posted on Mar 31, 2016 by Jim Rydbom
Need a Reason to Go Fishing? Here are 6 For You! As the saying goes, “a bad day fishing is better than a good day at work.” Most people don’t need an excuse to go fishing - they just go. But in case you need to twist the arm of someone who’s not too thrilled on the idea of catching “the big one,” here are some reasons to go cast a line and go fishing. Read More Posted on Mar 21, 2016 by Tom Lucero
Ten Reasons You Need a Pair of Chaco Sandals While traveling to Minnesota for a family event, I noticed something strange: a disturbing lack of Chacos. In Colorado, it seems like warm weather causes every other person you meet to throw a pair of these outstanding sandals. Not in Minnesota, it would seem. Read More Posted on Mar 21, 2016 by Carla Bamesberger