Crash Pads: Josh Helke Builds Quality Climbing Gear

If you are a climber, you have probably seen (or fallen on) an Organic Bouldering Mat.  The unique designs and bright colors make an Organic pad easy to spot.  What you may not know is that Josh Helke runs a sustainable business that is worthy of your attention.

Here is a 4-minute overview of how the Organic Climbing Crashpad is made.

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HCRB:  What are 4 things that anyone can do right now to be a better recycler?

Josh:  1,  Be smart about the gear you choose.  Purchase stuff that is made to last. In the long run, buying quality is cheaper.  Quality gear lasts longer – so it is better for your pocket book and the planet.  2,  Own a reusable water bottle.  Even if they can be recycled, plastic bottles from water and soft drinks are an incredible waste of energy and resources.  3.  Buy used and donate when you are done.  Others will carry on the use-cycle.  4.  Repair your electronics and use them as long as you can.  Recycle them when they can’t be repaired.

HCRB:  We talked back in 2009 when you were in Wyoming.  Where are you now?

Josh:  We relocated 3 years ago to Central PA as my wife took a job at Penn State in the Geology department.  Additionally, the deep-rooted textile history, and the talent in the surrounding mountains was a natural fit for the made-in-USA nature of our company.

HCRB:  What sustainable practices are you embracing now in the manufacturing of Organic Climbing Mats?

Josh:  We recycle all of our cutting scraps into every product that we make.  These are what become the one-of-a-kind multi-color designs people have come to know over the last 10 years as ORGANIC products. We also use made-in-the-USA fabrics manufactured within a few hundred miles of our factory. And because all our products are made in the USA, our manufacturing footprint is substantially smaller than that of the larger companies making their sewn goods in Asia.

HCRB:  What are you doing differently in your personal life now to be friendlier to our planet? 

Josh:  We actively recycle everything that we can.  We are super excited about our local borough which now has curbside compost.  We are able to keep all our compostable waste out of the trash.  With the addition of our first child in January, we use cloth diapers as much as possible.  We still toss out more disposable diapers than I would like to.  This is an area we are working on improving in our lives.  Our family vehicle is a diesel station wagon.  We have hopes of working with the local Penn State Bio Diesel program as the fuel becomes more easily available in a local coop form over the next few years.

HCRB:  What are 3 items that you always take with you when climbing?

Josh:  Barnaby Dog, cleaning kit for cleaning up new lines, and good coffee.

HCRB:  Where are you climbing these days?

Josh:  I have become quite a homebody and tend to stay within an hour of home.  That way, I can get some work done on weekends.  And I can balance bouldering time and family time.  The good news is we have A TON of amazing sandstone areas in Central PA.  There is potential here for world-class bouldering.  It is pretty amazing. We have gritstone areas emerging with rock that rivals that of England!

HCRB:  How are ways that you stay relaxed on a road trip?

Josh:  I tend to try to balance a day of climbing with other relaxing things.  I enjoy going and getting good food and drink; and touring local sights beyond the climbing.  I stay the most relaxed on short trips where I don’t need to worry about what is going on back at the workshop.  And for long climbing trips, I focus on the road trip rhythm. I think that is a big part of traveling–getting in a good routine.

HCRB:  Give 2 tips to a new climber about getting stronger?

Josh:  Don’t forget to have fun!  If it is not fun, you will not be amped to try hard.  You know that honest psyche is half of hard climbing! Also, do not forget to learn the basics of movement.  Too often, folks focus on powering through moves when you could do the same move with style. That style is what will allow you to keep climbing hard when you get older.

HCRB:  On a scale of 1 – 5, (5 means super important), how important do you think diet is when trying to lose weight, get fit, and climb harder?

Josh:  I think it all depends on the individual.  Find out what works for you and do it.  I know people who eat 2 meals a day from vending machines and they climb hard.  And, I know other people who eat only organic food and it works for them.  Climbing is really all mental.

HCRB:  What do you use to keep your climbing shoes from stinking?

Josh:  I simply put them in my freezer.

HCRB:  How has Facebook changed your business in the last few years?  [You can connect with Organic on Facebook with this linkage.]

Josh:  Greatly!  It has allowed me to keep my customers updated, preview new products, and create an interactive network to keep in touch with all our friends of the brand!

HCRB:  What other social tools are you using for Organic Climbing?

Josh:  Instagram, Flikr, Post cards

HCRB:  What else excites you in the area of sustainability?

Josh:  Green building.  If we stay in PA, I hope to work with the Center for Sustainable Architecture to build a space for our sewing workshop that is 100 percent green!

Purchase Information for Organic Climbing Mats

If you are a boulderer, I suggest seriously considering Organic Climbing for your pads.  You can look at their selection at their site http://organicclimbing.com/crashpads.html.  Or, you can get in contact with Josh at info@organicclimbing.com

I linked up Kind Coffee earlier in the post.  You can help the Estes Park area Flood Relief Effort by visiting http://www.kindcoffee.com/ and making your coffee purchase with Kind.

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