FEATURED RAF OUTFITTER VENDOR: MATT JEWETT OF MTN STRAPS
When RAF Administrative Director Tricia McKenna met Matt Jewett and his display of locally made Mtn Straps products at the Bozeman farmers market, she loved the looks of their dog collars, dog leashes, and ski pole straps. Knowing that many RAF folks have dogs, she asked Matt to create RAF-branded collars and leashes to sell in the RAF Outfitter.
Matt began his business like so many of us, by taking out a loan for his first piece of machinery. He was nine years old, and borrowed thirty-two dollars that went toward a lawnmower. “I paid my dad back within two weeks,” Matt says, establishing his good credit – beginning with the Bank of Dad.
“By the time I left for college I had a partner, two trucks and up to four seasonal employees,” Matt says. After graduation from Montana State University, he went to work for an upstart company named Cannondale which, just a year before, had introduced their first bicycles. “I went into it with a two year game plan, yet stayed for thirty,” he adds.
The owner was a passionate pilot who would fly from Cannondale’s home office in Connecticut to their factories in Pennsylvania twice each week. Beginning with a Conquest Turboprop, the commute picked up speed with a Learjet. Matt spent a lot of time in those aircraft, often in the front right seat, discussing business issues in the relatively quiet flight deck.
“When I was at Cannondale, all bikes, clothing, and accessories were made in their own factories. I grew to love manufacturing and the challenges it presents. When the opportunity to create Mtn Straps came along, I knew I wanted to control production and not farm it out overseas.”
Matt obtained his startup cash by selling a Subaru, and today, Matt and his colleagues manufacture artisan ski pole straps and pet collars and leashes. “We’ve been going seven years now and I’m still finding ways to improve production flows,” he says.
“Ski pole straps are still a big part of our business. There are eight million skiers in the US. Our pet business is larger and year-round. The US pet industry is estimated to be 152 billion dollars a year in sales. Needless to say, we have plenty of runway in front of us to keep growing,” he says.
Initially, to get their products into consumers’ hands, Mtn Straps displayed at local farmers markets. “While we no longer do farmers markets, but the folks I met in those early years gave us the encouragement to know we were on the right path,” Matt says.
Although Covid brought trials, pet stores were considered essential business. Since Mtn Straps controls its own production and sources all its materials in the states, they were able to keep going when others had their products stuck overseas.
“I’m still having a ball with Mtn Straps. Many of my friends are retired and shake their heads seeing the time I put in,” he says. Bicycles are still a big part of Matt’s life during his precious off-time. He volunteers with the Southwest Montana Mtn Bike Association. In winter, he says, “Somebody has to test our ski pole straps, so you can find me at Big Sky and Bridger on a regular basis.” Not far from home he can also enjoy fishing, hiking, and backcountry raft or canoe trips each year.
What’s next for Mtn Straps, we asked Matt. “This business can continue to scale and grow far beyond where we are today. Dare I say, the sky’s the limit?”
See the RAF-branded Mtn Straps products at the RAF Outfitter.
Submitted July 29, 2025