Subscribe
  • News
    • Local
    • Regional
    • Business
    • Real Estate
    • Outlaw Partners
  • Arts & Entertainment
  • Opinion
  • Sports
  • Yellowstone
  • Events
Menu
  • News
    • Local
    • Regional
    • Business
    • Real Estate
    • Outlaw Partners
  • Arts & Entertainment
  • Opinion
  • Sports
  • Yellowstone
  • Events

Gear Review: Ski-Key assists with boot buckling, bottle opening

in News
Outlaw Partnersby Outlaw Partners
March 29, 2016

By Amanda Eggert EBS Staff Writer

 BIG SKY – Benjamin Randall, the mastermind behind Randall Innovations, developed Ski-Key after a row with his ski boots in Deer Valley.

“It took a guy who was like 280 pounds putting his entire force into it to buckle my boots, and I was like, ‘Really? There has to be something that’s better and easier.’”

Article Inline Ad Article Inline Ad Article Inline Ad

In fact there was, but Randall was underwhelmed by what he found: boot-buckling assisters made of hand-numbing metal and expensive products prone to breaking.

A self-described tinkerer, Randall set out to develop a more effective, less expensive product in 2012. He learned everything he could about plastics – and found them to be underrated. “A lot of plastics coming out now are just as strong as steel,” he says.

Randall moved in May 2015 to Big Sky from California, where he worked in aerospace manufacturing. “I came out here to ski a couple times and just completely fell in love with it,” Randall said. “And I was over the [Los Angeles] attitude, to be honest.”

Now he works with injection molders in Montana to manufacture Ski-Key, which weighs in at just under 1 ounce and doubles as a bottle opener and boot carrier.

Randall Innovations’ flagship product is steadily garnering interest – enough that an expansion to a larger space in Four Corners and a couple new hires are planned for the young company. The Yellowstone Club, East Slope Outdoors, Big Sky Resort and Amazon.com currently carry Ski-Key.

Randall is also developing a boot heater “like Hotronic without the electronics” and a high-performance adaptive ski. Big Sky local and Paralympic Games-hopeful Mark Urich is collaborating with Randall on the adaptive ski.

$17 randallinnovations.com

 

Outlaw Realty Outlaw Realty
Outlaw Realty
ADVERTISEMENT

Listen

Hoary Marmot Podcast

Joe Borden & Michele Veale Borden

Lastest Episode
See More Episodes

Upcoming Events

Jul 1
11:00 am - 5:00 pm Event Series

June Show at the Big Sky Artists’ Studio & Gallery

Jul 1
5:00 pm - 7:00 pm

Bridget O’Brien

Jul 2
11:00 am - 5:00 pm Event Series

June Show at the Big Sky Artists’ Studio & Gallery

Jul 2
12:15 pm - 1:30 pm Event Series

Community Yoga

Jul 2
5:00 pm - 8:00 pm Event Series

Post 99 Honey sales

View Calendar
Event Calendar

Related Posts

Uncle Dan’s Cookies moves forward with new owner, same sweet legacy
Business

Uncle Dan’s Cookies moves forward with new owner, same sweet legacy

June 30, 2025
To the Tune of Hope
Featured

To the Tune of Hope

June 27, 2025
Big Sky Community Food Bank looks ahead to summer opportunities, reflects on pandemic challenges
Local

Big Sky Community Food Bank looks ahead to summer opportunities, reflects on pandemic challenges

June 26, 2025
Museum of the Rockies fundraiser June 26 to support access for underserved Montana children and families
News

Museum of the Rockies fundraiser June 26 to support access for underserved Montana children and families

June 23, 2025

An Outlaw Partners Publication

Facebook-f Instagram X-twitter Youtube

Explore Big Sky

  • About/Contact
  • Advertise
  • Publications
  • Subscriptions
  • Podcast
  • Submissions

Outlaw Brands

  • Mountain Outlaw
  • Plan Yellowstone
  • Big Sky PBR
  • Wildlands Music
  • Outlaw Partners
  • Outlaw Realty
  • Hey Bear

Copyright © 2025 Explore Big Sky | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Your Privacy Choices

No Result
View All Result
  • News
    • Regional
    • Business
    • Outlaw Partners
  • Yellowstone
  • Arts & Entertainment
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Real Estate
  • Events

©2024 Outlaw Partners, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

Explore Big Sky Logo
  • News
    • Local
    • Regional
    • Business
    • Real Estate
    • Outlaw Partners
  • Arts & Entertainment
  • Opinion
  • Sports
  • Yellowstone
  • Events
Subscribe
Facebook X-twitter Instagram Youtube