10 ways to tell someone you're from Colorado without saying "I'm from Colorado"
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Spencer McKee
Director of Content and Operations
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Residing in a state filled with natural beauty, wild weather, and more mountains than can be counted (kind of), Coloradans can be easy to spot. After all, they're generally beaming with state pride.
Here are 10 ways that Coloradans show off their Colorado-ness without knowing it.
1. Spencer McKee nears the 14,064-foot summit of Humboldt Peak in Colorado's Sangre de Cristo range
1. Start talking about fourteeners
While bagged peaks tend to be a badge of honor for many Coloradans, it’s likely that most out-of-staters have never even heard the term ‘fourteener’ before – unless it was from one of their friends in Colorado. That doesn’t matter though, Coloradans will talk about them anyway.
 Photo Credit: Spencer McKee (Humboldt Peak hike, in front of the Crestones).
2. Mature man getting ready to grill while drinking beer during winter season
2. Mixing flip flops with snowfall
To out-of-staters, Coloradans are shockingly tolerant of cold weather. It’s common to see Coloradans running errands in flip flops (or Chacos) and shorts in the dead of winter. Once someone has experienced how extreme conditions can get in Colorado, most other weather becomes nothing more than a mild nuisance. Plus, all that sunshine helps keep the toes warm.
Photo Credit:Â tab1962 (iStock).
3. Screaming bearded man with eyeglasses over white background
3. Expressing hatred for out-of-staters despite an out-of-state past
Despite the fact that only 42 percent of Coloradans were actually born in Colorado, many Coloradans seem to have a disdain for more out-of-staters claiming stake in the Centennial State. Blame it on the crowds – as Colorado continues to grow, there’s been more traffic on the trails and roads.
Photo Credit:Â Cristalov (iStock).
4. Two People Checking Quality of Craft Beer in Brewery
4. Refusing to drink the country’s most popular beers
While most bars around the country tend to stock the major macro beers first, giants like Budweiser and even the locally brewed Coors tend to come last on the tap priority list in the Centennial State. This is most likely because Coloradans tend to ask for a local option first, taking pride in their hometown favorite.
Photo Credit:Â xavierarnau (iStock).
Rocky Mountain Oysters jankgo (Flickr)
5. Meeting the phrase ‘Rocky Mountain Oysters’ with a grin
To most out-of-staters, ‘Rocky Mountain Oysters’ seems like an innocent seafood option. To Coloradans, this is either a point of disgust, a chance to prank a buddy, or a delicacy that is craved. Here’s a hint – these oysters come from the underside of a bull, not the ocean.
Photo Credit: jankgo (Flickr).
Woman taking photos with smartphone in the mountains
6. Your profile photos make you seem like a world-class mountaineer
Never far from stunning scenery, Coloradans have no problem keeping their social media game on point. Even though that epic mountain photo may have been taken on the side of the road and not on a dangerous expedition, it’ll still be enough to give out-of-staters FOMO. A constant stream of mountain pics being posted to Instagram is a dead giveaway you're from Colorado.
Photo Credit:Â Xsandra (iStock).
Happy adult man skiing
7. Your tanlines make your sport of choice obvious.
Just like a ‘farmer’s tan’ is common in some parts of the country, Colorado also has locally recognized tanlines that come in many shapes and sizes. Whether it’s the ‘ski goggle’ tan, a the ‘bike jersey’ tan, or something else, it’s often easy to guess how a Coloradan is spending their time outside.
Photo Credit:Â andresr (iStock).
offroad 4x4 in the snow Photo Credit: gulfix (iStock).
8. You drive a Subaru or a Jeep covered in brand stickers
Coloradans are all about utility when it comes to their car. After all, a capable vehicle offers the chance to take the road less traveled. The gear stickers on the back windshield seem to add a level of legitamacy when entering the outdoor recreation scene – bonus points if the sticker is promoting a Colorado-based company.
Photo Credit:Â gulfix (iStock).
Guy in the forest
9. Flannel shirts outnumber all other articles of clothing in your wardrobe.
Comfortable, warm, and durable, flannel shirts really are one of the most practical ways to dress in Colorado. Plus, the 'weekend warrior' mentality tends to have Coloradans prioritizing a functional wardrobe over a fancy one.
Photo Credit:Â shironosov (iStock).
Traveling - packing (preparing) for adventure trip concept
10. Rocking outdoor recreation gear that costs more than monthly rent.
Coloradans tend to invest their money in experiences over fancy digs. Sports like skiing, mountain biking, and rock climbing aren’t cheap. It’s not uncommon for an avid cyclist to own a bike that costs more than their car or for an intermediate skier to don the same jacket as the pros. Prioritizing gear over other needs can make it obvious you're from Colorado.
Photo Credit:Â Cleardesign1 (iStock).
Spencer McKee
Director of Content and Operations
Spencer McKee is OutThere Colorado's Director of Content and Operations. In his spare time, Spencer loves to hike, rock climb, and trail run.
(6) comments
I agree with all but number 2. I am a Colorado Native and I do not wera sandals or flip flops in the winter or in the mountains. I am not a stupid person. The shorts started with high school kids and most adults do not wear them in cold weather. It's the transplants that do that, thinking it makes them natives.
I have all those things and do all those things and I just want to live in Colorado .. Ready to move from the flat lands.
Cute article. I'm a fourth generation Coloradoan and I don't do any of those things. But it's really fun to read what others might do. 😊
I'm also 4th generation native, and don't do any of these things. I think it's a list of what people do that have moved here lol. Darn out of staters [wink]
You forgot the Audi allroad. 🤣
I definitely do the last one. I have a serious addiction to the Colorado outdoors.
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