The Base Camp

The Base Camp is a Montana outdoor specialty shop that started as a backpacking store in downtown Helena in 1975 and opened a Billings store in 1990. It carries technical clothing and footwear, camping and backpacking gear, climbing and ski equipment, water sports gear, travel gear, and Montana lifestyle gifts. Staff are known for hands-on advice on matching gear to a trip, from first-time campers to serious athletes.

The Billings store is in Mid-Town Billings and is open Monday through Saturday with shorter Sunday hours. Gear rentals are available, and gift wrapping is offered. The store has been owned by the Brown family since 2023, when daughters Cody and Lauren Brown took over from their parents, Scott and Deb Brown, who founded it. Customers who come in often mention the friendly, knowledgeable staff.