Blue Ridge Bud Co. Opens Trail Supply Outpost in Waynesboro

Waynesboro just got a proper trail outfitter. Blue Ridge Bud Co. has opened its flagship shop, Bud Co Trail Supply, inside the historic Virginia Metalcrafters Marketplace at 1010 East Main Street — a stone's throw from Rockfish Gap, where the Blue Ridge Parkway, Skyline Drive, and the Appalachian Trail all meet.

For thru-hikers, weekenders, and locals alike, the location is hard to beat. The shop bills itself as one of the closest outdoor supply stores to the southern entrance of Shenandoah National Park and to the AT itself — the kind of "last stop before the high country" outpost that mountain towns like Waynesboro have long needed.

What They Carry

The shelves are built around real outdoor use rather than trend-driven gear. Categories on the floor include:

• Camp & Comfort — sleeping pads, pillows, lanterns, and camp basics
• Cooking, Fire & Fuel — stoves, fuel, and cook kits
• Bad Weather — rain shells and layering for the Blue Ridge's mood swings
• Body Care & Health & Safety — first aid, blister care, sun and bug protection
• Food & Drink — trail snacks, hydration, and quick fuel
• Energy — power banks and wireless chargers like the Poseidon Nano
• Gear Care — field repair tape, tension locs, and maintenance basics
• Apparel — trail-ready clothing
• Pet Supplies — because plenty of Valley dogs log more miles than their humans

Best-sellers early on include the Range 300 headlamp, the Peregrine pocket sleeping pad pump and lantern, and an Appalachian Trail–branded footbag for downtime at camp.

Budco Outpost Gear

Alongside the curated third-party lineup, the store carries Budco Outpost Gear — the shop's own branded line of crafted comfort items and apparel. It's a small nod to the rise of locally rooted outdoor brands popping up across the Shenandoah Valley.

Location & Hours

Bud Co Trail Supply is tucked into Suite 105A of the Virginia Metalcrafters Marketplace, 1010 East Main Street, Waynesboro, VA 22980. Store hours:

• Monday — Closed
• Tuesday–Friday — 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM
• Saturday — 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM
• Sunday — 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM

Weekend mornings open early, which is exactly right for a shop this close to the trailhead — grab that extra fuel canister, top off your first aid kit, and be on the ridge by mid-morning.

Why It Matters for the Valley

Waynesboro sits in one of the most trafficked outdoor corridors on the East Coast, and yet dedicated trail outfitters within walking distance of the AT are rare. A locally owned shop stocked for actual Blue Ridge conditions — humid summers, cold rainy shoulder seasons, the occasional January ice storm — is a real addition for hikers and for the town.

If you're heading up Humpback Rock, tackling a section of the AT, or just camping out at Sherando Lake for the weekend, Bud Co is worth a stop on the way.