Every year, new gear hits the market from big-name manufacturers. This stuff is plastered all over the cover of every magazine and gear roundup. However, what you might not know about are the smaller brands (and their gear) that show up to the party each year. Today our article is dedicated to the smaller hiking and backpacking gear manufacturers.
Small backpacking brands are often born as a direct result of a hiker or backpacker who has solved a problem for the community. That’s why these companies tend to make exceptional gear! Team sizes are small, products are personally tested and developed by the owners, and the companies can adapt quickly. Any small business owner knows, however, that it’s not that easy to run a successful company. It takes more than just passion to make it in the business world.We think more hikers and backpackers should know about smaller brands.
Appalachian Gear Company
AGC is a small brand focusing specifically on clothing made from Alpaca yarn. I made entirely their gear from 100% alpaca fibers and, as they’ll be happy to tell you, has many advantages and benefits over other fabrics. They’re so popular, in fact, that you better be on the ball when inventory gets listed or you won’t get one! They’re in high demand.According to founder John Gage, “…smaller/indie brands tend to focus on unique products that are more highly targeted. These products sometimes focus on innovative materials, innovative designs, or a more personalized approach.” This is a big reason for their success and, for that matter, a big part of the reason why many small brands are on the map. Few, if any can compete with the mass volume of sales and marketing put out by large brands. However, you won’t find a niche product like AGC’s All-Paca products anywhere else.
I also asked John for his thoughts on the importance of supporting small(er) brands and his response was great so I’ll put it here unabridged:
It’s always important to support smaller brands for a few very important reasons. Small businesses are drivers of job creation, and this is especially important right now. In fact, the U.S. Small Business Administration states that small businesses are responsible for 65% of net new job creation since 2000.Small businesses are widely known to be drivers of innovation. As proof, look at the explosion of ultralight backpacks and tents made from high-tech composite fabrics. These high-tech composites were adopted by emerging cottage-brands in the early 2000s, and have grown in popularity steadily since. Large brands were NOT early adopters of these high tech materials because they were unproven – and the ultralight community was not large enough to be important to volume-driven large companies. Today, these types of fabrics are the gold standard.
Finally, small businesses are more in-tune with their customers. They have to listen because the primary way for a small business to survive is to provide products and services that customers are actually looking for. Just pay attention to how many company founders and senior executives are manning the booths at outdoor festivals. That’s how we understand firsthand what’s happening in the market – and how we are able to react to it faster.
If you’re not familiar with AGC then please take a second to read the rest of John’s responses to our questions and go check them out!
Gossamer Gear
Gossamer Gear made my first ever ultralight backpack a decade ago. If you’re not familiar, these guys and gals make lightweight packs, sleeping gear, poles, and other gear for the UL/lightweight community. They’ve grown a lot since I first met them, all the while staying true and making great products!With so many years of using and enjoying their products I just want to say thanks to the Gossamer Gear team for their good work and positive interactions over the years. If you like lightweight backpacking products and you haven’t heard of Gossamer Gear, then you’re in luck today! Of all the “ultralight” brands out there, Gossamer Gear is always my first stop for backpackers – they just seem to do them better than anybody else.
I still happily recommend their gear (though my LT3 poles may be dated by their new standards), but why don’t we see what GG has to say about the state of the industry? Let’s get an inside scoop! Sarah, from Gossamer Gear, was kind enough to answer a handful of our questions about what it’s like to be a small (but fantastic) player in a big industry:
NATHAN Sports
I had a chance to work with NATHAN recently to check out some of their running gear. These guys are a small, high-performance, mostly running-focused company but I wanted them in this article for the crossover with trail running and day hiking. Most of us backpackers dabble in (or are obsessed with) trail running and other ways to get on the trail.In fact, when I asked NATHAN about how they plan to serve the hiking community, they said much the same. NATHAN feels that their lightweight, agile packs, hydration accessories, and apparel are a great fit for light and fast trail goers.
I wanted to hear about how NATHAN views their potential value to the hiking and backpacking community and they had this to say:
We offer the lightest weight packs with enough essential storage for a hiker’s needs. Our packs are created and tested by athletes of every kind. We often hear comments from consumers when they pick up the packs for the first time, surprised by how lightweight they are with such a high level of functionality. Also, many hiking packs don’t have front pockets or side pockets. Many hikers love Nathan packs because they have access to their phone, hydration, nutrition, and layers in easy-to-reach locations.
I think that their multi-sport and high-function testing for lightweight gear makes them a really solid candidate for crossover products lightweight backpackers can look forward to. In fact, they told me about their Trail Mix line of products specifically aimed at trail running and recommended these products for hikers and trail runners:The Trail Mix Collection was specifically designed for taking on the trail (hence the name)
- 7L – more compact, hydration pack with room for a light jacket and small snacks.
- 12L – better for consumers who want to bring more essentials with them, offers a roll-top for expanding capacity.
Pinnacle 12L and 4L – these are for the lightweight, minimalist hiker.So, if you prefer to hit the trail lightweight and fast – whether running or hiking – I think you should probably pop over to NATHAN Sports and check out their gear!
Lightheart Gear
I still remember the first time I visited Appalachian Trail Days back in, maybe, 2009. A few companies stood out to me as I wandered and spoke with folks. While Judy (founder) from Lightheart Gear probably doesn’t recall meeting me, her company and their products still stand out to me – in fact, I regularly recommend them!Lightheart Gear makes some of the best gear blended between ultralight and practical/functional. While some are willing to sacrifice anything to shave off an ounce, most hikers are not willing to do that. Lightheart Gear is a great company for those who want to save weight without going crazy hardcore. They do so much more than just lightweight gear though, so let’s hear from Judy at Lightheart about what it’s like to be a smaller company in a big industry.Here’s what Judy had to say about why her company is unique to backpackers, “We bring common sense and user experience to our products. Instead of having someone “designing” in an office who doesn’t actually backpack, we actually use the products. We know what works, how we want them to work, we know what is superfluous and a waste of weight, complexity, etc.”
There’s no doubt Lightheart Gear is a brand for the people, by the people so to speak.Judy had a lot of other great insight so I’ll let you have it straight from the horse’s mouth:
Swiftwick
I’ve been wearing some Swiftwick socks for a while now (provided as a sample) and I have to say they perform just as well as, or outperform, any pair of socks in the drawer. I’ve used socks from a lot of the top brands in the outdoor world and I’ll take Swiftwick up against any of them.While some brands dominate the performance sock market, there are a lot of smaller companies like Swiftwick who are catching up and keeping pace! These guys have basically every cut and style of sock you can imagine for activities on and off the trail. Golf, running, hiking, you name it – they’re covering it and they seem to add new designs every week.One of the things I liked the most after talking to the company is that they’re focused on giving back and staying in touch. Here’s what they had to say about supporting the outdoor community, “Supporting our communities through giving back and partnering with organizations that share our mission is one of our core brand pillars.” They’re also supremely focused on their small carbon footprint and providing quality products made in the USA.Here’s a bit more from the company about their products and their commitment to the outdoor community:
Other Small Backpacking Brands
I wasn’t able to get into direct contact with every small hiking brand out there. Additionally, I don’t know every small or upcoming hiking brand so please leave a comment if you have one to recommend! However, here are a few other hiking and backpacking brands I’d like to give a shoutout to – go check them out!
Underground Quilts
I’ve known the team at UGQ for quite some time. In fact, I even had them custom make a 50-degree ultralight quilt for me several years back. I love their products and they’ve come a long way since I met Paul working out of a corner of his house.UGQ is hands down my first recommendation for ultralight backpacking quilts.These days they’re also making some pretty great lightweight backpacking tarps as well. I’m still using a 2-person tarp from them and, at the time I was shopping for it, I just couldn’t find another tarp that would match the value and quality for the price.Go check them out and don’t hesitate to send them an email if you have specific requests!
Dream Hammock
At one point Dream Hammock was known pretty well for their Darien UL hammock – it was the lightest production hammock in the backpacking world. I don’t know these days if that’s still true, but it’s notable nonetheless.If you’re new to the world of hammocks as backpacking shelters, I recommend checking it out! I used a hammock as my only shelter on the trail for years and loved it! Hammocks can be a really fun way to enjoy camping on the trail or at the campground.Just like UGQ, Dream Hammock is a small operation focused on quality. If you need help getting started hammocking, reach out to their team and they’ll help you work through it. You really can’t beat the quality!Note: If you’re an experienced hammock camper, Dream Hammock has a lot of customization and will make hammocks built to your exact needs! Really cool stuff.
Jacks R Better
Jacks R Better is another small custom cottage company making backpacking gear. They’re kind of a cross between UGQ and Dream Hammock in that they make both quilts and hammocks.Unlike the other two, however, Jacks R Better stands out for their famous bridge hammock. If you’re not familiar, a bridge hammock uses a spanner bar at the head and foot to make an open, flat laying hammock.If you’re interested in hammock camping but don’t like the “banana” feel of a gathered end hammock, check out the Jacks R Better bridge hammock!
Kane Footwear
Kane reached out and introduced themselves to me recently. They’re still very small and working to launch some awesome products. I asked to check out their footwear because they really seem to be a good choice for backpacking camp shoes.
If you’re a fan of using lightweight close-toe shoes for around camp I really think you should check these guys out. Their shoes are made from sustainable products like sugar cane (somehow, I think it’s magic!) yet they act and perform like regular shoes.According to the founder John, “Our Mission was to create a superior well-designed EVA shoe that supports and stimulates recovery and that is planet-friendly.” I think that mission statement will resonate well with the hiking community, too!While I haven’t taken out the scale to weigh them yet, they’re certainly light enough to compete with any popular camp shoe and they have a great little loop on the back of the shoe so you can hang them from your pack while you walk.I can see these shoes upsetting the balance of power in the camp shoe market over the coming years!
Mountain Laurel Designs
MLD has been a staple in the ultralight community for years. These guys focus on leading-edge materials and design to shave off every ounce and keep things light.If you’re trying to lighten up your pack, I highly recommend considering some of the gear from MLD. If you need help, be sure to email them and ask – it’s not always easy finding the perfect piece of ultralight gear!Of all their gear, the stuff that stands out the most to me is their mid-tents. These pyramid-style tents are an awesome option for their versatility and lightweight.Especially for non-buggy regions, something like the Solomid tarp with a simple groundsheet under it can weigh very little and make an effective shelter system!Of course, MLD produces more than just tents so get familiar with their gear and enjoy!
Zpacks
At one point they were a small player but Zpacks quickly exploded into one of the biggest names in ultralight backpacking.These days you can find great gear for any backpacker at Zpacks. Yes, they do have bleeding edge crazy ultralight stuff, but many of their offerings are well-rounded too!I highly recommend checking out their clothing lineup. It’s all crazy lightweight, packable, and extremely functional. Don’t miss it. I’ve been using the DCF Rain Kilt for years and love it.There’s no doubt in my mind that the majority of backpackers could stand to lighten their load by picking up some Zpacks gear!
Hennessy Hammock
These guys made my first-ever backpacking hammock. I remember meeting this company at Appalachian Trail Days a decade ago and their hammocks were one of the coolest things I’d seen!Today they have a wide array of different hammocks available. One unique feature is their zipperless hammocks. These use overlapping fabric on the bottom of the hammock to allow entry. Once you’re in the hammock, the fabric supports your weight. This allows for a very lightweight hammock construction.While I haven’t stayed in touch with this company over the years, I’m sure they’re still producing top-quality backpacking hammocks.
Sierra Designs
Thanks to the generosity of their marketing team, I’ve had a chance to check out and use a few Sierra Designs tents recently. I have to say, I really like their quality and I think it far outperforms the price tag.Specifically, I took the Clearwing on an overnight fishing trip with a few friends. While it’s not “ultralight” it’s small and light enough by far to easily pack in a few miles for backcountry overnights!I would highly recommend these tents to anyone, but particularly beginners or occasional users. They’re super easy to set up and the poles are dummy-proof to assemble. I was really impressed with the tent quality as it stood very rigid after an easy setup. It even held up with my Alaskan Malamute stomping around and sleeping inside with me overnight.If they keep making gear with such good quality-to-value-ratio I think I’ll have to keep recommending them more often!
Conclusion
I know I didn’t include every single small backpacking and hiking brand. Many of the brands here I have either owned gear from personally or had a chance to test gear from. Other brands on this list I’ve heard such good things about over the last decade that I trust their reputation enough to recommend them.There are always new small companies popping up. One of the best things about small hiking companies is that they tend to innovate and deliver cutting-edge gear that big names just don’t bother with. It’s always worth keeping an eye on the up-and-coming or established small companies to see what new gear they’re launching (or that you’ve overlooked). I think you’ll be amazed at the quality and type of gear you can get from the brands on this list.I know that once I started buying my gear from cottage industry manufacturers, I really haven’t gone back. When I first started hiking and backpacking I was always at REI, checking out Backcountry’s website, or shopping Sierra Trading Post for deals. These days I go straight to the source of the best gear in the outdoor market – the small cottage companies that are innovating and producing amazing quality gear.I’m not here to tell you which small hiking brands are best for you, just to encourage you to go check out and support small hiking brands. They’re doing great work and we’re here to support them as they bring us awesome new gear every season!
PS – Thank you to all the brands who reached out to answer my questions!
