What we’ve realized is that we never would have known about some of the “cottage industry” backpacking gear companies had we not gotten into backpacking and struck up conversations with fellow backpackers on the trail. Therefore, it became our goal to provide a list of backpacking gear/outdoors brands we recommend checking out. There are so many great options out there (please note: we will add others as we become more familiar with their products, etc.):
Smaller “Cottage Industry” Backpacking Gear Companies
- Enlightened Equipment – Sleeping bags, quilts, jackets & accessories with customization options
- Hyperlite Mountain Gear – Ultra-light Packs
- Mountain Laurel Designs – Ultra-light custom packs & shelters
- Goosefeet Gear – Down Booties
- Nemo Equipment – Sleeping bags from a New Hampshire based company
- Hummingbird Hammocks – Ultra-light hammocks
- Z-Packs – Ultralight backpacks, shelters & accessories
- Feathered Friends – Ultralight down sleeping bags and apparel
- Six Moon Designs – Ultralight packs, tents & shelters, and other items
- Elemental Horizons – Ultralight semi-custom packs and accessories
- Hennessey Hammocks – Lightweight hammocks & hammock shelters
- Suluk 46 – Ultralight backpacking tools
- Outdoor Herbivore – Food
- Gossamer Gear – Ultralight packs, shelters, and more
- Wintergreen Northern Wear – Outdoors Apparel
Larger Conglomerate Outdoors Brands
- REI Co-Op – Apparel, sleeping bags, tents, packs, etc.
- Gear that gives back to the outdoors (a portion of proceeds from each purchase are donated)
- Big Agnes – Tents and sleeping bags
- The North Face – Apparel, outerwear, footwear, tents, etc.
- MSR – Cooking equipment, tents, water filtration, etc.
- Darn Tough – Wool socks
- Smartwool – Wool socks, garments and apparel
- Osprey – Packs
- Gregory – Packs
- Granite Gear – Packs
- Marmot – Apparel, jackets, tents, etc.
- Snow Peak – Ultra-light cookware
- GSI Outdoors – Cookware, mugs, etc.
- Ruffwear – Dog gear
- ENO Outfitters – Hammocks
- Icebreaker – Wool apparel
- Black Diamond – Variety of gear
- Petzl – Headlamps
- Pro Bar – Food
- Hammer Nutrition – Bars, powders & supplements
fullscend.com 