From small beginnings come great things. What started as a seed planted in an adventurer’s mind turned into a company that creates, innovates, and delivers lightweight, durable, and cutting-edge gear for outdoor enthusiasts around the world. Our relentless pursuit of making things better, of answering questions, and of finding solutions continues to drive us. It’s our bedrock, our reason to be. We’re excited to have you along for the ride.     Our Story It All Began On The Trail Inspiration comes from the most unexpected places. In 1995, while living in Japan, Brian Vargo read a s ..read more

As an avid enjoyer of hiking and trail running, there was a time in my life when I would let winter get me down. I avoided icy trails like cracks in the sidewalk, almost superstitious of the perils they held. It wasn’t that I didn’t have traction devices at the time, it was that the trail traction technology out there felt heavy and cumbersome, not to mention hard to keep on my feet. That’s not the story anymore, though—in fact, I often forget I’m wearing traction devices at all until I feel my titanium cleats dig into the snow with a crunch. If you’re in the market to go the extra distance t ..read more

Whether you’re going for an easy day hike or plan on exploring the backcountry for weeks on end, you need to dress the part. To paraphrase Mark Twain, “clothes make the adventurer”. So if you’re planning on spending any time breaking a sweat and getting dirty outside, there are a few things that you should know. Not all clothes are created equal. In other words, a shirt that’s great for a day in the park probably can’t hold it’s own on the trails. Cotton, for instance, may feel light and breezy but it’s lousy at wicking moisture and can cause serious chafing. Staying clean is clutch. If you ..read more

For avid adventure enthusiasts, choosing a backpack is no small matter. This piece of gear becomes an extension of yourself, says a great deal about who you are and how you approach the outdoors, and, most importantly, has a significant impact on your physical comfort. Just as there are dozens of aspects to consider when choosing a vehicle or the right laptop, when choosing an externally framed backpack, there are a few key things to take into consideration that may make or break your decision. Whether you’re into summit pushes, high-alpine lake hikes, or rolling hills through lush forests, f ..read more

When I started backpacking, there was only one kind of stove to take along: liquid petroleum fueled. In the USA, naphtha, also commonly called white gas or Coleman fuel, was used. In Scotland, when I lived there, white gas was scarce so kerosene (known as paraffin oil there) was burned instead. Then, canister stoves and prepackaged cans of isobutane went mainstream. But, some outdoor enthusiasts sought stoves that were lighter, simpler to use, and more environmentally friendly. If this kind of stove sounds interesting to you, you’ll want to read more about alcohol stoves, and the unique advan ..read more

There’s a definitive moment that marks a person’s departure from mere outdoor tourist to outdoorsman or outdoorswoman and that moment is when you’re willing to go number two in the woods and dig the hole yourself. Whether you’re making this move because you want to do rugged, dispersed camping instead of staying at manicured sites with vault toilets, or you’re getting into backpacking, you’re gonna need a good piece of equipment to dig that hole. Read on to discover which trowels are right for you and your adventures. A Brief History of Going Number Two Outside First and foremost, trowels ha ..read more

A Brief History Of Fire Charred bone and ash. That’s how we know that a million years ago, our ancestors had most likely harnessed the power of fire. Based on evidence found in Wonderwerk Cave in South Africa, scientists have discovered signs of the earliest fire including tools, surface fracturing, and the aforementioned plant ash and bone. Modern humans have only been around for approximately 200,000 years which means that fire precedes us. As it turns out, we may have our ancestors, the Homo Erectus, to thank for this incredible discovery. The general consensus is that Homo Erectus used fir ..read more

Pushing the boundaries is part of the outdoor experience. I like to see how much faster I can go, how much further into the wilderness, and how much fun I can pack into my outdoor adventures. A natural part of this pursuit is finding gear that empowers me to push the boundaries of the outdoor experience. If this sounds like you, you’ll want to check out titanium cookware. Titanium is great for many outdoor gear applications, but it especially shines in the world of cookware. First of all, it’s unearthly light—ideal for backpackers like me that trim their toothbrushes to save weight. It’s also ..read more

For me, pushing the boundaries is part of the outdoor experience. I like to see how much faster I can go, how much further into the wilderness, and how much fun I can pack into my outdoor adventures. A natural part of this pursuit is finding gear that empowers me to push the boundaries of the outdoor experience. If this sounds like you, you’ll want to check out titanium water bottles. Titanium is great for many outdoor gear applications—but it especially shines in the world of water bottles. It’s non-reactive, doesn’t impact tastes, and has an otherworldly grey luster that casually whispers ..read more

My outdoor adventures combine a love of innovative equipment, and a desire to have the most fun possible outside. That’s why we go outside, right? On most of hiking, biking, camping and paddling trips, I like to bring a little liquor to the toast the pleasures of a day spent outside. But, an ordinary, heavy flask isn’t a good fit for me. I like newer, cooler gear, and I don’t like anything I carry to be heavy. If this sounds like you—you’ll want to check out the ultimate cocktail accessory—a flask made from titanium. Titanium is amazing for many outdoor gear applications. It shines especially ..read more