Overview
Cottage Industry Backpacking Gear Companies
These companies build the best ultralight backpacking gear in the world by hand in the United States.
Cottage Industry Backpack, Shelter and Sleep Systems
- AntiGravityGear – Lightweight shelters, cookware, stoves and more.
- Appy Trails – Lightweight backpacking tents.
- As Tucas – Lightweight bivy sacks and apparel.
- Bear Paw Wilderness Designs – Lightweight shelters and accessories.
- Borah Gear – Bivies, shelters and apparel.
- Big Sky International – Ultralight freestanding shelters and accessories.
- Equinox LTD – Ultralight backpacks, shelters, accessories and more.
- Etowah Outfitters – Ultralight backpacking tarps, backpacks and stoves.
- Gossamer Gear – Ultralight backpacks, shelters, sleep systems & more.
- Hilleberg USA – Backpacking and camping tents.
- Hilltop Packs – Dyneema backpacks, stuff sacks and more.
- Hyperlite Mountain Gear – One of my favorite Dyneema backpack, tarp and stuff sack manufacturers.
- Integral Designs – Lightweight shelter systems, tarps & bivies.
- Locus Gear – Shelters, bivies and accessories.
- Mountain Laurel Designs – Ultralight tents, tarps, bivies and backpacks.
- Oookworks – Ultralight shelters.
- Oware – Ultralight shelters, bivysacks and accessories.
- LightHeart Gear – Ultralight tents, rain gear, fabrics and accessories.
- McHale Alpine Packs – Cuben fiber ultralight backpacks.
- Moonbow Gear – Lightweight custom backpacks, shelters and more.
- SeekOutside – Modular backcountry packs, shelters and more.
- Six Moon Designs – Ultralight backpacks, shelters and accessories.
- Superior Wilderness Designs – Custom X-Pac and Dyneema backpacks and accessories.
- Tarptent – A pioneer in lightweight tents.
- Terra Rosa Gear – Ultralight shelters and custom work.
- Titanium Goat – Lightweight tents, bivies and accessories.
- ULA Equipment – One of the most popular ultralight backpack companies around.
- Yama Mountain Gear – Ultralight backpacking tents, tarps and accessories.
- Waymark Gear Co. – X-Pac and Cuben Fiber / Dyneema backpacks, stuff sacks and accessories.
- Zimmerbuilt – One the foremost custom ultralight backpack builders around.
- Zpacks – A cuben fiber gear innovator that makes ultralight tarps, tents, backpacks and more.
Cottage Industry Sleeping Bags & Quilt Specialists
- Enlightened Equipment – Top quilts and under quilts.
- Feathered Friends – Ultralight down sleeping bags and garments.
- Katabatic Gear – Amazing ultralight down sleeping quilts, bivys and hoods.
- Nunatak – Ultralight down sleeping quilts and apparel.
- Western Mountaineering – Ultralight down sleeping bags, garments and sleeping accessories.
Cottage Industry Stove & Cookware Specialists
- BatchStovez – Ultralight stoves, cookware and cook systems.
- Brasslite Backpacking Stoves – Lightweight alcohol stoves and accessories.
- Bushbuddy – Wood burning backpacking stoves.
- Clickstand – Ultralight alcohol stoves and windscreens.
- Flat Cat Gear – Backpacking stoves and cook systems.
- Four Dog Stoves – Backpacking and large camping stoves and cookware.
- MKettle – Outdoor cooking kettles.
- QiWiz UL – Ultralight stoves, trowels and accessories.
- Simply Light Designs – Ultralight shelters, tarps and accessories.
- Solo Stove – Lightweight wood burning stoves.
- Trail Designs – Lightweight stoves, cookware and accessories.
- Water Road Outfitters – Lightweight wood burning backpacking stoves.
- Zelph Stoves – Ultralight alcohol stoves and accessories.
Cottage Industry Clothing and Apparel Specialists
- Elemental Horizons – Lightweight backpacks, sleep systems and accessories.
- Goosefeet Gear – Down booties and apparel.
Cottage Industry Accessories
- Dirty Girl Gaiters – Customizable lightweight gaiters.
- DIY Gear Supply – Raw materials, hardware and fabrics.
- Lawson Equipment – My favorite producer of cordage for tarp and tent guylines.
- LW Gear – Lightweight backpacking videos.
- Ray Jardine – The godfather of UL backpacking’s MYOG kits and tutorials.
- Ruta Locura – Trekking poles, tent poles & stakes, titanium hardware and more.
- Simblissity – Lightweight gaiters, map sets, storage sacks and accessories.
- Suluk 46 – Ultralight backpacking stoves, tools and accessories.
Traditional Backpacking Gear Companies
Backpack, Shelter and Sleep Systems
- Arc’teryx – Outdoor clothing, technical outerwear and accessories.
- Big Agnes – Backpacking tents, sleeping bags and accessories.
- Black Diamond – Climbing equipment, apparel, headlamps and hardware.
- Camelbak – Outdoor hydration packs and reservoirs.
- CiloGear – Technical outdoor bags and packs.
- Coleman – Outdoor and camping goods.
- Cotopaxi – Backpacks and apparel.
- Deuter – Backpacking and day packs.
- Eureka – Camping tents and sleeping pads.
- Easton Mountain Products – A full range of hunting and outdoors goods.
- Exped – Backpacking sleeping pads and more.
- Granite Gear – Lightweight backpacking gear and accessories.
- Gregory – Backpacking backpacks and day packs.
- GSI Outdoors – Backcountry cookware, utensils and accessories.
- Mamut – Outdoor and climbing gear and apparel.
- Marmot – Backpacking apparel, rain gear and equipment.
- Mountain Hardwear – Outdoor gear and apparel.
- Mountainsmith – Backpacks, camera bags and outdoor gear.
- Mountain Safety Research (MSR) – Backpacking stoves, snowshoes and outdoor accessories.
- NEMO Equipment – Backcountry sleeping bags, tents and accessories.
- Osprey – Backpacking packs and day packs.
- Outdoor Products – Backpacks, tarps and accessories.
- Rab – Outdoor shelters, apparel and more.
- REI – Wide range of backpacking and outdoor gear and apparel.
- Sierra Designs – A traditional gear company that is pushing boundaries and taking risks.
- The North Face – Outdoor shelters, backpacks, apparel and more.
Stoves & Cookware
- BioLite – Off-grid personal scale energy products for cooking, charging, and lighting.
- Esbit – Lightweight stoves, cookware and solid fuel cubes.
- Evernew – Corporate Link (no direct sales) Ultralight titanium cookware.
- Jetboil – Ferocious backpack and camping stoves.
- Light My Fire – Backcountry cookware and utensils.
- Optimus – Very reasonably priced backpacking cookware and stoves.
- Primus – Backcountry stoves and accessories.
- Snow Peak – Lightweight titanium backpacking stoves, cookware and accessories.
- SOTO – Backpacking stoves, cookware and accessories.
- Toaks – Titanium cookware at a reasonable price.
- Vargo – Ultralight alcohol stoves and windscreens.
Clothing and Apparel
- Buffalo Systems – Outdoor apparel.
- Darn Tough – Awesome merino socks with a lifetime replacement guarantee.
- ExOfficio – Outdoor clothing and apparel.
- Headsweats – Athletic headwear.
- Ibex – Merino wool base layers and apparel.
- Icebreaker – Merino wool base layers and apparel.
- La Sportiva – Athletic apparel and running and hiking shoes.
- Montbell – Backpacking gear and some of my favorite down apparel.
- Nike – Outdoor and athletic apparel and shoes.
- Outdoor Research – Outdoor jackets, gaiters and apparel.
- Patagonia – Killer gear and clothing with an incredible environmental ethos.
- Railriders – Outdoor travel apparel and clothing.
- Royal Robbins – Outdoor apparel.
- Smartwool – Merino wool base layers and apparel.
- Under Armour – Outdoor and athletic apparel.
Shoes and Boots
- Altra Running – Road and trail running shoes with zero drop.
- ASICS – Running shoes and activewear.
- Brooks – Road and trail running shoes.
- Inov8 – Road and trail running shoes.
- HOKA ONE ONE – Road and trail running shoes and hiking boots.
- Keen – Wide selection of running shoes and footwear.
- Lowa – Hiking and mountaineering boots.
- Merrell – Wide range of hiking, running and casual footwear and apparel.
- Montrail – Trail running and hiking shoes.
- New Balance – Wide range of athletic shoes and apparel.
- Oboz – Hiking shoes and boots.
- Salomon – Running and trail running shoes and athletic apparel.
- Saucony – Running shoes and apparel.
- Scarpa – Casual, technical and mountaineering footwear.
- Vasque – Hiking shoes and boots.
- Zamberlan – Hiking and trekking boots.
Accessories
- Adventure Medical Kits – Backcountry first aid kits and accessories.
- Alpacka Raft – Packrafts and accessories.
- Black Crystal – Waterproof gaiters.
- Bodyglide – Anti-chafing and blister prevention products.
- Dr. Bronner’s – Organic soaps and other bodycare products.
- Gear Aid – Gear repair tape and products.
- Hillsound – Slip on crampons.
- Kahtoola – Microspikes for icy conditions.
- Klymit – Cutting edge sleeping pads.
- Leki – Trekking poles and outdoor products.
- LOKSAK – Waterproof bags and “Smell proof” bags.
- LuminAID – Portable solar powered lights.
- Nite Ize – LED lights, key chains, carabiners and more.
- Outdoor Wilderness Fabrics – Raw fabrics and hardware.
- PackTowl – Ultralight towels.
- Princeton Tec – Flashlights, head lamps, and other technical lighting sources.
- Sea to Summit – Outdoor backpacks, stuff sacks and accessories.
- SealLine – Waterproof outdoor gear.
- SOL – Outdoor survival kits and gear.
- Therm-a-Rest – Sleeping pads and backpacking accessories.
- Thru-Hiker – Raw materials, hardware and gear kits.
- YETI Coolers – Premium ice chests.
Electronics & Electronics Accessories
- Anker – High quality external batteries and accessories for smartphones.
- Casio – Outdoor watches with compasses, elevation, temperature and barometric data.
- Garmin – GPS units and watches.
- Goal Zero – Portable power, external batteries large and small, solar panels and more.
- LifeProof – Bulletproof smartphones cases.
- Petzl – Alpine equipment and headlamps.
- Photon – LED flashlights and keychains.
- SkullCandy – Great sounding earbuds are a reasonable price.
- Suunto – GPS watches, dive computers, heart rate monitors and outdoor sports instruments.
Water Filtration and Treatment
- Aquamira – Water treatment drops and tabs.
- Lifestraw – Water filtration straws.
- Katadyn – Water filters and treatment solutions.
- Potable Aqua – Water treatment tabs.
- Sawyer – Water filtration, insect repellants and sunscreen.
- SteriPen – UV water purification.
Knives & Tools
- Benchmade – High quality knives.
- Gerber – Knives, axes and outdoor tools.
- Leatherman – Multi-tools, knives and pocket tools.
- Victorinox Swiss Army – Awesome knives.
Water Storage
- Hydro Flask – Hydration and liquid container products.
- Klean Kanteen – Stainless steel bottles, cups and mugs.
- Platypus – Collapsible water containers, reservoirs and more.
- Nalgene – Liquid containers and products.
- Vapur – Collapsible water containers.
Bear Canisters & Protection
- Bare Boxer – Bear canisters.
- Counter Assault – Bear spray, canisters and bear accessories.
- Garcia – (no corporate site) Bear canisters.
- Wild Ideas – Makers of the Bearikade, the lightest bear cannister around.
Food
- Harmony House – Freeze dried and dehydrated foods.
- Mountain House – Freeze dried foods.
- Wise Company – Survival and emergency food.
Maps
- Tom Harrison – (Corporate Site) Waterproof topo maps.
- National Geographic – Topo maps and apps.
Hammock Gear & Accessory Manufacturers
- 2QZQ Hammock Specialties – Hammocks, hammock tarps and accessories.b
- Amok Equipment – Hammocks with bug nets, tarps and suspension.
- Arrowhead Equipment – Hammocks, tarps and hammock accessories.
- Bear Butt Hammocks – Hammocks, straps and more.
- The Bearded Hanger – Hammocks, accessories and beards.
- Butt in a Sling – Hammocks, suspension and accessories.
- Clark Jungle Hammock – Robust jungle hammock shelter systems.
- Crazy Creek – Hammocks and hammock tarps.
- DD Hammocks – Camping hammocks and accessories.
- Dream Hammock – Lightweight backpacking hammocks with bug nets.
- Dutchware Gear – Leader in ultralight hammocks, titanium hardware and accessories.
- Eagles Nest Outfitters (ENO) – Hammocks, suspension and accessories.
- Grand Trunk – Hammocks, suspension and accessories.
- Hammock Bliss – Hammocks, tarps and acc
- Hammock Gear – Lightweight hammock tarps, quilts and accessories.
- Handy Hammock – Hammocks with their own portable hammock stands.
- Helsdon Outdoors – Bridge hammock shelter systems.
- Hennessy Hammock – Hammock shelters.
- Jacks R Better – Hammocks, tarps, quilts and hammock accessories.
- Kammok – Camping hammocks, suspension and underquilts and accessories.
- Lawson Hammock – Bridge hammock shelter systems.
- Minorswing Hammocks – Hammocks and accessories.
- Molly Mac Gear – Synthetic, underquilts, mukluks, canvas anoraks and more.
- Mosquito Hammock – Robust jungle hammock shelter systems.
- Pak-it-Lite Hammocks – Hammocks and tent like hammock tarps.
- Sheltowee – Hammocks with built in underquilts and accessories.
- Ship in a Bottle – Hammocks and toggles.
- Sierra Madre Research – Camping shelter systems.
- SoCo Hammocks – Hammocks and hammock suspension.
- Serac Hammocks – Hammocks and hammock suspension.
- Tentsile – Three point camping hammock tents.
- Ticket-to-the-Moon Hammocks – Hammocks, backpacks, chairs and accessories.
- Tree Boat Hammocks – Bridge hammocks and insulation.
- Tree to Tree Trail Gear – Camping hammocks and accessories.
- Tenth Wonder Hammocks – Hammocks, hammock tarps and accessories.
- Trek LIght Gear – Hammock gear and accessories.
- The Ultimate Hang – Perhaps the ultimate authority and resources for all things hammock.
- Underground Quilts – Hammock under quilts and tarps.
- Warbonnet Outdoors – Lightweight hammock tarps, quilts and accessories.
- WhoopieSlings.com – Whoopie sling hammock suspension and tarp guylines.
- Yukon Outfitters – Hammocks, bags and hammock accessories.
Ultralight Gear Companies that have Shut Down
- Anna’s Hammocks – Hammocks and suspension.
- Appalachian Hammock – Hammocks, tarps and bug nets.
- Bakpocket Hammocks – Hammocks, backpacks, bags and more.
- Brooks Range Mountaineering – Mountaineering sleep systems and apparel.
- E-Case – Waterproof electronics and phone cases.
- Hammeck – Hammocks, hammock stands and accessories. (Closed)
- Hungry Hikers – Freeze dried foods.
- Luke’s Ultralight – Ultralight backpacking apparel, stuff sacks and accessories.
- Minibulldesign Cult – Alcohol and traditional fuel stoves and accessories.
- Navy Hammock – Camping hammocks and accessories.
- Packafeather – Ultralight alcohol stoves and accessories.
- Mid-Atlantic Mountain Works – Top quilts, underquilts and accessories.
- Out Gear Recreation – Hammocks and hammock related gear.
- Outdoor Equipment Supplier LLC – Lightweight tarps and accessories.
- Southern Hammock Camping – Beach hammocks.
- UK Hammocks – Hammocks, tarps, underquilts and more.
- Wilderness Logics – Hammocks, hammock tarp and hammock accessories.
Backpacking Community and Forums
- Backpacking Light – The biggest ultralight backpacking forum in the world!
- HammockForums.net – One of the biggest hammock forums around.
- White Blaze – An Appalachian Trail centric community that also covers so much more.
Trace
#Love, backpacking, bass music, burning man, animal protein and dogs. <3