Cottage Industry and Traditional Backpacking Gear Directory

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.