Design

Accessory Strap Holders: Return of an Icon

Accessory strap holders were originally designed as a means to allow the user to add lash straps to a backpack to secure either items that were oddly shaped (such as ice axes...

Design

On Shoulder Straps

In the über-cush world we find ourselves in, we may sometimes like to imagine that a heavy backpack can be worn over many hours and many trail miles with no discomfort. As...

Design

Ballistic vs. Leather Pack Bottoms

For several decades, it seemed that any serious backpack for day hiking or climbing always had a leather bottom. The image of a hiker or climber scrambling over rough terrain, occasionally (or...

Community

Brain Bag at Stone Mountain, Georgia

Thanks to Markus Whitworth for the photo.

Company

Can't show you the prototype packs we're testing...

But here's the view from the trail.

Community

Synapses at Iguazu Falls

We emailed Jeff to thank him again for a photo he'd sent us a few months ago and he responded with this: "It's funny you should get in touch because I'm actually...

Community

Smart Alec at the amphitheater rice terraces, Batad, Philippines

Photo posted by Zero in the Forums. See also: the Smart Alec.

Community

"I've had my Empire Builder for almost four years now."

John included this note with his order for a Brain Cell: "I've had my Empire Builder for almost four years now. In that time it's travelled in the back of pickup trucks...

Community

Synapse 19 at a mountain lake

Community

Co-Pilot on Safari in Kenya

Thanks to Roger for sending us this photo. See also: the Co-Pilot

Company Updates

Introducing Smart Alec Modular Pockets + Gate Keeper Straps

Tom (Designer and CEO) and Nik (our Production Engineer) have designed three new accessories -- Modular Pockets & Straps -- for the Smart Alec that offer additional (and customizable) organization and carrying...

Sewn in Seattle

Tom's favorite gifts to give

Raindrops on roses? Whiskers on kittens? I'm going to go out on a limb and recommend some alternatives, just in case you're tapped out of ideas for gifts: If you've family or...