Beyond The Trailhead

In this episode of Beyond the Trailhead, I sit down with Mateo Favero, Director of Marketing and Design at Zpacks.
Mateo has been with Zpacks since 2010, back when the company was still being run out of a garage. He started by learning how to sew from scratch and has now been part of Zpacks for more than 16 years, helping shape the brand’s marketing, product design, and ultralight gear development.
Zpacks was founded by Joe Valesko in 2005 after he started making his own gear for an Appalachian Trail thru-hike. He wanted gear that was lighter, simpler, and more functional than what was available at the time. Other hikers started asking him to make gear for them, and the company slowly grew from apartment sewing, to after-work orders, to a full-time ultralight backpacking brand.
We also dive into:
• How Zpacks started from Joe Valesko’s Appalachian Trail gear experiments
• How Mateo joined after asking Joe and Cheryl out to lunch
• Why Zpacks ended up based in Florida
• What it was like sewing in the garage in the early days
• Why Zpacks was an early adopter of DCF, formerly called Cuben Fiber
• The learning curve of working with Dyneema Composite Fabric
• Why ultralight gear is performance gear, not bombproof forever gear
• Mateo’s “race car tire vs Toyota Corolla” analogy
• Why premium ultralight gear costs more
• How Zpacks keeps looking for new fabrics, clips, buckles, and design ideas
• Why most innovation comes from small details, not reinventing the wheel
• The problem with people yelling “ripoff” in the outdoor industry
• Why enthusiasm matters more than trade secrets
• How Zpacks’ South Korea fan community started organically
• Why Zpacks gives back to trail organizations and public land access groups
One of my favorite parts of this conversation is Mateo’s advice for people with big ideas: the only difference between a dream and a plan is putting it on your calendar.
If you’ve ever wondered why ultralight gear costs what it does, why DCF is so widely used, or what it takes to build gear that helps people go farther with less weight, this one is for you.
Connect with Zpacks
Website:
https://zpacks.com
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/zpacks
YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/@zpacksofficial
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/Zpacks

Listen to Beyond the Trailhead
YouTube: https://youtube.com/@Beyondthetrailhead
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/beyond-the-trailhead/id1860050826
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/11g9jx9Oyd2YSHipi0mmDy?si=72d97f11c5f64ea6
Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/beyondthetrailheadpodcast
Website: https://obristimagery.com

For those asking about safety gear we use outdoors you can get 15% off Overwatch x Rescue with code BEYOND15.

In this episode of Beyond the Trailhead, I sit down with Mike Mojica, founder of Outdoor Element, a family-run outdoor gear company making adventure survival tools, fire-starting carabiners, knives, camp accessories, and small pieces of gear built to help people feel more prepared outside.
Mike’s story started after moving from Texas to Colorado while working in aerospace. After hiking Mount Yale, helping an injured hiker with a rolled ankle, and having what he described as a peaceful “revelation” moment on the summit, Mike realized he wanted to build a company around two ideas: be prepared when something goes wrong and get outside more often.
That eventually became Outdoor Element.
We also dive into:
• How Mike went from aerospace to outdoor entrepreneurship
• Why Outdoor Element started as a side hustle
• The story behind the Firebiner fire-starting carabiner
• How Kickstarter helped prove people understood the idea
• Why his boss encouraged him to chase the business full time
• What it was like leaving a stable job with a wife and four daughters
• Why partnerships can be tricky if you do not have clear agreements
• The importance of standard operating procedures in a small business
• Why selling knives and fire-starting tools creates advertising headaches
• How international shipping laws can get complicated fast
• Why California Prop 65 cost him thousands of dollars
• What he learned from working with retailers like Ace Hardware and REI
• Why packaging, QR codes, and in-store education matter
• How Outdoor Element keeps trying to build useful, eco-conscious gear
One of the funniest parts of this conversation is Mike explaining how platforms like Google, Meta, Amazon, and others can treat outdoor knives like weapons, even when the product is designed as cutlery or survival gear. He also shares the painful lesson of having products rejected, confiscated, or restricted because different countries have different knife laws.
This episode is packed with small business lessons, survival gear talk, Kickstarter stories, product design headaches, retail lessons, and plenty of laughs.
If you’ve ever packed a tiny knife, a fire starter, or one of those “just in case” tools before heading outside, this one is for you.
Connect with Outdoor Element
Website:
https://outdoorelement.com
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/outdoor.element/
YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/@OutdoorElement

Listen to Beyond the Trailhead
YouTube: https://youtube.com/@Beyondthetrailhead
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/beyond-the-trailhead/id1860050826
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/11g9jx9Oyd2YSHipi0mmDy?si=72d97f11c5f64ea6
Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/beyondthetrailheadpodcast
Website: https://obristimagery.com

For those asking about safety gear we use outdoors you can get 15% off Overwatch x Rescue with code BEYOND15.

In this episode of Beyond the Trailhead, I sit down with Derek Tillotson, founder of FirstShake and CEO of Haven Tents.
Derek has been on both sides of the creator world. Before building Haven Tents, he worked as a family travel content creator, reaching out to hotels and brands and often getting ignored. Later, as a brand owner, he experienced the other side: creators reaching out for free product, brands sending gear, and then hoping the creator actually followed through.
That problem led to FirstShake.
FirstShake is a Shopify app and creator marketplace that helps brands connect with creators through a cashback challenge model. Instead of brands gifting product and crossing their fingers, creators buy the product first, complete content challenges, and earn cash back through refunds when their content is approved. Derek explains that the goal is to create a win-win: brands get content and lower-risk creator relationships, while creators get access to brands they actually want to work with.
We also dive into:
• Why traditional product gifting is broken
• How brands get ghosted after sending free gear
• Why smaller creators often get ignored
• How FirstShake lets brands say yes to more creators
• Why creators buying first creates “skin in the game”
• How creator challenges and cashback refunds work
• Why a small creator with 1,800 followers created one of the best videos Derek had seen
• Why creative briefs matter for creators and brands
• How FirstShake works through Shopify
• Why product gifting can become a profit center instead of a total loss
This episode is a great one for outdoor brands, cottage companies, creators, influencers, affiliate marketers, Shopify store owners, and anyone trying to figure out how brands and creators can work together without wasting time, money, or gear.
Reel Example: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DZsfdMoOK8q/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Connect with FirstShake
Website:
https://tryfirstshake.com
Shopify App:
https://apps.shopify.com/firstshake
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/tryfirstshake
Connect with Derek / Haven Tents
Haven Tents:
https://haventents.com
Listen to Beyond the Trailhead
YouTube: https://youtube.com/@Beyondthetrailhead
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/beyond-the-trailhead/id1860050826
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/11g9jx9Oyd2YSHipi0mmDy?si=72d97f11c5f64ea6
Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/beyondthetrailheadpodcast
Website: https://obristimagery.com

For those asking about safety gear we use outdoors you can get 15% off Overwatch x Rescue with code BEYOND15.

In this episode of Beyond the Trailhead, I sit down with Joe La Pointe, founder of FarPointe Outdoor Gear, a small cottage gear company based on the Oregon coast making ultralight fleece, sunwear, camp pants, socks, hats, and trail-focused apparel.
Joe started FarPointe in 2021 after getting into Alpha Direct fabric and making his first small batch of beanies on a tiny sewing machine. He sold those early pieces on Reddit, started taking custom orders, and eventually grew the business from his garage into a full in-house production shop with a small team in Newport, Oregon.
We also dive into:
• How FarPointe started with Alpha Direct fleece
• Why Joe fell in love with ultralight hiking apparel
• How the Colorado Trail helped inspire the brand
• Why custom orders were fun but hard to scale
• The difference between in-house production and overseas manufacturing
• Why Joe chose to keep cutting and sewing in his own shop
• What makes Alpha Direct so popular with hikers
• The shedding and microplastic concerns around Alpha Direct
• Why FarPointe is moving into TecnoWool and blended fabrics
• The challenge of hiring, training, and building a sewing team
• Why cash flow can get scary when you grow a small gear company
• How FarPointe works with Garage Grown Gear and other retailers
• What Joe sees as the future of technical fabrics
One of my favorite parts of this conversation is hearing how hands-on Joe is with materials. He talks about testing fabrics himself, getting outside almost every day, and only putting products into production when he feels confident they are something he would actually use on trail.
This episode is full of cottage gear wisdom, ultralight fabric talk, small business lessons, trail stories, and a real behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to make gear in-house.
If you’ve ever worn Alpha Direct, obsessed over fabric weight, or wondered how a garage gear idea becomes a real outdoor brand, this one is for you.
Connect with FarPointe Outdoor Gear
Website:
https://www.farpointeog.com
Shop FarPointe:
https://www.farpointeog.com/stock
Garage Grown Gear:
https://www.garagegrowngear.com/collections/farpointe-outdoor-gear
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/farpointe_og

Listen to Beyond the Trailhead
YouTube: https://youtube.com/@Beyondthetrailhead
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/beyond-the-trailhead/id1860050826
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/11g9jx9Oyd2YSHipi0mmDy?si=72d97f11c5f64ea6
Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/beyondthetrailheadpodcast
Website: https://obristimagery.com

For those asking about safety gear we use outdoors you can get 15% off Overwatch x Rescue with code BEYOND15.

Don’t forget to:
• Like 👍 and Subscribe 🔔
• Share this with your hiking crew
Let’s go Beyond the Trailhead.

In this episode of Beyond the Trailhead, I sit down with Joe Bissonnette, founder of Sky View Tents, a Colorado-based tent company building what Joe calls a true stargazing tent.
Sky View Tents started from a simple frustration: Joe loved sleeping under the stars, but hated the usual rainfly problem. If you leave the fly off, you get the incredible open-sky experience — but you risk bugs, critters, wind, and a surprise 2 a.m. rainstorm. If you put the fly on, you stay protected — but you lose the stars.
So Joe designed a tent with a patent-pending internal rainfly system that can be opened or closed from inside the tent in seconds. The result feels like cowboy camping, but with mesh protection, bug protection, and fast weather coverage when conditions change.
We also dive into:
• How Sky View Tents started from a late-night beach stargazing idea
• Why Joe thought most “stargazing tents” were just normal tents
• How the internal rainfly system works
• Why clear mesh matters so much for the experience
• The challenge of designing a tent that feels open but still handles weather
• Why Gen 1 started as more of a fair-weather tent
• How Gen 2 was tested in heavy Oregon coast rain and Buena Vista wind
• The reality of sewing tents by hand while trying to run a business
• Why Joe had to move from local production to factory production
• The stress of raising money before the business ran out of cash
• Why getting into stores could be huge for Sky View Tents
This episode is full of invention, product design, startup stress, stargazing, tent talk, and honest lessons from a founder still deep in the grind.
If you’ve ever stared at your rainfly and thought, “I wish I could see the sky right now,” this one is for you.
Connect with Sky View Tents
Website: https://skyviewtents.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/skyviewtents
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/skyviewtents
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/skyviewtents
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxkkYqB79iQaiEZ-FJbtuZA
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@skyviewtents

Listen to Beyond the Trailhead
YouTube: https://youtube.com/@Beyondthetrailhead
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/beyond-the-trailhead/id1860050826
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/11g9jx9Oyd2YSHipi0mmDy?si=72d97f11c5f64ea6
Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/beyondthetrailheadpodcast
Website: https://obristimagery.com

For those asking about safety gear we use outdoors you can get 15% off Overwatch x Rescue with code BEYOND15.

In this episode of Beyond the Trailhead, I sit down with Aaron Ambuske, founder and CEO of HEST, the outdoor comfort brand known for premium camping mattresses, pillows, chairs, and sleep systems built to make sleeping outside feel a lot more like sleeping at home.
Aaron has been in the outdoor industry for more than 30 years, starting in Jackson Hole, working in product design, and eventually spending 18 years at K2 Skis, where he worked on skis, ski boots, poles, snowboards, and the full product development process.
The idea for HEST came from a simple pain point: Aaron was getting ready for a river trip and dreading the usual air mattress routine — finding holes, figuring out how to pump it up, and knowing he probably wasn’t going to sleep well. That frustration led him to research what makes a home mattress comfortable: pressure point relief, body alignment, and temperature regulation. From there, HEST was born.
We also dive into:
• How HEST started from one real camping problem
• Why air mattresses work for backpacking but not always for car camping
• What outdoor brands can learn from home mattress design
• Why Aaron believes prototypes matter more than focus groups
• How HEST launched with only 75 sleep systems
• Why customers pulling out a credit card is the real test
• How REI discovered HEST early on
• The difference between DTC and brick-and-mortar retail
• Why cash flow can be one of the hardest parts of building a product brand
• How HEST is helping people enjoy the outdoors through comfort
This episode is packed with outdoor product design lessons, startup reality, camping comfort talk, and honest advice for anyone building a physical product brand.
If you’ve ever woken up camping with a sore back, a deflated air mattress, or the thought “I love camping… but I hate sleeping out here,” this one is for you.
🛏️ Connect with HEST
Website: https://hest.com
Shop Mattresses: https://hest.com/pages/mattresses-collection
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hestoutdoors
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hestoutdoor

Listen to Beyond the Trailhead
YouTube: https://youtube.com/@Beyondthetrailhead
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/beyond-the-trailhead/id1860050826
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/11g9jx9Oyd2YSHipi0mmDy?si=72d97f11c5f64ea6
Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/beyondthetrailheadpodcast
Website: https://obristimagery.com

For those asking about safety gear we use outdoors you can get 15% off Overwatch x Rescue with code BEYOND15.

In this episode of Beyond the Trailhead, I sit down with Jameson MacFarland, Marketing Director at Ripstop by the Roll, live from Switchback in New Orleans.
If you’ve ever made your own gear, dreamed about starting a cottage brand, or wondered where small outdoor companies get technical fabrics like ripstop nylon, Dyneema®, X-Pac, mesh, webbing, and pack materials, there’s a good chance you’ve heard of Ripstop by the Roll.
Jameson shares how Ripstop by the Roll started with DIY hammock makers who simply couldn’t find the fabric they wanted. What began with rolls of hammock fabric has grown into a company that helps everyone from backyard makers and MYOG hobbyists to outdoor brands designing custom materials for real production.
We also dive into:
• How Ripstop by the Roll started in the hammock camping world
• Why hammock people might be the nerdiest gear people on earth
• What “one yard to one million yards” really means
• How small brands can prototype without buying massive fabric minimums
• Why the right fabric can make or break a product
• The difference between lab specs and real-world performance
• What goes wrong when custom fabrics do not cooperate
• The hilarious “bird’s nest” fabric development disaster
• Why Ripstop helps makers choose what they need, not just what they want
• How DIY makers and cottage brands keep pushing outdoor gear forward
This episode is a fun look into the fabric side of the outdoor industry — the part most of us never think about until we start asking why one pack feels better, lasts longer, stretches differently, makes less noise, or handles weather better than another.
If you’ve ever thought, “I could make that,” this one is for you.
Connect with Ripstop by the Roll
Website:
https://ripstopbytheroll.com
Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/ripstopbytheroll/

Listen to Beyond the Trailhead
YouTube: https://youtube.com/@Beyondthetrailhead
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/beyond-the-trailhead/id1860050826
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/11g9jx9Oyd2YSHipi0mmDy?si=72d97f11c5f64ea6
Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/beyondthetrailheadpodcast
Website: https://obristimagery.com

For those asking about safety gear we use outdoors you can get 15% off Overwatch x Rescue with code BEYOND15.

Don’t forget to:
• Like 👍 and Subscribe 🔔
• Share this with your hiking crew
Let’s go Beyond the Trailhead.

In this episode of Beyond the Trailhead, I sit down with Chris Cage, CEO and creator of Greenbelly Meals, the backpacking food brand known for ready-to-eat, high-calorie meal bars made for hikers, thru-hikers, bikepackers, climbers, and outdoor adventurers.
Chris did not start out in the food world. After college, he worked as an accountant, realized it was not the path he wanted long-term, saved up money, quit, and spent nearly two years traveling, volunteering in Asia, bicycle touring through New Zealand, and eventually thru-hiking the Appalachian Trail.
After all of that, he came home with very little money left, moved back in with his parents, and started experimenting with backpacking food ideas in his mom’s kitchen. The first concept was a high-calorie “gloop” made with peanut butter, honey, and anything else he could pack calories into. Eventually, that idea turned into Greenbelly Meals.
We also dive into:
• Why Chris left accounting and chose adventure instead
• How the Appalachian Trail inspired Greenbelly
• Why early Greenbelly recipes started in his mom’s kitchen
• What it was like working with a food scientist
• The stress of making food, shipping orders, and doing everything himself
• How Kickstarter helped Greenbelly get off the ground
• Why Joe Rogan gave the brand a major bump
• How SEO helped Greenbelly grow in the early years
• Why Chris started putting his face behind the brand
• The pros and cons of direct-to-consumer vs retail
• Why YouTube became a major marketing channel for Greenbelly
This episode is full of founder lessons, trail food talk, business mistakes, marketing strategy, and honest insight into what it actually takes to build an outdoor food brand.
If you’ve ever eaten something terrible on trail and thought, “There has to be a better way,” this one is for you.
Connect with Greenbelly Meals
Website: https://www.greenbelly.co
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Greenbelly
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/greenbellymeal
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GreenbellyMeals

Listen to Beyond the Trailhead
YouTube: https://youtube.com/@Beyondthetrailhead
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/beyond-the-trailhead/id1860050826
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/11g9jx9Oyd2YSHipi0mmDy?si=72d97f11c5f64ea6
Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/beyondthetrailheadpodcast
Website: https://obristimagery.com

Use Code BEYOND15 to get 15% off Overwatch x Rescue! You need this!

In this episode of Beyond the Trailhead, I sit down with Greg Pearson, CEO and creator of Overwatch x Rescue, a 24/7 emergency assistance subscription service built for people who live, work, and play beyond reliable cell service.
Greg’s background is not your typical outdoor startup story. He spent years working in the world of risk, crisis response, military, law enforcement, private security, and global emergency operations before creating a service designed to answer one simple question:
“I need help… what now?”
Overwatch x Rescue was created to help coordinate emergency assistance and help cover the financial exposure that can come with a rescue, ambulance transport, helicopter evacuation, or other emergency response situation. Greg explains why many hikers hesitate to call for help, why rescue bills can be terrifying, and how Overwatch x Rescue works differently from traditional insurance models.
We also dive into:
• What Overwatch x Rescue actually does
• Why satellite signal alone does not get you rescued
• How their 24/7 emergency response system works
• Why hikers hesitate before pressing SOS
• The difference between insurance and first-payer rescue support
• How Overwatch x Rescue connects with Globalstar and SPOT devices
• Why more smartphones may soon have satellite connectivity
• How Greg built a service around crisis response and human decision-making
• Why preparation matters before you ever hit the trail
• The future of outdoor safety and backcountry rescue
This episode is a great one for hikers, backpackers, travelers, hunters, overlanders, paddlers, photographers, and anyone who spends time outside cell service.
If you’ve ever wondered what actually happens after you hit SOS… this one is for you.
🚨 Connect with Overwatch x Rescue
Website: https://overwatchxrescue.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/overwatchxrescue
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/overwatchxrescue
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/overwatch-x-rescue

Listen to Beyond the Trailhead
YouTube: https://youtube.com/@Beyondthetrailhead
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/beyond-the-trailhead/id1860050826
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/11g9jx9Oyd2YSHipi0mmDy?si=72d97f11c5f64ea6
Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/beyondthetrailheadpodcast
Website: https://obristimagery.com

For those asking about safety gear we use outdoors you can get 15% off Overwatch x Rescue with code BEYOND15.

In this episode of Beyond the Trailhead, I sit down with Bekah Whitney, owner and creator of Ecoteric Marketing, a marketing agency focused on helping eco-conscious outdoor brands build marketing systems that actually get executed.
Bekah’s story started while living full-time on the road in a cargo trailer. She quit a stable remote job without a clear plan, picked up her first clients, and slowly built her business from freelance social media work into a full marketing agency for small outdoor brands.
Now, she helps brands connect the pieces that often get separated: social media, email marketing, website messaging, blogs, customer journey, content libraries, and overall strategy.
We also dive into:
• Why social media alone usually isn’t enough
• How small brands can stop winging their marketing
• Why strategy matters before running ads
• The importance of email marketing and customer journeys
• Why founders need to show their face more online
• How behind-the-scenes content builds trust
• Why polished content is not always what performs best
• The biggest mistakes small brands make with marketing
• Why execution matters more than another unused Google Doc
• How outdoor brands can show up consistently without losing authenticity
This episode is a great one for any small brand, creator, founder, or outdoor business trying to figure out how to grow online without feeling overwhelmed.
If you’ve ever said, “We need to post more,” but had no real plan behind it… this one is for you.
🌿 Connect with Ecoteric Marketing
Website: https://ecotericmarketing.com
Contact: https://ecotericmarketing.com/contact
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ecotericmarketing
Ecoteric Marketing focuses on social media management, email marketing, blog writing, content creation, and marketing strategy for eco-conscious outdoor-focused companies.
Listen to Beyond the Trailhead
YouTube: https://youtube.com/@Beyondthetrailhead
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/beyond-the-trailhead/id1860050826
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/11g9jx9Oyd2YSHipi0mmDy?si=72d97f11c5f64ea6
Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/beyondthetrailheadpodcast
Website: https://obristimagery.com

For those asking about safety gear we use outdoors you can get 15% off Overwatch x Rescue with code BEYOND15.