Beyond The Trailhead

In this episode of Beyond the Trailhead, I sit down with Thor Tingey, CEO and co-founder of Alpacka Raft, one of the most iconic brands in the world of packrafting.
Alpacka Raft started after Thor completed a massive traverse through Alaska’s Brooks Range using boats that were never really built for that kind of adventure. The idea worked… but the gear didn’t.
So Thor went to his mom, Sheri Tingey, who had a background in outdoor clothing design and kayaking, and asked her to build something better.
That moment helped spark what would become Alpacka Raft and the modern version of packrafting we know today.
We also dive into:
• The early Alaska trips that started everything
• Why packrafting was so limited before Alpacka
• How Sheri Tingey helped design the modern packraft
• The challenge of building rafts in the early days
• Why Alpacka keeps manufacturing in Mancos, Colorado
• How packrafts changed backcountry travel
• The difference between whitewater, flatwater, and expedition boats
• Why slow growth can be a smarter business strategy
• The realities of running an outdoor brand through hard seasons
• What happens when private equity enters the outdoor industry
This episode is packed with adventure stories, business wisdom, product design insight, and a behind-the-scenes look at the brand that helped make packrafting what it is today.
If you’ve ever looked at a lake, river, or remote wilderness route and thought, “I wish I had a boat right now…” this one is for you.
🚣‍♂️ Connect with Alpacka Raft
Website: https://alpackaraft.com
Our Story: https://alpackaraft.com/our-story
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alpacka_raft
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alpackaraftllc
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@AlpackaRaft

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 Gary Benninger, creator and owner of Gryphon Gear, a small handmade gear company known for quilts and sleeping bags built with serious warmth in mind.
Gary’s story goes way back from reading about Admiral Byrd’s South Pole expeditions, to working as a research scientist at NASA, to spending more than 100 nights sleeping on snow. His love for cold-weather adventure eventually turned into a company focused on building sleeping bags and quilts that are not just light, but actually warm when the temperature drops.
We also dive into:
• How Gryphon Gear got started
• Why Gary has such a passion for cold-weather camping
• The science behind down, loft, heat loss, and overfill
• Why Gryphon Gear uses 80% overfill in their bags and quilts
• What a vapor radiation barrier actually does
• Why condensation matters in winter sleeping bags
• The difference between warmth ratings and survival ratings
• Handmade gear, custom sizing, and small business realities
• Why marketing is often harder than making the product
This episode is packed with gear science, old-school outdoor stories, winter camping wisdom, and the kind of technical knowledge only someone like Gary can bring.
If you’ve ever wondered why some sleeping bags keep you warm and others don’t… this one is for you.
Connect with Gryphon Gear
Website: https://www.gryphongear.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gryphongear

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.

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Let’s go Beyond the Trailhead.

In this episode of Beyond the Trailhead, I sit down with Sarah Berkeley, creator and owner of Symbiosis Gear, a woman-founded backpacking gear company making packs for people with boobs.
Sarah’s story started on the Pacific Crest Trail, where she went through three different backpacks and still couldn’t find one that fit her body well. She saw men using small, sleek ultralight packs, but when she looked closer, the designs often didn’t offer the adjustability or fit she needed.
So she reached out to a company with a simple design suggestion.
They never wrote back.
Instead of waiting for someone else to fix the problem, Sarah eventually built the pack herself.
We also dive into:
• Why many ultralight packs don’t work well for women’s bodies
• The story behind Symbiosis Gear
• What makes the Aspen backpack different
• Why S-curve straps and adjustability matter
• The reality of launching a product as a small brand
• Ordering 500 backpacks and realizing that might be a lot
• Getting scammed through a “try before you buy” app
• Why women-specific gear still matters in the outdoor industry
• The balance between listening to mentors and trusting yourself
This episode is full of founder lessons, gear design insight, business mistakes, and honest conversation about building something that should have existed a long time ago.
If you’ve ever worn a backpack that just didn’t feel like it was made for your body, this one is for you.
Connect with Symbiosis Gear
Website: https://www.symbiosisgear.com
The Aspen Backpack: https://www.symbiosisgear.com/products/the-aspen
Find a Retailer: https://www.symbiosisgear.com/pages/find-a-retailer
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/symbiosisgear
Garage Grown Gear: https://www.garagegrowngear.com/collections/symbiosis-gear

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 Grant Breidenbach, Sales and Marketing Manager at BearVault, the company behind some of the most recognized bear-resistant food containers in the outdoor industry.
If you backpack in bear country, there’s a good chance you’ve carried a BearVault… loved it, hated it, sat on it, stuffed it into your pack, or fought with it at the end of a long day.
Grant shares the story behind BearVault, how the company started from a need to reduce human-bear conflict in the Sierra, and why their mission is about more than just protecting your food. It’s about keeping bears wild and keeping people safe outdoors.
We also dive into:
• The history of BearVault
• The 5-year design process behind the new BV ONE
• Why bear cans are required in so many wild places
• How bears actually test these products
• The truth about “bear-proof” vs. bear-resistant
• Why the BV ONE collapses as your food stash shrinks
• What went wrong during freezing rain testing
• Counterfeit bear cans and why certification matters
• The challenge of marketing a product people already own
This episode is packed with gear design, wildlife education, product testing stories, and plenty of funny bear-can reality.
If you’ve ever complained about carrying a bear can… this one is for you.
Connect with BearVault
Website: https://bearvault.com
BV ONE: https://bearvault.com/products/bv-one
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bearvault

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, we sit down with Lloyd Vogel, CEO of Garage Grown Gear. The platform that has helped launch and grow some of the most innovative brands in the outdoor industry.

What started as a small side hustle in a basement turned into a powerhouse marketplace supporting 300+ small outdoor brands and Lloyd’s story is one every founder needs to hear.

We dive into:
• How Garage Grown Gear actually started (hint: it involved a giveaway)
• The reality of building a business from scratch
• Why small brands struggle to scale — and how to fix it
• The truth about competition, copycats, and innovation in ultralight gear
• What separates brands that make it… from the ones that don’t

Lloyd also shares behind-the-scenes insight into how they discover new brands, what makes a product stand out, and why most founders burn out before they succeed.

If you’re building a brand, love gear, or just want to understand how the outdoor industry really works this episode is packed.

👉 “Adversity isn’t a setback… it’s the process.” 

🎙️ Follow Lloyd & Garage Grown Gear

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/garagegrowngear
Website: https://www.garagegrowngear.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.

Is Outdoor Retailer still worth attending?
That’s the question a lot of outdoor brands have been asking.
In this episode of Beyond the Trailhead, I sit down with Lindsay Hubley and Sunny Stroeer of Outdoor Retailers to talk about the future of Outdoor Retailer and why they believe trade shows are evolving.
We talk about:
• Why Outdoor Retailer changed locations
• Why some brands stopped attending
• The creator economy changing outdoor marketing
• Why influencers now matter just as much as retail buyers
• Their partnership with Popfly
• Why small brands may actually benefit the most
• The future of retail, media, and outdoor storytelling
• How brands can actually win at trade shows today
They also address why some people feel OR “lost its magic” and what they’re doing to rebuild it.
This was one of the most interesting business conversations we’ve had on the podcast because it touches retail, creators, marketing, and where the outdoor industry is headed next.

Learn More:
Outdoor Retailer
https://outdoorretailer.com
Popfly
https://popfly.com
Garage Grown Gear
https://www.garagegrowngear.com
Founded Outdoors
https://www.foundedoutdoors.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.

What does it take to build one of the most recognized brands on trail?
In this episode of Beyond the Trailhead, we sit down with Chris Schabow, CEO of Enlightened Equipment, to talk about the real story behind the brand… and the journey that almost didn’t happen.
From sewing gear in a basement…
To quitting a stable career…
To helping lead one of the most trusted ultralight brands in the world…
Chris shares the ups, the risks, and the moments that changed everything.
We also dive into:
• How Enlightened Equipment actually started
• Why quilts changed backpacking forever
• The real challenges of scaling a gear company
• Product design, mistakes, and constant refinement
• Why doing fewer things REALLY well matters
• The story behind the Torrid jacket
• Leadership, risk, and building a team you trust
If you’ve ever used a quilt on trail… there’s a good chance it traces back to this story.

Follow Chris + Enlightened Equipment
Website: https://alnk.to/eZKBiae
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/enlightenedequipment
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/enlightenedequipment

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.

USE CODE BEYOND20 for 20% on your sawyer most of your Sawyer orders

What if the gear you carry on trail could actually save lives?
In this episode of Beyond the Trailhead, I sit down with Katie Houston (trail name “Oats”), Community Director at Sawyer, the company behind the iconic Sawyer Squeeze.
We dive into how a simple water filter became one of the most impactful tools in the outdoor industry and how it’s being used around the world to bring clean water to communities in need.
Katie shares her story from eating dry oats on the Appalachian Trail (yes… really) to helping lead a brand that donates over 90% of its profits to clean water initiatives globally.
We also get into:
• The real story behind the Sawyer Squeeze
• What actually happens inside your filter
• Why most people use their gear wrong
• How Sawyer responded during Hurricane Helene
• The impact of clean water around the world
• The reality of working in the outdoor industry
• And how one small piece of gear can change everything
Some of these stories are wild… and some hit pretty hard.
If you’ve ever carried a Sawyer filter, this will completely change how you see it.
Follow Katie / Sawyer
Sawyer Products: https://www.sawyer.com/
Sawyer Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sawyerproducts/
Make a Tax Deductible Donation to www.sawyerfoundation.org
(Katie): https://www.oatshikes.com/
💬 Drop a comment:
Have you ever used a Sawyer filter on trail?

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.

What do you do when you lose 75% of your business overnight?
In this episode of Beyond the Trailhead, I sit down with Shaun Durkee, founder of Angry Pika Food (formerly Alpenfuel).
What started as a side hustle selling backpacking meals turned into a full-blown business… until tariffs, a rebrand, and a legal battle forced everything to change.
This episode dives deep into the real side of building an outdoor brand.
We talk about:
• The moment everything started to fall apart
• Losing 50–75% of website traffic overnight
• The forced rebrand from Alpenfuel to Angry Pika
• The reality of tariffs and product costs
• Building high-calorie backpacking food from scratch
• Why most outdoor businesses don’t make it
This one is raw, honest, and a must-watch if you’re building something of your own.
🥾 Check Out Angry Pika Food
Website: https://angrypikafood.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/angrypikafood
Dealer Locator: Available on website
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/angrypikafood
🎧 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.

Use code BEYOND15 to save 15% off your next order on essentialprovisions.com.

What happens when you realize the food meant to help people… might actually be hurting them?
In this episode of Beyond the Trailhead, I sit down with Robin Gentry McGee, founder of Essential Provisions.
Her journey started with a life-changing moment after her father’s traumatic brain injury… and what she discovered inside hospital nutrition completely shifted her path.
That moment led to the creation of a product that would go on to change clinical nutrition… and eventually evolve into what she’s building today with Essential Provisions.
We talk about:
• The moment that started it all
• Building a company from scratch (twice)
• The ups and downs of scaling and losing a business
• Why most “healthy” food isn’t what it seems
• Creating real, whole-food meals for the outdoors
This one is all about resilience, purpose, and doing things the right way… even when it’s harder.
🥾 Check Out Essential Provisions
Website: https://essentialprovisions.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/essentialprovisions
🎧 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.