Built on Passion

This podcast episode was originally recorded on January 16, 2018. Since DMOS Collective is a part of our current camping gear giveaway we wanted to bring this episode back from the archives. We've cleaned up the audio a bit and hope that you enjoy the episode with founder Susan Pieper talking about how and why she started DMOS Collective.

Josh sits down with DMOS Collective founder Susan Pieper. Though Susan Pieper always had a strong hold on the outdoor industry, she only delved into entrepreneurship after she retired from her adventures at sea in exchange for a quite different life in the mountains of Wyoming. From there she quickly took focus on a bit of a different adventure, fixing the issue of unreliable and seemingly disposable tools that are currently flooding the market. After 2 successful kickstarters, DMOS now has a steadily growing quiver of ultra sturdy tools that can reliably stand the test of time and can be used in a myriad of situations and there’s no sign of slowing down anytime soon. Tune in for this week's episode and see what’s on the horizon for the company that is quickly becoming a goto for backcountry junkies.

This podcast episode was originally recorded on Jul 29, 2016. Since Hummingbird hammocks is a part of our current camping gear giveaway we wanted to bring this episode back from the archives. We've cleaned up the audio a bit and hope that you enjoy the episode with founder Chris Loidolt talking about how and why he started hummingbird hammocks.

From The ReddyYeti AIn this episode, Josh interviews Chris Loidolt, founder of Hummingbird Hammocks, which currently holds the unofficial title of the lightest and most compact hammock on the market. Chris utilizes his experience as a retired professional Skydiver and parachute rigger to build hammocks from Parachute Industry Association certified parachutes. After amazing success from his Kickstarter campaign Chris and Hummingbird Hammocks press on, constantly evolving to minimize size and weight, while maximizing strength comfort

Josh sits down with Trailtopia founder Vincent Robichaud. Trailtopia is a brand that makes delicious pre-packaged backpacking and hiking food in convenient packaging to make things a little simpler. Vince has been a longtime backpacker and hiker, however, for all his experience he’s had trouble finding backpacking meals that left him satisfied so he started making his own food. After one momentous camping trip in 2013, his fellow backpackers convinced him to start packaging and selling his food and the rest is history. We’re psyched to get the chance to dive into this culinary creation and pick apart where it’s headed.

Josh sits down with Xero Shoes co-founder Steven Sashen. Xero Shoes are designed to let your feet do what’s natural. They let you have the right combination of protection and ground feel granting more agility and connection to where you step. Steven initially got this nuanced approach for shoe design in 2009 while getting back into sprinting after a 30-year break. He was getting injured quite often and when asking a friend who happened to be a world champion runner for advice he told him to take off his shoes to see if he could learn anything about his form. What he learned was why he was getting an injury and how to stop this from happening. He realized that his issue was a form problem that he couldn’t tell he had when he was wearing shoes and wasn’t able to feel the ground. After experimenting more with running barefoot his injuries went away, he got faster and started to see some serious improvements. Having has such a positive natural movement experience, he started making some shoes for himself, then for his friends, and then for his friends. It wasn’t long before he found himself at the head of a rapidly growing footwear phenomenon we now know as Xero Shoes.

Josh sits down with Ombraz Sunglasses co-founders Nikolai Paloni and Jensen Brehm. Ombraz Sunglasses is the first pair of armless sunglasses that has ever been on the market. By eliminating the sidearms of your typical pair of sunglasses and replacing with an adjustable cord, Ombraz, sunglasses offer a sturdier, more comfy, and uniquely stylish change to your everyday eyewear. Jensen came up with the first prototype while traveling through India. Someone had unfortunately sat on his sunglasses breaking off the arms and, as a solution, he tied a piece of twine to the hinges. His solution worked so well, it prompted him to replace the twine with a leather cord. After Nikolai saw the sunglasses and was instantly wow’ed by how well they work. It wasn’t long before Jense and Nikolai got to work creating a truly new, functional, and stylish design of sunglasses, giving birth to Ombraz.

Josh sits down with Flying Squirrel Outfitters founder Brian Carraway. Flying Squirrel Outfitters makes sustainable made hammocks and bags and, with plans of seriously expanding their product list. Although you may have heard Brian’s story before on a previous episode of The ReddyYeti Podcast, a lot has happened since then and we are lucky enough to sit down with Carraway to get the full scoop. With more and more single-use plastic being pumped in our ecosystem, Flying Squirrel Outfitters is stepping up to take a stand and combat this detrimental issue, starting with their line of super compactable and lightweight reusable bags. It’s no secret that plastic bags are a serious player in our plastic problem and Flying Squirrel is taking a big step in fighting back for the planet.

Josh sits down with Drew & Matt and reflect on their time spending the winter in Vermont. It’s been quite the ride in Vermont but all good things must come to an end. Though our first video series was a grand success it certainly won’t be our last! Join us as we touch base on some of our favorite mountains, ski areas, and touring areas!

Josh sits down with TrailFork co-founder Lillian Hoodes. TrailFork makes vegan and vegetarian dehydrated backcountry meals, packaged in 100% compostable containers. TrailFork originally starting as a meal box company, that would help you put together your own customizable backcountry meals based on your trip info, dietary preferences, and weight and send all the dehydrated food supplies directly to you. TrailFork quickly took their most successful recipes combos and added them to their store for anyone to grab and enjoy. Hoodes started making her own meals in 2013 after not finding exactly what she was looking for from the backcountry meals on the market however, it wouldn’t be until 2017 when she seriously started to get the ball rolling. After deciding to take the plunge she dropped her teaching gig, moved from California to Colorado, and leaned headfirst into TrailFork. Now, TrailFork is delivering delicious and nutritious vegan and vegetarian meals with an ever-increasing menu that’s filling the bellies of countless happy hikers.

Josh sits down with Terracea co-founder Eric Hui. Terracea is an urban-to-outdoors technical outerwear company focused on making ski and snowboard apparel that’s wearable everyday use. Though Terracea is now based in Boston, Hui originally moved to the North East from California which was a pretty big factor to set up the beginnings of Terracea. As one could imagine, California and the North East aren’t exactly twins in terms of climate and armed with just a snowboard jacket, Hui soon found himself looking for something more to survive the wind and wet of the Ice Coast. That need for a more wearable piece of outerwear that maintains an Urban Aesthetic without ditching the technical features of a ski/snowboard jacket(powder skirt, removable hood, etc.) was enough for Hui and his fellow co-founder Brian Kurland to get to work designing a jacket that gives you the best of both worlds. Terracea is here to close the gap between the Urban and Outdoor world and have you ready to take on whatever elements Mother Nature throws at you.

Josh sits down with Parlor co-founder Mark Wallace. Parlor is the largest ski manufacturer in New England. Parlor is New England's largest ski manufacturer, building high quality, custom laminate construction skis (essentially a race skis) with an all mountain feel. Wallace has always been a long time skier, having raced in high school, college, and beyond, however, it wasn’t after he hung up his racing career to go down a path of construction (restaurant construction, that is) that he would find himself being pulled back into the ski world. After talks with his co-founders Pete Endres and Jason Epstein it wasn't long until he was convinced to jump in and they got to work. Interestingly enough, they chose Boston to set up shop. At first glance, you’d think being close to a mountain would be the optimal locale however, by being based in the city they have access to a lot of the customer base. Customers, who are looking for that piece of ski culture and don’t have the luxury of a mountain in their backyard. Being Boston based also offers a lot of resources that they wouldn’t have if they moved away from the city. Parlor proves that the love for skiing stays even after you travel away from the mountains.