Send a text

The show floor is buzzing, but we carve out a quiet corner to trade notes with Will from Bowman Gear—a maker who turns fabric and stubborn ideas into gear that actually solves trail problems. From the first cut to the final stitch, Will walks us through two and a half months of prep for the Hamilton Adventure Expo, including a two-week, all-in push and a smart shop setup that brought his family into the flow. This isn’t factory talk; it’s real-world craft where every seam has a reason and every pocket earns its place.

We dig into the Rio—a compact, water-resistant bag that shifts roles from waist pack to battle bag—and the Sentry, a field wallet that keeps first aid or wire kits tidy. Then we go practical: how a Tortuga pack becomes better with a stretch pocket for fast bottle grabs; how a clean sheath can tame an axe and saw; why a soot-proof stove bag still needs to glide instead of snag. The theme is modular design and user-centred thinking: reduce friction, speed access, and keep weight honest. Will shares how custom one-offs often become patterns ready for others, turning single problems into shared solutions.

The origin story lands close to home. A handed-down sewing machine led to repairs, then to the thrill of shaping fabric into durable tools. Friends pushed him to sell, the trail pushed him to refine, and now backpacks are the goalpost—complex, rewarding, and central to how a trip feels on your shoulders. We round out with trip plans that chase ice-out windows and slip in before bug season, swapping notes on routes, crowd timing, and why early spring rewards those who plan. If you care about small-batch manufacturing, smart pack design, and building gear that makes travel cleaner and calmer, you’ll feel right at home here.

If you enjoyed this conversation, follow the show, share it with a friend who loves handmade gear, and leave a quick review so more campers can find us.

www.bowmangear.ca

https://www.instagram.com/bowman_gear/

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100091512043406

Support the show

CONNECT WITH US AT SUPER GOOD CAMPING:

Support the podcast & buy super cool SWAG: https://store.skgroupinc.com/super_good_camping/shop/home

EMAIL: [email protected]

WEBSITE: www.supergoodcamping.com

YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqFDJbFJyJ5Y-NHhFseENsQ

INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/super_good_camping/

TWITTER: https://twitter.com/SuperGoodCampin

FACEBOOK GROUP: https://www.facebook.com/groups/SuperGoodCamping/

TIKTOK: https://www.tiktok.com/@supergoodcamping

Support the show