Beyond The Trailhead

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 spe...

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 hea...

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...

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 r...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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… Chr...

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...

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...

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 ins...

In this episode of Beyond the Trailhead, I sit down with Daniel Farber, owner of Aarn Packs, one of the most unique and innovative backpack companies in the hiking world. If you’ve ever seen a backpack with balanced front pockets and wondered why it looks so different from traditional packs,this episode explains everything. Aarn Packs were designed around a simple but powerful idea: balance the we...

In this episode of Beyond the Trailhead, I sit down with Dan Durston, founder of Durston Gear and the mind behind some of the most talked-about ultralight tents in the backpacking world. If you’ve spent time on trails like the Pacific Crest Trail or Appalachian Trail, chances are you’ve seen an X-Mid tent in the wild. But the story behind Durston Gear is just as fascinating as the gear itself. Dan...

In this episode of Beyond the Trailhead, I sit down with Ben McMillen, founder of Hilltop Packs, one of the most recognizable custom gear companies in the ultralight backpacking world. Hilltop Packs is known for their one-of-a-kind custom printed food bags, stuff sacks, backpacks, and ultralight gear that hikers proudly carry on trails across the world. But the story behind the company is just as...

🎙️ Episode 20 – Luke Pearsall | Founder of Trail Goods Company What happens when you pour everything into your dream… and it almost disappears overnight? In this episode of Beyond the Trailhead, I sit down with Luke Pearsall, founder of Trail Goods Company, to unpack one of the most honest founder stories we’ve had on the show. Luke went from a 20-year career in commercial photography to building...

Guest: Louise Barton — Founder of Farm to Summit Join us for an inspiring conversation with Louise “Lou” Barton, founder of Farm to Summit, a Durango-based company making dehydrated backpacking meals sourced from local farms and up-cycled produce. Lou shares how a 23-day Yellowstone backcountry research trip — and watching her coworkers struggle on low-quality trail food — sparked the idea for Far...

In this episode of Beyond the Trailhead, Craig sits down with Jacob Muth, founder of Leichtmut, a small but innovative brand creating ultralight camera bags for hikers and outdoor photographers. Jacob shares how frustration with heavy camera carry systems and wet gear on trail pushed him to start designing his own solutions. What began as a MYOG (Make Your Own Gear) hobby turned into a real busine...

🎙️ Beyond the Trailhead Podcast — Episode 17 Guest: Gilad Nachmani — Founder & CEO of Cnoc Outdoors / Minimal Gear In this episode of Beyond the Trailhead, Craig sits down with Gilad Nachmani, founder of Cnoc Outdoors, one of the most recognizable names in ultralight hydration and backpacking gear. Gilad shares the real story behind Cnoc — from launching the original Vecto water container on K...

🎙️ Beyond the Trailhead Podcast — Episode 16 Guest: Tayson Whittaker — Founder & CEO of Outdoor Vitals In this episode of Beyond the Trailhead, Craig sits down with Tayson Whitaker, founder and CEO of Outdoor Vitals, for one of the most honest conversations yet about building a gear company the hard way — slowly, intentionally, and without shortcuts. Tayson shares what it was really like start...

In this episode of Beyond the Trailhead, Craig sits down with Lisa-Jae Eggert, founder of 3 Moms Organics and creator of TickWise, a plant-based bug and tick spray born from a life-altering personal battle with tick-borne disease. Lisa-Jae shares her harrowing journey—from a single tick bite that led to years of misdiagnosis, neurological Lyme disease, and devastating health consequences, to build...

🎙️ Beyond the Trailhead Podcast — Episode 14 Guest: Nora Fierman — Founder of NEVE In this episode of Beyond the Trailhead, Craig sits down with Nora Fierman, founder of NEVE, a plant-based smoothie pouch designed for athletes who want real nutrition in the backcountry. Nora shares the full, honest story behind NEVE—from noticing athletes fueling with baby food in the backcountry, to spending six...