A cottage industry backpacking gear company is a small, independent brand that designs and manufactures its own products, often with a high level of craftsmanship and attention to detail. Unlike large, mainstream manufacturers, these companies are passionate about creating specialized, high-performance gear that caters to the unique needs of serious outdoor enthusiasts.
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What sets cottage gear makers apart is their ability to produce products that mainstream brands simply don't offer—whether it's a custom-sized pack, a specific fabric choice, or a feature tailored to a niche group of adventurers. Because these companies are small, they have the flexibility to experiment with innovative materials and design concepts that larger companies might overlook. They can produce a single, one-of-a-kind item at a time, allowing them to push the boundaries of innovation in ways that mass producers can’t.
Cottage industry companies often lead the charge when it comes to new fabric and material innovations. Without the constraints of large-scale manufacturing processes, they can test new ideas, refine their products, and bring cutting-edge gear to the market with agility. For example, they might experiment with ultra-lightweight fabrics, cutting-edge waterproofing technologies, or eco-friendly materials—creating products that offer performance and sustainability for the dedicated hiker, backpacker, or outdoor adventurer.
Because these companies tend to operate on smaller budgets and lack the cash reserves or credit lines of larger businesses, they often don’t keep large inventories. Instead, many work on a made-to-order basis, offering customers the option to customize products to their exact specifications for a personalized touch. Whether it’s a custom color, specific adjustments to the design, or unique features tailored to your particular outdoor pursuits, a cottage industry brand can deliver a level of customization that mass-market companies just can’t match.
For outdoor enthusiasts seeking gear that’s tailored to their needs, high-quality, innovative, and made with care, cottage industry backpacking gear companies are often the go-to choice. These brands are more than just manufacturers—they are passionate creators and problem-solvers, pushing the boundaries of what's possible in the world of backpacking gear.
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A
Aarn Packs
Balanced backpacks that distribute pack weight across the front and back of your torso.
AlpineLiteWorks
Ultra chest and fanny packs.
allmansright
Well-designed ultralight backpacking gear, make in the Bronx, NY
Alpacka Rafts
Leading packraft manufacturer.
Alpen Fuel
High-calorie breakfast meals made with wholesome goodness.
Alpha Pak
Dog backpacks and trail gear.
Alpine Fit
Alaskan-based baselayers and garments for wilderness expeditions.
Alpine Luddites
Custom backpack maker specializing in classic alpine and climbing backpack reproductions.
Alpine Start Foods
Outdoor instant coffee.
Alt Route Meals
Plant-based dehydrated backpacking meals.
Amok Equipment
Manufacturer of a unique horizontal hammock.
Anda Ultralight
Ultralight bivies and tarps.
Anti-Gravity Gear
Small retailer, mainly focused on the Appalachian Trail, that makes their own products and sells maps, guides, ultralight gear, and other essentials.
Apex Giant
Titanium camping gear. – create pretty
Appy Trails
Inexpensive-shaped tarps.
Arrowhead Equipment
Hammock gear and quilt manufacturer and one of the few to offer synthetic insulated quilts.
As Tucas
European ultralight quilt and clothing manufacturer.
Atom Packs
UK ultralight backpack manufacturer.
B
Bear Vault
Bear canisters.
Bear Paw Wilderness Designs
A small manufacturer of camping related products located in Northern Colorado. They work with individuals who are looking for high quality and durable products at a reasonable price.
Big Sky International
Ultralight tents.
Blind Banana Bags
Danish UL backpack maker. Looks prety good.
Blizzard Survival
Emergency blankets and bivy sacks.
Blue Bolt Gear
Ultralight quits and shelters
BoglerCo
Popular Ultralight Titanium Trowel
Bonfus
Ultralight backpacks and shelters, made in Italy, but shipped worldwide.
Borah Gear
Ultralight tarps and bivies.
Brasslite Stoves
Brasslite® manufactures high quality, ultralight alcohol-fueled cooking stoves for backpacking and camping. Brasslite stoves are light as a feather and are small enough to fit inside any cook pot but in spite of their size and weight they are surprisingly stable, durable, and hot!
Brynje
Famous fishnet long underwear (wool or synthetic) that keeps you really warm.
C
Cascade Wild
Lightweight camping furniture.
Cascadia Coffee Roasters
Instant coffee.
Cave Creek Hammock
Hammocks, tarps, and quilts.
Chairbuddies
Footpads for camping chairs that prevent sinking in soft ground.
Chicken Tramper Ultralight Gear
Ultralight backpacks.
CiloGear
Mountaineering backpacks.
Cioch Outdoor Clothing
Custom outdoor clothing.
Clickstand
Backpacking stoves and windscreens.
Cloud Gear
Ultralight dry bags.
Cloudline Apparel
Outdoor clothing.
Cnoc Outdoors
Water reservoirs and trekking poles
Cold Cold World Backpacks
Climbing and mountaineering backpacks.
Cooke Custom Sewing
Tarps, backpacks, and canoeing supplies.
CragDog
Custom dog equipment.
Cumulus
Sleeping bags.
D
Deliberate Life Designs
Custom minimalist sport sandals.
Dirty Girl Gaiters
Gaiters for running and hiking.
D.I.Y. Gear Supply
DIY Fabric and component supplier.
DIY Packrafts
Packraft kits
Dragontail Tenkara
Ultralight fly fishing gear for backpackers.
Dream Hammock
Custom hammocks and tarps
Durston Gear
Makers of the famed X-Mid and X-Mid Pro UL tents.
Dutchware Gear
Offer a wide range of hammock gear.
E
eclipse
Sun protective clothing
El Coyote Quilts
Ultralight custom quilts
Emberlit
Wood stoves, flints, and survival gear.
Enlightened Equipment
Backpacking quilts and apparel.
Epiphany Outdoor Gear
Fire-starting tools
Equinox
Ultralight packs, shelters, accessories and more.
Etowah Outfitters
A southern manufacturing company that specializes in adventure gear, bushcraft, and ultra-light backpacks.
F
Farm to Summit
Sustainable dehydrated meals.
FarPointe Outdoor Gear
Small-batch outdoor clothing
Feathered Friends
Down sleeping bags and quilts.
Featherstone Outdoor
Low cost lightweight quilts and tents.
Ferweh Food Company
Dehydrated backpacking meals.
Fibraplex
Carbon fiber tent poles.
Flat Cat Gear
Ultralight stoves and accessories.
Forty Below
Neoprene insulation for mountaineering.
Fox River
Socks and sock monkeys!
Frau Fowler
Oral tooth care for the trail.
Freelight
Ultralight backpacking gear.
Frye-Bake
Backpacking cooking pots.
Four Dog Stove
Backpacking and camping stoves.
G
Garage Grown Gear
A company that stocks gear from many other cottage gear companies to help get them viewed and found.
Gear Bags and More
Dyneema stuff sacks and pockets
Glacial Gear
Wool clothing and accessories.
Glad Rags
Eco-friendly pads and menstrual cups
Good To-Go
Gourmet dehydrated camping meals.
Goose Feet Gear
Down apparel.
Gossamer Gear
Ultralight backpacks and shelters.
Grayl
Innovative water purifiers perfect for day hiking and international travel
Greenbelly
High-calorie meal bars for thru-hiking.
Green Goo
Hand sanitizer and skin lotions.
Gryphon Gear
Down quilts and sleeping bags.
H
Hammock Bliss
Hammocks.
Hanchor
Lightweight backpacks.
Hang Tight Shop
Low cost down quilts with silver heat reflective liner. Amazing!
Hartford Gear Company
Ultralight accessory stuff sacks and bags
Hawbuck Wallets
Minimal ultralight wallets.
Heather’s Choice
Lightweight packable meals for camping and backpacking.
Hennessy Hammock
All-in-one hammock tents.
High Tail Designs
Funky ultralight stuff sacks, dry bags, clothing and accessories.
Hilleberg
Fantastic, bombproof tents.
Hill People Gear
Backpacks and hunting accessories.
Himali
Mountaineering layers and clothing.
Hillsound
Winter traction devices, crampons, and gaiters
Hilltop Packs
Cool Ultralight backpacks, food bags, and stuff sacks
Hoffman Outdoor Gear Supply
DIY Materials and accessories.
HydroBlu
Water filter that’s better than a Sawyer.
Hyperlite Mountain Gear
Ultralight backpacks and shelters.
I
Imlay Canyon Gear
Canyoneering Packs and equipment.
Injini
Toes socks for blister prevention.
Insect Shield
Insect shield (Permethrin) your clothes.
J
Jacks ‘R’ Better
Hammocks, quilts, and tarps.
Jolly Gear
Hiking Shirts.
JustinsUL
Wildly popular water bottle sleeves.
K
KAM Outdoors
Ultralight sternum pouches and wallets
Kammok
Hammocks, quilts, tarps.
Katabatic Gear
Fantastic Backpacking quilts.
Kates Real Food
Yummy food bars.
Kifaru International
Hunting backpacks and shelters.
Klymit
Sleeping pads mainly.
Kokopelli Packrafts
Packrafts.
KS Ultralight Gear
Custom ultralight backpacks.
KUIU
Backpack hunting packs, tents, and clothing.
Kula Cloth
Pee cloths for women
L
Lawson Outdoor Equipment
Cordage and accessories.
Lawson Hammock
Popular bridge-style hammock
Light Heart Gear
Ultralight tents and apparel.
LiteAF
Ultralight backpacks.
Lite Outdoors
Titanium stoves and tarps.
Liteway Equipment
UL Packs, Mids, and Apparel
little bug
Backpacking stoves
Locus Gear
Ultralight tarps and tents.
Loco Libre Gear
Hammock quilts.
LoopAlien
No knot hardware
Luno
Air mattresses for camping in your car at trailheads and on the road.
LuminAid
Solar powered lanterns and lightning
M
Maccabi
Hiking Skirts/Pants for men and women.
Majestic Hammock
The Majestic Hammock has been meticulously designed and engineered to give a very unique and relaxed lay - unlike any other. If you have had poor experiences then this is your new goto to get perfect hanging comfort.
Mayfly Ultralight Equipment
Ultralight sandals.
McHale Alpine Packs
Custom backpacks.
Melanzana
Clothing.
Miles Gear
Bivy sacks.
Minus 33
New Hampshire-based merino wool clothing for men and women
Molly Mac Gear
Hammock accessories.
Montem
Low-cost carbon fiber trekking poles.
Morsel
Sporks
Mountain Laurel Designs
Ultralight backpacking gear.
MPowered
Luci solar-powered inflatable lanterns and accessories.
Mountainsmith
Old school backpacking company that’s quietly reinvented itself
Mystery Ranch
Backpack manufacturer that focuses on wilderness backpacking
N
Nanga
Down Sleepings Bag, Quilts, and Clothing
Nashville Packs
Ultralight Backpacks
Nitecore
Lightweight headlamps and flashlights favored by hikers and hunters.
Nomad Nutrition
Plant-based dehydrated backpacking meals
North45
Fog-free balaclavas for skiing and winter sports
Northern Lites
Ultralight snowshoes.
Northern Sled Works
Sleds and pulks.
Northern Ultralight
Canadian Ultralight backpack manufacturer.
Norrona
Norwegian outdoor clothing and gear manufacturer.
NWAlpine
Hiking and climbing apparel.
Nunatak
Ultralight quilts.
O
Ombraz
The no-sidearm sunglasses built for rough and tumble life on trail.
The Original Bugshirt Company
Insect-proof clothing.
Outdoor Element
Multi-tools and survival gear.
Outdoor Herbivore
Vegetarian backpacking food.
Outdoor Vitals
Outdoor Wilderness Fabrics
DIY Fabric and component supplier.
Oware
Tarps and shelters.
P
The Packa
Poncho/pack cover combination
PackbackDesigns
Ultralight backpacks, accessory pockets, and stuff sacks.
PacerPole
The people who make Philip’s incredible trekking poles.
PAKA Apparel
High quality Alpaca material gear from socks, pants, shirts, and more!
Pa’lante Packs
Ultralight backpacks.
Parapack
Folding Billed Caps
Peter Limmer and Sons
Custom leather hiking boots.
PHD
Down clothing, quilts, and sleeping bags.
Pinnacle Foods
Delicious freeze-dried backpacking meals.
Ponds Edge
Ultralight stuff sacks and ditty bags.
Pstyle
Personal urinary device
Purcell Trench
Camping grills.
Purple Rain Adventure Skirts
Hiking apparel.
Q
QiWiz
Ultralight titanium trowels and stoves
R
Ragged Mountain Equipment
Hiking and climbing apparel.
Ray Way Products
DIY Tarp Kits.
RBH Designs
Vapor barrier clothing.
Red Paw Packs
Ultralight backpacks, fanny packs, and sewing patterns
Ripstop by the Roll
DIY fabric supplier for small lot manufacturers and individuals.
Rivendell Mountain Works
Backpacks.
Rumpl
Puffy cozy blankets. It all started in the back of a van on a cold morning when it wouldn’t start
Ruta Locura
Ultralight backpacking accessories.
S
Sagebrush Dry Gear
Really waterproof backpacks and sacks
Samaya Equipment
Ultralight mountaineering tents and backpacks.
Seek Outside
Backpack manufacturer that specializes in lightweight external frame backpacks for backpacking and hunting.
Senchi Designs
Small batch Polartec clothing
Shamma Sandals
minimalist footwear
Sheltowee Hammock Company
Insulated hammocks.
Sierra Madre Research
Hammocks, quilts, and camping accessories.
simBLISSity
Gaiters.
Simple Outdoor Solutions
Ultralight backpacking accessories.
Simply Light Designs
Hammocks and tarps.
Six Moon Designs
Ultralight backpack and tent manufacturer.
Skygoat
Hoodies and casual clothing
SlingFin
Innovative lightweight tent manufacturer.
Space Bear Bags
UL punches and bags. The company is named after a cat.
Snowtrekker Canvas Tents
Canvas tents.
Strapworks
Largest supplier of buckles and plastic hardware. Great for gear repair!
Suluk 46
Ultralight backpacking accessories.
Supai Adventure Gear
Ultralight packrafts.
Superior Hammock
Insulated hammocks.
Superior Wilderness Designs
Ultralight backpacks.
T
Tarptent
Extremely well-designed ultralight tents.
Tentpole Technologies
Replacement tentpoles.
Tentsmiths
Historic tents for re-enactors.
Terra Rosa Gear
Ultralight tarps and sleeping bag covers.
The Tentlab
Makers of tents and trowels
Thrupack
fanny packs and stuff sacks
Ticket to the Moon
Hammocks and tarps.
Tier Gear
Tasmanian Ultralight backpacking gear.
Timmermade
Insulated clothing and quilts.
Tinny’s Trash
The alcohol stove wizard’s latest creations.
Trail Designs
Manufacture stove windscreens that optimize fuel efficiency.
Trailheads
Hats.
Trailtopa Adventure Foods
Inspiring backpacking meals
Tread Labs
Innovative replaceable insoles going head-to-head against Superfeet.
U
UGQ Outdoors
Hammock quilts and tarps.
ULA Equipment
Ultralight backpacks.
Ultimate Direction
Trail running and fastpacking gear.
UltraliteSacks
Ultralight stuff sacks
Ursack
Lightweight bear-resistant bear bags.
V
Vargo Outdoors
Titanium backpacking gear
Voormi
Outdoor adventure clothing
W
Wander Woman Gear
Reusable pee rags and cloths
Warbonnet Outdoors
Hammocks, tarps, and quilts.
Whyld River
Ultralight insulation for dogs
Wiggy’s
Climashield sleeping bags and cold weather gear.
Wild Ideas
Ultralight bear canisters.
Wintergreen Northern Wear
Apparel.
X
Xero Shoes
Barefoot shoes perfect for trails and camp shoes.
Y
YAMA Mountain Gear
Ultralight tents and tarps.
Yankee Maker
Maker of the One Bottle Hydration System.
YAR.gear
Ultralight backpacks
Yonah Packs
Tenkara fishing packs and bags.
Z
Zimmerbuilt Custom Backpacks
Ultralight backpacks.
Zpacks
Ultralight backpack, tent, quilt, and sleeping bags.