AlpackaRaft Creator & Owner Thor Tingey | Beyond the Trailhead Podcast Ep. 33

AlpackaRaft Creator & Owner Thor Tingey | Beyond the Trailhead Podcast Ep. 33

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 [https://alpackaraft.com] Our Story: https://alpackaraft.com/our-story [https://alpackaraft.com/our-story] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alpacka_raft [https://www.instagram.com/alpacka_raft] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alpackaraftllc [https://www.facebook.com/alpackaraftllc] YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@AlpackaRaft [https://www.youtube.com/@AlpackaRaft] Listen to Beyond the Trailhead YouTube: https://youtube.com/@Beyondthetrailhead [https://youtube.com/@Beyondthetrailhead] Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/beyond-the-trailhead/id1860050826 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/beyond-the-trailhead/id1860050826] Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/11g9jx9Oyd2YSHipi0mmDy?si=72d97f11c5f64ea6 [https://open.spotify.com/show/11g9jx9Oyd2YSHipi0mmDy?si=72d97f11c5f64ea6] Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/beyondthetrailheadpodcast [https://www.instagram.com/beyondthetrailheadpodcast] Website: https://obristimagery.com [https://obristimagery.com] For those asking about safety gear we use outdoors you can get 15% off Overwatch x Rescue with code BEYOND15.

Gryphon Gear Creator & Owner Gary Benninger | Beyond the Trailhead Podcast Ep. 32

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 [https://www.gryphongear.com] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gryphongear [https://www.instagram.com/gryphongear] Listen to Beyond the Trailhead YouTube: https://youtube.com/@Beyondthetrailhead [https://youtube.com/@Beyondthetrailhead] Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/beyond-the-trailhead/id1860050826 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/beyond-the-trailhead/id1860050826] Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/11g9jx9Oyd2YSHipi0mmDy?si=72d97f11c5f64ea6 [https://open.spotify.com/show/11g9jx9Oyd2YSHipi0mmDy?si=72d97f11c5f64ea6] Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/beyondthetrailheadpodcast [https://www.instagram.com/beyondthetrailheadpodcast] Website: https://obristimagery.com [https://obristimagery.com] For those asking about safety gear we use outdoors you can get 15% off Overwatch x Rescue with code BEYOND15. Don’t forget to: • Like 👍 and Subscribe 🔔 • Share this with your hiking crew Let’s go Beyond the Trailhead.

Symbiosis Gear Creator & Owner Sarah Berkeley | Beyond the Trailhead Podcast Ep. 31

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 [https://www.symbiosisgear.com] The Aspen Backpack: https://www.symbiosisgear.com/products/the-aspen [https://www.symbiosisgear.com/products/the-aspen] Find a Retailer: https://www.symbiosisgear.com/pages/find-a-retailer [https://www.symbiosisgear.com/pages/find-a-retailer] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/symbiosisgear [https://www.instagram.com/symbiosisgear] Garage Grown Gear: https://www.garagegrowngear.com/collections/symbiosis-gear [https://www.garagegrowngear.com/collections/symbiosis-gear] Listen to Beyond the Trailhead YouTube: https://youtube.com/@Beyondthetrailhead [https://youtube.com/@Beyondthetrailhead] Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/beyond-the-trailhead/id1860050826 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/beyond-the-trailhead/id1860050826] Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/11g9jx9Oyd2YSHipi0mmDy?si=72d97f11c5f64ea6 [https://open.spotify.com/show/11g9jx9Oyd2YSHipi0mmDy?si=72d97f11c5f64ea6] Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/beyondthetrailheadpodcast [https://www.instagram.com/beyondthetrailheadpodcast] Website: https://obristimagery.com [https://obristimagery.com] For those asking about safety gear we use outdoors you can get 15% off Overwatch x Rescue with code BEYOND15.

Bearvault's Marketing & Sales Grant Breidenbach | Beyond the Trailhead Podcast Ep. 30

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 [https://bearvault.com] BV ONE: https://bearvault.com/products/bv-one [https://bearvault.com/products/bv-one] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bearvault [https://www.instagram.com/bearvault] Listen to Beyond the Trailhead YouTube: https://youtube.com/@Beyondthetrailhead [https://youtube.com/@Beyondthetrailhead] Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/beyond-the-trailhead/id1860050826 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/beyond-the-trailhead/id1860050826] Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/11g9jx9Oyd2YSHipi0mmDy?si=72d97f11c5f64ea6 [https://open.spotify.com/show/11g9jx9Oyd2YSHipi0mmDy?si=72d97f11c5f64ea6] Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/beyondthetrailheadpodcast [https://www.instagram.com/beyondthetrailheadpodcast] Website: https://obristimagery.com [https://obristimagery.com] For those asking about safety gear we use outdoors you can get 15% off Overwatch x Rescue with code BEYOND15.

Garage Grown Gear's Lloyd Vogel | Beyond the Trailhead Podcast Ep. 29

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 [https://www.instagram.com/garagegrowngear] Website: https://www.garagegrowngear.com [https://alnk.to/8ENsaqa] Listen to Beyond the Trailhead YouTube: https://youtube.com/@Beyondthetrailhead [https://youtube.com/@Beyondthetrailhead] Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/beyond-the-trailhead/id1860050826 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/beyond-the-trailhead/id1860050826] Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/11g9jx9Oyd2YSHipi0mmDy?si=72d97f11c5f64ea6 [https://open.spotify.com/show/11g9jx9Oyd2YSHipi0mmDy?si=72d97f11c5f64ea6] Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/beyondthetrailheadpodcast [https://www.instagram.com/beyondthetrailheadpodcast] Website: https://obristimagery.com [https://obristimagery.com] For those asking about safety gear we use outdoors you can get 15% off Overwatch x Rescue with code BEYOND15.