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.

Outdoor Retailers Lindsay Hubley & Sunny Stroeer | Beyond the Trailhead Podcast Ep. 28

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 • The creator economy changing outdoor marketing • Why influencers now matter just as much as retail buyers • Their partnership with Popfly • Why small brands may actually benefit the most • The future of retail, media, and outdoor storytelling • How brands can actually win at trade shows today They also address why some people feel OR “lost its magic” and what they’re doing to rebuild it. This was one of the most interesting business conversations we’ve had on the podcast because it touches retail, creators, marketing, and where the outdoor industry is headed next. Learn More: Outdoor Retailer https://outdoorretailer.com [https://outdoorretailer.com] Popfly https://popfly.com [https://popfly.com] Garage Grown Gear https://www.garagegrowngear.com [https://www.garagegrowngear.com] Founded Outdoors https://www.foundedoutdoors.com [https://www.foundedoutdoors.com] 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.

Enlightened Equipment CEO Chris Schawlow | Beyond the Trailhead Podcast Ep. 27

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… Chris shares the ups, the risks, and the moments that changed everything. We also dive into: • How Enlightened Equipment actually started • Why quilts changed backpacking forever • The real challenges of scaling a gear company • Product design, mistakes, and constant refinement • Why doing fewer things REALLY well matters • The story behind the Torrid jacket • Leadership, risk, and building a team you trust If you’ve ever used a quilt on trail… there’s a good chance it traces back to this story. Follow Chris + Enlightened Equipment Website: https://alnk.to/eZKBiae [https://alnk.to/eZKBiae] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/enlightenedequipment [https://www.instagram.com/enlightenedequipment] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/enlightenedequipment [https://www.facebook.com/enlightenedequipment] 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.