[image] My Trail Co is a new company from Colorado, currently selling a few packs, tents and jackets with ambitious plans to expand. MTC emanates from the ashes of Golite, a company that was one of the main catalysts for the ultralight movement in the 2000s. I personally still have and regularly use my Golite Bitterroot down jacket, Jam2 50L pack, Feather 40 degree bag (now converted to a two-person quilt), and a few other things. I am very fond of who Golite was, what they made, and how they helped many of us to lighten up. [image] So, it seems like it would be a no brainer to partner with a company making items that are essentially updates of the original beloved items, now under a different brand name. However, there is a bit of a darkside in that Golite went bankrupt a few years ago and left debts of more than $3 million to outdoor suppliers, manufacturers, and real estate owners. Many ULers were unhappy with how Golite went out of business. It wasn't illegal, by any means...

[image] Hey guys, We want to hear what Outdoors & Ultralight jackets all of you are into. More specifically, what brands, types, and styles. ▶ What type of qualities do you look for in a jacket? ▶ Are there certain materials or designs that make most sense for you? ▶ What companies do you think make the best products? We’re always looking at posts and polls for suggestions, and we take them into account when we’re looking for products to put on the site. It doesn’t mean we can secure relationships with every brand or company of course, but we do try, and it gives us a better sense of the interests of the community. We thought the easiest way to round up and talk about what jackets everyone likes is to make a Talk Post so let us know what you think and what suggestions you might have in the discussion. Myself and the buying team will be here to take everything into consideration. Thanks! See our other Interest Checks here: · Backpacks: www.massdrop...

[image] Greetings everyone, We want to know what sunglasses all of you are into, especially as they pertain to the Outdoors & Ultralight Communities. (We will probably do a separate interest check for Sunglasses in Men’s Accessories as those would be more fashion oriented.) When it comes to sunglasses here, we want to know what suits you best for your outdoor experiences, excursions, activities, and adventures. We already source a variety of brands, types, and styles, but are always looking to stay in tune with the interests of the community. · What do you look for in a pair of sunglasses? · What kind of shape, features, or lenses do you prefer? · Are there particular brands you like? Your suggestions and feedback are taken into account when we look for products to put on the site so tell us what you like, what you don’t like and any preferences you have in between. Thanks! See our other Interest Checks here: · Jackets: www.massdrop...

Is anyone else interested in a drop for bikepacking bags? I'm thinking about something like the Revelate Designs Terrapin or Viscacha: [image] Or maybe the Bedrock Coconino: [image] Enough for a really lightweight setup.

I would really love to see this product on a mass drop? How about you? [image]

[image] Over the past 3 decades, I have come to realize, that in my pursuit for the optimal outdoor experience, there are many paths to choose from - each with their own pros and cons. As I look back on the changes I've made to my approach each season, the underlying similarity seems to be to find a way to enjoy a new challenge. When I was a teenager, just getting into backpacking, the word that always seemed to float off every retailers tongue was "bombproof". People made purchases based on longevity, lifetime guarantees, and Kevlar was the fabric of choice. Despite the weight differences from the lighter gear available today it made sense at the time. Most of my friends used gear their parent's had when they were young. It was handed down, and to be honest, didn't seem to be all that different from the new stuff on the shelf. With that in mind you generally made purchases thinking about the long term viability of the thing, and passing down this heirloom piece of gear to...

I began backpacking when I was a scout, lugging around a bargain, classic external frame pack that my parent's found on a closeout deal at a local gear shop. It wasn't pretty, or terribly comfortable, but it held my stuff, and what it didn't - easily lashed on the outside. For two years, I hoisted that thing around and when I was 16, and was working my first job, I saved and scrapped all of my money until I had enough to buy an internal frame pack. Back then, outdoor gear was beefy, made from 1000 denier, kevlar; my new backpack was made to last a lifetime! It even came with a lifetime warranty. And the weight... well, lets just say that pack alone was more than half the weight people are bragging about these days as their BASE WEIGHT. At first it was hard to justify a replacement backpack. I mean... it worked, albeit a bit heavy, and it was near bulletproof. But as my gear got smaller, and lighter... and after packing a full size pillow for a year or so, to fill the extra space...