Meet the Cottage Brands Revolutionizing Outdoor Gear in 2025
In an ever-evolving industry like the outdoor industry, trends seem to come and go. Yet one development that has come to stay, particularly in the world of backpacking, is the rise of cottage companies. If you spend any amount of time backpacking in the west – even here in Northern Arizona on the Arizona Trail or in Grand Canyon National Park – you have probably come across cottage products. But what are they? What has their impact on the outdoor industry been? And how can I support them whether online or here in Flagstaff? It is these questions that this month’s blog hopes to answer.
About the Cottage Industry
Cottage companies are small, independent gear companies that manufacture their own products, typically oriented toward ultralight backpacking. They are operated by a small, passionate team, sometimes working out of their home(s) or a small workshop or warehouse. Cottage brand products are generally niche products that cannot be obtained from larger companies and retailers.
A lot has changed in the outdoor industry over the last decade or two. The backpacking world, in particular, has seen massive changes: a push toward lightweight, packable gear with an emphasis on simplicity, downscaling, and sustainability. While this shift can be seen across large companies and retailers (i.e., the likes of REI and Osprey making lightweight packs), the DIY spirit of backpackers and long-distance hikers has fostered the creation of many small – sometimes even one-person – companies that strive to make streamlined products for the ‘modern’ backpacker.
Fast forward to 2025 and the cottage industry is rapidly expanding. True, cottage gear makers face a slew of challenges, such as supply chain and logistical issues, and especially so during the worst of the COVID-19 pandemic. Overall, however, the entrepreneurial spirit of hikers and backpackers, the growing market and demand for lightweight and ultralight products, and growing concern for direct brand-to-customer interaction, sustainability, and ethics have contributed to huge booms in the cottage industry.
The Role of Cottage Brands in the Outdoor Industry
In a very saturated market like that of the outdoor industry, cottage brands fill a few unique roles that set them apart from other companies. Below are some ways that they have impacted the industry.
- Innovation and Specialization
Cottage brands are often best-known for their innovation and DIY entrepreneurial spirit. Many product ideas are born on thru-hikes and in the backcountry, directly influenced by big ‘what-if’ questions and the realization that a certain piece of gear would come in handy in certain scenarios or places. Then, because cottage companies are small, they can more quickly pivot and address specific consumer needs and demands. The result is an industry that excels at producing highly specific gear and accessories that streamline a hiker’s experience or serve multiple purposes while one is backpacking.
- Customization and Modularity
Because of their small size, many cottage brands offer custom products – a task that larger companies cannot afford. For any outdoor enthusiast – not only backpackers – this is a huge advantage, as many people want to have gear tailored to their specific needs, preferences, or even height, weight, and body type. Extended daisy chains on your pack’s shoulder straps? A sit pad or sleeping pad that can double as your pack’s frame? A sewn footbox or a cinch footbox for your quilt? There is a cottage company out there for each specific need.
- Sustainability and Quality
Shopping small and/or local is more sustainable in and of itself, but cottage brands often put extra emphasis on using ecologically-responsible materials, maintaining local or in-house manufacturing, and promoting ethical labor practices. With smaller operations and associated lower operating costs, they often have more control over the manufacturing processes, which allows for increased quality control and assurance.
- Direct Relationships with Consumers
Most cottage companies take great pride in prioritizing costumer relationships and feedback, allowing them to build strong communities around their brand. Customers can often directly communicate with these brands, share their experiences with their products, and offer suggestions and other feedback from their time using those products in the field. Brands like Durston Gear, for example, are exceptionally quick and responsive when it comes to customer suggestions for their products. Moreover, events like Trail Days for long hikes such as the Appalachian Trail and Pacific Crest Trail serve to connect hikers with these brands to put faces to names, share stories, and create a space of creativity and innovation for outdoor gear.
Where to Find Cottage Brands: At Peace Outfitters and Beyond
If you’ve ever wanted to lighten your backpacking kit, make more conscious consumer choices around your gear, or upgrade your camping, hiking, climbing, fishing, or even skiing game with versatile accessories, the cottage industry offers countless options. Here are a few of our favorites, the ones we’re featuring in-store at Peace Outfitters:
CNOC provides gear that everyone wants but no one makes. Specializing primarily in water collection, storage, and filtration, their products help streamline hydration in the backcountry. Their flagship product, the Vecto Water Container, allows anyone to more easily collect water from any kind of source in the backcountry, and is durable to boot.
Based here in Arizona, Aardwolf is a two-person team that sews ultralight backpacking essentials and accessories using Dyneema, an ultralight and ultra-strong waterproof material designed to withstand the elements. Their products are designed to keep hikers organized and comfortable while on the trail. From spoon covers to trowel and tent stake sheaths to food bags that double as cross-body bags for around town, Aardwolf has something for everyone – big or small.
CTUG is a go-to for all things backpacking and beyond – yes, even ski touring. They make ultralight framed packs and fanny packs, but especially excel at accessories like wallets and attachable/detachable water bottle sleeves for the shoulder strap of your pack. Based in Michigan but seen on long trails across the world, they also offer custom, made-to-order operations for wallets, fanny packs, and camera bags.
Based locally here in Flagstaff, Evolved Supply Co. was founded to develop and produce gear for the all-around adventurer: hikers, cyclists, travels, mountaineers, photographers, and filmmakers. Insight and knowledge for their gear – from packs to cookpots to sun hoodies – comes from over 20,000 miles of hiking, backpacking, and cycling experience.
TOAKS specializes in all things titanium: cookpots, utensils, flasks, stoves, windscreens, tent stakes, and more. Since 1999, their titanium tableware has set industry standards and inspired many designs that are developed today. The brand also places heavy emphasis on sustainability, eliminating the use of plastic in product packaging and minimizing the amount of wastewater generated in the manufacturing process to miniscule levels.
Where to Explore More: Cottage Gear Resources We Love
There are many other amazing small ultralight makers out there. In fact, the cottage world can sometimes feel a bit like opening Pandora’s Box. The good news is that there are a number of great resources available to help customers streamline their research or find a brand that suits their needs.
- Garage Grown Gear: A hub for all things ultralight backpacking, GGG is dedicated to supporting the growth of small and cottage brands. They aim to curate a marketplace that benefits and supports the brands they carry and makes it easy for anyone interested in ultralight backpacking to find what they are looking for. Visit https://www.garagegrowngear.com/ to shop or learn more.
- The Trek: Dedicated to thru-hiking in all its forms, The Trek is an amalgamation of blogs and articles, gear reviews, outdoor news and culture, and more. They aim to shine a spotlight on thru-hikers’, help future hikers, and overall be a resource for long-distance backpacking at-large. Visit https://thetrek.co/ to learn more.
- Halfway Anywhere: A website and blog run by long-distance hiker Tyler ‘Mac’ Fox, Halfway Anywhere includes gear reviews, trip reports, surveys, and more about backpacking, cycling, skiing, and river running. Visit https://www.halfwayanywhere.com/ to learn more.
- SectionHiker: SectionHiker is a backpacking blogging website for hikers of all experiences levels. With trip reports, gear reviews, and even a directory of cottage industry backpacking gear companies, it is an excellent resource for anyone looking to explore the cottage industry and its role in the backpacking world. Visit https://sectionhiker.com/ to learn more.