Ultralight backpacking has quietly gone from niche obsession to mainstream, and few people have fuelled that shift like Lloyd Vogel, co-founder and CEO of Garage Grown Gear. The online retailer, which specialises in small-batch "cottage" gear from independent makers, took centre stage in episode 380 of The Trek's Backpacker Radio podcast, where Vogel traced the company's unlikely path from a basement side project to a go-to shop for weight-obsessed hikers.
The early days were humble enough that Vogel's mum helped keep sales ticking over. From there, the business grew by spotting something bigger retailers missed: a loyal community of long-distance hikers who wanted handmade quilts, tarps and stoves from tiny workshops, and wanted them shipped fast. Vogel also explained how products get picked for the site, why shopping through a specialist retailer can beat ordering direct from a one-person brand, and which surprise gadget outsells every other individual product on the site by revenue — a teaser he keeps for the episode itself.
Not everything is rosy in cottage gear. Vogel opened up about parting ways with Enlightened Equipment, one of the best-known names in ultralight quilts, over a values misalignment — a rare public look at how ethics, not just margins, shape the cottage gear scene. He also sits on the board of the Superior Hiking Trail in Minnesota, and talked about Garage Grown Gear's habit of channelling profits toward outdoor causes.
Beyond business, the episode drifts into fun territory. Vogel makes an earnest case for assless rain chaps as underrated kit, predicts what the next big ultralight innovation will be, and describes ditching his smartphone for a dumb phone — staying reachable only through LinkedIn. Elsewhere in the show, Katie Jackson files a report on 800 miles of less-than-appetising cow trough water sources along the Continental Divide Trail, with hard-won lessons on filtration, while the team reviews the Mountain Hardwear Crater Lake sun hoodie and settles the pumpkin spice debate once and for all.
Why should travellers care? If you're planning a thru-hike or even a weekend pack trip, this episode is essentially a buying guide from someone who curates ultralight gear for a living. You'll come away understanding which small brands are worth backing, why the ultralight movement keeps growing, and what to look for before you spend hundreds on a quilt or shelter. The show also leans on its usual sponsor discounts — codes for Topo Athletic, Gossamer Gear, Darn Tough and Hyperlite Mountain Gear — which can knock 10–15% off some of the most popular pieces of trail kit. For anyone kitting out for the Appalachian Trail, the PCT or a European long-distance route, it's an easy hour of listen-to-learn.
