The is the final interview in the five part series where I’ve been discussing the future of ultralight gear with three of the main contributors to the arena in the last 10 years. Ron Moak, Henry Shires and Glen Van Peski.
Glen explains more about how a hobby became a cottage business and along the way it becomes clear that it isn’t an easy option if you prefer to be out hiking, rather inside designing.
As with Ron and Henry, Glen’s relationship with customers forms the biggest part of this enterprise. Both from an end users input into design, as much as ensuring the products perform how they should.
As did Ron and Henry, he also opens his pack for us and allows us a glimpse into the contents, before I do my best to conclude the similarities between my three guests and the subject in hand.
5 thoughts on “No 358 – The future of Ultralight Gear – Pt 5”
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Good to hear the labels and nonsense tags of UL, SUL are loosing ground and lets just go backpacking. After all that is what it is in the end. Backpacking. Nothing more.
Throughout the interviews, which really were a gem and very enjoyable to listen to, I did not hear any confirmation by the producers that the light-weight, UL and SUL labels were actually loosing ground. It is a bit frustrating taking a deeper look into a website or a product advertised as “lightweight”, when it is far from it and merely used as another marketing campaign. It is fortunetly more difficult to make that supposition using the UL and SUL labels. I would also challenge that yes,it is backpacking, but with a bit more of intelligence, awareness, fearlessness and know how included.
Which was the conclusion I was trying to make Andrew. The whole UL and SUL has now merged into one of education and enlightenment, with which the consumer can select products to suit his or her needs. We have no control over the marketing of products and any manufacturer can call anything ‘lightweight’, if they so desire. Just how ‘lightweight’ it is of course, is all dependent on the experience and knowledge of the potential end user and what that product means to them.
Glen’s the Man!
Another great series that you’ve put together Bob. Thank you for all your great podcasts.