Innovation and the Future of Ultralight Gear 2025
What is the future of ultralight gear in 2025?
Get an insider's look at the future of innovation in ultralight gear with this special panel co-hosted by Treeline Review and Garage Grown Gear.
Meet the people behind ultralight gear brands and learn about new materials, designs, and philosophies behind ultralight backpacking and bikepacking.
We discuss innovations in the ultralight gear industry, focusing on trends and future developments.
Martina Brimmer from Swift Industries highlighted the evolution of bikepacking gear and the crossover with ultralight backpacking.
Mike Glavin from Zenbivy noted the shift from performance-focused to experience-focused gear, introducing Muscovy duck down for high-quality, cost-effective insulation.
Matteo Favero from Zpacks discussed the company's focus on innovative products, including new tent designs and need for women's gear.
No matter their angle, it is clear that innovation is thriving, making outdoor activities more accessible to more people, including older hikers and bikepackers.
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Topics in ultralight Gear for 2025
We asked thought leaders in the ultralight backpacking and bikepacking space about the outdoor industry including:
What trends are you seeing in backpacking and bikepacking gear and generally in the broader outdoor industry?
What does innovation look like to you within your individual companies in 2025? What does your brand do that makes you different?
Any products you've stumbled upon recently that have caught your eye as particularly innovative? Any brands you hold in high regard for innovative things that they are doing in the industry?
Any concerns for the future of smaller outdoor brands in today's outdoor industry? Any fears of oversaturation?
What do you think ultralight and lightweight gear means for “firsts” in who outdoor accomplishments that otherwise wouldn’t be have been possible?
Takeaways on innovation in 2025
Bikepacking sees (and is going to see more benefits) from ultralight design
Martina Brimmer from Swift Industries describes how ultralight backpacking translates to bikepacking gear and the future of overnight bike trips. She shared her background in outdoor activities, including a month-long backpacking trip and her transition (and ultralight gear's transition) to work for bike touring and bikepacking
Direct-to-consumer sales and slower growth strategies allow innovation to thrive
Mike Glavin from ZenBivy believes this is the future of ultralight. The market has created a space for direct-to-consumer platforms and this allows for more innovation. Mike started at MSR in 1994 and transitioned to Zenbivy in 2014. Direct-to-consumer sales has its benefits for creativity in design, although has a slower growth strategy. Mike argues that innovation is happening more now than ever because of these new avenues for bringing products to market.
Innovation comes from "scratching their own itch"
Matt Favero from Zpacks shared the origin story of Zpacks, started by Triple Crown thru-hiker Joe Velasco in 2005. Zpacks sees the company's focus on "scratching their own itch" as the motivation for design innovation. Matt, who started as employee #1 and is their marketing director, credits his background in 3D CAD design to help develop the products he wants to see.
New materials are changing gear design
New and lighter materials are playing a big part in lightweight gear development and design.
Martina and Michael share their thoughts on how new materials are changing the industry and how in 2025, smaller brands are getting more access to specialized materials.
Ultralight gear is not just for "hardcore" users anymore
Matteo says that in 2025, we've seen a shift from hardcore ultralighters to a broader audience with more varied needs.
Martina agrees and says lightweight gear has made bikepacking more accessible for people going on shorter trips and local exploring.
Mike says part of meeting the needs of today's ultralight gear enthusiasts is creating fundamentally different products that change the user experience.
Matteo says one way to reach more audiences is to create more affordable products and focusing on women's gear options.
Customer feedback can steer innovation
Martina shares how customer feedback led to Swift Industries redesigning a bag for use as a handlebar bag.
Matteo shares how customer complaints about rainbow zippers led to offering new tent designs.
Mike shares that customers consistently prefer high-end products despite the higher price, which can push innovation to lighter-weight materials and designs.
Innovation has led to more users getting outdoors
Lloyd highlights the increased accessibility of ultralight gear for older hikers and the growth of the FKT (Fastest Known Time) community
Matteo emphasizes the importance of ultralight gear in extending the outdoor experience to both younger and older participants
Martina says lightweight gear has allowed for the growth of the bikepacking community.
Martina also shares how new gear has opened up new types of trails for off-road adventures, taking cyclists off paved roads and onto single track trails.
Meet the panelists:
MARTINA BRIMMER
SWIFT INDUSTRIES
Martina’s earliest memories are all outside, marauding with a posse of unkempt kids, climbing trees and running as fast as her legs would carry her.
Still pretty much the same, she’s harnessed that nuclear energy and creative verve by founding and leading Swift Industries, a bicycle bag brand that’s hailed for building outstanding products and stellar community.
MATTEO FAVERO
ZPacks
Matteo joined Zpacks as their first employee in 2010 and is currently Director of Marketing.
With thousands of hiking miles under his belt, Matt has thru-hiked the Long Trail, the Superior Hiking Trail, the Tour du Mont Blanc (twice), the Uinta Highline Trail and walked coast to coast across Scotland during The Great Outdoor Challenge.
MICHAEL GLAVIN
ZENBIVY
"Glavin" is no stranger to the outdoor industry. Prior to creating the Zenbivy Bed, he led some of the best brands in the game. You’re probably familiar with a few of his inspirations such as the MSR® Hubba Hubba™, the GSI® Dualist™ and Sierra Designs® Backcountry Bed.
Before Zenbivy launched in 2017, he had spent 15 years striving towards the perfect mummy alternative that allows you to sleep in a bed like you do at home. As an avid backpacker himself, this was an endeavor he pursued in earnest at Sierra Designs while he was there, which resulted in the predecessors to the Zenbivy Bed: the Backcountry Bed and Backcountry Quilt.
Moderated BY:
Lloyd Vogel Garage Grown Gear
Lloyd is the Co-Founder and CEO of Garage Grown Gear. An avid backpacker and paddler, Lloyd first entered into the outdoor industry through trip-leading and outdoor education. Based in Minneapolis, MN, Lloyd is a huge fan of small brands, light packs, and large meals.
Hosted by:
Liz “Snorkel” Thomas Treeline Review
Snorkel is Co-Founder and Editor-in-Chief of Treeline Review. A Triple Crowner who once held the women’s self-supported Fastest Known Time on the Appalachian Trail, she’s the author of Long Trails: Mastering the Art of the Thru-hike, which won the National Outdoor Book for Best Instructional Book, with judges calling it "destined to become the bible of the sport."
She's thru-hiked over 40 long distance trails and developed the sport of urban thru-hiking, leading Outside Magazine to call Liz a "living legend."
