Women-Owned and Women-Founded Outdoor Brands

Celebrate international women’s day with these female-founded, women-owned brands

Updated with 25 more brands March 8th, 2024

Treeline Review is a women-founded, women-owned outdoor gear review website.

We write gear reviews for every body and every gender, but also know that women make 82 cents on the dollar to a man (and that number is lower for women of color). This reality means our gear reviews are steeped in a reverence for your money and your time.

For International Women’s Day, we’re celebrating other women-founded and women-owned brands in the outdoor industry.

#InternationalWomensDay is among many things, a global call to purchase from business that are owned, founded and built by women so that women around the world can continue to build their own destinies and be an agent of change.

Learn about these brands, follow and subscribe them, and show them love for International Women’s Day.


Treeline Review founders

treeline review

Founders: naomi hudetz and liz thomas

Website: Treeline Review

Instagram: @treelinereview

Where to Find: on their website and various outdoor festivals and educational events across the country

Treeline Review was founded by two friends and hiking partners, Liz Thomas and Naomi Hudetz. As thru-hikers, they loved nature and this planet. Their love for being outside inspired them to get more people outdoors and for everyone to need fewer things to do it.

Liz and Naomi founded Treeline Review as a gear review website centered on buying less stuff. They wanted to make it easier for people to get outdoors by removing barriers and gatekeeping around the language and way we write about gear. They wanted to save people time and money as they tried to understand what would be best to get outside.

Our goal at Treeline Review is to create welcoming and inclusive gear reviews that make it easier for people of all backgrounds and experience levels to find and choose quality gear. We want you to feel at home in the outdoors and in the outdoor community.


Alpacka Packraft

Founder: Sheri Tingey

Website: https://alpackaraft.com/ 

Instagram: @alpackaraft

Where to get: Alpacka website

The first Alpacka packraft was built in a Chugiak, Alaska basement in the fall of 2000. Since then, Alpacka has led the industry in research and development, pushing the boundaries of design, reliability, advanced materials, and an established infrastructure for customer service that allows for quick and easy repairs or upgrades. 

Alpacka Raft continues to refine and define the sport of packrafting, by creating bombproof packrafts bolder and more rugged than the most skilled athletes, but so stable and streamlined they’re perfect for entry-level adventurers. Made in Mancos, Colorado, Alpacka Raft packrafts can take you anywhere. You'll find Alpacka Packrafts in our Best Packrafts guide.


Swift Industries women-led bike company

swift industries

Founder & CEo: martina brimmer

Website: Swift Industries

Instagram: @swiftindustries

Where to Find: Swift Industries, The Pro’s Closet

Every single person that leads a department at Swift Industries identifies as female. As the captain of the ship, Martina works alongside three incredible women to run a team of fourteen talented people.

The collective intellect, awareness and passion that drives decision making at Swift Industries is inherently impacted by our experiences as women in a dramatically male-dominated industry. We believe that  fostering collaboration, personal development, and collective growth are as impactful and central to our success as drive, authority, initiative, and analytics. It is our dream for this model of leadership to be the norm across all companies in our industry, regardless of the gender configuration of their management teams.

Just as Swift has normalized female leadership in our own company, we would love to participate in building a world in which we can walk into meetings with business advisors, bankers and other institutions of power and no longer find ourselves the only non-male people in the room.


anastasia allison founder kula cloth

Kula Cloth

FOUNDER AND OWNER: Anastasia Allison

Website: Kula Cloth

Instagram: @kulacloth

Where to find: REI, Garage Grown Gear, Kula Cloth

kula cloth® was born during a trip to the alpine lakes wilderness in Washington state. Anastasia Allison was enjoying a spectacular sunset over Robin Lakes when she walked around a larch tree to discover... a giant pile of toilet paper. Upon returning home, she started researching Leave No Trace options for toilet paper in the wilderness. She discovered the concept of a pee cloth and decided to give it a try (even though she had to admit — it sounded a little weird at first). She didn't like the idea of a bandana, so she bought a small blue piece of microfiber. This piece of fabric was a game changer for her — as a women's backpacking instructor for nearly 10 years, she started encouraging all of her students to use a pee cloth in the wilderness.

THE MISSION OF KULA CLOTH® IS TO:

• Encourage Leave No Trace practices by normalizing conversations around hygiene through the use of an intentionally designed pee cloth

• Cultivate a community of individuals who promote stewardship through leading by example  

• Use Kula as a vehicle for good in the world to support organizations, artists, and individuals that are working to diversify outdoor spaces

You can read about Kula Cloth in our Eco-friendly Gear Swaps guide as well as our Gift Guides for Best Gifts for Hikers, Best Gifts for Skiers, Best Gifts for Campers, and Best Stocking Stuffers for Outdoors People.


Garage Grown Gear

Founder: Amy Hatch

Website: Garage Grown Gear

Instagram: @garagegrowngear

Garage Grown Gear was founded by Amy Hatch with a vision of elevating small, startup and cottage outdoor brands. At the time, brands like Gossamer Gear, Hyperlite Mountain Gear and Zpacks were already established with devoted customers. However, as a whole, cottage ultralight backpacking gear and the small brands who supplied it were still on the fringes of the outdoor industry. A chance meeting with Lloyd Vogel, who won an ultralight backpacking gear giveaway that Amy was running, led to a merger with Lloyd's company, The Big Outdoors. Together, they want Garage Grown Gear to be the REI of ultralight gear. 


DOVETAIL  

Co-Founders: Kate Day and Kyle Marie Begley and Sara DeLuca

Website: https://dovetailworkwear.com/

Instagram: @dovetailworkwear 

Where to get: Amazon, Scheel's, Dovetail website

The Portland-based company originally launched as Moxie and Moss, an extension of co-founders Kate Day and Kyle Marie Begley’s landscaping company. Their concept was simple, but at the time, revolutionary: redesign workwear (think: Carhartt) to provide better options for women doing any number of jobs, hobbies, and pursuits that require thoughtful, tough-as-nails clothing that can hold tools, withstand rough conditions, and fit a variety of body types. 

Apparel expert Sara DeLuca joined the team and in 2018, they re-branded as Dovetail, expanding their offerings to overalls, shorts, shirts, and a parade of stylish, but sturdy pants that are just as home in a welding shop as they are at a brewpub.


Paradis Sport

FOUNDER AND OWNER: Sarah Weihman

Website: paradissport.com

Instagram: @paradis.sport

Where to find: Paradis website

Former D1 athlete Sarah Weihman founded Paradis Sport because she couldn’t find high quality athletic underwear that worked. Thousands of women were complaining about the same thing: other brands rode up, fell apart quickly, or were uncomfortable. She enlisted top female industry experts to help design performance underwear that women want and deserve, and then fit-tested the prototypes with elite athletes across 30 sports (a unique and revolutionary approach). “Active underwear is a rapidly growing segment share that has long been overlooked,” Weihman says of the USD 80 Billion Innerwear industry. “Underwear is the foundation of what athletes wear for peak performance.” Paradis Sport quickly developed a pro athlete following which includes members of the US Ski Team, USA Triathlon, US Swimming, Team Canada, and World Cup soccer players among others. Their underwear come with a Stay-in-Place Promise, so you can focus on workouts, not wedgies!


Good to Go Food

Founder Jen Scism

Website: Good to Go

Instagram: @goodtogofoods

Where to find: REI, Amazon, L.L. Bean, Good to Go website

With a passion for good food and the outdoors, Chef Jennifer Scism co-founded Good To-Go in 2014 with her husband, David Koorits. A graduate of The French Culinary School in Manhattan, Jen has cooked at New York Times 4 Star-rated restaurants, owned the Michelin-rated restaurant, Annisa, in NYC, and has beaten Mario Batali on Iron Chef with that team. In preparation for opening Annisa, Jen and partner Anita Lo traveled the world for over a year, visiting 20 countries and sampling food from every walk of life. Those travels inspired Jen’s menu for Good To-Go. With each dehydrated gourmet meal she creates, she prioritizes taste and ingredients—only using recognizable, pronounceable ingredients that provide the fuel needed for whatever adventure you’re on. 

Chef Jennifer and Good To-Go have won multiple accolades, including 3 Backpacker Editors’ Choice Awards as well as being named to The Saveur 100, Saveur Magazine’s list of its favorite foods, people, places and things in 2020. All Good To-Go meals are gluten free and offerings range from meat-based to pescatarian to vegetarian and vegan.


Title Nine

Founder: Missy Park

Website: http://www.TitleNine.com 

Instagram: @titlenine

Where to get: Title Nine

Title Nine is dedicated to providing outdoor and athletic wear for women. They design and sell women’s clothing that’s well-made and versatile.

Title Nine typically invests in small businesses run by women who are shaking things up in the industry.To learn more, check them out at one of their 19 retail locations, or on their website. You can learn more about Missy on this episode of How I Built This.


Symbiosis Gear

Founder: Sarah Berkeley

Web: https://www.symbiosisgear.com/

Instagram: @symbiosisgear

Where to find: Symbiosis Gear website, at various outdoor festivals and educational events across the country including San Juan Sports, Creede, CO, Ski & Bow Rack, Pagosa Springs, CO

Gardenswartz Outdoors, Durango, CO

Sarah Berkeley founded Symbiosis Gear after her frustrating experiences trying to find an ultralight backpack that fit while hiking the Pacific Crest Trail. Motivated to change the industry, she doesn’t want other women backpackers to experience the discomfort, extra expense, and discrimination that she did. So she launched Symbiosis Gear in 2024! 

Symbiosis Gear is founded on the principle that phenomenal gear for women should be widely available so they feel supported and empowered both on and off the trail. After two years of design and testing, they launched their first product, the Aspen.

The Aspen is a frameless, ultralight backpacking pack designed for women. Created with inclusivity at the heart, it has boob-friendly S-curve straps, a 3-way adjustable sternum strap, and a waistbelt that accommodates a wide range of sizes and shapes. Symbiosis Gear is proud of these features and knows women backpackers will love them, too.


Oboz Footwear 

President: Amy Beck

Website: https://obozfootwear.com/en-us 

Instagram: @obozfootwear 

Where to get: REI, Amazon

Amy Beck joined Oboz as president in April 2019 after leadership positions at Smartwool and Lucy Activewear, as well as Cole Haan. Oboz is dedicated to crafting quality footwear for all folks who visit trails, and they’re invested in good practices for the environment, sustainability, and workers. During Amy’s time as President, she’s advocated for the Over 50 Outside program for women over 50. We’ve highlighted their footwear in our Best Hiking Shoes guide, and wrote a single-product review of their Bridger Insulated Winter Hiking Boots.  


Itacate Foods

Founder: Martha Y Díaz

Website: itacatefoods.com

Instagram: @itacate_outdoors

Where to get: Garage Grown Gear, Itacate Foods

Itacate Foods’ founder, Martha, was born in central Mexico, immigrated to the San Francisco Bay area with her family at age 10, and would camp around the state and national parks throughout the region. A former participant in the REI Path Ahead Ventures program, she’s an example of what it means to follow your passions and spread joy for your true culture and roots.


MPOWERD

president & CEO: Seungah Jeong

Website: MPOWERD

Instagram: @mpowerdinc

Where to Find: MPOWERD website, REI, Backcountry

Seungah Jeong is the President, Chief Executive Officer, and Board of Directors Member of MPOWERD Inc. The brand’s goal is to transform lives with thoughtfully designed, clean technology through solar lighting. She believes in mobilizing the private sector to take social responsibility for today's most significant challenges. You can read about MPOWERD in our guide to Best Camping Lanterns.


Rachel Vélez Alpine parrot founder

Alpine Parrot

Founder/Owner: Raquel Vélez

Website: Alpine Parrot

Instagram: @alpineparrot

Where to Find: Alpine Parrot

Raquel Vélez is the Founder and CEO of Alpine Parrot, an outdoor apparel company that caters specifically to people of size and people of color. She brings with her almost two decades of engineering experience, having received her degree in mechanical engineering from Caltech, worked and studied as a robotics engineer, and eventually shifting over to software engineering and engineering management. Now, as an apparel engineer, she's creatively tackling one of the oldest (and most polluting) industries by creating sustainable, inclusive clothing for a market of people who have so often been neglected in the outdoor space. As a plus sized Latina who discovered her love of the outdoors later in life, Raquel has put an incredible amount of careful consideration into the design of each product, focusing on great fit and quality construction. She was named one of Outside Magazine's Outsiders of the Year 2021.

Raquel is also the author of the Treeline Review guides to Snowsports in Bigger Bodies.


Noso Patches

Founder: Kelli Jones

Website: https://nosopatches.com/ 

Instagram: @nosopatches

Where to get: REI, Noso Patches website

Noso Patches are the most unique all-purpose patches that fix rips, snags and tears while adding personal style.

Developed and tested in the Tetons, Noso Patches make your jacket eye-catching, not for the holes, but for the design you’ve created. Personalize your gear like sleeping bags, tents, or the apparel you love most. Whether it’s a nylon windbreaker or down jackets, anything can be revamped or restored. 


Super easy to use at home or in the field, Noso Patches are made of 30D ripstop nylon, uncoated and down proof with a high tenacity and heat/light inhibiting qualities. Noso’s adhesive lasts longer than others on the market. With no sewing required, the heat activated technology creates a permanent bond without an iron. Just throw it in the dryer or better yet, leave it in the sun to activate the adhesive. Noso Patches are incredibly durable and can withstand extreme weather conditions and multiple washes, without gumming up on the sides. You'll find Noso Patches in our Eco-Friendly Gear Swaps guide.


Mandy Bland founder purple rain skirts

Purple Rain Adventure Skirts

Founder/Owner: Mandy Bland

Website: Purple Rain Adventure Skirts

Instagram: @purplerainskirts

Where to Find: Garage Grown Gear, Purple Rain Adventure Skirts website

Purple Rain Adventure Skirts was founded by Mandy ‘Purple Rain’ Bland in 2014.  During a 2012 thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail Mandy was inspired to try hiking in a skirt.   Unable to find what she wanted, she went about designing her own. Hacking up an old pair of convertible hiking pants, adding a comfortable waistband and some pockets, Mandy then headed back out on trail testing the design on the PCT that following summer.  Thus the Purple Rain Adventure Skirt was born.

The business began as a side hustle on a dining room table and has evolved to a studio in downtown Medford, Oregon.  The skirts are still proudly made in Oregon. 

You can read about Purple Rain Skirts in our guides to the Pacific Crest Trail, John Muir Trail, Superior Hiking Trail and more.


Photo by Jarvin, CC BY 3.0

Kari Traa

Founder: Kari Traa

Website: Kari Traa

Instagram: @karitraa

Where to get: REI, Amazon, evo, Backcountry

Kari Traa is a three-time Olympic medalist, and when sponsors finally came on the scene with clothing for athletes, it was only designed for the men's team. Kari crocheted and knitted her own beanies during training and competitions. Her colorful beanies became so popular with friends and skiers that she decided to turn the hobby into a business. And so, the Kari Traa brand was born.


Farm to Summit

Founders: Jane and Louise Barden

Website: Farm to Summit

Instagram: @farmtosummit

Where to get: Garage Grown Gear, Cripple Creek Backcountry

Farm to Summit was founded in 2021 by Jane and Louise Barden, a Durango-based couple with a passion for adventure and shared love for farm fresh and flavor-packed meals. Together, Jane and Louise combined their passions to create Farm to Summit – a dehydrated food company on a mission. Farm fresh, flavor packed, sustainably produced and packaged, and working to reduce food waste within our system!


Coalition Snow 

Founder & CEo: Jen Gurecki

Website: Coalition Snow

Instagram: @coalitionsnow

Where to Find: REI, Backcountry.com, Evo

Jen Gurecki is the founder and CEO of Coalition Snow, a women-owned and operated ski and snowboard brand. Coalition’s mission is to put an end to shrink-it-and-pink-it and toxic bro culture and amplify a community that values camaraderie over competition and solidarity over sending. 

She also founded Zawadisha, a social enterprise whose mission is to provide small loans to rural Kenyan women to finance their livelihoods. 

Jen Gurecki holds a master’s degree from Prescott College and dropped out of their PhD program when she realized that being a CEO was more productive than being a grad student. She’s been featured in Outside Magazine, Huck Magazine, Red Bull Magazine, and Entrepreneur Magazine as one of the top 50 Most Daring Entrepreneurs. She spends her evenings wondering what Joan Jet would do and reminiscing about that time she cycled across Africa. 


Hartford Gear Company

Founder: Georgia Wetmore

Website: Hartford Gear Co

Instagram: @hartfordgearco

Where to get: Garage Grown Gear

Before Georgia Wetmore was a backpacker, she was an All-American collegiate rower. After college, she discovered ultralight backpacking, and "was able to tap into that same physical and mental intensity I had been craving."

Now she makes ultralight, no-frills bags and accessories for backpackers and non-hikers alike. Her gear is made to stand up to the elements and to time. She (and we at Treeline) believes the most sustainable gear is made to last.


girls fight back

owner & CEo: nicole snell

Website: Girls Fight Back

Instagram: @girlsfightback

Where to Find: Girls Fight Back website and on tour internationally

Nicole Snell is an international speaker, facilitator, and self-defense instructor who specializes in sexual assault and violence prevention education, gender-based violence prevention, personal safety, and empowerment. She is committed to ending violence in all of its forms by educating others and advocating for change. She believes in social justice, equality and that everyone has the right to walk through the world feeling safe, powerful, and confident. 

As an outdoor enthusiast, solo adventurer/traveler, and hike leader, she uses her skills to encourage others to expand their world, explore and do what brings them joy—without limits. Her company Girls Fight Back’s self-defense class was awarded “Best Online Self Defense Class” by VeryWellFit, and winner of Tastemade Travel’s Best Resources for Solo Female Travelers.

She teaches online and group self-defense classes for a variety of clients from K-12, colleges and universities, to the military, to BIPOC organizations, to hiking, running, and outdoor organizations.

Nicole Snell is also the author of the Treeline Review guides to Lightweight Hiking Boots and How to Hike Solo and How to Road Trip Solo.


Têra Kaia

co-founders:Bridget Kilgallon and Lauren Breitenbach

Website: Têra Kaia

Instagram: @terakaia

Where to Find: Têra Kaia website, at the flagship store in Bishop, CA, independent gear stores internationally

Têra Kaia co-founders Bridget Kilgallon and Lauren Britenbach have a mission to redefine the way clothes fit and function, and encourage you to be your outside self. Their basewear is designed by women, for anyone who is tired of traditional bras. The climber and swimmer-founders created the brand to create a functioning sports bra that was designed for different kinds of bodies. After 40 iterations, the first model of the Toura (still their most popular model) was born. The Bishop, California-based company focuses on ethics and sustainability and publishes a report to track progress. They also run a repair program to reduce waste and help people get the most out of their gear.

You can read about Têra Kaia in our guide to Best Sports Bras D+ Cup and Up.


Julie Shang (far right) at the Trail Days Festival in Damascus, Virginia.

toaks outdoor

owner: julie shang

Website: Toaks Outdoor

Instagram: @toaksoutdoor

Where to Find: REI, Moosejaw, Campsaver, Garage Grown Gear

As an engineering Ph.D as well as an avid outdoor enthusiast, Julie Shang co-founded TOAKS in 2011 in Thousand Oaks, California. (TOAKS gets its name from the town of Thousand Oaks!).

As an engineer, Julie enjoys working in titanium because it is lightweight, durable, non-rusting, and non-toxic. Drawing from her own experience exploring the outdoors, she creates innovative products crafted in titanium for the outdoor community.

TOAKS specializes in titanium pots, cutlery, stoves, tent stakes, and flasks. TOAKS products are notable for their world-class quality and thoughtful user-friendly features. For example, her mugs have curved handles with a finger rest that provides comfort and reduces overheat. Her innovative lid handles can both be positioned upright when cooking and laid flat for easy packing. Furthermore TOAKS’ unique silk-smooth uniform pot surface, and its mirror-like polished cutlery set it apart.

TOAKS uses its special sand blasting technology for surface treatment to avoid the acid waste pollution with no any sewage discharge. TOAKS team stands behind their products with life time warranty of normal use. She looks forward to serving everyone in the outdoor community!

You can read more about TOAKS in our Best Cooking Pots for Backpacking guide.


Green Goo

Founder: Jodi, Jen, and Kathy Scott

Website: Green Goo

Instagram: @greengoohelps

Where to get: Garage Grown Gear

Green Goo is a women-owned, family-operated business – founded by Jodi, Jen, and Kathy Scott. 

They make potent, portable first aid and body care products using only plant-based ingredients infused in enriching oils. They started small, making products for friends, family, and the local farmers market. Green Goo now aims to make organic more available and more affordable, while educating the world on sustainable business and healthcare practices.


Thousand Helmets

Founder: Gloria Hwang

Website: https://explorethousand.com/ 

Instagram: @explorethousand

Where to get: REI, Thousand website

Thousand is an urban mobility brand with a goal to save a thousand lives annually by providing riders with safety essentials. The Los Angeles-based brand was founded in 2016 by Gloria Hwang after she was inspired to design a helmet that riders wanted to wear. From its vintage-inspired Heritage Helmet, award-winning Chapter Helmet to its innovative lights and Jr. line, Thousand is known for style, convenience and innovation. 

As a public benefit corporation, Thousand offsets all of its carbon emissions and contributes to environmental projects while also encouraging safe cycling and other alternative modes of transportation. You'll find Thousand Helmets in our guide to Best Bike Commuter Helmets. You can read more about Gloria on REI’s podcast.


AdventurUs Women

ceo & Founder: Saveria Tilden

Website: The Adventurus Women

Instagram: @adventuruswomen

Where to Find: www.AdventurUsWomen.com

Saveria Tilden strives to create affirming environments to learn new skills including hiking, rock climbing, mountain biking, and paddling. AdventurUs retreats allow participants to try outdoor activities in beautiful environments in retreats that encourage friendship and skill-building while connecting with nature in stunning locales.  AdventurUS outdoor retreats are created for women by women.  AdventurUs Women creates life-changing outdoor experiences that encourage fun, laughter, and friendship. The retreats welcome women of all ages, races, sizes, backgrounds, and experience levels and participants of all gender identities and expressions who feel that a women’s retreat is the right space for them.

As a company and a community, AdventurUs Women is intent on supporting other women both in their outdoor journey and as professionals. To that end, whenever it is possible, Saveria commits to promoting and partnering with companies that are owned and operated by women. By prioritizing hiring women guides, developing robust community standards at our events, and committing to ongoing learning about social justice and inequity, we are committed to creating an inclusive space at AdventurUs Women, and to be advocating for access and inclusion in outdoor recreation at large.


Moxie cycling women owned

moxie cycling

Founder: Heidi Yakowski

Website: Moxie Cycling

Instagram: @moxiecycling

Where to find: Amazon

Led by former competitive cyclist Heidi Yakowski, Moxie’s mission is to get more women to experience the joy of being outside and on their bikes. She says, "During our talks on a ride I found out that women are passionate about not only riding but what they wear and how it feels when they ride. And that there were very few choices for them.”

Moxie does this by making apparel that is not only comfortable but fits women of all shapes, sizes and riding preferences thereby making cycling more inclusive and welcoming for women who may not have felt comfortable in traditional cycling clothes.

"I knew I could create something better than the current choices. A line of apparel that was cut for women and on trend, while providing the performance they demanded as serious riders," said Heidi.

Ultimately, what drives Heidi is a love for cycling and the knowledge she is helping to empower other women through sports. "Made by women who ride, for women who ride, is really what Moxie Cycling is all about. My goal is to get more women on bikes, because when women ride bikes they become healthier, stronger and more confident." 


Tough Cutie 

Founder and CEO: Brittany Coleman

Website: https://www.toughcutie.com/ 

Instagram: @toughcutie 

Where to find: REI, Public Lands, Garage Grown Gear, and woman-owned, family-owned, and minority-owned shops across the US

Tough Cutie is a Black woman-owned premium outdoor sock company. Founded by Brittany Coleman, we first encountered this brand at PCT Days and they're making a splash for their craftsmanship-oriented socks. The socks are made in the U.S. in a woman-owned factory. You'll find Tough Cutie in our Best Hiking Socks guide.


Oiselle

Founder: Sally Bergesen

PRESIDENT: Arielle Knutson

Website: https://www.oiselle.com/ 

Instagram: @oiselle

Where to find: Oiselle website
Oiselle is a Seattle-based athletic apparel brand by women, for women. They specialize in running apparel for women athletes of all ages, paces, and places, and bring together a community of women. You'll find Oiselle in our guides to Best Women's Running Jackets and Best Women's Running Shirts, as well as our Tips for Running in the Dark guide.


backcountry foodie

founder: Aaron Owens Mayhew, MS, RDN

Website: Backcountry Foodie

Instagram: @backcountry_foodie

Where to Find: Backcountry Foodie website

Aaron Owens Mayhew founded Backcountry Foodie in 2017 to be the leading source for ultralight backpacking recipes and meal planning resources. As a registered dietitian and ultralight long-distance backpacker, Aaron created Backcountry Foodie while preparing homemade, lightweight meals for her thru-hike attempt of the Pacific Crest Trail in 2017 and subsequent thru-hike of the Oregon Coast Trail in 2018. Her goal is to give backpackers the recipes, resources, and know-how to maximize their nutrition, reduce their food weight, and simplify meal planning for their next adventure. You can learn more about Backcountry Foodie in our What to I Eat on a Thru-hike guide.


Shredly

Founder: Ashley Rankin

Website: https://shredly.com/ 

Instagram: @shredly 

Where to get: REI, Backcountry, Shredly website

Shredly was founded by Ashley Rankin, who sought to design mountain biking clothes for women that “look good, feel good, and fit good.” At this time, 93% of their products are made from recycled materials, and they’re working toward 100%. You'll find Shredly in our Best Women's Mountain Bike Shorts guide.


Branwyn

Co-Founders: Katie Sadler, Sarah Palmer, and Shawna Lauringson

Website: https://branwyn.com/ 

Instagram: @branwynofficial 

Where to find: Branwyn website

Brawyn is a “performance innerwear” company that makes underwear from natural fibers. Their sustainability efforts focus on renewable materials, waste reduction, and transparency. If you’re curious about their products but aren't sure you’ll like them, they offer a money-back guarantee after 14 days, free exchanges for 30 days, and a 1-year warranty. That's about as good as it gets in the outdoor industry. 


hiking my feelings

founder: sydney williams

Website: Hiking My Feelings

Instagram: @hikingmyfeelings

Where to Find: Bookshop.org, Barnes & Noble, Amazon, Apple Books, Audible

Sydney Williams founded Hiking My Feelings on a mountaintop east of San Diego, CA in 2018 – a mantra, battlecry, and most importantly a replacement to the eating and drinking that had once been go-to methods for handling the reverberating emotions of lived trauma. 

Since that day, she’s been on a mission to improve community health by creating opportunities for people to experience the healing power of nature. 


Cindy Jones founder Colorado Aromatics

colorado aromatics

founder: cindy jones, Phd

Website: Colorado Armoatics

Instagram: @coloradoaromatics

Where to Find: On the website, at the Boulder and Longmont Farmer’s Markets, at their storefront in Longmont, CO

Cindy Jones is a PhD Biochemist, herbalist, and founder of Colorado Aromatics farm-to-skin care. She grew up hiking, gardening, and farming. Using her deep knowledge of skin physiology and a thorough understanding of ingredients from her scientific background, Cindy works to formulate products that are natural, effective and practical. She operates a Certified Naturally Grown (CNG) farm that grows over 30 different herbs/vegetables used in Colorado Aromatics skin care.

Colorado Aromatics products are perfect for every skin, but particularly skin that has been damaged due to the outdoors.


blaze physio mobile physical therarpy

founder: dr. morgan brosnihan, pt, dpt

Website: Blaze Physio

Instagram: @blazephysio

Where to Find: Along long distance trails including the Arizona Trail and PCT, telehealth CA, MD, AZ, OR, WA, running analysis/training sessions online everywhere

Dr. Morgan Brosnihan, PT, DPT has been a Physical Therapist since 2017 and is passionate about helping her patients make progress to get back to, or keep doing what they love. Morgan has worked both as a traveling therapist, and a clinic manager.

With a range of experience from trauma hospitals, to rehab, to outpatient facilities, Morgan has an eye for medical complexities, and complex recoveries.

 “From helping patients learn to walk again, to helping athletes continue their endeavours, I am thankful for my knowledge and I hope with this platform I can reach more people to help them keep going, no matter where they are in their journey.” You can find her along the trail on the Pacific Crest trail, John Muir Trail, and Arizona Trail.


Sensi Graves Swim

Founder: Sensi Graves

Website: Sensi Graves Swim

Instagram: @sensiswim

Where to find: evo

Sensi Graves is a professional kiteboarder, entrepreneur, speaker, kiteboarding instructor and women's empowerment coach. In 2012, Sensi launched her swimwear label, Sensi Graves Swim, to meet the demands of her sport (after losing one too many string bikinis in the surf, she decided to tackle the job herself and design suits that actually stay on in rough conditions).

Sensi's vision: A world in which women no longer doubt themselves.

That's all we need to know.


Alpine Fit founder headshot

Alpine Fit

Jen Loofbourrow, owner and founder

Website: https://alpinefit.com/

Instagram: @alpinefitco

Where to Find: Garage Grown Gear, Online or visiting their workshop

Alpine Fit Alaska is based in Anchorage Alaska and make women’s and men’s base layers, hiking shirts, hats, neck gaiters, and other headwear. Our values are making our gear ourselves, designed for the types of outdoor activities and long extended wilderness adventures here in Alaska, and fit options for different body proportions.

We started making the products ourselves here in our workshop and are growing our little crew of stitchers and industrial equipment to supply our growing customer base. We have customers that include every day adventurers to some well known expeditioners and "Alaska famous" wilderness lovers. You can learn more about Alpine Fit in our guide to Best Hiking Tights.


Annelise Loevlie

Icelantic Skis 

CEO: Annelise Loevlie

Website: Icelantic Skis

Instagram: @icelantic_skis

Where to find: REI, Evo, backcountry.com, local specialty retailers 

Annelise Loevlie didn’t start Icelantic, but having been friends with the founder since childhood, she’s been with the Colorado-based ski company almost since its founding in 2005. When it was time to really take the company from a money-losing project and into profitability in 2014, she grabbed the poles, dropped in, and headed downslope. Since then Loevlie has navigated the moguls and tree wells of the ski industry, like Mikaela Shiffrin, and is CEO of one of the largest U.S.-made brands of skis in the country. 

Not only does the company produce skis made in Colorado, they also produce them with some of the coolest graphics out there, like their National Parks Collection. The dreamy vistas of which you could almost be forgiven for staring at as you’re tripping to get off the lift. The skis also carry their bombproof 3-year warranty, so if you do mess them up on the lift—they’ll fix ‘em!


Gnara

Founder: Georgia Grace Edwards & Charlotte massey

Website: Gnara

Instagram: @gnara_apparel

Where to find: Garage Grown Gear

Co-founder Georgia Grace Edwards got the idea for Gnara (formerly known as SheFly) during her time as a summer glacier guide in Alaska. While her male co-workers could easily and discreetly unzip their flies to pee, she was forced to trek across dangerous crevasses until she could find the privacy to remove 3 to 4 layers of clothing in freezing temperatures. This process made her so cold that she chose to cut her water consumption and risk dehydration instead — a common tradeoff for female hikers and backpackers.

Tired of wearing clothes that simply weren’t designed for her anatomy, Georgia Grace teamed up with avid outdoor enthusiasts and fellow classmates Bianca Gonzalez and Charlotte Massey to launch SheFly in 2018 out of their college dorm rooms in Vermont.

Today, Gnara is an all-female led team committed to providing apparel that makes the outdoor industry more accessible for all.


LIGHTHEART GEAR

Founder: Judy Gross

Website: Lightheart Gear

Instagram: @lightheartgear

Where to get: Lightheart Gear
LightHeart gear is made for hikers, by hikers. Founded by thru-hiker Judy "HeartFire" Gross, they specialize in ultralight tents, rain gear, and apparel and also do custom gear. Based in North Carolina, they have a small store where you can shop, try out tents, and try on the clothing. Everything is manufactured in the U.S.


Wild Rye

Founder: Cassie Abel

Website: Wild Rye

Instagram: @wild_rye_

Where to find: REI, Backcountry, evo, Wild Rye website

After nearly a decade in the outdoor industry, founder Cassie Abel knew women deserved better options. At Wild Rye, she's making those options a reality. And a community to match. Wild Rye's mission is to bring women+ (women, femme, and non-binary identifying folks) beautiful and technical mountain apparel that inspires confidence and gets more women outside.

In addition to building a better product for women, Wild Rye is dedicated to creating a community that celebrates the thrills and the spills, the snack breaks and the summits and the triumphs and failures. You'll find Wild Rye gear in our Best Women's Mountain Bike shorts guide. 


Skida

Founder: Corinne Prevot

Website: Skida

Instagram: @skidagram

Where to find: evo

Skida was founded in the winter of 2008, when Corinne Prevot made hats for her cross-country ski teammates and friends at Burke Mountain Academy. As demand and buzz grew beyond the New England ski community, Skida added more products to the line to keep everyone warm and colorful. Fourteen years later, the brand is still committed to local production, limited edition products, and a fresh perspective.


Miss Mayfly

Website: Miss Mayfly

Instagram: @miss.mayfly.fishing

Where to find: shesfly

Miss Mayfly was the revelation of Kim Ranalla, a passionate female angler who saw a need for well-fitting and flattering gear for women anglers. The first chest wader hit the market in 2018 and quickly gained recognition across the nation.

In 2019, Kim accepted an investment opportunity and placed Miss Mayfly under the control of a holding company. However, on July 5, 2023, after three years under the partnership, Kim reclaimed her brand by buying out the holding company’s shares. She once again became the sole owner of Miss Mayfly.

Miss Mayfly’s mission is to empower anglers of all shapes and sizes, providing fit-focused fishing and wading gear designed to achieve unmatched outdoor performance. They pride themselves on creating product solutions tailored specifically to a woman’s body. 


FunLovin Fleecewear

Founder: Kelli O’Keefe

Website: FunLovin Fleecewear

Instagram: @funluvin_fleecewear

Where to find: Blue Ridge Hiking Company

FunLuvin’ Fleecewear was founded by Kelli O’Keefe in 2017. Kelli is a female boater who was inspired to create her own line of clothing based on her love for adventures in the outdoors. The river fuels her soul, and it was on the river where FunLuvin’ Fleecewear was born. She wanted to create fun, functional, and affordable clothing that’s versatile and can be worn on all the adventures. 

All FunLuvin' products are made in the USA – Colorado and Idaho, to be specific.  


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