Alpenglow Gear’s Story
Alpenglow Gear started life as a guy (Tom) trying to make an ultralight bear canister while sheltering-in-place from a novel Coronavirus. Many broken canisters and well-fed Grizzlies later, this idea was abandoned.
an OutClaw Prototype at the IGBC Testing Facility in Montana
Three years later, Tom took a sabbatical from his work at Tesla Motors to hike the Pacific Crest Trail from Mexico to Canada. Before leaving, he wanted a better (lazier) way to inflate his sleeping pad, but nothing on the market could endure the 5-month trip while weighing under an ounce.
The Alpenblow’s Iterations over Time
In the month leading up to the sabbatical, Tom modified a fan from DigiKey with a 3D-printed housing and set off. Promptly, he got shin splints and went home to heal. Moping about, Tom alternated between Ibuprofen doses and making new versions of the inflator until healed.
2000ish miles later, Gadget (Tom) & the Alpenblow reached the Northern terminus!
Gadget at the Canadian Border, Alpenblow in Tow
Tom lasted about three months back at his desk job before resigning to work full-time bringing the Alpenblow to the ultralight gear market. Additionally, development work continues on the Alpenflow, Alpenstow, Alpenshow, and Alpenfaux.
Tom resides in Redwood City, California and holds two engineering degrees from Northwestern. He can be reached at tom@alpenglowgear.co.