Alpenglow Gear’s Story
All Alpenglow Gear products are assembled in California- here’s how Tom went from designing electric cars to building backpacking gear:
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
Before setting off, Tom modified a cooling fan with a 3D-printed housing and brought it along to the PCT Southern terminus to start. Tom promptly developed shin splints and went home to heal up. Moping about, Tom alternated between Ibuprofen doses and making updates to the inflator until healed and returning to trail.
2000ish miles later, Tom & the Alpenblow reached the Northern terminus, earning a new trail name: Gadget!
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 and Alpenstow.
Tom resides in Redwood City, California and holds two engineering degrees from Northwestern. He can be reached at tom@alpenglowgear.co. Tom also holds the rank of Eagle Scout and is tired of narrating in the 3rd person.