What about SD inspires you?

They are not afraid of offering innovative solutions to old problems. Look at the Backcountry Bed, Tensegrity shelters, and the Cagoule and Chaps. Some of these new products work wonderfully, while others have been total busts or have been axed during the design and development phase. Either way, I give credit to Sierra Designs — and specifically Michael Glavin, who took over as brand manager a few years ago — for trying.

You are most known for epic distance solo hikes, leveraging ultra-light principles…which, can we say…don’t always embrace the comforts of mainstream outdoor enthusiasts. How will this affect gear design?

Actually, I don’t consider myself an “ultralight backpacker.” I describe myself as a backpacker who loves to hike and who only camps to recharge for 8 hours before another long day of hiking. To backpack in this style, weight is obviously critical, but so too is “efficiency” or my ability to maintain constant forward progress.

So I invest ounces where it counts — for example, enough nighttime warmth and comfort that I sleep well and fully recover; a backpack that will withstand hundreds of days of intense use; and ankle gaiters to prevent blister-causing debris in my shoes. Sierra Designs is in the same place as I am — very aware of the importance of weight, but unwilling to sacrifice all other performance metrics for the sake of saving a few grams.