During a paddling trip through Quetico Provincial Park in 1986, friends Jeff Knight and Dan Cruikshank decided the world needed better outdoor gear—and they wanted to have something to do with it. Not long after, Granite Gear was born. Today, it makes award-winning backpacks, stuff sacks, and other accessories for wilderness adventurers, travelers, students, and even soldiers in the field. The company takes its name from the toughness of its products, which have gained a cult-like following and proven their mettle in some of the world’s harshest environments, from Mount Everest to the North and South Poles.