The brainchild of long-distance hiker Brian Frankles, Ultralight Adventure Equipment was founded in 2001 with the goal of providing lightweight, durable, and comfortable gear to a burgeoning community of ultralight hikers. It was nothing short of a success. By 2009, adherents of the ultralight ethos, such as Chris and Sally McMaster, found themselves on a 4-month waiting list for Frankles’s homespun gear. That’s when Frankles sold his business—to none other than the McMasters. The couple brought on sewing expert Rodney Tripp, a ULA customer himself, and soon the company was taking flight.

Today, Ultralight Adventure Equipment sells its wares to dealers around the world, even producing its own ULA 210 Robic fabric. Still, every product is made in-house at the Utah headquarters. But you won’t find ULA in stores. Available only through select dealers, the gear is manufactured on a limited-production basis to ensure that it’s as lightweight and durable as it was when it came from Frankles’s garage. To that end, every pack is PCT-ready and ensured for a lifetime by ULA’s warranty.