Gossamer Gear began as a backyard experiment by Glen Van Peski, a civil engineer and Boy Scout dad who decided his seven-pound backpack was a bit much for weekend hikes. After sewing a few ultralight packs in his garage—creatively named G1 through G4—he accidentally launched a cult favorite in the ultralight backpacking world. Demand snowballed, leading to the company’s evolution from GVP Gear to Gossamer Gear, now headquartered in Austin, Texas. Their ethos, “Take less. Do more.”, isn’t just a slogan—it’s a design philosophy that strips gear down to the essentials, empowering hikers to go farther with fewer blisters and more joy. Today, they’re still innovating with sustainable materials and a community-driven approach, proving that less really can be more—especially when you’re hauling it up a mountain.
