Cottage companies are responsible for some of the greatest gear available. These nimble companies have no higher ups to please, no quotas to meet. They are in the business of making gear because it is a passion for them. They take chances, make mistakes, and innovate. A cottage company can take design risks that larger companies wouldn’t dare and can therefore push innovation in a more natural and intuitive way.
While the majority of the money in the outdoor industry flows through the big brands and giant retail stores, the heart of the industry lies in the cottage companies.
What follows is a master list of all of the best cottage companies. Keep in mind, this is a work in progress. If I have missed your favorite brand, please let me know in the comments. This is just a start.
Just below is a map of the cottage companies. Feel free to explore it to find where all of these great companies call home. If you click on a brand logo, their specialties and links to their pages will pop up. Underneath the map is a searchable spread sheet with all of the companies. Search for brands, gear types, or locations and find a link to the brands website and social media.
Cottage Companies of the US (and Canada)
If you don’t see the map above, please refresh this page.
| Company Name | Home State | Specialties | Links |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alpacka Raft | Mancos, CO | Pack Rafts | Website |
| Alpine Luddites | Ouray, CO | Backpacks, Bike Bags | Website |
| Anti Gravity Gear | Wilmington, NC | Guides, Clothing, Kitchen, Stove, Shelter, Accessories | Website |
| Arrowhead Equipment | ID | Backpacking Hammocks, Tarps, Top Quilts, Under Quilts, Accessories | Website |
| Atom Packs | Lake District National Park, UK | Ultralight Backpacks, Accessories | Website |
| Bedrock Sandals | Richmond, CA | Badass Sandals | Website |
| Blackrock Gear | Seattle, WA | Hats, Beanies, Gloves | Website |
| Borah Gear | Troy, MT | Bivys, Tarps, Acceassories | Website |
| Cave Creek Hammocks | Cave Creek, AZ | Top Quilts, Under Quilts, Backpacking Hammocks, Accessories, Tarps, Bug Nets, Custom Work | Website |
| Cedar Ridge Gear | Charlotte, TN | Top Quilts, Under Quilts, Backpacking Hammocks, Accessories | Website |
| Dirty Girl | Green Valley, AZ | Gaiters | Website |
| Dream Hammock | Fredericksburg, OH | Backpacking Hammocks, Tarps, Hammock Accessories | Website |
| DutchWare | Lancaster, PA | Cooking, Accessories, Tarps, Hammocks, DIY, Titanium | Website |
| Elemental Hammock | Southern CA | Backpacking Hammocks, Tarps, Top Quilts, Under Quilts, Accessories | Website |
| Elemental Horizons | Southport, NC | Backpacks, Accessories | Website |
| Enlightened Equipment | Winona, MN | Top Quilts, Under Quilts, Clothing, Bivy | Website |
| Etowah Gear | Independence, MO | Tarps, Accessories, Backpacks | Website |
| Fat Cat Bike Bags | Chico, CA | Fanny Packs, Bike Bags | Website |
| Feathered Friends | Seattle, WA | Sleeping Bags, Down Gear, Clothing, Insulation, Accessories | Website |
| Forty Below | Graham, WA | Insulation, Booties, Overboots, Insoles, Down Gear, Brewing Gear đŸ™‚ | Website |
| Free Range Equipment | Bend, OR | Backpacks, Fanny Packs, Accessories | Website |
| Garage Grown Gear | St. Paul, MN | Everything | Website |
| Geaux Hammock | Monroe, LA | Hammocks, Long Hammocks | Website |
| Goosefeet Gear | Gainesville, GA | Down Gear | Website |
| Gossamer Gear | Austin, TX | Backpacks, Shelters, Poles, Pads, Accessories | Website |
| Granite Gear | Two Harbors, MN | Backpacks, Accessories, Luggage, Stuff Sacks | Website |
| Groundbird Gear | MD | Dog Backpacks and Gear | Website |
| Hammock Gear | Reynoldsburg, OH | Hammocks, Tarps, Top Quilts, Under Quilts, Accessories | Website |
| High Tail Designs | Southwest VA | Fanny Packs, Mitts, Accessories | Website |
| Hofman Outdoor Gear Supply | Portage la Prairie, Manitoba, CA | Quilts, Hammocks, Tarps, DIY Supplies, Custom Work | Website |
| Hyperlite Mountain Gear | Biddeford, ME | Backpacks, Shelters, Accessories, Dyneema | Website |
| Jacks R Better | Hulmeville, PA | Top Quilts, Under Quilts, Hammocks, Accessories | Website |
| Jimmy Tarps | Central OR | Tarps, Bivys, Accessories | Website |
| Katabatic Gear | Lakewood, CO | Quilts, Backpacks, Bivys, Accessories | Website |
| Kiva Outdoors | Santaquin, UT | Accessories | Website |
| Lightheart Gear | Arden, NC | Tents, Rain Gear | Website |
| LIteAF Gear | Southampton, NJ | UL Backpacks, Accessories | Website |
| Litesmith | Dana Point, CA | Accessories, Modifications, Ultralight Accessories | Website |
| Little River Packs | Floyd, Virginia | Ultralight Backpacks | Website |
| Little Shop of Hammocks | Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada | Backpacking Hammocks, Tarps, Top Quilts, Under Quilts, Accessories | Website |
| Loco Libre Gear | Lindenwold, NJ | Top Quilts, Under Quilts, Accessories, Tarps, Custom Work | Website |
| Melanzana | Leadville, CO | Clothing, Insulation | Website |
| Minibull Design Cult | Corrina, ME | Alcohol Stoves, Kitchen, Stoves, Pots, Accessories, Modifications | Website |
| Mountain Laurel Designs | Roanoke, VA | Tents, Tarps, Backpacks, Clothes, Accessories | Website |
| Northern Ultralight | Nelson, BC, CAN | UL Backpacks | Website |
| Nunatak | Moab, UT | Quilts, Sleeping Bags, Clothing, Bivys | Website |
| Pa’lante | Provo, UT | UL Backpacks | Website |
| PackIt Gourmet | Austin, TX | Food, Dehydtrated Meals, Snacks, Kitchen Accessories | Website |
| Purple Rain Adventure Skirts | Medford, OR | Skirts, Kilts | Website |
| Qi Wiz | Cleveland, OH | Titanium, Trowels, Kitchen, Stoves, Accessories, Saws | Website |
| Red Paw Packs | Tallahassee, FL | Fanny Packs | Website |
| Ruta Locura | Ogden, UT | Trekking Poles, Tent Poles, Accessories, Modifications, Tenkara, Stoves, Titanium, Carbon Fiber | Website |
| Seek Outside | Grand Junction, CO | Tipi Tents, Backpacks, Accessories, Wood Stoves | Website |
| Sheltowee Hammock Company | Lexington, KY | Hammocks, Insulated Hammocks, Tarps, Accessories | Website |
| Six Moon Designs | Beaverton, OR | Backpacks, Shelters, Accessories | Website |
| St Elmo Fire Quilts | Chattanooga, TN | Ultralight Backpacks, Top Quilts, Under Quilts, Hammocks, Accessories | Website |
| Suluk46 | Toronto, ON, CAN | Titanium, Accessories, Tools, SUL | Website |
| Superior Wilderness Designs | Romeo, MI | UL Backpacks | Website |
| Superstition Gear | CT | Backpacks, Fanny Packs, Accessories, Clothing | Website |
| Tarptent | Nevada City, CA | Tarptents, Shelters, Tents | Website |
| Terra Rosa Gear | Melbourne, Australia | Tarps, Quilts, Tents, Accessories | Website |
| The Tent Lab | Louisville,CO | Tents, Stakes, Trowels | Website |
| Thistle Flats | Groom, TX | Backpacking Hammocks, Tarps, | Website |
| Thrupack | Norfolk, VA | Fanny Packs | Website |
| Tier Gear | Deloraine, Tasmania, Australia | Quilts, Tarps, Accessories, Hammocks, Tents, Clothing | Website |
| Timmer Made Gear | Trumansburg, NY | Down Gear, Quilts, Clothing | Website |
| Trail Designs | Yosemite Village, CA | Kitchen, Stoves, Accessories | Website |
| UGQ Outdoor | Jackson, MI | Top Quilts, Tarps, Under Quilts | Website |
| ULA Equipment | Logan, UT | Backpacks | Website |
| Vargo | Lewisburg, PA | Titanium, Accessories, Tents, Backpacks, Kitchen | Website |
| Walhalla Hammocks and Outdoors | Walhalla, SC | Hammocks, Tarps, Accessories | Website |
| Warbonnet Outdoors | Evergreen, CO | Hammocks, Tarps, Top Quilts, Under Quilts, Accessories | Website |
| Waymark Gear Co. | Salt Lake, UT | UL Backpacks | Website |
| Western Mountaineering | San Jose, CA | Sleeping Bags, Clothing, Accessories | Website |
| Wilderness Logics | Thomasville, NC | Top Quilts, Under Quilts, Backpacking Hammocks, Accessories | Website |
| Wilderness Threadworks | Australia | Ultralight Backpacks, Bike Packs | Website |
| Yama Mountain Gear | Charlottesville, VA | UL Backpacks, Shelters, Tarps, Accessories | Website |
| Zpacks | West Melbourne, FL | Dyneema Shelters, Packs, Accessories, Sleeping Bags, Clothing | Website |