Brandon McIntyre and Ashley Thick started Superior Wilderness Designs in early 2016 and promptly left to hike the Pacific Crest Trails with their handmade packs.   We touch on pack designs, how he got Brandon started, why, and what backpacking means to him. 

If you're looking to get into the world of light to ultralight packs, you'll want to look into SWD.

Show Notes and Links

• Introduction to Brandon and SWD
• Superior Wilderness Designs - customized packs!
• How Brandon got into backpacking
• Brandon’s first backpacking trip
• How and why Brandon started SWD
• Brandon’s DIY gear creations and background in sewing
• Lessons learned in pack design
• Durability in a pack - what is needed and what is not 
• The Thru Hiking pack design - where did this stem from?
• How Brandon feels about being a part of someone’s backpacking story
• SWD pack designs
• Materials - Cuben versus X-Pac
• When Cuben fiber makes sense and when it doesn’t 
• X-Pac fabric explained
• Weatherproofing a pack
• Pack liners versus pack covers
• Stretch fabric versus netting for an outside pack pocket
• What customers can expect from contacting SWD
• The culture around Thru Hiking and how SWD is carrying on that culture
• The future offerings from SWD
• How to find SWD
• Brandon’s advice to backpackers
• Saved rounds:  The emotional connection to Thru-Hiking and how the trail can change your life
• www.swdbackpacks.co 

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