Hiking backpacks are a must for all hikers out there. Whether you are an amateur hiker or a professional, a hiking backpack is essential. That said, which brands manufacture hiking backpacks in the USA? Well, that’s what I’ll be looking at in this article.
Which Brands Offer Hiking Backpacks Made in the USA?
After doing a little digging, I was able to find 6 brands that manufacture hiking backpacks in the US. They are Hyperlite Mountain Gear, CiloGear, EXO Mtn Gear, Topo Designs, ULA Equipment and MIS.
American-Made Hiking Backpacks – I Found These 6 Companies
Now that we know which brands manufacture hiking backpacks in the US, let’s look at each company in a little more detail.
Hyperlite Mountain Gear
Hyperlite Mountain Gear was founded in 2010. It is a fairly new company that was founded by brothers Mike and Dan St. Pierre. They aimed to manufacture durable, lightweight, and dependable outdoor gear that people can rely on. Over one decade later and it seems like their goal has become reality.
The company is based in Maine and its facility is located at the Pepperell Mill Campus. From what I was able to find, all of Hyperlite Mountain Gear’s products are made in the US. Not only this, but the company also seems to get its materials from within the US too.
Before the pandemic, it was possible to take a tour around Hyperlite’s manufacturing facility. Unfortunately, at the time of writing this article, the tours have been put on hold.
As for its hiking backpacks, Hyperlite Mountain Gear has a handful of high-quality backpacks that they sell to customers all over the world. Here are a few of them for those wanting to take a closer look.
CiloGear
CiloGear started as an idea in the mind of a hiking enthusiast, Graham Williams in 2004, it quickly turned into a reality, and today, it is a very popular outdoor bag manufacturer. The company is located in Portland, Oregon, this is where all of its manufacturing takes place. CiloGear is a solely American business.
By manufacturing its products in the US, the company is able to achieve two things. First, the folks at CiloGear can keep a close eye on production, ensuring that each product is made to the highest standard possible. Also, it helps to reduce the company’s carbon footprint by keeping production in one location.
CiloGear produces bags for skiing, climbing, travel, work, and more. As for its hiking backpacks, the company has three models available, which are as follows.
EXO Mtn Gear
EXO Mtn Gear was founded in 2014 by hunting partners Steve Speck and Lenny Nelson. They wanted to create backpacks that could hold everything they could possibly need for their hunting trips.
Despite being a company that manufactures backpacks aimed towards hunters, these backpacks are proving to be quite popular with hikers and people who love the outdoors. This is due to the fact that these backpacks have the capacity to hold everything you could ever need on a hike/expedition.
Something that EXO Mtn Gear is particularly proud of is that it produces all of its products in the USA. All of EXO Mtn Gear’s backpacks are designed, manufactured, and tested at its facility located in Boise, Idaho. So, when you buy from EXO Mtn Gear, you can be sure that your product was made in the USA.
Here are a few of EXO Mtn Gear’s backpacks for those wanting to take a closer look at some of its products.
- K3 6400 Bag with K3 Lid
- K3 4800 Bag with K3 Lid
- K3 3200 Pack System
- K3 1800 Pack System
- K3 4800 Pack System
Topo Designs
This Colorado-based company was founded in 2008. It started as a small two-man operation in one of the founder’s basements. These days, the company manufactures and sells its products to happy customers all over the US.
Unfortunately, this company doesn’t manufacture all of its products in the US. However, its website clearly states which of its products are made where. Topo Designs has manufacturing facilities in the US and in Vietnam.
On Topo Designs’ website, there’s a Made in the USA section where you can browse through its American-made bags and backpacks. Here is a list of Topo Design’s hiking backpacks last time we checked their offering.
Topo Designs does its very best to be as eco-friendly as possible. The company is constantly looking at ways to shrink the amount of raw material that it requires. Topo Designs achieves this by using as much recycled material as possible. For more on the company’s eco-friendly information, check this out.
ULA Equipment
ULA Equipment was founded in 2001 by an avid hiker named Brian Frankle. Its focus has always been on producing lightweight and durable hiking and backpacking equipment. Not only does the company offer backpacks to children as well as adults, but it is also possible to have your own customized bag.
ULA Equipment is a solely US-based operation. It manufactures its products at its facility in Utah. The company is committed to keeping this the case for many years to come as it believes in keeping things local and as green as possible.
Since ULA Equipment is primarily a backpack manufacturer, it will come as no surprise to learn that it has lots of hiking backpack lines to choose from. Here are a few for you to look at.
MIS
MIS was founded in 2014 in Los Angeles, California. What sets MIS apart from a lot of other backpack manufacturers out there is the fact that its products are built to military specification, this means that its backpacks are military-grade products.
MIS products are sold all over the world. But despite being a globally recognized brand, it has stayed true to its roots and it manufactures its products in the USA.
MIS manufactures many different types of bags. From pouch and tote bags to shoulder bags and of course, backpacks. Its line of hiking backpacks is called the Roll Up line, it comes in several different colors and styles, this includes the following.
