BRIAN SWINGLE
As a kid growing up in the sticks I valued time in the great outdoors.
My greatest peace came from wandering in the woods, building shelters and fishing in near-by streams. As a teenager I spent my summers with the Boy Scouts of America in places like the Sabattis High Adventure further honing in on my craft as an outdoorsman.
Life moves at a fast pace and time waits for no man. As an adult I got busy. I had kids, started my career as an engineer and soon found that part of my soul went missing. Those things I’d deeply enjoyed as a child weren’t a part of my life any more.
How we spend our days easily shows us the things we value, that’s why I decided to get back into the wild as a way to find myself again. I brought my brother along with me in this search and together we discovered remote places nearby us that were untouched by man. We hiked, we fished, and we reconnected with nature.
During my trips to the Bob Marshall Wilderness in Glacier National Park, the Flathead River in Montana where I found native cutthroat trout, Yellowstone and Glacier National Parks, the Wind River Range of Wyoming, and the Teton Mountains, I learned just how difficult it was to carry around a 60lb pack. I guess you could say I’m not that young anymore. I also became pretty frustrated by foreign-made gear, poorly crafted from inexpensive materials that just didn’t hold up to my expectations or needs.
This was the genesis for Minimalist Gear Co. I knew I wanted simple gear made from the best materials for individuals like myself who wanted to get lost in the wilderness to find themselves. I know you’re tired of dragging around heavy, poorly designed, cheaply made junk that fails when you need it the most. My promise to you is that Minimalist Gear Co. products are inventive, strong, simple, made in the USA and they won’t slow you down.