I have been lucky enough to spend countless days skiing across the world. Most of those days along the rime covered ridges of Mt. Hood, and in the powder choked slopes of the Wasatch. Whether climbing alpine routes on a volcano, or making powder laps off a ridge, I have learned that efficient packs reduce transition times and physical effort on the up. That all adds up to more skiing. And for me, that’s what it’s all about.

I didn’t plan on making backpacks. For decades, I entertained a rotating cast of ski packs from major producers. Many were good. Some were great. But none were for me. I began to pick apart what it was that I sought. I became obsessive. I thought about each time I touch my backpack while out on a tour. In those moments, what was I doing? And equally importantly, what was I not doing? It turned out, nearly every pack I had ever owned had sacrificed durability, comfort, or lightness, yet included features I never used. At the same time, they lacked features I felt were necessary. I wanted a pack that was lighter, more durable, more comfortable, and more intuitive than the packs found on the mass market. So I started designing and sewing my own. The packs you find on this website are the result of my obsessive tinkering.

illumination equipment is a small shop. Two sewing machines and a cutting table. Each pack is made by hand with love (and occasionally frustration) here in Portland, Oregon.

If you want additional technical information, check out the Technical Info and FAQ page.

Thank you for visiting, and if you have additional questions, feel free to Contact Us!