illumination equipment was born out of necessity

Black and white photo of a man with a beard looking through machinery or equipment, partially obscured and in focus.

I'm a skier first. Craft came second, out of necessity.

I was in high school when I first learned about backcountry skiing. During college, while working at an independent gear shop, I ordered my first set of touring skis and began venturing outside the ski area boundaries on Mt. Hood. After college, I moved to Alta, Utah. What began as a season hammering lift laps evolved into venturing deeper and deeper into the backcountry. When I moved back to Oregon, I gave up the season pass to explore the wilds of the Cascades.

Somewhere in all those days, I got obsessive about my pack. Dissatisfied with the options on the market, I borrowed my mother-in-law's sewing machine and taught myself to sew. Each time I touched my pack on a tour or a climb, I asked myself the question: what was I doing in that moment? And just as important, what did I wish I wasn't doing? I'd take my thoughts back to the sewing machine, and begin working out an answer.

The question became my design rule. Every time I consider a feature, I ask: for what purpose? A stash pocket earns its place because I want my skins in three seconds at a transition, and I often perform that same task many times per day. An avalanche pocket earns its place because during a burial, immediate is the only speed that counts. If a feature can be solved by packing smarter instead of adding another buckle or zipper, I leave it out.

I’ve gone through dozens of prototypes. Some seemed clever until they failed. Others were replaced by a cleaner, simpler, and stronger design. My packs have been used in Alaska, Antarctica, the Alps, Hokkaido, and across the major ranges of British Columbia and the Lower 48. What's on this site is built on what survived and performed.

illumination equipment is still a small basement shop — me, a couple of sewing machines, and a cutting table. Every pack is designed, cut, sewn, and shipped from right here in Northeast Portland. Got a question, a warranty claim, or just want to talk gear? Reach out — you'll be talking to the person who makes your pack.

- Sam

Person snowboarding down a snowy slope in a heavily wooded area with trees covered in snow.
A black and white photograph of a utility knife placed on a craft paper with printed outlines for cutting or folding.
Multiple black and gray outdoor backpacks hanging on a store display.