Pioneering the Future of Adventure: Outdoor Retailer’s Founder Friday Series
Pioneering the Future of Adventure: Outdoor Retailer’s Founder Friday Series
Get ready, outdoor enthusiasts and industry trailblazers—Outdoor Retailer is proud to unveil our Founder Friday Series, a celebration of innovation and grit leading up to our highly anticipated August 2026 show!
Ushering in the Future of the Outdoor Industry
We all know the proverb “necessity is the mother of innovation,” and nothing better defines small brands in the outdoor gear industry right now! These passionate founders didn’t just see a gap in the market; they felt it on the trail, on the wall, and in the backcountry. They cleverly identified places where new gear was needed and responded by building innovative products that make adventuring easier, safer, and more comfortable.
That’s why Outdoor Retailer is thrilled to champion these disruptors with our new Founder Friday Series. We will be highlighting dozens of these agile new companies that will be attending the upcoming Summer 2026 show, where they will have a dedicated space to market their products and make meaningful connections with you—the buyers and media who bring these stories to the world.
For independent retailers seeking unique products to differentiate their shelves, this is your path to discovery! See this as an introduction to some of the visionary founders and small brands you’ll meet on the show floor. These brands are hyper-focused, know their audience, and innovate quickly.
Today, we’re kicking things off with Trail Goods Company and Nebu Summit!
Authenticity on the Menu: Trail Goods Company
In a marketplace often crowded with sameness, how do you stand out? For Luke Pearsall of Trail Goods Company, the answer was simple: make trail food that actually tastes like food.
Luke has spent years adventuring across the globe as a thru-hiker and wilderness adventure guide. He knows exactly why small brands matter. “They take risks, they lead with values, and they are often founded by people who actually use the products they make,” Luke told us. “In a world of consolidation and sameness, small brands bring authenticity, innovation, and soul.”
It’s these personal experiences that allow small brands to quickly identify pain points and rapidly innovate to solve them. In Luke’s case, he developed an on-the-go meal packet that tastes “like real food, not a science experiment.”
The Innovation Difference
Trail Goods Co., which launched in 2025, is disrupting the camping food aisle. Instead of assembling meals from powders and pre-freeze-dried components like many competitors, they take a chef-driven approach:
- Cook First: They cook everything first—vegetables, proteins, sauces—just like a home-cooked meal.
- Freeze Later: Only then do they freeze-dry the finished product.
- Flavor First: This multi-step approach keeps the flavor intact and makes the meal taste complete and fulfilling when rehydrated.
This is the kind of product story that resonates with customers looking for quality over quantity.
Built for Abuse: Nebu Summit
Nate Davenport cares a lot about pants. That might sound specific, but when you’ve worn as many lousy pairs as he has—leaving you chafed or in rags during outdoor activities—it becomes a mission.
To fix the problem, he started his own brand, Nebu Summit, and crafted the comfortable but nearly indestructible Rob Roy pants. These aren’t just fashion statements; they are tools. These pants are made for people who spend endless hours doing field work, climbing big walls, hiking through the backcountry, or traveling the world. “That versatility is not an accident, it’s the point,” Nate says.
Integrity Over Growth
Nate and his wife took a big risk to go all-in on the company. They have already seen steady growth and know that in five years they’ll have made important strides. But for Nate, the mission goes deeper than sales figures. Even if the company grows exponentially, Nate says Nebu will “continue to be a brand of the people…growth matters, but integrity matters more.”
He’s excited to be at Outdoor Retailer because in-person events matter more than ever in a digital world. “It is a place where feedback is honest, relationships are built face to face, and ideas move forward faster than they ever could over email,” he explains.
For retailers, connecting with a brand like Nebu Summit offers a chance to bring products with high integrity and durability to your customers—products that build trust and loyalty.
Why Discovery Matters for Retailers
These brands represent just a fraction of the innovation happening at the grassroots level of our industry. Small brands are the lifeblood of gear evolution! They are agile, they are hungry, and they are listening to the users because they are the users.
For specialty independent retailers,
- Elevate your retail strategy by offering products big box stores ignore.
- Forge strategic partnerships with founders who are eager to grow with you.
- Engage your community with stories of authenticity and problem-solving.
Don’t miss your chance to meet Luke, Nate, and dozens of other innovators at the Summer 2026 show. This is where discovery happens!
Be sure to stay tuned, we’ll continue to highlight new and emerging brands every week on our LinkedIn as a part of our Founder Friday Series!