Beyond The Trailhead

craig obrist
  • 5.0 (4)
  • Entrepreneurship

Beyond the Trailhead Podcast is where the outdoor world comes alive. We sit down with the people shaping the industry—founders, designers, and adventurers—to hear the stories behind the gear and the journeys that inspire it. From trailhead conversations to trail-tested reviews, this series dives into what makes the outdoor community unique, real, and worth exploring. Whether you’re a gear junkie, a weekend warrior, or someone who just loves trail talk, this is your spot to discover what’s happening beyond the trailhead. Guest suggestions or you would like to be on the show email at info@craigobrist.com

  1. 4d ago

    Wambolt Founder/CEO Scott Wambolt| Beyond the Trailhead Podcast Ep. 53

    In this episode of Beyond the Trailhead, I sit down with Scott Wambolt, CEO and Co-Founder of Wambolt. Scott is an ER doctor, former Air Force physician, father of five, and now an outdoor gear founder trying to solve one of the most annoying parts of family adventure: PACKING. The idea for Wambolt started while Scott was stationed in Alaska. His family was constantly camping, fishing, skiing and traveling around the state, which meant constantly pulling gear out of garage totes, repacking it into the vehicle, unloading everything afterward, and doing it all again a few days later. Eventually Scott and his brother asked a pretty simple question: Why are our garage storage system and vehicle storage system completely separate? Wambolt's Ready-To-Go system is designed around modular storage boxes that live in your garage and then lock directly onto a hitch-mounted platform when it's time to leave. Unclick it from the garage. Click it onto the vehicle. Go. We talk about: • How four years in Alaska inspired the idea • Raising five kids while trying to get outside as much as possible • Going from ER doctor to outdoor entrepreneur • Why packing can stop families from taking spontaneous trips • Building modular boxes that work in both the garage and on the vehicle • Eliminating ratchet straps and cargo-carrier Tetris • Why the carrier swings away so you can still access your vehicle • Keeping the hitch receiver available for bikes or skis • Hiring engineers instead of trying to design everything himself • The fear of a huge company beating him to the idea • Patents and protecting a product before launch • Self-funding the company with his brother • The huge cost of tooling and manufacturing • Trying to manufacture domestically • Using pre-sales before deciding whether to take outside investment • Bringing an unreleased product to Outdoor Retailer • Getting honest feedback before manufacturing • Why Scott wants Wambolt to become the outdoor brand built around families • His dream of eventually handing the company down to his kids One of the coolest parts of this episode is that we're talking with Scott BEFORE the success story is written. There aren't warehouses full of finished Wambolt systems yet. He's still dealing with engineering, patents, tooling, funding, marketing and all the risk that comes with turning an idea into a real product. Scott's bigger goal isn't simply selling storage boxes. He wants to remove enough friction from getting outside that families actually take the trip instead of saying, "Forget it. Packing is too much work." If you've ever spent the night before a camping trip playing Tetris with totes, coolers, bikes, roof boxes and ratchet straps, you'll understand this one. CONNECT WITH WAMBOLT Website / Join the Waitlist: https://wambolt.co Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wamboltofficial LISTEN TO BEYOND THE TRAILHEAD YouTube: / @obristimagery Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/beyond-... FOLLOW CRAIG / OBRIST IMAGERY Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/obristimagery Website: https://obristimagery.com If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe, leave a review, and send it to the backpacker with Crocs swinging off the back of their pack. For those asking about safety gear we use outdoors you can get 15% off Overwatch x Rescue with code BEYOND15.

    Wambolt Founder/CEO Scott Wambolt| Beyond the Trailhead Podcast Ep. 53

  2. Oct 20

    ULAS Founder/CEO Scott Hannan| Beyond the Trailhead Podcast Ep. 52

    In this episode of Beyond the Trailhead, I sit down with Scott Hannon, founder of The Ultralight Mindset and creator of the ULAS Ultralight Adventure Sandals. Scott’s story started with a simple backpacking problem: he hated carrying camp shoes. After long days on trail, he wanted something lightweight enough to justify packing, but still durable enough to actually protect his feet around camp. His first prototype was made from an old sleeping pad. That didn’t last. Then Scott bought a $5 pair of flip-flops from Walmart, cut the bottom layer off, ground away the extra foam, added his own lacing system, and started testing. That prototype finally worked. After years of experimenting with materials and testing the sandals on backpacking trips, surf trips, and the Tour du Mont Blanc, Scott eventually launched The Ultralight Mindset. We talk about: • How Scott got into ultralight backpacking • Getting hypothermia on his first backpacking trip • Why he never thought camp shoes were worth carrying • Building his first sandals from sleeping-pad foam • Cutting apart Walmart flip-flops to make a working prototype • Balancing ultralight weight with real durability • Testing gear on actual trips instead of just at home • Why surfers unexpectedly started loving the sandals • Running a 100% direct-to-consumer cottage brand • Learning Shopify and e-commerce from scratch • The Instagram ad that worked TOO well • Why Scott actually shut the ad off because too many orders came in • Competing without obsessing over competitors • Whether to hire employees or outsource production • Why ethical manufacturing matters to him • Why scaling customization can get complicated • Why “time and flexibility” are his definition of success The ULAS sandals weigh just 3.7 ounces per pair in a men’s size 9 and are designed to be lightweight, packable, and durable enough to actually use around camp and beyond. If you’re into ultralight backpacking, cottage gear, outdoor business, camp shoes, or building a company around the life you actually want to live, this episode is for you. CONNECT WITH THE ULTRALIGHT MINDSET Website: https://theultralightmindset.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theultralightmindset LISTEN TO BEYOND THE TRAILHEAD YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@obristimagery Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/beyond-the-trailhead Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/beyond-the-trailhead FOLLOW CRAIG / OBRIST IMAGERY Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/obristimagery Website: https://obristimagery.com If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe, leave a review, and send it to the backpacker with Crocs swinging off the back of their pack. For those asking about safety gear we use outdoors you can get 15% off Overwatch x Rescue with code BEYOND15.

    ULAS Founder/CEO Scott Hannan| Beyond the Trailhead Podcast Ep. 52

  3. Oct 6

    DRYE Fan Founder/CEO Peter Williams | Beyond the Trailhead Podcast Ep. 51

    In this episode of Beyond the Trailhead, I sit down with Peter Williams, founder and creator of DRYE Fan. This might be one of the biggest “why didn’t I think of that?” products we’ve had on the podcast. If you use a hydration bladder for hiking, backpacking, trail running, cycling, hunting, rucking, or pretty much anything outside, you probably know the problem. DRYE is a small rechargeable fan system designed to actively move air through hydration reservoirs instead of waiting days for them to air dry. Peter designed the system to be modular so different adapters can eventually work with CamelBak, HydraPak, running flasks, military hydration systems, and other reservoir designs. We get into: • How Peter came up with DRYE Fan • The Utah motorcycle trip that finally pushed him to solve the problem • Why hydration bladders are so frustrating to dry • Going from a hacked-together fan to a real product • Why the simplest product ideas can sometimes be the best ones • Peter’s background running a creative and branding agency • What he learned working around product development for companies like Samsung • Why hiring an experienced industrial designer early was one of his best decisions • Why manufacturing knowledge matters before you ever build the product • Patents, NDAs, intellectual property, and protecting a new idea • Why taking an idea from “I thought of this” to actually manufacturing it is such a huge leap • Buying a 3D printer to prototype parts • Why DRYE took roughly two years to develop • Building the logo, packaging, website, trade show booth, and entire brand • Why good marketing matters almost as much as having a good product • What Liquid Death can teach entrepreneurs about branding • How Peter approached his first Outdoor Retailer show as a founder • Winning the Buyer’s Choice Award at Outdoor Retailer • Why his booth location next to Backcountry ended up being an incredible opportunity • How social media helped drive traffic to the booth • Why founders need to actually look excited about their own products • Why Peter says he’s “all in” on DRYE • Manufacturing delays nobody warns you about • Why something as simple as cutting microfiber strips became a production headache • Why Peter still opens boxes and adds parts himself • Getting his wife and kids involved in packing products • How minimum order quantities can destroy your budget if you don’t ask about them early • Why injection molding takes so much time and money • Why one adapter cannot magically fit every hydration brand • Using 3D printing to test adapters before committing to expensive molds • What it’s like dealing with Amazon as a small business • Listening to customer feedback without taking it personally • Where DRYE Fan goes next CONNECT WITH DRYE FAN Website: https://dryefan.com Listen to Beyond the Trailhead YouTube: https://youtube.com/@Beyondthetrailhead Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/beyond-the-trailhead/id1860050826 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/11g9jx9Oyd2YSHipi0mmDy?si=72d97f11c5f64ea6 Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/beyondthetrailheadpodcast Website: https://obristimagery.com For those asking about safety gear we use outdoors you can get 15% off Overwatch x Rescue with code BEYOND15.

    DRYE Fan Founder/CEO Peter Williams | Beyond the Trailhead Podcast Ep. 51

  4. Sep 29

    LOWA USA GM Lance Taylor | Beyond the Trailhead Podcast Ep. 50

    In this episode of Beyond the Trailhead, I sit down with Lance Taylor, General Manager of LOWA USA. Lance has spent nearly 25 years in the footwear industry. He actually started selling women’s shoes at Dillard’s while in college before moving into the outdoor world, where he spent years working across sales, footwear, product, and category management. About 18 months ago, he stepped into leadership at LOWA USA. And he joined the company at a pretty interesting time. Outdoor footwear is changing. More hikers are reaching for trail runners instead of traditional hiking boots. Shoes are becoming lighter, softer, faster, and more athletic. So I asked Lance the question directly: Are hiking boots dying? His answer opens up a much bigger conversation about how a 100-year-old brand evolves without throwing away the craftsmanship and reputation that made people trust it in the first place. We also dive into: • Why trail runners have become so popular with hikers • Whether traditional hiking boots are actually disappearing • Why LOWA’s boot category is still growing • Why younger consumers are wearing hiking boots as fashion again • How LOWA is moving toward lighter and faster outdoor footwear • Why simply making another trail running shoe isn’t enough • The difference between designing a trail runner and a hiking shoe • Why trail runners can wear out faster when hikers use them outside their intended purpose • Finding the “Goldilocks zone” between cushioning, weight, stability, protection, and durability • How footwear companies test materials and prototypes • Why a shoe that works while running might cause problems while hiking • How customer and retailer feedback influences product development • Why brands shouldn’t let customers completely design the brand for them • What smaller companies should know before trying to expand internationally • Why growing too fast can hurt a brand • Why successful footwear franchises can take years to build • How prototype shoes are tested at races before they ever reach consumers • Lance’s biggest “oh crap” moment taking over LOWA USA • Moving and restructuring the company from Connecticut to Salt Lake City • Why LOWA moved to a third-party logistics warehouse • How military users have developed emotional connections with their LOWA boots • Why innovation matters more than ever in today’s outdoor market • What Lance calls “LOWA 2.0” and the brand’s upcoming Spring 2027 relaunch Lance also shares what it was like stepping into leadership after longtime LOWA USA General Manager Peter Sachs and immediately helping restructure and relocate major parts of the company. If you’re into hiking boots, trail running shoes, footwear design, outdoor business, product development, or trying to figure out how an established brand stays relevant when consumer habits change, this is a really interesting episode. LOWA USA: https://us.lowa.com Listen to Beyond the Trailhead YouTube: https://youtube.com/@Beyondthetrailhead Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/beyond-the-trailhead/id1860050826 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/11g9jx9Oyd2YSHipi0mmDy?si=72d97f11c5f64ea6 Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/beyondthetrailheadpodcast Website: https://obristimagery.com For those asking about safety gear we use outdoors you can get 15% off Overwatch x Rescue with code BEYOND15.

    LOWA USA GM Lance Taylor | Beyond the Trailhead Podcast Ep. 50

  5. Sep 22

    Backcountry Garage Director JM Fabrizi | Beyond the Trailhead Podcast Ep. 49

    In this episode of Beyond the Trailhead, I sit down with JM Fabrizi, Director of Backcountry Garage. JM has spent years on the small-brand side of the outdoor industry. He joined Coalatree in 2017 and eventually ran the day-to-day business before Backcountry acquired the brand in 2026. Coalatree became the first brand in the new Backcountry Garage program, and JM now leads the Garage while continuing to help oversee Coalatree. That experience gives JM a pretty unique perspective: he knows what it feels like to be the small outdoor brand knocking on the door of a huge retailer, and now he’s on the other side helping Backcountry find those brands. Backcountry Garage was created to help emerging, niche, and differentiated outdoor brands get discovered without disappearing into a massive online catalog. JM talks about how difficult it can be for a small company to tell its story next to giant brands with huge marketing budgets, and how the Garage is trying to give those companies more visibility and support. We also dive into: • What Backcountry Garage actually is • What Backcountry looks for in an emerging outdoor brand • How small brands can apply to be considered • Why having a unique product matters more than simply having another version of something that already exists • How Coalatree became the first Backcountry Garage brand • JM’s experience growing a small outdoor company before joining Backcountry • Why getting into a major retailer isn’t always as easy as it sounds • Why some brands need better fulfillment and operations before they’re ready for big retail • How Backcountry is trying to recreate the specialty outdoor-store experience online • Why Gearheads are still a big part of Backcountry’s strategy • How Backcountry Garage can help brands reach customers through e-commerce • How marketplace partnerships like Amazon can become a huge headache for a small company • How Backcountry can help manage some of that marketplace complexity • Why relationships with specialty retailers still matter • What JM learned walking Outdoor Retailer looking for emerging brands • Why Backcountry literally put buyers at a desk for brands to come pitch • Why growing the entire outdoor industry can be better than constantly fighting competitors Backcountry currently describes the Garage as its program for finding and championing emerging and differentiated outdoor brands, and brands can apply directly through the Garage page. CONNECT WITH BACKCOUNTRY GARAGE https://www.backcountry.com/rc/backcountry-garage Backcountry https://www.backcountry.com Listen to Beyond the Trailhead YouTube: https://youtube.com/@Beyondthetrailhead Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/beyond-the-trailhead/id1860050826 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/11g9jx9Oyd2YSHipi0mmDy?si=72d97f11c5f64ea6 Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/beyondthetrailheadpodcast Website: https://obristimagery.com For those asking about safety gear we use outdoors you can get 15% off Overwatch x Rescue with code BEYOND15.

    Backcountry Garage Director JM Fabrizi | Beyond the Trailhead Podcast Ep. 49

  6. Sep 15

    Mountain House Marketing Director Seth Beiden | Beyond the Trailhead Podcast Ep. 48

    In this episode of Beyond the Trailhead, I sit down with Seth Beiden, Marketing Director at Mountain House. If you’ve spent any time backpacking, camping, hunting, fishing, traveling, or building an emergency food stash, there’s a good chance you’ve seen or eaten a Mountain House meal. Seth brings a unique background to Mountain House. He spent nine years at CamelBak during a major growth period, then moved to the agency side, started his own PR agency, later joined Sasquatch Agency, and eventually came back in-house with Mountain House. That mix of product, PR, brand, and outdoor industry experience gives him a really interesting view of where Mountain House has been and where the brand is heading next. We get into the history of Mountain House, the difference between freeze-dried and dehydrated food, and why “food in a bag” is not all the same. Seth explains that Mountain House is owned and operated by Oregon Freeze Dry, and that one of the biggest differences with Mountain House is that the company selects the ingredients, cooks the meals, and freeze-dries the food in-house. We also dive into: • Seth’s path from CamelBak to agency life to Mountain House • What he learned from working both in-house and agency-side • Why Mountain House is trying to honor its heritage while still modernizing • Why freeze-dried and dehydrated food are not the same thing • Why taste, texture, color, and nutrition matter in trail food • Why it is risky to grab a random meal before a big trip • How Mountain House thinks about classic meals, new recipes, and customer feedback • Why the same handful of meals show up in stores even though Mountain House makes way more options • How food trends, allergies, dairy-free options, vegetarian meals, and high-calorie meals affect product development • Why marketing is involved in recipe development more than Seth expected • What food scientists actually do behind the scenes • Why meals have to be cooked differently before they are freeze-dried • How Mountain House cooks massive batches of food before freeze-drying them • Why testing meals at home is not the same as eating them after a huge day outside • How Mountain House is listening to thru-hikers, backpackers, hunters, emergency-prep customers, and everyday outdoor people One of the wildest parts of this conversation is hearing Seth explain that Mountain House meals are cooked in massive batches before they are freeze-dried. He talks about 1,200-pound cook pots, 53-pound blocks of butter, food scientists, and the pressure of making sure a meal tastes right after someone adds hot water in the backcountry. Website: https://mountainhouse.com Listen to Beyond the Trailhead YouTube: https://youtube.com/@Beyondthetrailhead Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/beyond-the-trailhead/id1860050826 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/11g9jx9Oyd2YSHipi0mmDy?si=72d97f11c5f64ea6 Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/beyondthetrailheadpodcast Website: https://obristimagery.com For those asking about safety gear we use outdoors you can get 15% off Overwatch x Rescue with code BEYOND15.

    Mountain House Marketing Director Seth Beiden | Beyond the Trailhead Podcast Ep. 48

  7. Sep 8

    Holey Hiker Bidet Creator Paul Bogush | Beyond the Trailhead Podcast Ep. 47

    In this episode of Beyond the Trailhead, I sit down with Paul Bogush, creator and owner of Holey Hiker Bidet. This might be the smallest product we’ve ever talked about on the podcast, but it also might be one of the most life-changing pieces of backpacking gear once people finally try it. Paul’s story starts around 2019 after he read an article about a national park no longer allowing people to bury toilet paper. At the very end of the article, it mentioned that some backpackers were turning to bidets. That sent Paul down the trail bidet rabbit hole. He ordered every portable option he could find, tested them in Vermont, and quickly realized that a backpacking bidet could completely change the trail bathroom experience. From there, the idea turned into a middle school 3D printing project. Paul teaches sixth, seventh, and eighth grade, and during COVID he suddenly had extra time at home. He started printing, testing, tweaking, and reprinting his own bidet design. Each early version took about 65 minutes to print, and he would test it, make changes, and print another one over and over again. We also dive into: • Why backpacking bidets are becoming more popular • Why packing out toilet paper pushed Paul toward bidets • How a tiny product can still have a ton of design challenges • Why the first versions were 3D printed • How COVID accidentally gave Paul the time to test and improve the design • Why he sent out around 200 tester bidets before selling them • How feedback from AT, PCT, CDT, and desert hikers shaped the final product • Why the early 3D printed versions started cracking • How Holey Hiker moved from 3D printing to injection molding • Why finding the right local injection molder took months • Why one tiny O-ring became one of the hardest parts of the whole product • How Paul built the business while still teaching middle school • What he learned from his first Outdoor Retailer trade show • How some retailers were already selling his product through distributors without him knowing • Why the trail bathroom conversation is awkward, funny, and actually really important If you’ve ever packed out toilet paper, dealt with chafing on trail, wondered why hikers talk about bidets so much, or secretly thought, “There has to be a better way,” this episode is for you. Connect with Holey Hiker Bidet Website: https://www.holeyhiker.com Garage Grown Gear: https://www.garagegrowngear.com/products/holey-hiker-bidet-by-holey-hiker Listen to Beyond the Trailhead YouTube: https://youtube.com/@Beyondthetrailhead Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/beyond-the-trailhead/id1860050826 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/11g9jx9Oyd2YSHipi0mmDy?si=72d97f11c5f64ea6 Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/beyondthetrailheadpodcast Website: https://obristimagery.com For those asking about safety gear we use outdoors you can get 15% off Overwatch x Rescue with code BEYOND15.

    Holey Hiker Bidet Creator Paul Bogush | Beyond the Trailhead Podcast Ep. 47

  8. Sep 1

    Dry Brew Ceo/Founder John Schade | Beyond the Trailhead Podcast Ep. 46

    In this episode of Beyond the Trailhead, I sit down with John Schade, co-founder and president of DryBrew. DryBrew is real coffee in a chewy, ready-to-eat bite. No cup, no brewing, no stopping for a bathroom break five minutes later. John explains that the first idea came from wanting coffee while driving without spilling it everywhere. From there, the team created a chewy coffee bite made with real coffee and non-dairy creamer. We talk about how DryBrew started, why sampling is such a huge part of selling the product, and how people usually “get it” once they actually try it. John also shares how the team started by selling at farmers markets, getting direct feedback, and learning where the product could go before jumping into bigger retail opportunities. We also dive into: • What DryBrew actually is • Why it feels like a Tootsie Roll or Laffy Taffy coffee bite • Why it is not meant to fully replace your morning coffee ritual • How cyclists, hikers, trail runners, firefighters, doctors, travelers, and busy people use it • Why DryBrew works so well when you do not have time to brew coffee • How the team went from farmers markets to Target • Why food products are complicated to scale • What it took to professionalize the business through a food startup accelerator • How DryBrew hand-packed around 100,000 units for its first Target order • Why a delayed packing machine created one of the brand’s biggest “oh no” moments • How small food brands have to think about packaging, expiration dates, batch numbers, and scale • Why sampling matters so much in stores • How independent retailers helped DryBrew understand what customers needed • What is coming next, including unwrapped packs and espresso bean-shaped DryBrew bites • Why retail growth is exciting but can also expose whether your operations are actually ready This episode is full of coffee, caffeine, outdoor retail lessons, startup grind, food business reality, packaging talk, and plenty of dad-joke-worthy “grind” moments. Website: https://drybrew.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drybrew TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@drybrew Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drybrew Listen to Beyond the Trailhead YouTube: https://youtube.com/@Beyondthetrailhead Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/beyond-the-trailhead/id1860050826 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/11g9jx9Oyd2YSHipi0mmDy?si=72d97f11c5f64ea6 Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/beyondthetrailheadpodcast Website: https://obristimagery.com For those asking about safety gear we use outdoors you can get 15% off Overwatch x Rescue with code BEYOND15.

    Dry Brew Ceo/Founder John Schade | Beyond the Trailhead Podcast Ep. 46
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
4 Ratings

About

Beyond the Trailhead Podcast is where the outdoor world comes alive. We sit down with the people shaping the industry—founders, designers, and adventurers—to hear the stories behind the gear and the journeys that inspire it. From trailhead conversations to trail-tested reviews, this series dives into what makes the outdoor community unique, real, and worth exploring. Whether you’re a gear junkie, a weekend warrior, or someone who just loves trail talk, this is your spot to discover what’s happening beyond the trailhead. Guest suggestions or you would like to be on the show email at info@craigobrist.com

Information

  • Creator
    craig obrist
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    53
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 craig obrist
  • Show Website
    Beyond The Trailhead

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