This is What Locally-Made Really Means

Walk into our workshop and you’ll feel it—the hum of machines, the snap of scissors, the focus on every face. This is where materials become memories. Where mistakes are caught before they ship. Where innovation doesn’t wait for permission.

It starts with fabric. We don’t just order what’s trendy—we hand-select, test, and iterate with long-distance hikers in mind. Durability, packability, and field repairability matter more than buzzwords. That’s where Jeremy, our Production & Design Lead, comes in. With over a decade of experience, Jeremy bridges the gap between function and form, ensuring every new pack design can survive 2,000+ miles—and still look good doing it.

Beside him, Owen brings fresh ideas and steady hands. Part of the Production & Design team, Owen helps translate field testing into improvements that are actually felt on trail—better stitching patterns, smarter reinforcements, stronger seams. In a world of disposable goods, these quiet decisions add up to gear you keep for life. If there’s a new material available, rest assured Owen is currently tinkering with it to ensure it meets our rigorous testing requirements.

After those two scientists have had their time dreaming up what’s new and have confirmed a prototype, it’s ready for the production team to take over. The distance between our design and production teams is about 6 inches of drywall, not an ocean. Headed up by Alma, a skilled seamstress who has worked for us here since 2012, our team of sewers utilize the highest quality industrial sewing machines and equipment to ensure small details like our seam tension are correct. Since we’ve created a working environment that retains long-term talent, we’re able to more confidently put our lifetime warranty on everything that leaves our shop. With decades of experience under our belts, we know what we’re producing every time. 

It’s Not Just Gear. It’s a Philosophy.

When Peter took over ULA in 2020 he could have easily taken manufacturing offshore like many competitors. It would’ve been cheaper. Easier. But it also would’ve meant losing control over what matters most: quality, responsiveness, and integrity.

Peter didn’t just keep production in Utah—he doubled down on it. Every design, every improvement, every product line decision flows through the shop floor. That proximity makes us nimble, not bloated. It makes us accountable, not abstract. And it allows us to actually listen to the hikers using our gear. You might have noticed the new rumblings from us in recent years with more new packs, fabrics, and updated designs being put out. That was a conscious decision to continue to improve our functionality and offerings instead of coasting on a pre-existing legacy.

“We don’t have a factory halfway across the world,” Peter says. “We have a team. A crew. People who care. That’s who you’re buying from.”

The Impact? Packs with a Pulse.

When you shoulder a ULA pack, you’re carrying more than a product. You’re carrying a legacy of craftsmanship, independence, and intention.

You’re supporting:

• Living wages in a small mountain town
• Local manufacturing and skill retention
• Continuous improvement based on real trail feedback
• A design process where people—not margins—make decisions

And most importantly, you’re carrying gear that’s been built to last by people who believe in the long haul.

From the Pacific Crest Trail to the Grand Enchantment, our packs have been hauled, battered, praised, and repaired. They’ve crossed deserts and climbed ridgelines. And through it all, the reason they hold up is simple: someone in our shop gave a damn.

Relentless Quality Control: Every Stitch Matters

In mass production, mistakes get boxed and shipped. At ULA, mistakes get stopped at the table.

Because we build everything in-house, our quality control is integrated—not outsourced. That means every pack passes through multiple sets of hands, and each one is trained to spot even the smallest issue: a slightly off stitch line, an imperfect bar tack, a misaligned pocket.

Before any pack leaves our shop, it’s inspected by someone who knows what “right” looks like—not because they read a checklist, but because they’ve built it themselves.

Our QC isn’t just a final step. It’s woven into the whole process:

• Cutting: Patterns are triple-checked before fabric ever meets blade.
• Sewing: Team members flag and fix issues in real time—no “send it and see.”
• Finishing: Zippers are tested. Seams are reviewed. Every thread is intentional.
• Final inspection: We don’t bag it unless we’d hike with it.

Jeremy puts it best:

“We’ve got a zero-compromise mindset. If we wouldn’t use it on trail, we won’t send it to someone else.”

And because we don’t have to wait on overseas logistics or deal with lost accountability, mistakes don’t linger. They get solved. Fast.

The result? A level of consistency that can’t be faked. A trust that grows with every mile. And gear that lives up to the weight on its shoulders—yours.

This also enables us to offer an in-house repair service. No more throwing your pack in a landfill if it’s messed up. We can fix just about anything. Expect bear encounters. Bears will shred a pack beyond repair.

Options Built Around You

Hiking isn’t one-size-fits-all. Your pack shouldn’t be either.

Since we’ve got immediate access to everything we can offer custom pack configurations so you can dial in the details—hipbelt size, torso length, color combinations, and even special requests. Whether you’re thru-hiking the PCT, guiding others, or section hiking closer to home, we make sure your pack fits the mission.

We also regularly partner with our community to develop new features, test materials, and refine designs. At the time of posting this article we’ve got 3 packs being tested that you don’t even know exist yet! 

Real Support From Real People

When you call or email us, you’re not getting a help desk. You’re talking to the same people who build the packs, test them on trail, and know how they’re supposed to work. When you email or DM us on social media, you’re talking to experienced thru-hikers in Peter and Garrett.

Got a fit issue? We’ll walk you through it. Need a part replaced? We’ll get it in the mail. Want advice on which pack works for your trip? We’ve got you covered. 

At ULA, we believe great gear starts with great people—and for us, a lot of those people come from just down the road.

Many members of our design and production team come through the Outdoor Product Design & Development (OPDD) program at Utah State University, located just minutes from our shop in Logan. It’s one of the top programs in the country for outdoor gear design, and we’re lucky to have it in our backyard.

This close connection means we don’t have to look far for talent. We’re able to hire locally, train internally, and retain designers and makers who understand both the craft of gearmaking and the culture of the trail. These aren’t just students—they’re innovators, hikers, and hands-on problem solvers.

Because we’re hiring from our own community, we’re not just filling roles—we’re building a team that thinks deeply about design methodology, manufacturing efficiency, and material performance. The result? Better patterns. Smarter pack builds. Faster prototyping. More rigorous fabric testing. And a product line that reflects both experience and evolution.

It’s just one more way we keep things close to home—and close to the trail.

Our Long-Term Vision: Investing in People, Not Just Products

At ULA, we’ve never chased fast growth or flashy trends. Our focus has always been longevity—of our gear, our company, and our community. We have to have proven designs with proven materials. Not a haphazard attempt at cashing in on something we read online.

By hiring from Utah State’s OPDD program and building a deep bench of local talent, we’re not just filling jobs—we’re creating a sustainable design culture rooted in real-world use, deep craftsmanship, and long-term thinking. These aren’t just employees; they’re makers who are shaping the future of our gear.

We believe the best ideas don’t come from boardrooms—they come from sewing machines, trails, workbenches, and field-testing notes. By keeping our design and production team small, skilled, and tightly connected, we’re able to adapt quickly, improve continuously, and stay true to what matters: making gear that earns its place on the trail.

This model allows us to:

• Innovate without compromise
• Retain control over quality and materials
• Keep our production in Logan, supporting skilled jobs in our own backyard
• Stay accountable to our customers—because we’re building packs for real people, not market segments

As ULA evolves, we’re not looking to become the biggest name in outdoor gear. We’re looking to become the most trusted.

That means:

• Continuing to develop young talent through real-world mentorship
• Expanding our design capabilities through tight collaboration between production and R&D
• Deepening our commitment to long-lasting gear over mass production
• Preserving the soul of what makes ULA different: independent, intentional, in-house

By investing in the next generation of outdoor product designers—right here in our own community—we’re building something that lasts. Not just the packs, but the culture behind them.

We appreciate all of our customers and the people that have taken us with them around the world. The feedback we get and the friends we’ve made from getting to talk to people about backpacking has been incredible. Thank you for all of your support and for trusting our gear for all of your adventures.