From our hands. To your next trail.

A life shaped by the outdoors.

Shereen grew up in the Northwoods of northern Minnesota, just a mile from the Superior Hiking Trail. Shane explored the forests and prairies of northern Illinois and southern Wisconsin.

Our paths didn’t begin on a trail, but the outdoors became an important part of our family life. Between work and raising two kids, getting outside gave us a place to reset and reconnect. As our children grew, we wanted to build something creative and tangible that reflected our values: simplicity, stewardship, durability, and purpose.

That became Glacial Gear.

One trail. One simple idea.

Shane’s time on Wisconsin’s Ice Age National Scenic Trail highlighted the need for a purpose-built trail towel. That idea became the Trail Rag: a lightweight merino wool towel that clips to a backpack shoulder strap and stays within easy reach through long days of walking.

A spare room in our Illinois home became a sewing studio. We started designing the gear we wished we could find, and long-distance hikers became part of the story. Our move to South Carolina brought a dedicated workspace and more room to make each piece with precision, consistency, and care.

Built for wherever you sleep.

Our customers began taking their gear beyond the trail—into camper vans, rooftop tents, overland rigs, and backcountry camps. They wanted light insulation that could regulate temperature, manage moisture, and stay comfortable through changing conditions.

Our line grew to include merino sleeping liners, ultralight blankets, and versatile essentials for backpackers, campers, vanlifers, and travelers. The purpose stayed the same: thoughtful gear that earns its place.

Made with care. Shared with pride.

Zpacks relies on us exclusively for its merino sleeping liners and signature merino Trail Rag. That trust reflects the quality, precision, and integrity we bring to our work.

Our care extends to the places that inspire us. We use fully compostable or recyclable packaging and believe in protecting natural spaces for everyone who comes next.

Another reason to get outside.

In February 2025, Shane walked into a beekeeping shop in Travelers Rest, South Carolina, and the owner asked an unexpected question: did he want to become a beekeeper? Today our bees live on our own land along the Blue Ridge escarpment, in a dedicated apiary with a proper pad for the hives and electric fencing to help keep the bears out.

Each small harvest becomes raw, unfiltered wildflower honey that we bottle, cork, and label ourselves. We release it only when the season leaves us a little to spare, and only within South Carolina.

Give our bee a tap and watch her dance. When a honeybee finds good flowers, she flies home and performs a waggle dance: a figure eight with a wiggling run through the middle. The angle of that run tells her sisters which way to fly, measured from the sun, and the longer she waggles, the farther they go. Follow our bee’s dance, and it leads to something sweet.