For those of you who know me, this shouldn't come as a surprise. Rather, "it's about time". This week marks a couple of things. First, the first commercial release of one of my gear designs. Second, the announcement of my own gear company.
The Kifaru Koala is an evolution of my concealed carry chest rig design. The point of that design is to carry a pistol while on the trail in such a way that it is concealed, accessible, and stays with your body when the pack comes off. As a bonus, it is a handy place to organize small items like GPS, headlamp, and maps. I built the first prototype over a year ago now. In August, I sent the first prototype to Patrick Smith at Kifaru. He got pretty excited about the design and evolved it to his own uses. A couple of features added at Kifaru are very much to my liking. It makes a great every day carry bag, although it's larger than my preference for a dedicated chest rig. Pre-sales information is here. I hope this is the start of a long and productive relationship with Kifaru.
Second, I'm launching my own gear company as well. We're a ways away from selling anything but logo t-shirts, but we'll get there. The Hill People are coming.