Dan St. Pierre W94 was already a veteran of corporate finance and entrepreneurship when his brother, Mike, had an idea. Mike had been so dissatisfied with the design of most outdoor gear that he’d begun to make his own backpacks and shelters. After hikers and rangers he encountered on his frequent getaways showed interest, Mike saw potential in selling his wares. Dan agreed, and together they founded Hyperlite in 2009.

The company today offers a robust set of ultralight, durable products for the world’s most serious adventurers, and its claim that its gear is “designed to function perfectly” hasn’t gone unnoticed: Its UltaMid 4 tent was named one of the best-designed American-made products by Inc. in 2014.

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