CiloGear: Forging American-Made Excellence in Climbing Gear
On the outskirts of Portland, Oregon, nestled in what was once a Columbia Sportswear factory, a small-but-driven company is redefining what it means to craft climbing gear in America. CiloGear, owned and operated entirely in the United States, designs and manufactures high-performance alpine backpacks that are both minimalist and rugged - and unapologetically “Made in America.”
Born of Climbing, Refined by Data
Founded by mountaineer and former investment consultant Graham Williams, CiloGear’s journey began in Turkey, but today its heart, and its assembly line, beat in Portland. Inspired by efficient “lean manufacturing,” Williams and his team create backpacks only when they’re ordered, minimizing waste and maximizing customization through a one-piece flow process.
Materials: Domestic Wherever It Counts
While some sewing happens overseas, the vast majority of high-value work remains stateside. CiloGear sources nearly all its fabric and components from U.S.-based suppliers: textiles from Connecticut and Rhode Island, buckles and webbing from Long Island. And once a pack is assembled in Oregon, it’s shipped in eco-conscious, recycled packaging from the same facility.
Award-Winning Innovation and Rugged Simplicity
CiloGear’s flagship WorkSack series earned praise for its stripped-down yet highly functional design. The 45L WorkSack is both award-winning and revered in climbing circles for its lightweight versatility. Reviewers commend its “brilliant features” like removable framesheets and bivy pads, stripped-down suspensions, and smart compression hardware.
Recent fabric innovations include the “Mountain:Ocean Blue” (MOB) series, crafted from reclaimed ocean plastics making them some of the first truly sustainable UHMWPE packs available.
A Community of Passion
For many outdoor purists, CiloGear packs are heirloom grade: durable, customizable, and light. Users have praised the 60L MOB WorkSack after a decade of use: “Fantastically adaptable worksacks.”
A Proudly American, Expertly Crafted Gear Brand
CiloGear exemplifies a commitment to American manufacturing - from prototyping and sourcing to final assembly and shipping. Its approach may not be lightning-fast, but it’s deliberate, rooted in sustainability, craftsmanship, and alpine performance. For serious climbers seeking highly engineered, minimalist packs, knowing that the bulk of their gear is made on U.S. soil carries weight — both on the trail and beyond.