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Milestones
| Feb. 1997 | Glen orders fabric for the G1 |
| 1998 | Glen makes the G2, G3 and G4 |
| May 1999 | Glen creates a pattern for the G4 |
| Nov. 1999 | Quest Outfitters starts selling instructions and patterns with materials for G4 “kits”. |
| Nov. 1999 | Glen takes first order, price is $100 for two packs. |
| Mar. 2000 | GVP Gear is formed |
| Apr. 2000 | First shipments of manufactured packs start. Packs are available in one size with a choice of color. First packs were made out of silnylon. |
| Feb. 2001 | Started shipping packs made out of 2.2 oz. coated ripstop nylon, still in one size and four colors. |
| Apr. 2001 | Production caught up with demand for the first time, and there was actual inventory. |
| May 2001 | "Flyin' Brian" Robinson purchased and used a G4 (pack no. 5) for the start of his Calendar Year Triple Crown in 2001. After meeting up with Brian at the PCT Kickoff in April, Glen made him a customized G4/G5 with three embroidered gold crowns, which he used for much of the PCT and CDT. Brian was unable to finish his historic trip with his custom pack because it got misplaced on the Greyhound Bus journey back to the AT. It later resurfaced and was returned to him. |
| Jun. 2001 | Went to a tougher netting for the mesh pockets, tried a full-length, top load pad holder to prevent bowing in the middle. |
| Dec. 2001 | Pack number 500 goes to Randy Rhodes. |
| 2001 |
Nimblewill Nomad - used a G4 for his Transcontinental Hike in 2001, and used a pack based on the G4 for his Sea to Shining Sea trek in 2002. Nimblewill holds the honor, as far as we know, of the most miles on a G4 (9,500)…and a sad-lookin’ G4 it was indeed! Nimblewill has continued to lighten his load, and took a Murmur on his 2008 thru-hike of the PCT, and used a Murmur for his 2009 thru-hike of the North Country Trail. |
| Feb. 2002 | Production shifted to one color (forest) to accommodate the addition of a “small” size. The first website, done by Glen’s teenage son Brian, was retired, and a new website was launched, web work done by Glen’s sister Brooke. |
| May 2002 | An early G5 prototype hits the Pacific Crest Trail. First offered packs in size “large”. Backpacker Magazine: G4 backpack selected by write-in ballot for the “Challenge the Editor: The Ultralight Report – I saw the Light” |
| Aug. 2002 | Sternum straps offered as an option on standard packs. The Great Outdoors (UK): G4 pack reviewed by Chris Townsend. “It makes ultralight packs look heavy.” |
| Sep. 2002 | Pack number 1000 goes to Sharon Jewell. |
| Nov. 2002 | Revised the sternum strap and waist belt configuration. |
| Feb. 2003 | First production G5 packs start shipping. |
| Jul. 2003 |
New York Times: GVP Gear featured. “On the Trail, With the Clothes On Your Back and Little More” by James Gorman.
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| Aug. 2003 | Ray “Wall” Greenlaw sets a new PCT record of 83 days with his G4 pack. |
| Dec. 2003 | Pack number 2000 goes to Caryl Bergeron. |
| 2003 | SpinnShelter and SpinnTwinn start shipping |
| Apr. 2004 | GVP/Gossamer Gear starts shipping Lightrek carbon fiber trekking poles, Evazote® convoluted “Mt. Washington” type pads (the Nightlight series), and other new products. |
| Jun. 2004 | Gossamer Gear website launched. |
| Jan. 2005 | The Gossamer Gear Lightrek poles and the Ultralight-Sports fingertip toothbrush garnered “Best of Adventure 2004” awards in National Geographic Adventure Magazine. |
| Dec. 2005 | Gossamer Gear moves operations to Austin, Texas. Current President Grant Sible hired. |
| 2005 | Sub 4oz. Whisper introduced |
| Sep. 2006 | Squall Classic introduced |
| Mar. 2007 |
Mariposa™ Plus introduced with NEW removable waist belt system for better fit. Received trademark for 'Gossamer Gear' |
| Apr. 2007 | Miniposa Ultralight Backpack introduced |
| 2007 | Ambassador Francis Tapon completes first CDT yo-yo |
| Feb. 2008 | The One fully enclosed shelter introduced, first fully enclosed shelter to weigh 1 lb. |
| Jun. 2008 | Murmur Super Ultralight Backpack introduced |
| 2008 | LT3s and LT4s introduced |
| Jan. 2009 | Mariposa™ Plus improved with new aluminum Curved Stays |
| Feb. 2009 |
Gorilla Ultralight Backpack introduced Twinn Tarp introduced Gossamer Gear joins Facebook |
| Aug. 2009 |
New York Times: “How to Recharge Your Soul” by Nicholas D. Kristof G4 is mentioned in the article as one of 10 ways to make your backpacking experience better.
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| Nov. 2010 |
Web 2.0 website launch |
| Dec. 2010 |
Hipster and Riksak introduced |
| Feb. 2011 |
Cuben Fiber Twinn Tarp introduced |
| Jul. 2011 |
Received trademark for 'The One' |
| Apr. 2012 | Kumo introduced |
| Aug. 2012 | Received trademark for 'Mariposa' |
| 2012 |
After Colorado-based production facility closes, Gossamer Gear moves backpack production to Mexico Tres Chicas sport GG packs while hiking south to north across South America |
| May 2013 | Gossamer Gear moves from a garage to first commercial property |
| Aug. 2013 | Ambassador Heather "Anish" Anderson sets FKT on the Pacific Crest Trail |
| Dec. 2013 | Gossamer Gear places first backpack order in Vietnam |
| Jan. 2014 | Current VP Jonathan Schmid hired at Gossamer Gear to cut polycryo groundsheets part-time |
| 2014 | Glen designs the Crotchpot. The world will never be the same. |
| Jan. 2015 | Gossamer Gear Ambassadors & Insiders retreat in Moab. |
| Sep. 2015 | Ambassador Heather "Anish" Anderson sets FKT on the Appalachian Trail |
| Apr. 2016 | Crotchpot introduced |
| May 2016 | Updated version of Kumo introduced |
| 2016 |
Vagabond introduced |
| Jan. 2017 | Received trademark for 'take less. do more.' |
| Feb. 2017 |
Silverback introduced |
| Mar. 2017 |
Our LT4 trekking poles are voted Wirecutter's unanimous favorite LT5s introduced |
| Sep. 2017 |
The Two introduced Ambassador Ras "UltraPedestrian" Vaughn completes the Drakensberg Grand Traverse across South Africa and Lesotho |
| Mar. 2018 |
Mariposa wins best pack in Backpacker Magazine - 'Editor's Choice: The Best Backpacking Gear of the Year' |
| May 2018 |
The GG crew hikes The Great Outdoors Challenge in Scotland |
| Jul. 2018 |
Ones and Twos back in stock with updated fabrics and a charcoal gray color |
| Aug. 2018 |
Gossamer Gear moves to new HQ in Austin, TX with a larger warehouse. |
| Oct. 2018 | Jeff Garmire aka 'Legend' completes the 7,000 mile Great Western Loop using a Gorilla, One, and LT5s in under 7 months. |
| Nov. 2018 |
Ambassador Heather “Anish” Anderson becomes the first woman to complete a Calendar Year Triple Crown in 251 days, 20 hours, and 10 minutes (her third triple crown). |
| Dec. 2018 |
Gossamer Gear's 20th Anniversary |
| Mar. 2019 |
Gossamer Gear hosts 1st HQ Open House party |
| Apr. 2019 | Jeff Garmire aka "Legend" sets the self supported FKT on the Arizona Trail using a Kumo, One, and LT5s in 15.5 days. |
| Jul. 2019 |
Release of Big Bend 100 short film |
| Sep. 2019 |
Ambassador Andrew Glenn completes a snowy 3,800 miles linking up the CDT and GDT in one season |
| Oct. 2019 |
G4-20 introduced The One is featured in The Trek's "Best Thru-Hiking Tents of 2019" |
| Dec. 2019 |
Vagabond collection introduced |
| Feb. 2020 | Outdoor Gear Lab: Mariposa and Gorilla win best 'Ultralight Backpacks of 2020' |