Hyperlite Mountain Gear

Hyperlite Mountain Gear designs and manufactures ultralight outdoor equipment, including backpacks, tents, tarps, sleep systems and accessories, built primarily from Dyneema Composite Fabrics (originally known as Cuben Fiber). The product range spans backpacking and thru-hiking packs such as the Southwest, Windrider, Junction and Unbound (40L, 55L and 70L volumes, priced from about $395), climbing and ski-touring packs (Vertex 32, Aspect 32, Ice Pack), fastpacking vests such as the Pemi 15 (built with ALUULA 97 fabric and thermo-welding, from $250), pyramid shelters and fully enclosed tents (UltaMid 1/2/4, Mid 1, Unbound 2, CrossPeak 1 and 2, priced from roughly $450 to $950), 20-degree mummy bags and 20/40-degree quilts, and roughly 66 accessory items including stuff sacks, pods, food bags, fanny packs, camera pods, wallets and umbrellas [0][1][2][4].

The company positions its gear around a stated balance of weight, durability and water protection, organizes its catalog by activity (backpacking, thru hiking, fastpacking, single-day pursuits, backcountry skiing, bikepacking, packrafting, canyoneering) and supports products with a repair and warranty program [0][2]. Manufacturing has historically been kept in-house at the Pepperell Mill in Biddeford, Maine, with materials sourced in the United States; in 2020 the company added production capacity through a partner facility in Mexico [3][5][6].

Founding story

Mike St. Pierre, originally from Pennsylvania and previously a commercial fisherman, Portland chef and New York City restaurant worker, moved permanently to Maine in 2009 and began developing his own gear after being unable to find durable, lightweight, design-driven equipment. He studied fabric technology, design and production, and brought in his brother Dan St. Pierre to handle business and finance. The pair spent roughly a year prototyping and testing before commercializing the initial line [3][5][6].

Business model

Hyperlite Mountain Gear manufactures and sells branded outdoor hard goods, historically producing in-house at its Biddeford, Maine facility with U.S.-sourced materials and later adding contract production capacity in Mexico. It sells primarily through its own e-commerce site, including a small number of third-party items such as Therm-a-Rest sleeping pads, and offers free U.S. shipping on orders over $300 [0][3][6].

Direct sales of backpacks, shelters, sleep systems, apparel-adjacent merchandise and accessories at premium price points (packs from $395, tents $450-$950, accessories from $20) through the company's online store [0][4].

Traction

By January 2017 the company had grown to 56 full-time and 2 part-time employees across three expansions at the Pepperell Mill; a third-party data provider estimates 2025 revenue in the $10-$100 million range with employee count in the 10-100 band. Trademark filings include HYPERLITE (2016), EVERYTHING LESS MATTERS (2019) and BETTER BACKPACKING (2023) [5][7].

Latest developments

Recent product introductions include the CrossPeak 1, a 28.7 oz freestanding solo Dyneema tent inspired by the CrossPeak 2; the Pemi 15 hybrid running vest using ALUULA 97 and thermo-welding; a 20-degree mummy sleeping bag; and redesigned Unbound 40 and 55 packs, alongside new fabric and design updates to the Southwest, Junction and Windrider lines [0][1].