Scot,

Outstanding.

Great question:   "Who are we?", " What is our gear for?".

From where I stand, I see your gear as purpose driven, thoughtfully executed, robust, elegantly simple, efficient, effective solutions.

If we reverse engineer from that outcome, here are several characteristics I have observed that may contribute to why your work is the way it is: 

• Do-ers - you both appear to lead whole lives
• Readers
• Writers
• Thinkers
• Fighters - liberty, truth, opportunity
• Honorable
• Work-ers - you both get stuff done
• Innovators - self evident
• Builders - the gear, the network, the business, etc

Do LEOs and warriors have similar needs/find use for your gear?  Appears so.  That's no suprise, given common elements of use.

I look forward to the conversation.

Thank you,

112Papa

What he said /\.

+1 JSonn.

 I suspect the word that applies may be "Practical", if we must. As a young man, I spent some time as a working cowboy. This was about the time that nylon gear was first being used. The nylon gear was much more practical than traditional leather or grass for headstalls, bridles, tiedowns, latigos, ropes, halters and cinch straps. If I had access at the time to this gear, I assure you I would have used it. As I grew older, I have followed a similar path. Unfortunately, I am confined by job obligations from all these activities, but look forward to the opportunities to practice (root word?) at every opportunity.

I vote for Practical Field Gear.

OTOH, now that I see it, RI Gear is good also.

I think the term "practical" pretty much sums up your well thought out gear.

When I discovered HPG, the first thing that came to mind was "finally" a place dedicated to well thought out field gear for practical/purposeful applications that doesn't give off the alarming presence of it being "tactical" in any way.

I fly through major airports frequently. I can't tell you how fast I pick off three day assault packs, go bags and tactical shoftshells and hoodies with the tell tale velcro patch sleeve panels....not for me. I try to be the grey man as much as I possibly can.

I have owned a metric tonne of tacticool gear over the last several years. Most of it ended up being sold or traded off. While it was cool...its wasn't always practical. While my occupation calls for carrying a gun/guns for a living, I too got caught up in the way of gear whore and spent all kinds of money on crap I didn't need. I have since seen the error of my ways and look at all my gear now, issued firearms or personally owned firearms from a very strict practical sense.

I have to admit that when I saw that HPG was going to offer items in multicam, I did raise my eyebrows. Having said that, if a piece of practical gear built by HPG could be employed by those in far away places because it was offered in the appropriate pattern or color, then I say go for it. The only thing I see happening there is a piece of practical gear beign employed in a "tactical" setting because suited for the job. It doesn't make the item itself tactical.

Keep up the good work guys, stay the course.

As a new guy here, I thought I'd share my thoughts on this. Sorry I'm probably a bit late.

Some background on me. When I was a kid I used to tie my St. Bernard to my sled in winter and just go off by myself.  I was a Wilderness First Responder, have taken "The Game of Logging" twice. Basically I spend as much time outdoors as possible. My inside coffee pot is the same one I use out on my campfire. I heat with wood, and whenever possible I cook with wood. The best steaks I have ever eaten are the ones thrown directly onto hot hardwood coals. I tend to bond more with folks from the western side of the Mississippi than the eastern side. There are some exceptions to that rule, but not many. At this very moment I'm in the process of a job interview in Oregon. But enough about me. 

I found this place last week from a link on Bushcraft USA. The very first thing I noticed was the lack of tactical appearance of your gear. Don't get me wrong I have and use some Multicam Gear. It has it's place. But that "Lack of Tac" is what kept me reading. Far too many builders make up for gear short comings by slapping PALS webbing all over their products. That does two things, adds weight and makes you stand out in a crowd like nobodies business. 

I greatly enjoy the fact that you guys are building gear here in the U.S. But more so, that you don't pretend to be anybody but yourselves. I recently saw to college safety officers for Colgate College. I could have sworn they were Force Recon guys. From the haircuts right down to their boots. These guys screamed wannabes. Of course they were in a convenience store buying coffee and donuts.

Tactical gear was developed out of specific needs for specific people. But it has since been prostituted into a profit center. Apparel, Packs, Ammunition, Boots, Flashlights, you name it. You can even get Tactical underwear. It will fade, as have so many other fads.  

When I look at the things I use, I see Danner Boots, Filson Clothes, Frost River Gear, and my Cabelas Coffer Pot. I do try to buy American whenever possible. But it's more about gear that serves more than one purpose. That's where I see you guys having a distinct advantage. Most if not all of your gear is built to multi-task. Certainly the tactical group is going to pick up on that. Both the real ones and the wannabes. The load outs these guys carry today border on the ridiculous. If they can find lighter more functional gear you bet they're going to grab it.

I personally think if you remain true to your beliefs you can't go wrong. I would not let yourselves get pigeon holed into that Tactical description. If it works the real guys will use it, no mater what it's called. I see it more as real gear for real people.

Just my two cents. 

LV