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Born in California, Bred on the Trail
After first meeting in late 1963 at The Ski Hut in Berkeley, CA, Bob Swanson and George Marks teamed up and founded Sierra Designs in 1965 on the premise that all people deserve to have good gear for exploring the outdoors, regardless of their background or experience level. Taking their years of adventures together out on the trail and putting it directly into the products they made, Sierra Designs pioneered many of the outdoor innovations taken for granted today. In fact, we’ve held hundreds of patents (and some pending) that have made getting outdoors easier and more enjoyable.
It’s about more than just great product, though – it’s about the passionate people who think it up. The original SD team of Bob and George ballooned to twenty eight full time employees by 1968 – even George’s mom helped out in the sewing department. When we say, “family affair,” we mean it literally.
While some things have changed in the last 50 years, our mission hasn't. Today Sierra Designs continues to be a place where you can find happy dogs, new ideas, and always reliable camping gear. We find inspiration in mountains, deserts, and beaches. We find inspiration right outside our office and in the trails headed straight into the heart of the Rocky Mountains. We find inspiration in any adventure, big or small. We are people who Think Outside, because happiness is found in the adventure.
Shop Men
The best outdoor clothing is a robust system of base layers, mid layers and outer layers that can be tailored to help you weather the storm, sun or a cold night around camp. From waterproof rain jackets and UPF sun shirts to performance fleece and insulating down, technical versatility is key to our range of men’s outdoor apparel. Flattering men’s cuts and smart designs are paired with technical, high-performance materials for apparel that moves with you no matter what you — or Mother Nature — throw its way, helping you get the job done and keeping you active, comfortable and looking good in the backcountry or simply back at home.
Shop Women
When deciding what to wear on any outdoor adventure — summer, winter or the mud seasons in between — an adjustable layering system is always your best ally so that you’ll never be caught off guard with changing weather or terrain. From stretchy hiking pants and ultralight camp slippers to UPF fabrics and performance down, protection, warmth and versatility are vital to our range of women’s outdoor apparel. Flattering women’s cuts and smart designs are paired with premium, hard-working materials for technical apparel that moves with you on the trail and fits comfortably when relaxing around the campfire, offering you dual function from every piece of clothing in our line.
The right shelter is crucial for a successful night of camping. When the wind and rain kick up, you’ll be a safe, dry and happy camper with Sierra Designs waterproof and water-resistant tents. We’ve optimized every square inch of space to give you as much room and versatility as possible by incorporating near-vertical walls, heaps of organization pockets, porchable vestibules or other clever features throughout our line of tents. Whether you’re choosing a tent for its weight and packability on solo backpacking trips or for its budget and space on casual family campouts, our tent styles and shelters are built with durable, lightweight materials that make setting up and tearing down camp easy and fast.
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Living off the grid is always an adventure, but that doesn’t mean that packing your equipment should come with a challenge. Sierra Designs backpacks are built to be versatile, user-friendly and ergonomic for more enjoyable hiking trips, whether you’re in it for the long haul or just getting your first taste for an overnighter. From our 3L expandable lumbar pack that carries the basic day hiking essentials to our 75L multi-day pack for your thru hiking bucket list, we’ve designed our backpacks to provide a supportive foundation for you, your back and your gear. Loaded with features like expanding carrying capacities, ample pockets and padded straps mean you can hike farther, stay longer and explore the great outdoors a lot more comfortably.
Shop Packs
Shop Sleep Systems
From warm, summer nights under the stars to cold, winter storms in the snow, Sierra Designs sleeping bags are built with comfort, warmth and performance in mind for all seasons and styles of sleeping outside. Every bag starts with our high-loft down or synthetic insulation that we choose for its superior warmth, even in damp conditions. We then give our line of sleeping bags the features they need so you can ramp up the coziness when car camping, cut back on weight when thru hiking or dial in the best of both worlds when backpacking to your favorite zone. You’ll find proprietary designs, like zipperless construction and self-sealing foot vents, that make camping more comfortable; efficient materials to keep you effortlessly warm; and smart details for individual preferences so that you can get the best sleep, whether you’re bikepacking solo or cuddling as a couple.