Six Moon Designs, the manufacturer of affordable ultralight gear, is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year. Started by Ron Moak in 2002, Six Moon Designs has been “revolutionary in how the outdoor industry thinks about hiking and backpacking gear regarding weight, durability and affordability.”

After his first thru-hike in the late 70s, Moak spent the next 40 years hiking worldwide. He was a DIYer who sought out lighter-weight gear, and, following an illness, he found it challenging to carry traditional gear without severe back pain.

In 2002, Moak introduced his first product, the Europa Tent, a 33oz. single wall sil-nylon shelter, lighter than other tents on the market. Soon after, his Starlite Pack, a frameless pack with a large carrying capacity, set the bar for ultralight gear and was “quickly embraced by the outdoor community.”

“At Six Moon Designs, we make gear, but our primary focus is on our customers’ backcountry experience,” said Moak, Founder/President. “We make our gear lighter, so the walking becomes more pleasurable. We make our gear durable, so you don’t need to be concerned about failure far from home. We make our gear affordable so you can devote more of your hard-earned money to making memories, not buying gear.”

Six Moon Designs has over 60 retailers worldwide and is “careful to balance meeting customers’ needs with managing production and supply chain issues that have hampered the industry over the past few years.”

“Six Moon Designs has been able to grow our multiple channels of sales in the past few years thanks to our strong marketing efforts and by providing a high-value proposition to retailers and consumers, said Whitney LaRuffa, VP, sales and marketing. “We strive to provide high quality, lightweight products at affordable prices, helping everyone access the outdoors.”

Over the years, Six Moon Designs has received awards for its ultralight gear, including the 2019 Outstanding Outdoor Award from OutDoor by ISPO for the Gatewood Cape and Lunar Solo and the 2019 Backpacker Editors’ Choice Award for the Lunar Solo.

Photo courtesy Six Moon Designs