Uploaded February 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
After a custom printed food bag with a bear on it blew up on social media, Ben McMillen saw an opportunity to bring custom printed gear with some personality to the backpacking community thru a new small business. in this video, Ben and I discuss how Hilltop Packs started and how it grew to three businesses that employ 16 people. Ben also provides some direction for DIYers and people thinking about starting to sell gear.
This video is the fourth in a four-part series on DIYing backpacking gear and DYIers that were successful at converting a hobby into a business. Below are links to the other three videos in this series:
DIY Gear? - youtu.be/GMRqWd8LrWk
Pilgrim Ultralight: DIY to Cottage Vendor - youtu.be/MfqUBqizxas
Superior Gear: DIY to Cottage Vendor - youtu.be/gvh96vHWhAA
Hilltop Packs: hilltoppacks.com
Midwest Backpacker Merch:
midwest-backpacker.creator-spring.com
Follow Midwest Backpacker on Facebook
facebook.com/MidwestBackpacker
Follow Midwest Backpacker on Instagram
instagram.com/midwest_backpacker
Gear I frequently Use:
Backpack
Pilgrim Ultralight Highline Framed
pilgrimul.com
Hammock - Warbonnet Ridgerunner -
https://www.warbonnetoutdoors.com
Rain Fly - 13' Warbonnet Thunder Fly and Mountain Fly-
https://www.warbonnetoutdoors.com
Tent - Zpacks Duplex -
zpacks.com/products/duplex-tent
Top Quilts-
Hammock Gear O, 20, 30 and 40 Degree Burrows-
https://hammockgear.com
Under Quilts-
Warbonnet Outdoors 40 Degree Lynx Underquilt
https://www.warbonnetoutdoors.com
Loco Libre 20 and -20 Degree Ridge Reapers with 900 - fill power goose down - https://www.locolibregear.com
Hot Tent - Lux Mini Peak XL from Three Ridges Gear Company
Titanium and Stainless Steel Hot Tent Stoves from Three Ridges Gear Company
threeridgesgear.com/midwestbackpacker
Garmin In-Reach Mini Communicator
amzn.to/3A29lxJ
MSR Mini Groundhog Stakes -
amzn.to/35w1Wwd
Brooks Cascadia 17 Trail Runners -
amzn.to/3pKo50A
Anker Power Banks -
amzn.to/2Uxx2xv
Nitecore NU25 Headlamp -
amzn.to/3vPU9Ao
Hilltop Packs Custom Printed Food Bag -
hilltoppacks.com/#
Outdoor Vitals Vario Poly Fill Puffy -
outdoorvitals.com/products/vario-jacket
REI Magma 850 Hooded Down Jacket (seasonal) -
https://www.rei.com
Lester River Bushcraft Boreal Anorak Coat -
lrbushcraft.com/shop/p/boreal-shirt
Sea to Summit Compression Dry Sack
https://www.rei.com/product/867058/se...
Cascade Mountain Tech Hiking Poles-
amzn.to/35PfrDr
Toaks 550ML Cook Pot-
amzn.to/3qycNfb
BRS Stove-
amazon.com/dp/B00NNMF70U?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share&th=1
Fancy Feast Stove-
youtu.be/JkgbwOs3oyE
Toaks Long Handle Spoon-
amzn.to/3j30HJ8
REI Rainpants-
https://www.rei.com/product/137186/re...
Enlightened Equipment Visp Rain Jacket -
enlightenedequipment.com/mens-visp-rain-jacket-stock
Appalachian Gear Company Alpaca Hoodie-
Out of Business
CNOC 2 Liter Water Bag -
garagegrowngear.com
Sawyer Squeeze Water Filter -
amzn.to/2TYmPK6
Sit Pad -
amzn.to/3hOliz2
Camera- iphone 14 Pro Max
Ultrapod Lightweight Camera Tripod-
amzn.to/3qm3wq6
Noxgear39g Bluetooth Speaker -
noxgear.com/39g
Peak Refuel Freeze Dried Meals
peakrefuel.com
Down Socks-
garagegrowngear.com/products/down-socks-by-goosefeet-gear?_pos=1&_sid=ae99b3c56&_ss=r
Lite AF Fanny Pack-
liteaf.com/product/fanny-pack
Permethrin-
thetickterminator.com
Injinji Merino Wool Toe Sock Liners-
amazon.com/dp/B01LW7RHEY?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share
Darn Tough Merino Wool Socks -
amazon.com/dp/B008N4G3TC?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share
Cold Weather Mesh Base Layers -
Brynje USA - brynjeusa.com
Wuru Wool Company - Light Weight Merino Wool Hoodie
wuruwool.com
Trailbrush Toothbrush -
garagegrowngear.com/products/trailbrush-by-trail-stuff?_pos=1&_sid=dbcb8cf99&_ss=r
Derma-Safe Folding Knife -
garagegrowngear.com/products/derma-safe-knife-by-derma-safe?_pos=1&_sid=4f467f608&_ss=r
Salty Britches Chaffing Ointment -
garagegrowngear.com/products/chafing-ointment-single-use-packet-by-salty-britches?_pos=1&_sid=ef298fb4f&_ss=r
Pillow Strap -
garagegrowngear.com/products/pillow-strap-by-pillow-strap?_pos=1&_sid=ddf978ed1&_ss=r
Flextail Zero Pump -
amazon.com/dp/B0CQCTY24W/ref=cm_sw_r_as_gl_api_gl_i_HHGS38VNPSVE6KFVC80E?linkCode=ml1&tag=midwestbackpa-20
#backpackinggear #DIYgear #backpackingcottagevendors
After a custom printed food bag with a bear on it blew up on social media, Ben McMillen saw an opportunity to bring custom printed gear with some personality to the backpacking community thru a new small business. in this video, Ben and I discuss how Hilltop Packs started and how it grew to three businesses that employ 16 people. Ben also provides some direction for DIYers and people thinking about starting to sell gear.
This video is the fourth in a four-part series on DIYing backpacking gear and DYIers that were successful at converting a hobby into a business. Below are links to the other three videos in this series:
DIY Gear? - youtu.be/GMRqWd8LrWk
Pilgrim Ultralight: DIY to Cottage Vendor - youtu.be/MfqUBqizxas
Superior Gear: DIY to Cottage Vendor - youtu.be/gvh96vHWhAA
Hilltop Packs: hilltoppacks.com
Midwest Backpacker Merch:
midwest-backpacker.creator-spring.com
Follow Midwest Backpacker on Facebook
facebook.com/MidwestBackpacker
Follow Midwest Backpacker on Instagram
instagram.com/midwest_backpacker
Gear I frequently Use:
Backpack
Pilgrim Ultralight Highline Framed
pilgrimul.com
Hammock - Warbonnet Ridgerunner -
https://www.warbonnetoutdoors.com
Rain Fly - 13' Warbonnet Thunder Fly and Mountain Fly-
https://www.warbonnetoutdoors.com
Tent - Zpacks Duplex -
zpacks.com/products/duplex-tent
Top Quilts-
Hammock Gear O, 20, 30 and 40 Degree Burrows-
https://hammockgear.com
Under Quilts-
Warbonnet Outdoors 40 Degree Lynx Underquilt
https://www.warbonnetoutdoors.com
Loco Libre 20 and -20 Degree Ridge Reapers with 900 - fill power goose down - https://www.locolibregear.com
Hot Tent - Lux Mini Peak XL from Three Ridges Gear Company
Titanium and Stainless Steel Hot Tent Stoves from Three Ridges Gear Company
threeridgesgear.com/midwestbackpacker
Garmin In-Reach Mini Communicator
amzn.to/3A29lxJ
MSR Mini Groundhog Stakes -
amzn.to/35w1Wwd
Brooks Cascadia 17 Trail Runners -
amzn.to/3pKo50A
Anker Power Banks -
amzn.to/2Uxx2xv
Nitecore NU25 Headlamp -
amzn.to/3vPU9Ao
Hilltop Packs Custom Printed Food Bag -
hilltoppacks.com/#
Outdoor Vitals Vario Poly Fill Puffy -
outdoorvitals.com/products/vario-jacket
REI Magma 850 Hooded Down Jacket (seasonal) -
https://www.rei.com
Lester River Bushcraft Boreal Anorak Coat -
lrbushcraft.com/shop/p/boreal-shirt
Sea to Summit Compression Dry Sack
https://www.rei.com/product/867058/se...
Cascade Mountain Tech Hiking Poles-
amzn.to/35PfrDr
Toaks 550ML Cook Pot-
amzn.to/3qycNfb
BRS Stove-
amazon.com/dp/B00NNMF70U?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share&th=1
Fancy Feast Stove-
youtu.be/JkgbwOs3oyE
Toaks Long Handle Spoon-
amzn.to/3j30HJ8
REI Rainpants-
https://www.rei.com/product/137186/re...
Enlightened Equipment Visp Rain Jacket -
enlightenedequipment.com/mens-visp-rain-jacket-stock
Appalachian Gear Company Alpaca Hoodie-
Out of Business
CNOC 2 Liter Water Bag -
garagegrowngear.com
Sawyer Squeeze Water Filter -
amzn.to/2TYmPK6
Sit Pad -
amzn.to/3hOliz2
Camera- iphone 14 Pro Max
Ultrapod Lightweight Camera Tripod-
amzn.to/3qm3wq6
Noxgear39g Bluetooth Speaker -
noxgear.com/39g
Peak Refuel Freeze Dried Meals
peakrefuel.com
Down Socks-
garagegrowngear.com/products/down-socks-by-goosefeet-gear?_pos=1&_sid=ae99b3c56&_ss=r
Lite AF Fanny Pack-
liteaf.com/product/fanny-pack
Permethrin-
thetickterminator.com
Injinji Merino Wool Toe Sock Liners-
amazon.com/dp/B01LW7RHEY?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share
Darn Tough Merino Wool Socks -
amazon.com/dp/B008N4G3TC?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share
Cold Weather Mesh Base Layers -
Brynje USA - brynjeusa.com
Wuru Wool Company - Light Weight Merino Wool Hoodie
wuruwool.com
Trailbrush Toothbrush -
garagegrowngear.com/products/trailbrush-by-trail-stuff?_pos=1&_sid=dbcb8cf99&_ss=r
Derma-Safe Folding Knife -
garagegrowngear.com/products/derma-safe-knife-by-derma-safe?_pos=1&_sid=4f467f608&_ss=r
Salty Britches Chaffing Ointment -
garagegrowngear.com/products/chafing-ointment-single-use-packet-by-salty-britches?_pos=1&_sid=ef298fb4f&_ss=r
Pillow Strap -
garagegrowngear.com/products/pillow-strap-by-pillow-strap?_pos=1&_sid=ddf978ed1&_ss=r
Flextail Zero Pump -
amazon.com/dp/B0CQCTY24W/ref=cm_sw_r_as_gl_api_gl_i_HHGS38VNPSVE6KFVC80E?linkCode=ml1&tag=midwestbackpa-20
#backpackinggear #DIYgear #backpackingcottagevendors
