Enlightened Equipment CEO Chris Schawlow | Beyond the Trailhead Podcast Ep. 27

What does it take to build one of the most recognized brands on trail?In this episode of Beyond the Trailhead, we sit down with Chris Schabow, CEO of Enlightened Equipment, to talk about the real story behind the brand… and the journey that almost didn’t happen.From sewing gear in a basement…To quitting a stable career…To helping lead one of the most trusted ultralight brands in the world…Chris shares the ups, the risks, and the moments that changed everything.We also dive into:• How Enlightened Equipment actually started• Why quilts changed backpacking forever• The real challenges of scaling a gear company• Product design, mistakes, and constant refinement• Why doing fewer things REALLY well matters• The story behind the Torrid jacket• Leadership, risk, and building a team you trustIf you’ve ever used a quilt on trail… there’s a good chance it traces back to this story.Follow Chris + Enlightened EquipmentWebsite: https://alnk.to/eZKBiaeInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/enlightenedequipmentFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/enlightenedequipmentListen to Beyond the TrailheadYouTube: https://youtube.com/@BeyondthetrailheadApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/beyond-the-trailhead/id1860050826Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/11g9jx9Oyd2YSHipi0mmDy?si=72d97f11c5f64ea6Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/beyondthetrailheadpodcastWebsite: https://obristimagery.comFor those asking about safety gear we use outdoors you can get 15% off Overwatch x Rescue with code BEYOND15.