If you ask me what I love most about being the founder of a company like Trek Light Gear I’ll almost always mention the stories.
Right from the very start there were stories: The customer that was on a soul-searching mission in the desert and had no trees but managed to sleep in a hammock hung between two Saguaro Cacti. The guy who had used his hammock successfully as both a sail and a drag anchor when in a pinch on his small boat. The woman who told me her hammock helped get her through a tough pregnancy when she was bedridden and couldn’t get comfortable any other way. Or more recently, the guy who decided to ride his bike to every Major League Baseball park this summer and sleep in his hammock along the way (more on that by the way in future blog post).
It was the life stories that the hammock seemed to almost inevitably create, and the fact that people were so eager to share them, that made me excited to start this business in the first place.
As our community has grown I’ve been lucky enough to see an increasing number of photos, videos and stories from people who are out there living the Trek Light Lifestyle. It’s really an unbelievable thing to sell a product that can help some people to relax for the first time in years, some to fall in love, some to find themselves, some to sleep better at night and many others to find adrenaline and adventure. And I’m sure there are plenty of customers who use it for all of those things in a single day.
Today, I’m happy to share with you the story of another Trek Light Adventurer setting out to see the world, find himself and experience life with his hammock by his side.
Meet Caleb Smith.
I first met Caleb at the Self Reliance Expo in Denver back in September. Caleb was trying out one of our hammocks and began telling me about how he had been building a boat from scratch with his father and planned to sail it down the Mississippi River to the Gulf of Mexico. Caleb spent a good amount of time lying in a hammock that weekend, thinking and talking about his plans for the trip. As I noticed the word ‘hammock’ starting to pop up more and more in his vision for the trip I could almost feel the next great Trek Light Adventure taking shape.
As of Saturday, October 29th, his trip has officially begun.
There’s no telling when he’ll have internet access, how long his trip will last or where it will take him but I’m extremely excited to watch it unfold and we’ll definitely post updates here when available. Caleb is a talented photographer and videographer and he’ll definitely have lots of photos and videos along the way.
In the meantime, please show your support for Caleb by visiting his Facebook page and becoming a fan. Take a second if you can to write a note on his wall and let him know that you read about his journey here and wish him luck.
Trek Light Adventures
When I first realized the potential for a lightweight and portable hammock I spent a long time wishing that I had owned one my entire life. Studying abroad and traveling in Australia, growing up at summer camp, road tripping to music festivals, hanging out at the beach in Rhode Island - there was no end to the experiences I could think of that would have been even better if I owned then what I now sell.
Even more so, I strongly believe that a Trek Light Hammock is itself an inspiration to embark on travel and set off on adventures. I’ve heard it confirmed from so many customers over the years: once you own a lightweight hammock your brain will naturally start scheming of ways to get out and use it. It often feels as if the hammock itself has a burning desire to see the world and it’s up to you to find amazing places to take it.
Last year on the blog I shared with you the adventures of Joe and Andy, who spent months traveling and sleeping in their Trek Light hammocks all over Central and South America. The hammocks were a gateway to adventure and became a faithful companion on the trip, allowing them to sleep, relax and play in places that wouldn't have been possible otherwise. Their own adventurous spirit got them there but the hammocks had the incredible effect of pushing them further, inspiring them along the way and of course making the trip a lot more comfortable.
The amazing thing is that Trek Light Adventures like these are happening every day all around the world and I'm sure I only hear a small percentage of the stories that make it back to us.
“My name is Caleb Austin Smith. I am about to embark on a life changing journey, in search for many things. I would love for you all to be a part of it.”
I can’t think of a better example of the Trek Light ethos than the adventure that Caleb is embarking on. He’s built his own boat from scratch and he’s taking with him only what he needs while leaving many things, including his expectations, behind. I’m thrilled that Trek Light Gear is able to play a role in the incredible memories Caleb will make on this journey and I’m looking forward to hearing and sharing his story with all of you.
If you’ve got an idea for a Trek Light Adventure, don’t hesitate to get in touch – I obviously can’t hook everyone up with free gear to make it happen but we’ll always do whatever we can to help you trek lightly and have the adventure of a lifetime. If you’ve already taken a Trek Light Adventure, share your story with us so we can feature it on the blog!