‘Ello,
Someone just reminded me it’s November already. Holy hell, where did the year go?!
Here’s a quick behind-the-scenes look at KETL: our factory tour in Asia, training for a 50K trail run as a parent, and a bit of inspiration.
What we’re working on.
This past August, my business partner Jeff and I went on a factory tour across Asia. Our goal was to visit each of the factories we work with, see the production floors firsthand, and connect with the incredible people who help bring our passion for adventure travel gear to life.
Our first stop was in Nanjing, China, where much of our technical apparel—like the Bodbrella and SierraLoft lines—is crafted. The attention to detail and the level of craftsmanship were truly impressive.
Next, we hit Indonesia, where some of our top sellers—like the NoFry Sun Hoodies and Shenanigan Pants—are made.
In between, we stopped in Hong Kong for a few days and tackled the 50K Hong Kong Trail. This stunning trail spans the entire island, with serene, lush forests set against a backdrop of towering skyscrapers—it was surreal. The only issue? It was blazing hot—a 115-degree heat index with humidity off the charts!
The biggest takeaway from this trip was how special our relationships with these factories are. These are good people doing honest work, and we couldn’t build KETL without their expertise and craftsmanship. It was incredible to see how passionate they are about what they do. And the local food and spirits? Not bad either. 🍻
What we're up to.
My summer concluded with the Mammoth 50k Trail Fest trail run—a brutal yet stunning course with about 7K feet of climbing across 30 miles.
Big shoutout to all the parents out there who keep at it while juggling kids. Finding the time to train isn’t easy; I get it now with my own one-year-old.
If you’re a parent and still charging, mad props!
A bit of inspiration.
Author and podcaster Glennon Doyle on the courage to be yourself:
"Your job, throughout your entire life, is to disappoint as many people as it takes to avoid disappointing yourself."
If you have made it this far, wow, you are one of the few people that still read. 🤓 Reward yourself with our biggest sale of the year.
