Building KETL: October 2026
Bon dia,
What. A. Summer.
We welcomed our daughter, Solea, into the world, and have been squeezing in all kinds of micro adventures around Northern Nevada and Lake Tahoe. Two kids. The juggling act has begun. :)
But it’s been a hell of a fun summer. Getting outside with the kids, watching Solea and Niko discover new things, and finding little windows to scratch my own adventure itch. More on that below.
What We Are Working On
MilesBound Jogger: For cold miles on the trail, airports, or your Netflix and chill nights, these things have your back.
Skid Mark MTB Pants - Cordura Pro: Comfortable and breathable enough to sleep in, yet durable enough for years of abuse. Two new colors.
SierraLoft Vest: We have finally added the vest to our lineup. Finally.
RockyLoft Down Jacket: New to the catalog last year, but it was so popular it sold out in weeks. Two new colors.
Puffinator Down Jacket: The warmest jacket in our lineup (for now 😎). Two new colors.
Lost Boys Merino Tops: Short Sleeve, Long Sleeve, and a Sun Hoodie version. I practically live in these. Buttery soft to the touch, yet durable enough for multi-day adventures.
RLT Merino Thermal Grid Hoodie - VF Series: No other midlayer goes in my bag. Two new colors.
Breakwind Ultralight Windbreaker - VF Series: This is the packable jacket you didn’t know you needed until you tried it. Breathable when it needs to be. Wind stopping when it needs to be. All in a package that fits in the palm of your hand. Two new colors.
What We Are Up To
Backpacking with multiple generations has been a highlight. I got out for a multi-day, multi-generational backpacking trip with my 79-year-old dad and my son, Niko, who is now three years old. It was Niko’s first two-night backpacking trip. Getting to share the backcountry with him and his grandpa was pretty special. I hope we get many more years of these trips together.
I’ve also been keeping my endurance appetite fed with big days out on the bike . There’s still something I love about a long day of pedaling and seeing how much I have in the tank. The current challenge? Get out, get after it, and be home by dinner. Turns out dinner makes a pretty effective finish line. 😄
Then there’s Niko’s own biking journey. He’s starting to find his way on a pedal bike, and we’ve been making multiple trips up to the bike park. Watching your kid begin to discover something you love is a whole different kind of joy. I’m pretty pumped for this chapter.
Through all of it, I want my children to grow up knowing the importance of simply being outside. Touching dirt. Spending time in the mountains. Making time for it, even when life gets busy.
We spend a lot of time thinking about which adventures to plan next. This summer has been a good reminder of how much there is to enjoy close to home, especially when you get to share it with your kids.
Oh, and to all the fathers out there who still get after it while raising multiple children...my hat is off to you. Turns out it’s pretty damn hard to make it all happen. Work, family, getting outside, and keeping yourself fit enough to enjoy it all. I’m beginning to understand the juggling act.
A Bit of Inspiration
Journalist and author Hunter S. Thompson on going for it:
Thank You, Seriously.
Thanks again for supporting our small crew. We are not owned by a mega-corp or private equity bozos. Just friends trying to build incredible apparel.
As always, if you have any questions about KETL just shoot me an email at Dom@ketlmtn.com. Yes, I read all my emails. :)
