Interbike 2015: Catching up with Revelate

I’m back home from Interbike, but one of the highlights for me was chatting with Eric Parsons, from Revelate Designs. We escaped the booth for a few minutes and chatted about the history of his company, as well as what they’re doing now, and where they’re going in the future. Things are looking great for the bikepacking niche, and even with new gear producers showing up everyday, Eric and company aren’t worried. With a solid line of gear, and some innovative new items coming out in the coming months, they’re in a great position to keep producing the gear that we’ve come to count on. How do they do it all? Hard work, honest dealings, and a bit of luck I’d say. Revelate also benefits from being one of the original suppliers of rackless gear. The weight of that isn’t lost on him though, and innovation is paramount to their future success. Revelate employs about four folks in Anchorage, while the majority of their gear is made in Springfield, OR. Back in 2009 (maybe 2010) Eric was purchasing Mountain Feedbags directly from Christa Olsson to sell directly on his site. Over time though, demand increased and Eric eventually purchased the design from her. Through that acquisition, Revelate gained access to the sewing shop that was producing for Christa and a new era for Revelate was born. That relationship has blossomed over the last 5 years and that facility now employs about 15 people. Their main customer is Revelate, the weight of which is not lost on Eric. I asked him how he felt about going from a side project to a world leading brand in less than ten years; he was understandably happy, with still a bit of shock from it all. As bikepacking has surged in popularity, the demand for high quality, accessible gear has as well. Customers can now purchase Revelate gear from local shops and distributors in countries across the world, including Japan, Ecuador, South Africa, Europe, and North America. That’s pretty incredible. Aside from the business part, Eric and company are still same band of adventurers they always have been. The biggest difference is that it’s not just one guy working an industrial machine in a basement. With a new website, and a handful of new products coming down the pipe, Revelate is in a great spot.