Eric sent us the following email -- thought you all would appreciate it as much as we did.

Tom and Crew,

I kinda had an emotional reaction reading the description of The Guide's Pack. I have an old REI toploading rucksack that really looks similar, though it has the dreaded black plastic accessory strap holders, which have all failed. I've toted that thing for one purpose or another for the better part of 30 years. One of my favorite packs.

Anyway, reading the description of The Guide's Pack, well, it almost brought a tear to my eye. Tom's obsessive desire to get the design right really flies off the page. It's like he took my old REI pack that I love, and made it better, with all the benefits decades of technological improvement.

I don't know when I've ever had such a strong reaction to a product description. I did with this thing though. It'll take me awhile to come up with the scratch to get it, but get it I will. Can't wait.

More broadly, thank you for being such a damn great operation. Over the years my wife and I have wound up buying a few different bags from you, all of which have exceeded our expectations. And the fact that we're buying from a local manufacturer, with local employees really counts for a lot.

Okay, I'm putting the tissues away and gettting back to work. Congratulations on another job very, very well done.

-- Eric