Derek Hansen talks about the newest announcement by Gossamer Gear

The announcement came a little sooner than I had anticipated, but regardless, I am pleased to confirm that I have volunteered to be a Gossamer Gear Trail Ambassador, and I would like to thank Grant and the team for this opportunity.

Some of you may know that besides being a hammock camping evangelist, I’m also a lightweight backpacker and devoted gear tester, primarily with BackpackGearTest.org, but I’ve also done beta testing with specific brands. So when a call came from Gossamer Gear to test some gear, I jumped at the chance. The conversations that followed with Grant led to an invitation to become a Trail Ambassador.

So what is the Gossamer Gear Trail Ambassador program and how does that impact me? On one hand, being an Ambassador is sort of like being a “featured fan” for Gossamer Gear, as they are looking for customers who use their gear on occasion. I’m a happy owner of a first generation Mariposa Plus backpack; it was my first ultralight backpack and I am very fond of it. On the other hand, Gossamer Gear is looking for “people who are passionate and excited about the ultralight backpacking movement.” Guilty on both counts.

The final point that won me over (and really impressed me) about the program is that Gossamer Gear is not looking for complete fidelity: I have no obligation to exclusively promote or use their gear unless I happen to like and own it. Grant is looking for a team of dedicated lightweight backpackers who can serve as a testing bed for gear and provide honest feedback and criticism for improving their gear.

Read complete article on Derek’s Blog

Derek Hansen is a lightweight backpacker, Scoutmaster, and “hammock enthusiast” who enjoyed his first hammock hang at age 14 at the BSA Beaver High Adventure base in Utah. The hammock he used then was a compact net style that was strung up in an “Ewok Village” constructed from log platforms lashed up high in the pines. Derek rediscovered the wonders hammock camping 16 years later in Virginia, and has been avoiding the ground ever since.