Hello Everybody,
Dutch and Phi here, we wanted to personally share something we've been putting a lot of thought, time, and heart into: Camping Gear X (CGX).
CGX is more than another place to buy outdoor gear. Our goal is to build a marketplace that gives cottage outdoor brands, independent makers, and specialty gear companies the spotlight they deserve.
And this mission is personal to us.
We are cottage brands ourselves.
We know what it's like to start small, develop products, take risks, manage inventory, manufacture gear, answer customers, build a community, and try to compete for attention against companies with much larger budgets and resources.
We know where the struggles are because we've lived them.
That experience is a big part of why we created Camping Gear X. We want to take what we've learned over the years, including the mistakes, challenges, relationships, and systems we've built, and use it to help fast-track the journey for the cottage brands we work with.
If we can help another great maker reach more customers, grow their production, place larger orders, get better feedback, or avoid some of the growing pains we experienced ourselves, then CGX is doing what we created it to do.
Through Camping Gear X, we are purchasing inventory from cottage brands and creating another place for people to discover, experience, and support their products. As the community grows, our goal is to place larger purchase orders with these companies and create more opportunities for exclusive products and collaborations based on what you, the outdoor community, tell us you want.
But supporting these brands doesn't always mean buying something.
Following, sharing, tagging, recommending, and giving honest feedback about your gear experiences can be just as valuable.
So we're asking for your help.
Please follow the Camping Gear X social pages, share CGX with your outdoor friends and family, and help us introduce more people to the incredible brands behind this gear.
When you're posting on your own social pages, tag Camping Gear X and tag a cottage brand you believe should be part of the CGX community. Tell us about the companies you love, the products that have earned a permanent place in your pack, and the makers you believe more people should know about.
You may also see products sell out quickly, especially as we grow. That's okay. We would rather grow responsibly alongside these brands, learn what the community wants, and continue increasing our purchase orders as demand grows.
And hopefully, as CGX grows, we can do even more. We want to work directly with these makers on exclusive collaborations, new product ideas, and gear developed from real feedback from the people actually using it outdoors.
Ultimately, we want Camping Gear X to help create a stronger cottage outdoor industry where great brands can remain independent, continue innovating within their specialties, reach new customers, and hopefully still be making incredible gear 10, 20, and 30 years from now.
We believe a stronger cottage industry creates better gear and a better outdoor community for all of us.
Support the makers. Share the brands. Give honest feedback. Help us build the community.
We would truly appreciate having you along for this journey.
Let's build something stronger together.
Phi & Dutch
Camping Gear X
Meet the Founders
Phi Le | Co-Founder
Phi brings a builder's mindset to everything he touches. As a cottage brand operator himself, he's navigated the full journey of product development, manufacturing, inventory management, and community building from the ground up. Phi leads the systems and operations behind Camping Gear X, ensuring the platform runs efficiently and that every brand partner gets the support they need to grow. His hands-on experience in the outdoor industry means he understands the challenges cottage makers face because he's faced them too.
Dutch | Co-Founder
Dutch is the community and brand voice of Camping Gear X. A lifelong outdoor enthusiast and cottage brand veteran, Dutch has spent years building relationships with makers, customers, and the broader outdoor community. He knows what it takes to earn trust in a space built on authenticity and performance. At CGX, Dutch champions the brands and the people behind them, making sure their stories get told and their products find the audience they deserve.
Together
Phi and Dutch started Camping Gear X because they believed the outdoor industry needed a better platform for independent makers, one built by people who had lived the cottage brand experience. Their combined background in product development, operations, community building, and brand strategy gives CGX a foundation that's genuinely different from a typical gear retailer. They're not just selling products. They're invested in the long-term success of every brand they carry.
