Aardwolf Gear Company: Inventors of the Itty Bitty Dyneema Ditty

Maria Weidich

 

Aardwolf Gear Company may not be the only small business handcrafting ultralight and strong-as-steel Dyneema-made gear. However, they just might be the only brand who launched their company by machine-sewing spoon covers, toothbrush sleeves, and trowel sheaths outside on public park picnic tables.

Founder Nate Katz’s devotion to Dyneema-made gear began while hiking the Northern New Mexico Loop. The 500-mile trek starts and ends in Santa Fe and includes two dicey fords across the Rio Grande River. After a wet river crossing in his “dollar-store toy raft,” Nate was forced to take a good, hard look at his gear. 

It was easy to realize a few things were missing from his backpacking kit; specifically, things that would help keep his gear organized, clean and in that moment, dry.  

Just like the saying goes, when the student is ready, the teacher will appear. 

 

 

Later on that New Mexico hike, Nate met up with his friend and CDT (Continental Divide Trail) thru-hiker Big Toe, who had scraps of Dyneema and the patience to teach Nate how to sew. “I still remember those 1.43-ounce pieces of Purple Haze and Moroccan Blue,” he said of his first DIY Dyneema pouch. The unmatched strength of the lightweight and water resistant fabric withstood the elements and demands of the trail, Nate said. “That really made me believe in the Dyneema.”

Alex Tierney, Nate’s partner in both business and life, laughed at what came next.

“And then he went down the rabbit hole!”

 

Protoype madness at Aardwolf!


The couple spent the remainder of that summer hiking sections of the Colorado Trail, then later trail angeling, shuttling, and assisting hikers with gear repairs along the trail. “I think we had three sewing machines in the van by the end of the summer,” Alex laughed. 

Now ordering Dyneema fabric by the roll, Nate began crafting pouches of every size for every purpose. The Original Itty Bitty Ditty serves as an ultralight spoon cover, medicine keeper, key pocket, and so much more — all for less than one gram. 

“It was as simple as needing a bag for my trowel,” Nate said. “And then I began asking, have you thought of this, have you thought of that?”

 

 

“While the intention of our designs vary, we encourage our customers to use our bags for anything that works for them,” Nate explained of their versatility. “With ultralight gear getting smaller and smaller, how do you keep all that stuff organized? We want to support whatever there is room for in their bags.”

And if it serves as inspiration to go outside and eliminate a few plastic bags in your backpack, that’s just icing on the cake. 

Named for the reclusive, nocturnal, desert-wandering, hyena-like creature native of Africa, Aardwolf Gear Company officially launched in the Summer of 2024. 

 

 

“It’s hard for me to explain how excited I am,” Alex laughed. It still hits me every day that we got to this point so quickly. It’s been so much fun.”

“I’ve enjoyed the time we’ve had as a small cottage company so far. It feels like one big family. I feel like I’m sending spoon covers to a friend,” she laughed.

As the orders got larger and business began to grow, so did their relationship. 

“We’ve made it through a lot together,” Nate said of running a business with Alex. “We both have our perspectives and there has to be a conversation about every little stitch. We keep the communication open knowing just because we have an issue with a product does not mean we have an issue in our relationship.”

Escaping the chill of Colorado, the couple are currently wintering and running Aardwolf in sunny Tucson, but gratefully, no longer on park benches, Nate laughed. 

 

 

Together with their well-oiled production process, Nate and Alex handcraft quality pieces each and every time. “We’ve got a really consistent product that we’re really proud of,” Nate added. “If we plan right, I always have a new batch to sew in the morning and Alex always has something to trim.”

Within close proximity to the Arizona Trail, they will take full advantage of getting on the trail and providing trail magic this spring. 

“We also want to create strong relationships with retailers and provide the best product we can every single time for the customer to be able to use it in a capacity that works for everybody. This year we’re going to find our balance, and it all comes down to an obsession to produce great products.”

 

 

Aardwolf Gear Company on GGG Garage Grown Gear
Aardwolf Gear Company

 

Originally from Alaska, Maria currently resides in Montana with her husband, two young daughters and chocolate lab named Echo. When she’s not chasing her kids or that next running goal, you can find her weekend-warrioring in the mountains or thinking about her next cup of coffee.

 

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