Gen Shimizu of YAMA Mountain Gear has been immersed in the outdoors and its evolving industry for over 20 years. “I’ve been at this for a little while,” he laughed.
Born on the trail in 2006, YAMA, named for the Japanese word for mountain, is an accumulation of Gen’s experiences. Not only has he covered the Appalachian Trail, two-thirds of the Pacific Crest Trail, Long Trail, and Colorado Trail, Gen even embarked on the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route, winding his way over 2,700 miles by unicycle.
“I originally intended to ride it on two wheels,” he laughed, “like a normal person.”
It was on this one-wheeled journey when Gen decided to fully dive into YAMA. “You go on these big trips and seek answers. I didn’t have an answer to that question," he laughed, “but I decided I would approach it as if it were something I’d pursue as a career.”
Prior to this declaration, Gen viewed his brand, then named Alpinlite, as a side business. Tapping into his degree in mechanical engineering and the sewing skills gained from 7th grade Home Economics, Gen purchased a Kenmore home sewing machine from Sears and some silnylon from the mail-order company, Outdoor Wilderness Fabrics.
“It grew at its own pace and paid for the materials and equipment.”
What began with creating and selling flat tarps and stuff sacks on Ebay evolved into launching his flagship Microburst Poncho Tent in 2007. Since then, YAMA has evolved into an impressive and refined product line of ultralight shelters and packs seen today. He attributes that initial product, a double-walled shelter that doubled as a poncho, as his first crack at moving backpacking gear forward.
Now, designing efficient, thoughtful, and beautiful gear inspired by his own experiences on the trail is Gen’s daily work.
The 1-Person Cirriform, YAMAs most popular shelter, embodies over a decade of refinement and optimization. Built for serious adventurers, this shaped tarp offers optimal wind shedding and protection in tough conditions. Whether you're backpacking for a few nights, thru-hiking, or going for that FKT, the shelter is reliable and compact.
Made from recycled polyester fabric with a silicone based coating on both sides, the shelter’s silpoly retains less water and won't sag when the temperature drops, helping to retain a taut pitch through the night.
“At night when I listen to the rain falling on the roof, I sometimes think about whoever might be out there in that rain storm under the tarp,” he said. “When I’m designing the shelters, I design them with reliability because I know how much you need to rely on a piece of gear like a shelter performing when you need it.”
“I always felt when you’re out on a long hike, a lot of times you can get by the entire trip without experiencing a truly threatening storm. But you still need that shelter to handle the storm for the day that it does find you.”
It’s a balance between weight, reliability, longevity, and performance, Gen said of the gear he creates. “My mantra is a lightweight pack should be a result, not the focus.”
“When I’m selecting gear, I’m after efficiency over low weight. I know what my comfort levels are and how different systems can play into each other, but that they can all be very individual.”
“One persistent vision for the brand is for it to be a business that both fosters and leverages our unique lifestyles,” Gen added. “We come and go on our epic trips, and we design and test gear for those trips, too.“
Housed outside of Missoula, Montana in a historic lumber mill on the banks of the Blackfoot River, the revitalized space built in the 1880s still displays the names of workers etched on its timber walls. With over 2,000 square feet of open workspace, Gen is surrounded by national forest and wilderness lands.
Not only is Gen an advocate for ultralight gear, he’s enthusiastic about being ultralight on the environment, too.
“Growing up in an environmentally aware household instilled a feeling of responsibility towards the impacts that my actions might have. And when I’m operating a business and day-to-day life, it’s definitely on my mind.”
One way Gen manages his and YAMA’s environmental impacts is through a partnership with the Change Climate Project, an independent non-profit committed to cut greenhouse gas emissions. As a certified company, YAMA is accountable for its carbon footprint and even annually measures its cradle-to-customer emissions and implements strategies for reducing those numbers in the future.
After nearly 20 years of handcrafting everything on his own or with a small team, Gen is excited to begin working with a premier tent manufacturer. “My goals are to use it as a means to do things like build up our in-house team so we can offer things like small customizations, repairs, and repurposing old gear. I’m excited to free up time to focus on things stuck in the thought bubble.”
“I look forward to dedicating more time to designing new gear and revisiting old favorites, too. Microburst Poncho Tarp, anyone?”
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.
1 comment
Mel Church
I’ve visited Gen at an earlier workshop and saw his innovations and sewing. He is a perfectionist in the best way.