Aarn Packs is a New Zealand-based outdoor gear company which was originally founded in the early 2000s by outdoor enthusiasts and global gear designers Aarn Tate and his wife Devi who set out to create a backpack that wouldn’t alter the posture, balance, or movement of adventurers when out on the trail.
Leaning on insights gleaned from scientific research, combined with their personal experience and expansive skill sets, the curious couple spent years researching, prototyping, and formulating different iterations before settling on their unique moving harness design and front “balance pockets.”
This gear innovation — designed to maximize comfort by balancing the pack load and reducing the forces acting on your body — caught the attention of hiking and backpacking enthusiasts all over New Zealand and Australia, and Aarn Packs quickly built a loyal customer base that loved their products and forward-thinking designs (pun intended).
Among their biggest fans were Dan Farber, Julz Christy, and Martin Walker, the three co-founders and owners of Further Faster— a Christchurch, NZ-based outdoor store— who began stocking the packs from the very first day they opened their shop doors.
“We worked closely with Aarn over the years, handling his distribution and customer service for him through our store,” explains Dan. “We would give him feedback from customers' experiences, and so we got to influence the designs this way.”
In fact, the team at Further Faster became so tightly connected with Aarn Packs, developing a good understanding of the brand— the Aarn Packs customers and Aarn himself— that when he and Devi decided they were ready to retire, they knew they had to preserve their legacy.
“We didn’t want to lose the brand,” says Dan. “We loved it, and our customers loved it. We started to worry Aarn Packs would just close down, so we spoke to Aarn and over the next year we came up with a plan to keep the brand going.”
Dan, Julz, and Martin bought Aarn Packs in 2020 – the month before the COVID pandemic hit.
“We couldn’t manufacture at all,” explains Dan. “It was a couple years before we could even keep our New Zealand retailers supplied with enough stock to meet demand.”
It was a challenging time for the trio, but the team persevered, motivated by their love of Aarn’s Packs, and the support of Aarn himself who stayed on part-time to help with the transition and guide some of the design process.
Of course, navigating through hardships makes the good days that much sweeter, and Dan, Julz, and Martin agree that the support and kind words from the people who use their products has been one of the greatest aspects about taking over the brand.
“We get long emails from customers on a regular basis sharing their love for the packs and that is very satisfying,” says Dan. “They say we have the most comfortable packs on earth, and that it feels like they are carrying nothing.”
While the front loaded location of the balance pockets might look out of place to first time viewers, their thoughtful positioning is precisely what makes the packs such a pleasure to wear. Not to mention they give you quick and convenient access to frequently used gear and snacks!
The Aarn Packs team intends to keep delivering on comfort and convenience via their unique balance pockets and moving harness system, while continuing to innovate on other aspects of the packs.
“Our design principles stay the same to this day, with a focus on posture, balance, movement, fit, lightness, and using science to improve your comfort and health,” says Dan.
“We are staying true to Aarn’s original vision of creating comfortable packs that don’t alter your body positioning while simplifying the designs, but we are also always on the lookout for ways of making our packs even more durable and light.”
While they aren’t out for global domination, Aarn Packs does have their eyes set on expanding their awareness and reach into more markets— like Europe and the USA— and getting their comfortable, innovative packs on more people's backs.
“It wasn’t even until after we bought the brand that we thought about the fact that we really should share these amazing packs with the rest of the world,” says Dan. “Aarn Packs wants to help more people get outside in the wilderness, which we think is ultimately great for the environment, because then more people care.”
Ali Becker is a freelance writer and adventure storyteller who spends half the year backpacking and bikepacking and the other half sleeping in strangers' beds as a professional house sitter. She and her partner, Mathieu, share their ups and downs on their IG channel at @trip.longer and hope to inspire others to get outside, adventure in nature and find their own freedom.
