Founded by avid outdoor adventurer, Scott Burrill, Virginia Foothill Designs is a cottage gear brand that specializes in ultralight backpacks designed with freedom and ease of movement in mind.
Inspired by Scott's love of hiking, camping, and backpacking as well as his fascination with gear construction, the company originated as a MYOG (make your own gear) subReddit startup called My Dog Oliver and in 2020, transitioned into its current incarnation as Virginia Foothill Designs or VFD for short.
However, it was a life changing personal injury that was the true catalyst for Scott to begin crafting his own lightweight, ergonomic backpacking gear that would allow him to return to the great outdoors and get back to doing the things he loved.
“In 2013, I fell and broke my back, which really slowed me down,” explained Scott, “and then, in 2014, I started a painful rehab plan – which is what sparked my interest in lighter equipment.”
During his recovery, Scott had a friend who was hiking the Appalachian Trail that told him about cuben fiber - an ultra high molecular weight polyethylene fabric (UHMWPE) which many of us know now as the ultralight textile called Dyneema.
Learning about this lightweight fabric was a pivotal moment for Scott, who didn't have a history of sewing, but did have a deep appreciation for outdoor gear and a unique past experience that would prove beneficial for his foray into gear making.
“In 2009 I had decided to move into a tent and live on a 850 acre wooded property which was also the site for my job,” explains Scott, “I was there for nearly 13 months, through all sorts of weather and conditions.”
“I spent many hours inside my shelter, admiring the seams and construction of the equipment that was keeping me safe and happy,” reminisces Scott, “This is what really triggered the gear switch in my head – I was into it. And I suppose that is where my patterning eye and reverse engineering abilities came from.”
Equipped with his newfound knowledge of ultralight technology, his appreciation for gear construction, and his desire to get back out exploring, Scott began crafting backpacks to suit his injury and his unique needs, which he feels has become the very thing that now makes VFD different from other UL backpack brands.
“Due to my injuries, I put a lot of focus into the ergonomics of things,” says Scott. “I jokingly say we're all just making sacks with a couple straps, which is true – but I have put a lot of time and thought into the shape of my bags.”
“What sets me apart is that I've tapered my bag to a V shape,” he says, “the natural shape of your torso increases your freedom of motion, having more room to swing your arms and move more naturally.”
“Having the taper not only increases your ease of motion, but it also puts the bulk of the weight more between the shoulder blades for those that aren't using a hip belt. That allows the sternum strap and the foam to handle the load.”
After drafting up a few early prototypes, Scott and his friend group were eager to get out into the nearby wilderness and put his packs to the test.
“I couldn't ask for a better location to call home,” says Scott. “I am blessed to live in a beautiful part of Virgina between Warren and Shenandoah county sandwiched between the north and south fork of the Shenandoah river. I live at the entrance of George Washington National Forest, and my studio view is of Signal Knob. I have dozens of trailheads in my backyard, and Shenandoah National Park, with its unlimited beauty, is the perfect place to test my designs.”
Testing, tweaking, and testing again has led Scott to have a dialed-in line of designs that he is willing to customize for the outdoor community, and their feedback is one of his favorite forms of payback.
“There is nothing more satisfying than seeing an idea come to fruition,” says Scott, “hearing from a hiker and helping them reach their goals and dreams – being included in that is an honor.”
But Scott admits one of the challenges of being a solopreneur is being careful not to get caught spending too much time behind the sewing machine and making sure to balance his time between VFD and his other beloved activities.
“I have an awesome daughter and two dogs, and sharing things with them is my main purpose,” says Scott. “I also enjoy building and riding bikes – my dining room is often converted into a bike storage space and workshop.”
“I also love planting flowers and have multiple wildflower patches for pollinators and hundreds of naturalizing bulbs that come up each year,” says Scott.
Among all his varied interests, Scott still manages to put 100% of his heart into each and every pack he makes for VFD, and as the sole member of the team, he takes great pride in creating something that will take people on epic adventures for years to come.
As for the future plans, Scott hopes that in three years time he can be growing, evolving, and inviting customers into his workshop by saying, “Welcome to VFD studio – the laser cutter is over here.”
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. You can learn more about them here: triplonger.ca.
