Hello, my name is Ron Hodge. The picture you see to the right is my wife and me on the trail. I designed the Wheelpacker.

The need for such an implement was clearly demonstrated to me one beautiful October afternoon in the Smokies. My wife and I were descending the Sweat Heifer Trail from the AT when we passed an obviously fit young man making the ascent with a large backpack on the way to the AT and a few days in the backcountry. About a mile further down we ran into his significant other and she was not happy. She was struggling under an equally large backpack and not enjoying the hike at all. I, like most hikers, have seen many backpackers on the trails and most of them didn’t look like they were having a lot of fun. These recollections and the overloaded woman caused me to do a lot of thinking out loud, much to the annoyment of my wife, all the way back to the car about "a better way" to transport gear.

Apparently I was in the right place at the right time. We spend a lot of time in the backcountry and I have a 40 year career in mechanical design of farm and military equipment and spaceflight hardware. This background enabled me to dismiss several of my ideas without pursuing them. Even with this head start Wheelpacker was by far the most difficult design challenge I ever faced. The implement you are learning about is unlike anything else and is the result of a lot of ideas that didn’t work and some that did. It is the only practical alternative to backpacking. If Wheelpacker is used intelligently it will enable those of us who cannot safely or comfortably lug a backpack to also reach and enjoy the backcountry. If the man we met on the trail had a Wheelpacker he could have made his partner’s experiences (and his) much more enjoyable. He could have transported all of his gear and most of her’s. At most she would have needed only a rucksack. Wheelpacker’s advantages also apply to couples with young families, those with physical limitations and those not as young as they once were like me. Everyone deserves to spend time in the backcountry and Wheelpacker helps make this, not only possible, but much more comfortable and enjoyable.

I designed Wheelpacker to last. You would have to try to tear it up. It is made from space age materials and with quality manufacturing. It costs more than most backpacks but it does much more than they do. I believe it represents good value plus something that is priceless - the chance to spend time in the backcountry with those you care for.

Please look over our site. We don’t exaggerate what Wheelpacker does or doesn’t do. If what you learn about it is consistent with your hiking and camping expectations we are confident your purchase of a Wheelpacker will lead to many pleasant experiences.