Missoula‑born outdoor‑gear designer Josh Korning is growing his TUFA Climbing brand, a development that could bring more locally made backpacks and jobs to the region, according to the Daily Inter Lake.

Korning, who operates a studio in downtown Kalispell, produces roughly a thousand minimalist backpacks each year. He says the same “take only what you need” philosophy that guides alpine climbing informs the sleek, lightweight design of his packs, which he markets to fellow climbers seeking functional simplicity.

The brand’s name, TUFA, stands for Technical Unique Functional Art and also references a distinctive limestone drip formation popular among climbers. Korning began climbing in eighth grade, buying his first rope and shoes with a friend at a Missoula gear shop before the city had an indoor climbing gym.

Mentorship has been a cornerstone of his development. He first learned sewing from Jeff Shapiro, a Missoula‑based designer who makes hang‑gliding harnesses, and later refined his skills at Mystery Ranch in Bozeman. Korning also cites world‑renowned climber and portaledge designer John Middendorf and veteran climber Hal Walcoff as pivotal influences.

Korning launched TUFA in 2012, initially selling chalk bags on Etsy while in college. By 2015, after moving to Eugene, Oregon, he introduced the Mochilla pack, an alpine backpack that has become a staple for a niche group of climbers seeking minimal weight and high performance.

To navigate the “super cutthroat and super saturated” outdoor‑industry market, Korning partnered with Rob Driscoll, director of the Small Business Development Center at Flathead Valley Community College. Meeting almost weekly throughout 2025, Driscoll helped Korning understand investor expectations and the requirements for an SBA loan.

Korning emphasizes that keeping production in the United States remains a priority. After a brief, challenging experiment outsourcing to a Seattle sew shop, he returned to his Kalispell studio, where his hands‑on knowledge of textiles and sourcing allows him to maintain quality control.

The local focus of TUFA Climbing aligns with Missoula’s growing community of outdoor entrepreneurs and could bolster the regional economy by retaining manufacturing jobs and fostering mentorship networks.

While no specific future events were noted, Korning’s ongoing collaboration with the Small Business Development Center suggests further opportunities for local funding and expansion as the brand continues to scale.

Sources: dailyinterlake.com