About
You're Not Hardcore. We're Not Hardcore.
But we do believe in ultralight comfort for women, without the gram-counting ego trip
We’re building outdoor gear for women who get out there—and for those who want to get out there. Hikers, weekend wanderers, section trekkers, outdoor lovers, and even peregrinas on the Camino who just want a pack that fits and a design that makes sense.
No toothbrush cutting. No ultralight gatekeeping. And definitely no mansplaining.
This isn’t about being the lightest. It’s about what fits. What works. The kind of gear that makes you say, “Why didn’t anyone design it this way for us before?”
Inspired by the dedication of Search and Rescue teams, especially the amazing SAR women who keep adventurers safe, we believe safety and style go hand in hand. That’s why our packs are bursting with bright, happy colors and reflective trim, adding fun on the trail and helping you stay visible when it matters most.
No two women are the same, and neither are your adventures. Your body, your trail, your goals—they're all uniquely yours.
That’s why Sojourn Trekkr designs packs that adjust to your body, because one size (or shape) does not fit all. Whether it’s your third trip or your thirtieth, women deserve better-fitting outdoor gear.
Her trail. Her gear. Her way.
Hi, I'm Jennifer Villamin, Founder
It all started with a pandemic and a need for a better fitting lightweight backpack
I didn’t grow up camping or hiking. As the daughter of immigrant parents, the outdoors wasn’t part of my upbringing. But during the pandemic, I discovered backpacking. Literally, I was on a California mountaintop with friends when the shelter-in-place order hit in March 2020. I had zero experience, a motley mix of car-camping gear, and a poorly fitted pack.
Before that, I was a competitive outrigger canoe paddler in San Francisco. When shelter-in-place made paddling in a 6-man canoe impossible, one of my teammates and I turned to hiking and backpacking around California, instead.
And then something shifted...
—something in me shifted. For the first time, I slowed down and really noticed the world around me. Like, really noticed.
Over the next few years of the pandemic, I cycled through four different packs. None fit. None worked. All left me in pain. I tried adjusting, re-packing, and finding little hacks to manage the pain. But, the gear just wasn’t made for my body, and that mattered. The more I talked with other women, the more I realized it wasn’t just me. This was a thing.
As a Filipino American woman, I also noticed how few women of color I saw on the trails. It made me wonder, "Do women of color go backpacking?"
As a first-time outdoor female founder of color, I’m not just navigating trails, I’m navigating an industry long dominated by white men. At Sojourn Trekkr, we believe more women on the trails means more diverse representation. And with more representation comes the opportunity to change the narrative around who belongs in the outdoors.
Jennifer Villamin, Founder & CEO
When Unisex Options Won't Fit
There is an outdoor gear gap. Gender is not equally represented in the outdoors, it does not always accommodate for female sizes and shapes.
At Sojourn Trekkr, we believe that when women have proper fitting gear, they will be more empowered to explore, and to push, their limits in the outdoors. The outdoor industry needs a sustainable brand focused on better-fitting gear for women to make the outdoors more inclusive and accessible.
While the outdoor industry may not reflect us just yet, we are here, and we are changing the narrative.
Sojourn Trekkr
Our name, Sojourn Trekkr, combines two words that embody adventurous journeys.
sojourn: implies a temporary stay, suggesting a relaxed journey.
trekker: refers to a long-distance hiker, often through challenging terrain.
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