In this episode of Beyond the Trailhead, I sit down with Gary Benninger, creator and owner of Gryphon Gear, a small handmade gear company known for quilts and sleeping bags built with serious warmth in mind. Gary’s story goes way back from reading about Admiral Byrd’s South Pole expeditions, to working as a research scientist at NASA, to spending more than 100 nights sleeping on snow. His love for cold-weather adventure eventually turned into a company focused on building sleeping bags and quilts that are not just light, but actually warm when the temperature drops. We also dive into: • How Gryphon Gear got started • Why Gary has such a passion for cold-weather camping • The science behind down, loft, heat loss, and overfill • Why Gryphon Gear uses 80% overfill in their bags and quilts • What a vapor radiation barrier actually does • Why condensation matters in winter sleeping bags • The difference between warmth ratings and survival ratings • Handmade gear, custom sizing, and small business realities • Why marketing is often harder than making the product This episode is packed with gear science, old-school outdoor stories, winter camping wisdom, and the kind of technical knowledge only someone like Gary can bring. If you’ve ever wondered why some sleeping bags keep you warm and others don’t… this one is for you. Connect with Gryphon Gear Website: https://www.gryphongear.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gryphongear
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