WILDERNESS EXPERIENCE was founded in 1973 in Chatsworth, California, USA. The founder, Jim Thompson, built his career during the early days of outdoor gear development and, upon returning from a journey around the world, began manufacturing outdoor products with his brother Greg. The name "WILDERNESS EXPERIENCE," which means "experience in the wilderness," was inspired by Greg's experiences that led to the development of the products. Today, the company pursues high quality and manufactures its products in Japan.