Person wearing a cypress Pakt One Travel Backpack+ standing in tall grass at dusk with mountains and a purple-pink sky

We’re on a mission to make getting there feel just as good as being there.

OUR VALUES

Backpack design sketch on a wooden workbench surrounded by scissors, a hole punch, ruler, pencils, and fabric swatches
Obsessed with every detail.
Explore how we build our products to stand apart.
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Factory worker sewing a navy backpack panel at an industrial sewing machine, close-up on hands and fabric
Committed to progress over promises.
“Sustainable” products don’t exist. Review our journey to be as responsible as possible.
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OUR STORY

From Brooklyn to Bozeman.

Our journey to make gear that's designed with intention, responsibly made, and built to perform.

Man walking a dog on a sunlit downtown sidewalk wearing a Pakt One Travel Backpack in cypress

2009

A love for travel sparks luggage innovation

Malcolm Fontier discovers his passion for motorcycle travel and starts creating his own luggage —designed to carry everything he needs strapped to his motorcycle.

Two travelers carrying Pakt duffel bags, woman standing by a metal door and man leaning against a stone wall

2008-2011

The Malcolm Fontier line takes flight

Malcolm and his wife, Gabrielle, launch the Malcolm Fontier line, featuring bags with innovative travel features inspired by their adventures. After some success, they pivot to new projects, leaving behind a lasting legacy with the dual-compartment Getaway bag—the final product in their line.

Man wearing sunglasses, holding a coffee cup and carrying a shoulder bag, standing outside a coffee shop with a sign reading 'AR PIT COFFEE SHOP' visible in the window.

2016

A Netflix cameo ignites demand for the Getaway Bag

The Getaway bag makes a surprise appearance in the Netflix documentary Minimalism, catching the attention of intentional travelers everywhere. With the bag no longer in stock, fans flood Malcolm and The Minimalists with requests to bring it back.

Three V1 Pakt Ones in black, gray, and blue with zippers and shoulder straps placed on gravel ground.

2017

Pakt is born with the Pakt One duffel bag

Malcolm and a small team launch a crowdfunding campaign to reimagine the Getaway bag as the Pakt One duffel. The campaign is a runaway success, and Pakt is officially born. Alongside it comes SeaHive, an initiative dedicated to reducing environmentally harmful plastic packaging.

Three-quarter view of Pakt One duffel carried over shoulder showing padded strap and side handle against colorful graffiti wall

2018

Pakt starts improving and expanding products based on demand

In 2018 a second round of Pakt One duffel bags are released that have incorporated feedback from the Pakt community, improving durability and usability. Research and development begin on other products the community is asking for.

Woman pouring water from a black kettle into a coffee dripper on a wooden table with coffee-making accessories nearby.

2019

Pakt brews up innovation with the Pakt Coffee Kit

Pakt launches the first complete, airline-friendly compact pour-over coffee brewing system. Designed for coffee lovers, it enables great coffee anywhere.

Two men sitting at a table, one holding and showing a green V1 Travel Backpack to the other in a store or workshop setting with backpacks hanging in the background.

2020

The Pakt Travel Backpack takes off

Collaborating with gear expert Chase Reeves, Pakt launches the Travel Backpack during the height of a global pandemic. It’s an instant success and represents a pivotal moment for Pakt: transitioning to using 100% recycled materials for the Travel Backpack line.

The Pakt team of seven people collaborating around a wooden table in a bright room, some using laptops and notebooks.

2022

Pakt finds a new home in Bozeman, Montana.

Pakt opens a design studio in Bozeman, Montana—a hub for outdoor gear innovation and talented designers. The team adopts a hybrid work model, balancing a collaborative studio space with the flexibility of remote work to enhance its design process.

Person placing a smaller Everyday 15L Bag inside a larger green Travel Backpack on an airplane seat

2023

Pakt creates The Ultimate Travel System

Pakt redesigns and relaunches its entire product line, creating a fully integrated travel system. From daily gear to new iterations of the classics, the new gear makes it easier to pack better and travel farther.

Person holding a black 25L Travel Duffel, outdoors in tall grass

Late 2023

RePakt is launched to extend gear’s life

To reduce waste and keep great products in use, Pakt launches rePakt—a peer-to-peer marketplace where customers can buy, sell, and extend the life of their gear.

  • 2009
  • 2008-2011
  • 2016
  • 2017
  • 2018
  • 2019
  • 2020
  • 2022
  • 2023
  • Late 2023
MEET THE TEAM
Rocky lakeshore with clear alpine lake reflecting forested mountains under a bright blue sky
Poolside snack: guacamole, chips, pico de gallo, green salsa, orange segments, Topo Chico, PACIFICO CLARA.
Woman wearing sunglasses and white top sitting on a mud‑brick fort wall, beige desert fortress and domed tower in background.

Alia

Role

Digital Marketing & Community Manager

Location

Bozeman, MT

Favorite part of job?

Interacting with customers

Most Used Product

Stash Packable Tote

Smiling woman with curly hair leaning on a counter; three backpacks and a small pouch hang on the wall behind her. Smiling woman with curly hair leaning on a counter; three backpacks and a small pouch hang on the wall behind her. Smiling woman with curly hair leaning on a counter; three backpacks and a small pouch hang on the wall behind her.
Andrew Cottrell smiling in a head-and-shoulders portrait with a plain light background
Smiling person in a dark shirt against a neutral studio background
Head-and-shoulders portrait of a person looking at the camera against a plain white background

Andrew

Role

Senior Designer

Location

Bozeman, MT

Favorite Part of the Job?

Sewing together new bag designs and finding innovative materials.

Most Used Product

MODE Backpack 22L

Team member smiling and holding a canned drink, wearing a cap and backpack in front of a stone wall and sign Team member smiling and holding a canned drink, wearing a cap and backpack in front of a stone wall and sign Team member smiling and holding a canned drink, wearing a cap and backpack in front of a stone wall and sign
Woman smiling in a blue shirt and baseball cap against a light background
Woman smiling and leaning on an indoor railing in an office setting, wearing a navy top and tan pants

Lucy

Role

Customer Support Agent

Location

Philippines

Favorite Part of the Job?

Turning customer questions into solutions and smashing through my ticket queue—feels so satisfying!

Favorite Pakt Product

Pakt One Travel Backpack

What should others know about you?

I hike, complain silently, suffer… and then convince myself the view is worth it.

Man sitting on a sandy beach wearing sunglasses and a cap, with a rocky island visible offshore.
Motorcyclist in neon green jacket standing beside a loaded adventure motorcycle on a rocky mountain dirt road
Two smiling kayakers in orange jackets taking a selfie in a yellow tandem kayak with glacier and ice chunks behind them.

Malcolm

Role

Founder & CEO

Location

Brooklyn, NY / Bozeman, MT

Most Used Product

45L Pakt One Travel Backpack

Man holding a coffee cup, looking at camera; close-up black-and-white head-and-shoulders portrait. Man holding a coffee cup, looking at camera; close-up black-and-white head-and-shoulders portrait. Man holding a coffee cup, looking at camera; close-up black-and-white head-and-shoulders portrait.
Production Quality Lead smiling in a neutral studio portrait
Team member smiling in a studio-style headshot with a neutral light background

Sa

Role

Production Quality Lead

Location

Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Favorite Part of the Job

I'm happy to see high quality product output.

Most Used Product

Stash Packable Tote - it's perfect for my essentials.