TEREN is more than a brand. It’s a lifestyle. It’s freedom to pack less and adventure more, knowing you’re well-equipped for whatever comes your way. It’s adventure travel gear made to feel good when hiking the misty peaks of the Colombian Andes just as much as to look good when exploring the bustling streets of Medellin.
We are all made for adventure. And adventure is always right around the corner. The only question is, who’s ready for it?
Our Story
In the summer of 2018,
Chris, Nick, and some friends, hit the Blue Ridge Mountains for a week of riding motorcycles and fly-fishing for a RoadRUNNER Magazine article and video. The plan was to explore different routes each day and return to their friend’s cabin each night. But then the storm hit.
With pouring rain, it quickly turned into a week of card games, conversations, and one big business idea.
While the rain came down, they went back and forth about their adventures and frustrations with gear that just never cut it. That’s when the sketching started. And that’s when we all found out when you put a mechanical engineer in a room with a designer, you get one hell of a pair of pants.
After returning home, they developed their tech pack, found the right fabrics, worked with manufacturers, and, thanks to many many cups of coffee, created Trekka’s first prototype. (Yeah, we changed names, but that comes later… ) A prototype born from necessity and crafted with precision. A prototype they were proud of: the Lightweight Traveler Pants.
After developing their first prototype,
Chris & Nick launched a Kickstarter campaign for their Lightweight Traveler Pants. It was enough to start production and enough to pave the way for more innovation.
In December 2019, the pants were finally in hand and quickly being shipped out to Kickstarter backers — our very first customers. Chris’ and Nick’s rainy-day(s) vision was coming to life.
It was time to bring the sketchbook back out.
Chris and Nick were back to the drawing board, this time setting their sights to even more innovative heights.
They knew they weren’t the only ones who had holes in their puffy jackets from spark and ember holes from sitting around campfires, and from hiking through briars. So, they created something better. Something durable. Something the industry had never seen. A fire-resistant puffy jacket.
They launched the waterproof, windproof, tear-proof, ember-proof Campfire Puffy (called the Element Jacket at the time) on Kickstarter and the campaign surpassed their expectations.
But they still kept their day jobs. It was 2020, after all.
Which also meant, as they began looking towards 2021, there was plenty of time stuck in quarantine to continue developing and refining new, innovative products that could maintain the standard of performance, durability, and style set by their first two.
Stoked by the success of the Kickstarter campaign,
and spurred by a frivolous trademark dispute that wasn’t worth the battle, they dropped the name Trekka for TEREN — the Romanian word for "terrain" — inspired by Nick's time exploring (by motorcycle) where his wife was born, the Carpathian Mountains of Romania.
That’s when Hyde, who was one of the first backers on Chris and Nick's Traveler Pants Kickstarter, was brought on to manage marketing and web operations. James, a whitewater kayaker from "across the pond", followed along a few months later, taking over customer service, product support, and shipping. A few months later, Chris was finally able to dedicate himself to the company full-time. Making a full-time team of 3. (And a part-time Nick.)
Together, we developed the Daily Driver line and began work on “The Kit” — a one-bag travel wardrobe designed for travelers who want to go everywhere and be prepared for anything.
As we grew, we were also able to support some of our favorite local non profits and events throughout Chattanooga.
A major piece was added,
to “The Kit” in the fall of 2022, the Cloudland Shell. More than a raincoat, it is built to withstand nature’s harshest conditions with one of the highest ratios of waterproofness to breathability available.
2022 also marked our entry into brick and mortar stores, selling in independent outdoor retailers across the Southeast.
The word was getting out.
In 2023, we completed “The Kit” — a cohesive, versatile, stylish travel wardrobe that can truly go anywhere and do anything.
We could finally empty out the rest of our closets.
And today,
our mission hasn’t changed. We’re still creating innovative adventure travel gear that solves real-world problems.
We’re determined to share our hard work — from rainy cabin days on — with everyone who loves adventuring as much as we do. So, in 2024, we’re expanding our retail footprint, selling our gear in more outdoor retailers across the country. (Tell your local shop about us… pretty please.)
And we’ve got some gnarly stuff in development for 2025.
After that? Who can say? It’s an adventure. And we’re ready for it.
- 2018
- 2019-2020
- 2021
- 2022-2023
- Today
In the summer of 2018,
Chris, Nick, and some friends, hit the Blue Ridge Mountains for a week of riding motorcycles and fly-fishing for a RoadRUNNER Magazine article and video. The plan was to explore different routes each day and return to their friend’s cabin each night. But then the storm hit.
With pouring rain, it quickly turned into a week of card games, conversations, and one big business idea.
While the rain came down, they went back and forth about their adventures and frustrations with gear that just never cut it. That’s when the sketching started. And that’s when we all found out when you put a mechanical engineer in a room with a designer, you get one hell of a pair of pants.
After returning home, they developed their tech pack, found the right fabrics, worked with manufacturers, and, thanks to many many cups of coffee, created Trekka’s first prototype. (Yeah, we changed names, but that comes later… ) A prototype born from necessity and crafted with precision. A prototype they were proud of: the Lightweight Traveler Pants.
After developing their first prototype,
Chris & Nick launched a Kickstarter campaign for their Lightweight Traveler Pants. It was enough to start production and enough to pave the way for more innovation.
In December 2019, the pants were finally in hand and quickly being shipped out to Kickstarter backers — our very first customers. Chris’ and Nick’s rainy-day(s) vision was coming to life.
It was time to bring the sketchbook back out.
Chris and Nick were back to the drawing board, this time setting their sights to even more innovative heights.
They knew they weren’t the only ones who had holes in their puffy jackets from spark and ember holes from sitting around campfires, and from hiking through briars. So, they created something better. Something durable. Something the industry had never seen. A fire-resistant puffy jacket.
They launched the waterproof, windproof, tear-proof, ember-proof Campfire Puffy (called the Element Jacket at the time) on Kickstarter and the campaign surpassed their expectations.
But they still kept their day jobs. It was 2020, after all.
Which also meant, as they began looking towards 2021, there was plenty of time stuck in quarantine to continue developing and refining new, innovative products that could maintain the standard of performance, durability, and style set by their first two.
Stoked by the success of the Kickstarter campaign,
and spurred by a frivolous trademark dispute that wasn’t worth the battle, they dropped the name Trekka for TEREN — the Romanian word for "terrain" — inspired by Nick's time exploring (by motorcycle) where his wife was born, the Carpathian Mountains of Romania.
That’s when Hyde, who was one of the first backers on Chris and Nick's Traveler Pants Kickstarter, was brought on to manage marketing and web operations. James, a whitewater kayaker from "across the pond", followed along a few months later, taking over customer service, product support, and shipping. A few months later, Chris was finally able to dedicate himself to the company full-time. Making a full-time team of 3. (And a part-time Nick.)
Together, we developed the Daily Driver line and began work on “The Kit” — a one-bag travel wardrobe designed for travelers who want to go everywhere and be prepared for anything.
As we grew, we were also able to support some of our favorite local non profits and events throughout Chattanooga.
A major piece was added,
to “The Kit” in the fall of 2022, the Cloudland Shell. More than a raincoat, it is built to withstand nature’s harshest conditions with one of the highest ratios of waterproofness to breathability available.
2022 also marked our entry into brick and mortar stores, selling in independent outdoor retailers across the Southeast.
The word was getting out.
In 2023, we completed “The Kit” — a cohesive, versatile, stylish travel wardrobe that can truly go anywhere and do anything.
We could finally empty out the rest of our closets.
And today,
our mission hasn’t changed. We’re still creating innovative adventure travel gear that solves real-world problems.
We’re determined to share our hard work — from rainy cabin days on — with everyone who loves adventuring as much as we do. So, in 2024, we’re expanding our retail footprint, selling our gear in more outdoor retailers across the country. (Tell your local shop about us… pretty please.)
And we’ve got some gnarly stuff in development for 2025.
After that? Who can say? It’s an adventure. And we’re ready for it.
Our Values
Versatility
We’re just as obsessed with performance as we are with design. We don’t just want you to feel good on the trail (or bike, or rock, or river) we want you to look good when you hit the brewery (or office, or restaurant, or concert) afterward.
And for the times you’re traveling? You can take it all in one bag without the stress of leaving something behind. If you have the kit, you have everything you need. No matter what. It’s called freedom.
Innovation
Above all, we’re problem solvers. When there’s a need for innovation, we innovate. We make clothes to help you get the best out of your adventures starting at the root of the problem.
We’re not afraid of a challenge and we’re not here to copy and paste what the rest of the industry is doing. We’re here to give our customers (and ourselves) exactly what we need to be ready for anything.
Quality
We don’t compromise. Quality is as important to us as performance standards. Regardless of price, we won’t compromise one for the sake of the other. Instead, we’ll pursue the best possible materials to create products that are made for any and every kind of adventure.
Our premium fabrics also allow you to wear TEREN gear multiple times between washes, which is not only more sustainable, but also prevents additional breakdown of your clothes over time. Just another win-win.
At TEREN we create our own
Fabrics
At TEREN we create our own
Fabrics
Sometimes, we have to develop our own fabrics to keep up. Like our own Woolmark® certified merino wool — the epitome of natural performance. It regulates body temperature, wicks away moisture, and resists odors for all-season wear. Including soft, lightweight merino wool, it keeps you warm without the bulk, so you stay comfortable on the trail and stylish in the city.
Celebrated for its sustainability and incredibly soft feel, bamboo is a cornerstone of our Daily Driver tops collection. It’s breathable, moisture-wicking, hypoallergenic, and wildly comfortable so you’ll stay cool and dry through any adventure.
We developed an Aramid-blend fabric known for its heat resistance and flame-retardant properties. Used in our Campfire Puffy, it offers superior protection against extreme conditions. (Or against flying campfire embers.) Its resilience against abrasions and wear allows you to push the limits. And look great doing it.
The Team
Just a few guys with a lot of passion that are reinventing what everyone thinks of as adventure travel gear. One beer at a time.
Chris Loizeaux
Co-Founder / Product Design
- The first word he ever spoke was "idea" (or so he says...)
- HUGE Fly Fishing Nerd with a weakness for Very Berry Nerds Gummy Clusters.
- TEREN's Resident "Maker" - He'll say "I can make that" to almost everything, which is why there are 17 billion "almost finished" projects around the office.
Nick Rader
Co-Founder / Product Development
- Calls himself "Hybrid - Country" at a certain point everything becomes a hammer.
- His favorite time of the day is lunchtime, or wait... is it dinner time, no... it must be breakfast?
- Traveled from the tip of South Africa to the tip of Norway in just one pair of pants. Spoiler, this was pre - TEREN and the pants sucked at everything.
Casey Hyde (Hyde)
Marketing & Web
- Previously a climber. Now just someone who climbs rocks sometimes.
- Says his dog, Meadow, is his sidekick like Robin to Batman but we all know who's who in that relationship...
- Likes long walks across countries, ¡Buen Camino!
James Buck
Customer Service & Retail
- Obsessed with whitewater.
- "You sound like you’re from London" - Paul Rudd (Forgetting Sarah Marshall) not true but he ain't from round here.
- Big fan of the local Chattanooga breweries.
Our Favorites
Open roles
We’re a small team with high expectations. We wear multiple hats every day, working, learning, and problem solving together as we continue to build a company we believe in.
Want to be part of the adventure? Send your resume over to contact@terendesigns.com
Careers
Benefits
As a small team, everyone’s always working hard. So, we offer benefits that can keep ourselves and our families at their best, including:
- Generous Paid Time Off
- Hybrid workplace & culture
- 100% company-paid health, dental & vision plans
- Maternity/Paternity Leave
- Apparel Allowance (aka free gear!)
- Industry Pro Deals
- Family/Friends Discounts
- Local Beer on Tap
If the river's running on a Monday, we hit it. If friends are in town on Thursday, we take them climbing. But we’re building something new and ready to put everything we can into it.
