Issac’s journey into the wild began in university, not with record-breaking speed, but with a unique thirst for the unpredictable.
He started with day hikes, but soon craved deeper immersion, deliberately setting off at dusk to scramble over unmarked terrain by headlamp, embracing the challenge of finding makeshift campsites deep in the mountains under the cloak of night. This unconventional approach forged a resilience and adaptability that became core to his ethos.
Seeking broader horizons, he earned his GMDSS Unlimited Ocean-going license and sailed the world on merchant vessels. Yet, despite the high salary and global travel, the call of the mountains proved stronger than the sea.
Returning ashore, he spent six years in the corporate world, handling marketing for Expeditors, a major US logistics firm. Despite professional success, a persistent sense of a different destiny grew. In a bold move, he left his corporate role – a leap of faith made with the support of his family even as they welcomed their one-year-old daughter.
In 2020, he channeled his passion into opening his city’s first dedicated camping store.
However, by 2023, Issac realized simply selling others’ gear wasn’t enough; too many products fell short of the performance and design he demanded based on countless nights under nylon and polyester. He closed the shop, taught himself design software, and founded Valleystone.
Drawing deeply on his years of hard-earned trail experience, he launched the Mt. Moon 2 tent that September – a design met with immediate acclaim.
Never settling, Issac pushed further in 2024, pioneering his own fabric technologies and developing ultra-light yet incredibly durable aluminum and carbon fiber tent poles. This relentless R&D drive stems from his founding principle: enhancing critical comfort factors – weather protection, space, and condensation management – through stronger, lighter materials, without sacrificing the essential lightweight character needed for true backcountry freedom.
Today, Valleystone shelters, born from this philosophy, are tested and trusted by users in the world’s most demanding environments, consistently earning praise for their exceptional performance. Issac believes deeply that passion fuels purpose, and purpose-driven craftsmanship inevitably yields exceptional gear.
