“I wanted something that actually tasted like a reward at the end of a big day,” says Luke Pearsall, the mission-driven force behind Trail Goods Co.—a newly launched premium freeze-dried meal brand built for real adventurers.
That craving for a satisfying, real food meal after thousands of miles on trail was more than just a personal preference—it became the seed for a brand built from scratch, grounded in lived experience and driven by a clear purpose: to bring quality, flavor, and authenticity back to backcountry meals.
Luke’s path to founding Trail Goods Co. began long before its official launch in 2025. He’s spent much of his adult life outside—guiding wilderness trips in South America, hiking the Colorado Trail, completing the Camino de Santiago, and exploring rugged corners of the U.S. through both work and personal expeditions.
It was on those journeys that he repeatedly felt let down by the food options available to outdoor adventurers. “We all like to say the trail always provides, right?” he says. “One thing I surely wasn’t gettin’ was great food experiences along the way.”
Hungry for Change
That frustration hit a tipping point during his thru-hike of the Colorado Trail in 2020. “I lost nearly 42 pounds over the course of a month,” Luke recalls. “A lot of that weight loss was simply due to me not getting enough of the fats, carbs, and protein a man my size needed to fuel that grueling of a hike.”
What was on offer—meals developed in labs by food scientists, loaded with artificial ingredients—didn’t sit well physically or emotionally. “During my hike, I found myself unable to stomach the meals made by other companies—and when I could, they would result in terrible stomach pains. I craved a real meal that I could look forward to but simply couldn’t find it.”
Lucky for Luke, he has just the life experience to draw upon to solve his own trail troubles.
As a former Brand Director of another well-known freeze-dried meal company—Luke opted to combine his industry know-how with his hard-earned, trail-learned lessons and poured it all into something a little more personal.
“I decided it was time to build something of my own,” says Luke, “something that could focus on all the things big corporations often overlook. I wanted to make meals that taste like something we’d love at home, made with fresh ingredients, small-batch care, and a level of quality and storytelling that bigger companies just can’t deliver.”
That’s how Trail Goods Co. was born.
“My work experience taught me a lot about what not to do—and more importantly, what people actually want,” Luke says. “Trail Goods isn’t trying to be flashy or trendy—we’re rooted in honesty, good food, and the simple idea that a trail meal should be something you look forward to.”
At Trail Goods, every recipe is fully cooked from scratch—sauces are made in-house utilizing the flavors from their meats which are butchered and ground just for them right before they go into a production run.
“Our flavor comes from real foods cooking together,” Luke explains. “It’s truly not rocket science if you have an idea of what the flavor profile you are trying to create, not fake additives.” The result is a small but growing menu of meals that punch far above their weight in both flavor and nutrition.
Each meal is inspired by real-life cravings on the trail and Luke’s own cultural and travel experiences. “We’re not reinventing food—we’re just putting care into how it’s made.”
Here’s what’s on the menu so far:
Loco Moco Brunch Skillet: a hearty dish of flavorful ground beef cooked to perfection, smothered in an umami gravy of onions and mushrooms, finished with scrambled eggs and served on a bed of seasoned rice.
Chicken Chile Verde & Rice: a zesty, protein-packed meal of tender chicken simmered in a bold, fire-roasted green chile sauce with hearty beans, rice, and corn.
Stir-Fried Pork Noodles: a satisfying, high-protein meal packed with savory pork, perfectly cooked noodles, and crisp veggies tossed in a flavorful stir-fry sauce.
Creamy Spicy Chicken Pasta: tender chicken and pasta tossed in a rich, creamy sauce with just the right kick of heat.
Even though Trail Goods Co. only officially launched in February 2025, the reception has been fast and positive.
“Seeing people try the meals for the first time and genuinely light up, that’s the reward right there,” Luke says. “When I get photos from epic places where our meals are being eaten, it feels like a tiny bit of me gets to be in those places too—and that feels so rewarding.”
Running a one-person business is no small feat, and the challenges of scaling production, managing fulfillment, and maintaining quality are very real. But Luke’s built a network of trusted collaborators who believe in the mission.
“There’s no big investor behind us. Just grit, hustle, and a whole lot of determination.”
That garage-grown spirit is central to the Trail Goods identity—and it’s also literal. “This brand wasn’t created in a boardroom. It was built on dirt trails, in the back of trucks, around campfires, and most of all in a real home kitchen.”
From packaging design to freeze-drying to fulfillment, nearly every part of the business is handled in Salt Lake City, Utah, with packaging printed in Michigan. “I wanted to build something that supports local jobs and contributes to communities here in the Rocky Mountain Region,” explains Luke. “There’s a certain pride in knowing where your stuff comes from, and I wanted Trail Goods to reflect that.”
Vegetables being prepped for Trail Goods Co. Stir-Fried Noodles meal.
Beyond meals, Trail Goods is fueled by a broader mission: to give back to the land and communities that have shaped Luke’s journey. “Being outside has given me so much, and I believe it’s our responsibility to protect those places and make sure others can enjoy them too.”
Conservation partnerships as well as food security initiatives are high on the brand’s long-term roadmap, with Luke knowing the power of these collaborations and the ability they have to improve the lives of so many people.
“I grew up in a family of elementary school teachers, and all too often I would hear conversations about children going home from school on the weekends not knowing if they would be fed a good meal,” he recalls. “It’s sadly more common than one might think.”
Luke sees freeze-dried food as a powerful tool in the fight against food insecurity, especially for its long shelf life and minimal waste. “As we grow, I want Trail Goods to be part of a solution… to make sure that no kid has to go home worrying about if they are going to have food.”
And while the brand is still young, its vision is bold. “Our goal is to expand the product line while continuing to reach new retail channels and broaden our online presence,” says Luke. “We want Trail Goods Co. to become more accessible to adventurers everywhere.”
His advice to other aspiring outdoor entrepreneurs? Keep it real.
“Start with something real. Don’t chase trends—solve a problem that you know inside and out. And know that it’s going to be hard. Like ‘carry-the-whole-weight-yourself’ kind of hard. But if you love it, and it matters to you, that’ll carry you further than anything else.”
At its core, Trail Goods is about the kind of food you’d make at home, designed for the places that feel like home—mountaintops, alpine lakes, and dusty backcountry trails. It’s not just fuel. It’s something to look forward to.
“If you’ve ever stood on a summit or around a fire and thought, ‘Damn, I could go for something real to eat’ — this brand is for you.”
Ali Becker is a freelance writer and adventure storyteller who relishes time spent in the great outdoors. When she isn't hiking, biking or trail running in the mountains, you can find her working as a wellness guide, empowering women to thrive through every cycle of their lives. You can keep up with her latest adventures at @thisisalibecker on Instagram.
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