I’m still coming down from the buzz of the Barefoot Shoe Expo in Denver, Colorado, held May 16–17. What an experience! It was a major milestone for Lucky Sheep to be represented at this national conference—our first time traveling west of the Mississippi since we launched in 2016. In fact, it was our first big event anywhere.
When we started Lucky Sheep, there was little public awareness around natural fibers, especially in outdoor gear. So it felt incredibly special to finally meet many of our longtime supporters in person—most of whom are based in the western states. Some of you even stopped by because you saw our newsletter announcement, and it was a joy to connect face-to-face.
We had a wonderful time introducing our line of organic, natural fiber outdoor gear—including backpacks, sleeping bags, our waxed canvas jacket, and our brand-new book! The response was overwhelming. So many people were thrilled to discover us, try out our products, and share their excitement. The message we heard over and over again? You guys rock!
The expo itself was packed with over 40 exhibitors representing barefoot shoe brands and related products. But what made it especially rich were the two full days of movement-based workshops, all focused on building a barefoot-friendly lifestyle grounded in body alignment, mobility, and healthy movement practices.
Lucky Sheep has spent eight years building a dream that got washed away by Hurricane Helene in October 2024. Then we spent six months rebuilding from scratch everything we had. Miraculously we were set up with a spanking new shop full of top of the line sewing machines, brochures, name labels, a handful of finished products and even a new book. Then I caught wind of the Barefoot Shoe Expo and immediately signed up.
We were at a very good place, where all our hard work on design was ready for a wider audience. Our organic bees-waxed canvas backpacks, rain shells, and sleeping bags had been thoroughly tested in many extreme real-life adventures from experienced outdoor warriors and had proved the test. We have officially brought the first non-toxic gear of this type to the outdoor market in a complete package. I was busy helping customers test the product and ooh and awe over the unique features born of the love for nature and merging eco and body friendly materials with our pursuits for outdoor adventure.
One of the personal highlights for me was meeting Katy Bowman—a longtime hero of mine and, without a doubt, the rock star of the conference. Katy is a biomechanist, bestselling author, educator, and host of the Move Your DNA podcast. Her work has had a profound impact on my own life and research. She brings a revolutionary ancestral lens to movement health that complements and expands the ideas I explore in my own work.
As a new author of Rewild Your Outdoor Adventure, I was happy to see that she was also thrilled about my book and the Lucky Sheep products. Our works are synergistic and complimentary. While Katy’s work focuses on movement and body mechanics, my book provides a framework for integrating ancestral health practices into outdoor living. It was exciting to connect with someone whose ideas resonate so deeply—and even more exciting to begin what we hope will be a meaningful collaboration.
If you haven’t already explored Katy’s work, I highly recommend her website and books, which are full of practical guidance for reawakening your body from the constraints of modern life. You can find her at nutritiousmovement.com.
