Shop | Explore Outdoor Gear Today — OWL Outdoor Wild Life

Not “Athena”, but a beautiful Eurasian Eagle Owl named “Flash” at the Shieldaig Lodge in the Scottish Highlands, near Badachro, Gairloch.

Founder’s Corner:

Why the name OWL?

People often ask: “Why did you name your company OWL?”

The truth is, the name comes from an encounter that shaped my life. At 12, I became one of the first volunteers at the Raptor Center in Pueblo, Colorado. My “job” was cleaning aviaries, preparing food, and helping care for hawks, eagles, kestrels—and owls.

That’s when I met Athena, a Great Horned Owl recovering from a broken wing. Day after day, I fed her and sat outside her enclosure, mesmerized. She was powerful, dignified, and impossibly beautiful. When she was finally ready to be released, the staff chose me to carry her out and set her free.

The moment she perched on my arm, her gaze locked into mine. It was electric—like she saw straight through me. When I finally encouraged her into flight, she soared to a nearby cottonwood, turned, and looked back at me. I’ll never forget that connection. The director told me, “She’s chosen you. She’s your spirit animal.” And I could actually feel it…

For me, the owl became a symbol of wisdom, vision, and protection—a reminder to trust intuition, see beyond the surface, and move through life with quiet strength. That experience has guided me ever since.

So when it came time to build this company, OWL—Outdoor Wild Life—was the only name that truly fit, and captured the brand. Like its namesake, the vision to design OWL gear was born from foresight and innovation, and with the wisdom I gained learning about these magnificent raptors, it solves hidden problems in the outdoors. Our flagship innovation, the Evolution SlumberSac™, reimagines the sleeping bag with freedom, mobility, and comfort—eliminating the frustrations that have plagued campers for decades.

OWL is more than gear. It’s wisdom applied to design, protection from the elements, and the freedom to rest easy in the wild.

Common Barn Owl found throughout the Scottish Highlands