Gnara Is Redefining Trail Comfort, One Zipper At A Time
In the wilds of Alaska, where the mountains are majestic and the crevasses are unforgiving, a young glacier guide faced a dilemma as old as outdoor gear itself: how to relieve herself without stripping down in sub-zero temperatures. While her male colleagues simply unzipped and carried on, Georgia Grace Edwards had to scale ice fields in search of privacy — risking frostbite and dehydration in the process.
That moment on the ice sparked a revolution. Edwards returned from Alaska with a mission — to make outdoor apparel that works with, not against, the anatomy and dignity of everyone who wears it. What began in a Vermont dorm room as a prototype dreamt up by Edwards and co-founders Bianca Gonzalez and Charlotte Massey is now Gnara: a fast-growing, female-led outdoor apparel company that’s changing how we “go” in the great outdoors.
ANSWERING NATURE’S CALL WITH INNOVATION
At the heart of Gnara’s breakthrough is the GoFly Zipper — a patented design that runs from the front fly of their pants all the way to the back waistband, allowing users to unzip just as far as they need for privacy and comfort. It’s discreet. It’s empowering. It’s the kind of genius you wonder why no one thought of sooner.
But that’s the point — until now, most outdoor apparel wasn’t designed with all bodies in mind. Gnara’s GoFly pants, now a cult favorite among hikers, climbers, campers and road-trippers, are proof that gear can be technical, inclusive and wildly practical all at once.
MORE THAN A ZIPPER
Gnara’s mission goes far beyond clever apparel; the company is focused on making the outdoors more welcoming for everyone.
That ethos is stitched into every pair of pants, from the inclusive size range (00-22) to the company’s sustainability practices. Their mailers, for example, are made from 100% recycled plastics and feature dual adhesive strips for reusability.
“Gnara isn’t just selling pants,” says Edwards. “We’re creating a new standard for what outdoor gear can be — inclusive, durable, versatile and thoughtful.”
THE OVERALLS THAT DO IT ALL
Gnara recently teamed up with sustainable outfitter LIVSN to launch the LIVSN x Gnara EcoTrek Overalls, which brings the same GoFly magic to a tougher, trail-ready silhouette. They’re water- and stain-resistant, flexible enough to climb in, stylish enough to hit the brewery after and, yes, just as easy to pee in.
And that’s the kind of versatility modern adventurer’s demand. “Our goal was to make something that could go from backcountry to backyard barbecue without skipping a beat,” Edwards adds.
WHY THIS MATTERS
Outdoor recreation is often touted as universally accessible — but for too long, gear has told a different story. The barrier to entry isn’t always physical terrain — it’s discomfort, disempowerment and lack of representation.
Gnara is shifting that paradigm.
Their core values — Be Brave, Empower Others, Stay Curious, Show Grit, Have Integrity, Encourage Play — are more than a mission statement. They’re a call to action for the entire outdoor industry to do better. To make gear that fits real bodies. To question what’s always been done. To recognize that sometimes the smallest innovations, like a second zipper, can unlock the biggest freedoms.
As Edwards puts it: “The ability to pee outside comfortably shouldn’t be revolutionary, but it is. And we’re proud to be leading that revolution.” With multiple product awards and new innovations in the pipeline, the Gunnison, Colorado-based brand is quickly becoming a go-to for those who want to adventure on their own terms.
Originally published in the summer 2025 issue of Spoke+Blossom.