A few years ago, an enterprising mine worker in Wyoming dared to dream of the ultimate backpack. One with the structure and insulation of a cooler but the lightweight ease and organization of a hiking pack. One that could withstand the rigors of both the jobsite and the campsite. One where his lunch wouldn’t get smushed into pulp by the other gear in there.

The answer: a hard-sided inner vault with configurable shelves, inside a waterproof, insulated, soft-sided backpack with all the pockets and gear loops any laborer or adventurer would require. Separately, the two parts of The World’s Toughest Cooler Backpack are useful; together, they are the next step in backpack evolution.

He took his idea to Kickstarter. He found the backing (no pun intended) he needed. The World’s Toughest Cooler Backpack became a reality. Everyone who got one loved it. But this scrappy little startup ultimately found its trail blocked by an insurmountable obstacle: breaking into a market already dominated by bigger players. Without the scale to lower their costs or the brand muscle to fight their way onto store shelves, they were facing a mountain they couldn’t climb.

The best-made packs of mice and men often go off-price

Having fought the good fight, the company wound down and sold off its remaining inventory. That’s when our intrepid buyers picked up the scent. The same chain retailers who’d shrugged at this peculiar hybrid pack the first time around overlooked it this time, too.

We snapped up the lot from the distributor who’d bought it. You don’t stay in business for 178 years without recognizing a good idea when you see it. Our stock in trade is “The Best, The Unique, and The Unexpected”, and The World’s Toughest Cooler Backpack is all three.

Did we mention the vault also doubles as a seat, supporting up to 500 pounds? Or that it has top and middle openings so you can access whatever’s stowed down below without disturbing everything above? Hard to imagine nobody at any of the retail giants saw the potential. And yet, they did not.

When Fate closes one pack, another pack opens

That’s why you won’t find The World’s Toughest Cooler Backpack at mainstream retailers. They had their chance. Their loss is the true gear connoisseur’s gain. Those savvy enough to snap one up will enjoy years of hardy service and unparalleled convenience, like the best cooler and the best backpack you’ve ever had conjoined into one hybrid beast.

While it’s regrettable that it never had a chance to find a truly mass audience, we like to think The World’s Toughest Cooler Backpack has found a suitable home with us. And perhaps, soon, with you.