Missouri Entrepreneur Launches Gear’d, an Outdoor Equipment Matching Platform

Krista Peryer, a Missouri-based entrepreneur, has launched Gear’d, an online platform aimed at assisting users in selecting appropriate outdoor equipment and clothing. The service, which recently exited stealth mode, provides gear recommendations and trip checklists for activities such as hiking, backpacking, and camping.

Gear’d currently features data on over 1,000 items from 125 different brands and addresses the issue of women’s sizing in outdoor apparel, which is often overlooked in the industry.

Krista Peryer, based in Springfield, Missouri, developed Gear’d by combining her technology expertise with her passion for nature. Her approach to creating the platform stemmed from her own experience of encountering a problem and then developing a solution.

Prior to this venture, Peryer founded The Geek Foundation in 2015, a non-profit organisation that offered tech career training to underrepresented individuals in the Springfield and Branson areas for nearly a decade. After leaving the foundation, she dedicated approximately a year to building the Gear’d platform.

Gear’d addresses the common challenge of “choice paralysis” faced by individuals new to outdoor activities due to the vast and often expensive array of available gear. The platform aims to demystify equipment selection by offering personalised recommendations based on activity, location, and budget.

It also provides essential safety advice and local guides, including tips for specific environments like bear country or high altitude, ensuring users are well-prepared for their excursions.

Peryer is currently gathering user feedback for Gear’d and has plans for future enhancements. The roadmap includes expanding the platform to cover more activities, brands, and products. Future developments also anticipate robust trip planning functionalities and gear management features, such as maintenance reminders for equipment like waterproofing jackets.

Peryer is also pursuing studies in outdoor apparel and design, with an ambition to integrate smart technology into clothing and gear, indicating a broader vision for her involvement in the outdoor tech sector.