When RecPak announced their enhanced spout design last year, it wasn't just another product update. It was the result of two years of customer feedback, environmental consciousness, and a commitment to making every piece of gear earn its place in your pack. We sat down with founder Deed Ziegler and sales-lead Joy Seward to talk about how this innovation came to life.

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The Origin Story: From Afghanistan to Alaska

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Let's start at the beginning. Deed, what led you to create RecPak?

Deed: The idea came during my time as a Marine Corps officer in Afghanistan. I was leading troops in remote environments where every ounce mattered, and we struggled with nutrition. You'd have energy bars that gave you a sugar crash, or MREs that weighed a ton. I kept thinking there had to be a better way – something that was nutritionally complete but didn't compromise on weight or convenience.

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Joy, how did you get involved?

Joy: I actually met Deed while I was guiding in Alaska. I was working as an outdoor guide and had firsthand experience with the same nutrition challenges he was talking about. When you're leading multi-day trips, you need fuel that's reliable, lightweight, and doesn't leave you feeling terrible. The moment I tried RecPak, I knew this was something special.

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The Environmental Wake-Up Call

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RecPak is now a member of 1% for the Planet. How did environmental responsibility become central to your mission?

Deed: From day one, we wanted RecPak to be more than just a business. My military service instilled this deep sense of service, and we knew we had to build that into our company DNA. When we became 1% for the Planet members, it forced us to really examine our environmental impact. We started asking harder questions about packaging, waste, and how our customers were using our products.

Joy: We kept hearing from customers who loved the nutrition and convenience but were asking, "What do I do with this pouch afterward?" It became clear that we needed to find ways to extend the lifecycle of our packaging beyond just the meal.

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Tell us about the feedback that led to the spout redesign.

Joy: We were getting consistent themes in our customer feedback. People loved RecPak but wanted more functionality from the packaging. Some were already trying to repurpose the pouches for water storage, but the threading wasn't compatible with standard water filters.

Deed: The engineering challenge was significant. We had to maintain our food safety standards, keep the pouch durable enough for backcountry use, and somehow make it compatible with existing water filtration systems. The Sawyer Squeeze's 28mm threading became our target because it's such a trusted standard in the outdoor community.

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Engineering the Solution

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What made Sawyer water filters the right product for this innovation?

Deed: Sawyer has been protecting people in challenging environments since 1984. Their 0.1 micron filtration technology removes 99.99999% of bacteria and 100% of microplastics – that's the kind of reliability you need when you're miles from civilization. Plus, at just 3 ounces, the Sawyer Squeeze fits perfectly with our philosophy of lightweight, high-performance gear.

Joy: What really impressed us was Sawyer's commitment to making clean water accessible everywhere. They share our belief that outdoor gear should empower people, not limit them. Their approach to education and community building aligns perfectly with our values.

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How does the RecPak-Sawyer combination change the game for adventurers?

Deed: Think about it from a weight perspective. Instead of carrying a separate collapsible water reservoir, your empty RecPak pouch becomes a backup hydration system. You get 700 calories of complete nutrition, then a BPA-free water reservoir that threads perfectly onto proven filtration technology.

Joy: It's about gear synergy. Every piece of equipment needs to earn its place in your pack. Now your nutrition and hydration systems work together instead of competing for space and weight.

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Field-Tested Innovation

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Have you taken this combination into the field yet?

Deed: Absolutely. We've tested it on multi-day backcountry trips where water sources were questionable. Having that backup filtration capacity, knowing you can turn any fresh water source into safe drinking water using gear you already have, that's real peace of mind.

Joy: The enhanced spout also improved the basic user experience. Filling is easier, there's less spillage, and the flow rate is better whether you're drinking directly or transferring to bottles. Sometimes the best innovations solve multiple problems at once.

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What's next for RecPak?

Deed: This spout compatibility is just the beginning. We're constantly looking for ways to reduce waste and extend product lifecycles. Our goal is to prove that high-performance gear and environmental responsibility aren't mutually exclusive.

Joy: I’m interested in exploring ways to support water access initiatives globally. The innovation to be compatible with Sawyer water filters opens up opportunities to contribute to clean water projects in underserved communities, another way to use business as a force for good.

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The enhanced RecPak pouches with Sawyer water filter compatibility are now available. Consume contents and thoroughly rinse out empty RecPak pouches before using with a Sawyer water filter.

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Learn more about RecPak at recpak.co and discover Sawyer's full line of water filtration solutions at sawyer.com.

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