This is fantastic news for an old friend of mine!
Mel Terkla has signed on with Wolfpack Gear in San Luis Obispo, CA to help design a new line of Tactical and Adventure backpacks. Wolfpackgear.com is one of the leading manufacturers of wildland firefighting gear in the country. Mel had been in semi retirement for the last year and a half after being let go from Kifaru, but decided he wasn’t done designing backpacks, and after much research, reached out to Mike Oberndorfer the owner of Wolfpack Gear. It just so happened that Mike wanted to start a new line of backpacks and was looking for a designer, and after meeting up, there was a mutual agreement that fate seemed to bring them together to make it happen.
Mel Terkla was the one that helped start the Tactical division at Kifaru back in 2002 and headed up design and sales for over 12 years. He is accredited with getting the Kifaru brand known and respected in the industry and will be bringing those credentials to Wolfpack Gear. Look for a mid summer launch of the new line that will be announced on the Wolfpack Gear website and Facebook page. There will also be a forum in the future on the website for questions and answers, updates, photos, and feedback. To those that know Mel personally, you know customer service will be second to none and he can be reached now for any questions or discussion about the new gear at mel@wolfpackgear.com .
Tags: Mel Terkla, Wolfpack Gear
Congrats, Mel! This guy never slows down! 😉
It’ll be interesting to see what products come out of this collaboration.
Congrats to all parties involved! Can’t wait to see all the awesome new stuff that will be coming out!
Didn’t know he wasn’t with Kifaru anymore. Had the pleasure to get advice from him over the phone and on the forum. Awesome character with a huge vault of knowledge!
Glad to see Mel back in the game! Tons of experience and tons of tenacity!
Congrats to Mel! I remember him telling me about his pack ideas way back in 2001. One of the nicest guys in the industry.
Exactly Steve. Mel made his dreams into reality for all of us. I can’t wait to see what he comes up with next.
Good dude! Congrats Mel!
Mel, glad to see your back in action. Congrats!
I was unaware he left Kifaru.
My left coast forest fire fighter friends will love this news! Congrats Mel!
I’ve never known Mel to be anything but a gentleman and professional, with a good mind to making gear that just plain works.
Congratulations on landing at a new place of purpose.
Mel is a fantastic guy and made me the fan I am of Kifaru!
Congrats Mel!
The gear world is a better place now that Mel is back in the pack game.
Congrats, Mel! Really glad to see this happen.
Welcome back, Mel!
Holy crap had no clue he was not at Kifaru any more. Great guy and I look forward to what comes out of this.
He’s a class act, and any gear company is lucky to have him.
Great news!!!
Great guy, great design.
Wondered what had happened over at Kifaru, they seem to have a different take with all the newer stuff. Glad Mel has a new outlet.
This is great to hear. Kifaru hasn’t been the same since he left. Ridiculous non-standard pals spacing on pockets, long unanswered c.s. questions on their forums, unclear and contradictory statements regarding product cancellations, etc. None of these things were issues while he was there. I’m really looking forward to seeing what he comes up with at Wolfpack Designs!
*Gear
Congratulations, Mel! Excited to see what you come up with!
This is great news! Kifaru just hasn’t been the same since he left. Will be very interested to see what comes out of the new partnership.
Congratulations Mel!
Class act. He called me back several times to answer my questions when I couldn’t reach him via the toll free number form Canada. Always friendly, enthusiastic and helpful.
Kifaru was a much better company during his tenure.
Mel was the one I turned to for advise at Kifaru and he always was a great resource. Looking forward to his input with the new company as Kifaru product line has been very unstable since he left.