Gear Aid Acquires Campsuds Biodegradable Soap Brand
Bellingham-based Gear Aid has bought the Campsuds outdoor soap brand from Sierra Dawn Products, with terms undisclosed.
Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Camping
Gear Aid, based in Bellingham, Washington, acquired the brand rights to Campsuds, a biodegradable outdoor soap, from Chris Maurer, owner of Sierra Dawn Products. The purchase was completed October 21, and the terms were not disclosed.
Why it matters
The deal moves a long-established camping soap brand under a new owner, and Campsuds products will now be sold directly through Gear Aid and existing distribution partners. Campsuds will be available for direct ordering through Gear Aid and partners including Liberty Mountain and Red Pine Outdoor Equipment.
Campsuds was founded in 1968 by Sierra Dawn Products and is marketed as a biodegradable outdoor soap. Gear Aid, formerly McNett Corp., has been owned by Coghlan's Ltd. since 2015, and the acquisition price remains undisclosed.
The players
Gear Aid
Gear Aid, formerly known as McNett Corp., is a Bellingham, Washington outdoor gear company owned by Coghlan's Ltd. since 2015.
Sierra Dawn Products
Sierra Dawn Products is the company that founded Campsuds in 1968 and sold its brand rights to Gear Aid.
Chris Maurer
Chris Maurer owned Sierra Dawn Products before selling the Campsuds brand rights to Gear Aid.
The details
Gear Aid acquired the brand rights to Campsuds from Chris Maurer, who owned Sierra Dawn Products before the sale. Maurer said he looks forward to seeing how Gear Aid fosters growth of the Campsuds business over the next 58 years.
Timeline
1968: Sierra Dawn Products founded Campsuds.
2015: Coghlan's Ltd. became owner of Gear Aid.
October 21, 2026: Gear Aid completed the Campsuds purchase.
Culture Shift
The acquisition extends Gear Aid's portfolio, which has been under Coghlan's Ltd. ownership since 2015, by adding Campsuds, a soap brand founded in 1968 that predates the modern biodegradable outdoor-products category. The move positions a legacy camping staple within a company that has consolidated outdoor-gear brands over the past decade.
Campsuds products will now be available for direct ordering through Gear Aid and existing distribution partners including Liberty Mountain and Red Pine Outdoor Equipment. Campconsidering a camping soap purchase, buyers can order the biodegradable product through these channels.
The takeaway
Campers who rely on biodegradable soap for washing at camp can now order Campsuds directly from Gear Aid or through its listed retail partners. Checking those partners' availability is the practical next step for buyers planning a trip.
Further reading
For more on outdoor gear and trips, browse the Camping section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Sgbonline.
