Our History and Mission.

HeadPointe was founded in 2022 by Kirk McClain in Seattle Washington. I started this company because I wanted to see more blacks and minorities enjoying the great outdoors as much as I do. 

About me.

I started hiking and backpacking about 6 years ago when I met my girlfriend, Cristina. She was an avid hiker, runner, workout fanatic, and healthy eater. I was none of those. In fact, I was overweight, out of shape, and getting worse every year. In my younger years, I was a collegiate athlete. I ran Track and Field, played basketball, tennis, and was a standout in my specialty which was the 800 meters. It wasn't until my mid 40s that I stopped working out and started gaining weight.

So when Cristina and I started working out every day and going running it was like finding my old self again! We also started hiking and doing winter outdoor activities like snowshoeing. Of all the activities we did, I liked hiking the most. The novelty of carrying a pack, a whistle, a knife, bear spray, and what I call my "beatdown stick" made me feel like I was doing something most African-American men never do or never choose to do. Learning how to start a fire without matches made me feel confident when I was out camping. Understanding GPS navigation and terrain gave me confidence that I knew what I was doing out there.

In my opinion, there is no better feeling than being out in the wild and not feeling like prey. 

I started HeadPointe because I wanted to chronicle my experiences as an African-American hiker, backpacker, and rock climber. Not all my experiences are earth-shattering, but they give me the opportunity to share the beauty of nature with my readers from my unique point of view. 

The products I sell on this site are products I would use myself. When I do product reviews, I connect with industry professionals (and other experts I've gotten to know) before I recommend them. I write and share with the hope that my experiences will inspire someone to get off the couch and experience life to the fullest degree possible for them and to provide great outdoor products so they can do it safely and have fun. Life is short. Keep climbing!