StokedWorks Outfitters is “building a community of stoked adventurers who believe in sustainability, creativity, and pushing the limits”
Photo courtesy of StokedWorks.
While many UVic students work part-time during school, Dylan Gyr and Kathryn Meers had a different idea: starting a business.
In an interview with the Martlet, Gyr and Meers shared how StokedWorks Outfitters evolved from StokedPup, dedicated to pet products, into a brand selling gear like belts, keychains, and camera straps created from retired climbing rope.
In fall 2024, Gyr saw a video of someone creating a belt out of old climbing rope, inspiring him to pivot their business and begin reusing existing materials. After acquiring some rope from a local gym and purchasing a sewing machine, he learned to sew and made prototypes. “It was at first just dog collars, and then we realized that belts and keychains sell way better, especially with students,” Gyr said.
StokedWorks gained rapid popularity after Gyr posted a YouTube Short in June 2025 that received over 4.4 million views. “We get orders from all over the world now,” Meers said, recalling recently sending an order to Guam.
Climbing rope doesn’t last forever, though its longevity depends on climbing conditions and frequency of use. According to Mountain Equipment Company (MEC), rope retirement varies from up to seven years for the occasional pitch to just three months of almost daily use. Ropes should also be retired if they are damaged by things like sharp rocks, or if a rope is involved in a significant fall.
By breathing new life into this outdated gear, Gyr and Meers seek to uphold their company’s commitment to the environment. “We’re building a community of stoked adventurers who believe in sustainability, creativity, and pushing the limits,” their website says. They get retired rope from various sources, including local gyms, donations from climbers, and purchasing it in bulk.
Gyr and Meers’ experiences at UVic have been influential in creating their business. “I study global supply chain systems every day, environmental degradation because of overconsumption, and pollution as a byproduct of industries that create new materials,” said Meers, a double major in environmental studies and geography. Gyr’s civil engineering major has also supported their business, including using his skills to design aspects of their products, like belt buckles.
Photo courtesy of StokedWorks.
The UVic Innovation Centre also played a significant role in starting StokedWorks, helping Gyr secure over $13 000 in grants.
“I’ve been so impressed with the amount of resources that the school has to offer,” he said. “I don’t think [we] would be here necessarily if I didn’t get that money, because I didn’t have any income at the time.”
To help balance full-time studies with running StokedWorks, Gyr and Meers began outsourcing their manufacturing to another local business, Basecamp Repairs.
“Local manufacturing isn’t dead, you just have to find the right person,” Gyr said. But beyond manufacturing — and the occasional collaboration with other students — the pair say they are responsible for everything at StokedWorks, with administration tasks like order fulfillment taking up much of their time.
One highlight of running their business so far has been selling their products at the Valhalla Pure Outfitters in Gyr’s hometown of Nelson, B.C. “Getting into more stores is definitely a really big [goal] for us because wholesale orders are just so awesome to do,” Meers said.
Their other goals include outsourcing more aspects of the business, and hiring an employee. The pair would also like to expand to American stores, but the recent tariffs have almost doubled their shipping costs, they said, leaving some customers paying more for shipping than for the products.
“It’s actually amazing how many people are still buying our stuff despite tariffs, and we love those people so much,” Meers said.
They hinted that there may be other products down the road, but for now, they’re focusing primarily on what’s popular — belts and keychains. StokedWorks is also open to custom pieces, which can be requested through their website contact form.
“It’s been really rewarding making gear for people out of their old rope that has memory and sentimental value to them,” Gyr told the Martlet. “Someone reached out because her late sister had a climbing rope and she was a really big climber, and she wanted to kind of make a [memorial] for her family … and that just felt really good.”
Their products are available on their website with international shipping and free local pickup at UVic. StokedWorks is also in select stores and climbing gyms like Crag X Indoor Climbing Centre and, soon, Valhalla Pure Outfitters in Victoria.
StokedWorks will also be at the District of Saanich Earth Day Festival on April 18 to celebrate sustainability in the community.
