Skip to main content

The Manual may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site.

Snow Peak Celebrates 60 Years of Making Products that Last a Lifetime

Snow Peak 60
Snow Peak

I got my first Snow Peak mug about a decade ago and, as far as I can tell, it’s the last camping mug I’ll ever need. Even after bouncing along strapped to my pack during countless miles on the trail, used for everything from boiling water to preparing pasta to digging a hole, the super lightweight titanium mug is still in near perfect condition. The only issue is that the logo has worn away — but I know damn well who made the thing, as does any other experienced outdoorsman who will properly identify a Snow Peak mug at a glance.

That mug was a gateway purchase that led to an entire Snow Peak cookware set that I bring along with me whenever I head out into the field, and that’s true whether I’m car camping or trekking for miles into the mountains. Let that sink in, if you will: Even when weight is no factor, I still use my Snow Peak gear instead of, or in concert with, other camping cookware. It’s just that well made. Even when I’m planning to cook on my big old two-burner Coleman Roadtrip LXE grill, I’ve always got my Snow Peak Litemax Titanium Stove and a can of fuel with me, because I know I can count on the thing as a backup. When your camping stove weighs all of two ounces, why not bring it along?

I believe in Snow Peak gear because I have used the stuff on glaciers, in rainforests, and in cozy car campsites. It has never let me down because the stuff is superlatively well made. The Japan-based company’s commitment to quality started way back in 1958, the year a diehard mountain climber named Yukio Yamai decided he needed better gear than he could buy, so he would just have to make it himself.

Recommended Videos

The company that would come to be called Snow Peak started off making gear for serious mountaineers, most notably the pitons used in rock climbing and crampons used for safe navigation over snow and ice. The precise engineering and quality materials that went into every item Yamai’s company produced led to rapid growth in the early 1960s, and soon the company was mass-producing high-quality climbing gear for an ever-expanding group of outdoor enthusiasts, both within Japan and abroad.

Snow Peak Tohru Yamai
Snow Peak CEO and president Torhu Yamai. Snow Peak

As explained to me by Snow Peak USA’s brand engagement manager, Michael Andersen, Snow Peak added multiple new products to their lineup in the 1980s: “[Snow Peak founder] Yukio’s son, Torhu, entered the picture and helped pivot Snow Peak from an outdoor climbing brand to the quintessential car-camping brand it’s known as today. As the current CEO and president, Torhu Yamai revolutionized the camping industry in Japan through his recognition of a shift in people’s interests. Auto-camping was the future, and Tohru seized the opportunity to help push Snow Peak into all new territory.”

Thus it is that a brand founded on making top-quality technical climbing gear now offers bedding, tents, apparel, and, of course, lots of different cookware and cooking gear. Indeed, the cookware has long since surpassed the technical gear as the iconic offering of the brand. Andersen agreed that while “Snow Peak has many different signature products … perhaps none [is] more iconic than the humble titanium mug. As one of our longest-standing products, the trusty titanium mug is still manufactured in our hometown of Tsubame-Sanjo, just a few miles from our world headquarters.”

Snow Peak Headquarters
Snow Peak headquarters in Japan. Snow Peak

Why is the mug so noteworthy? “It exemplifies much of what makes Snow Peak so special: quality, design, and function, above all,” Andersen said.

He’s spot on there. The Snow Peak mug is nothing if not simple, but it’s also of superb quality, and within that simplicity of design is an unmistakable elegance. If you want to get your hands on your own elegantly simple and amazingly durable camping mug, make it a Snow Peak 60th Anniversary Titanium Single Wall. I guarantee you’ll still be using the thing another 60 years hence, provided you don’t drop it off a mountain or anything.

Steven John
Steven John is a writer and journalist living just outside New York City, by way of 12 years in Los Angeles, by way of…
Why Spokane is one of the Pacific Northwest’s most underrated outdoor destinations
Spokane is high luxury, but it's interconnected with the outdoors
View from the Numerica Sky Ride in Spokane

I've lived in Washington State for a couple of years now, but I'm still unpacking all of the great places to stay and visit. There's so much to do in the Evergreen state, and during my recent stay in Spokane, I can definitely say that there are a lot of high-end luxury experiences too. From high-end hotels like the Davenport Collection and eateries to some of the best wines in the state, you might be surprised to learn that Spokane is actually a top destination for nature lovers, too. Here's everything you need to know about the wilder side of Spokane and why you should consider coming here during your next vacation.
Outdoorsy things to do in downtown Spokane

This city is a particularly unique place because the town was built around the Spokane River. This is a gorgeous ribbon of blue that's full of waterfalls, eddies, and streams that wind their way through the city. The best place to see this is in downtown Spokane, specifically at the famous Riverfront Park.

Read more
Looking for adventure and culture? This city is the best in the world for urban hiking
Here's the world's #1 city for outdoor lovers
Rio de Janeiro

As an outdoor enthusiast, one of the top things I look for in a travel destination is proximity to the outdoors. I'm certainly not averse to pitching tents, but sometimes it's nice to mix in a bit of urban excitement to my travels. Sports Shoes, a UK running retail brand, just completed a study that analyzed the top urban areas for hikers on break. My personal favorite hiker-friendly city is Seattle, which squeaked in at number 12. The number one spot goes to Rio de Janeiro in Brazil.

The winner was decided through two primary variables: the number of hikes in the area and the average rating and reviews of those hikes. This was averaged out into a hikeability score out of 100, and the only one to get a perfect score was Rio de Janeiro. With a total of 334 hikes averaging a rating of 4.8 stars, this city is officially the world's number one urban area for hikers.
Top hikes in Rio de Janeiro

Read more
Airstream’s new Frank Lloyd Wright-inspired travel trailer is an instant classic
Two classic mid-20th-century design icons combine in this handsome, ultra-exclusive travel trailer.
An Airstream Frank Lloyd Wright Usonian Limited Edition Travel Trailer parked in the desert.

An icon of the all-American road trip meets an icon of mid-century modern architecture in the all-new 2026 Airstream Frank Lloyd Wright Usonian Limited Edition Travel Trailer. By combining Airstream's unmistakable travel trailer design ethos with Wright's Usonian principles, the result is something truly elegant, timeless, and modern. But it'll only be available to a select few.
Everything we know about the Airstream Frank Lloyd Wright Usonian Limited Edition Travel Trailer

Many of the features and design elements in this one-of-a-kind, 28-foot travel trailer are classic Airstream. But it also features a few firsts. Most notable is the dual-purpose lounge/sleep area anchored by a pair of twin beds that convert to a king (the largest bed ever in an Airstream) with the push of a button. Exclusive bolster pillows, tailored slipcovers, and quilted coverlets round out the space. The front lounge also transforms seamlessly between dinette and desk as needed, making this a true live/play/work travel trailer. The entire interior is awash in daylight thanks to 29 total windows—more than any other Airstream in history.

Read more