In 2018, Steph Hon faced a dilemma while getting ready for a rock-climbing trip in West Virginia’s craggy landscape. Struggling to pack her multistep beauty routine into a mess of leaky, plastic, single-use bottles. She felt frustrated by both the wastefulness and impracticality of traditional travel containers. Like many outdoor enthusiasts, she sought a solution that could withstand rugged adventures without creating unnecessary rubbish. Even if she recycled the toiletry containers, she knew they’d likely wind up in the landfill anyway: According to a recent report from Beyond Plastics, only about 5 to 6% of plastics were post-consumer recycled in 2021—and much of that still ends up incinerated or discarded due to contamination and infrastructure limitations.
Hon believed there had to be a better way. While the documentary filmmaker and dancer had no background in product design or manufacturing, she did have a clear vision for building something entirely new: a durable, adaptable, and sustainable storage system designed to meet the demands of outdoor adventure.
Building anything innovative takes time, and Hon spent more than three years, 207 prototypes and four patents designing the Cadence refillable, modular storage system. The brand’s signature, leakproof Capsules come in a range of sizes designed to hold everything from camping and backpacking essentials—like sunscreen, insect repellent and first-aid necessities—to personal items like skincare and medications. The magnetic, customizable Capsules are designed to seamlessly integrate into an outdoor pack, making it easier for adventurers to carry exactly what they need—without excess weight or waste.
“Everyone told us it wasn’t possible,” Hon says. “The cost, the production, the complexity—it was all too much. Modular products are already challenging, and adding a patented magnetic system and custom interchangeable labels? No one thought it could be done.” But Hon knew it could be—and she did it.
Hon designed Cadence to be more than just a product—it’s part of your adventure. Whether you’re backpacking through national parks, climbing remorse peaks or heading out for a weekend camping trip, the durable, TSA-compliant Cadence Capsules are built to withstand the elements while keeping essentials neatly organized. Made with up to 20% recycled plastics collected from beaches and another 30% from production scraps, Cadence Capsules reflect Hon’s commitment to reducing plastic waste in the very outdoor spaces we explore. And once you’re done using your Capsules (years from now), you can even send them back to be recycled into new ones.
The early days of building Cadence were anything but easy. “I didn’t come from this industry, so I felt like an outsider,” Hon says. “My idyllic bubble burst when I realized investors don’t want to finance new products.” For many outdoor industry entrepreneurs—especially founders who are Black, Indigenous, Latina/o/x and Asian American and Pacific Islander people—accessing capital, production capacity, and customer channels can be significant barriers to success. For Hon, finding the right mechanical engineer was another uphill battle—candidates for the position kept insisting her vision couldn’t become reality. When she met Graeme Greenwood, however, their shared scrappy, resourceful mindset immediately clicked. Greenwood became lead of product at Cadence, overseeing quality control, manufacturing and product development.
In 2023, Path Ahead Ventures, an REI Co-op corporate venture fund, invested in Cadence as part of its commitment to supporting diverse founders who are redefining the future of the outdoor industry. Path Ahead Ventures (PAV) is dedicated to supporting founders with funding, resources, and networks—ensuring that innovative, customer-obsessed companies like Cadence can thrive and scale.
Cadence, led by Hon, embodies the values that PAV champions: sustainability, thoughtful design and innovation that enhances the outdoor experience. By joining the Path Ahead Ventures portfolio, Cadence gains access not only to capital but also strategic mentorship, retail expertise and a community of like-minded entrepreneurs shaping a more forward-thinking outdoor industry.
Path Ahead Ventures’ investment director, Payam Daniel Abbassian, emphasizes the significance of Cadence joining the portfolio. “Cadence is a perfect example of the kind of brand we want to support—one that is committed to sustainability, consumer-first innovation and elevating leading voices in the industry,” he says. “Hon and the team at Cadence are building something truly special, and we’re excited to help accelerate their growth and help them deliver an exceptional customer experience.”
You can find Cadence products online at REI.com and in select retail locations. Follow @keepyourcadence to stay updated, get behind-the-scenes design insights and see how every product is a true labor of love.