From Field Sketch to Trailhead: Introducing The Expedition Signpost Bottle

The Intersection of Art and Utility

There is a specific moment on every great hike. The noise of the trailhead fades, your breathing syncs with your stride, and you find a rhythm. It’s in these quiet moments of exertion that clarity often arrives.

At Kempain Family Outfitters, we believe the gear you carry into these moments should be more than just functional plastic; it should be intentional. It should have a soul.

For the past few months, in between running the Mercantile and getting out on our own family hikes in Connecticut, I’ve been working in the studio on a new piece for our Custom Shop. The goal was to create a hydration tool that felt less like a disposable accessory and more like a piece of heritage equipment—something worthy of the miles you put on your boots.

Today, we are proud to introduce The Expedition Signpost Bottle.

The Origin Story: A 19th-Century Aesthetic

The design didn't start in a manufacturing plant; it started with an Apple Pencil and Adobe Fresco.

Drawing inspiration from the quiet precision of 19th-century naturalist field guides, I wanted to capture the rugged texture of the wilderness without the noise of modern, hyper-color graphics. The result is a high-contrast, black-work digital illustration that mimics the feel of a traditional copperplate etching.

I rendered a dense alpine treeline, the suggestion of a distant peak, and the textures of the forest floor. But the centerpiece of the illustration is deliberately incomplete.

The "Why" Behind the Blank Sign

The most common question we get about this new design is, "Why is the signpost blank?"

In early drafts, I sketched generic trail names like "Summit Trail" or "North Loop." They looked fine, but they felt hollow. They weren't your trail.

We realized that the most meaningful gear isn't about the brand's logo; it's about the user's journey. A generic sign is just decoration. A customizable sign is a milestone.

By leaving the signpost blank in the artwork, we’ve created a space for you to mark what matters. We professionally etch your custom text onto the bottle, making it a permanent part of the art.

• Mark a Milestone: "Mt. Washington Summit 2025"
• Name Your Happy Place: "Jordan's Peace" or "The family Cabin"
• Set an Intention: "Wander / Lost" or "Keep Going"

Mercantile Quality Hardware: Built for Grit

An inspiring design is useless if the hardware fails halfway up the mountain. True to our "Mercantile" standard, we prioritized robustness and simplicity over complex gadgetry.

We chose a double-wall, vacuum-insulated 100% stainless steel body with a durable matte white finish. It keeps water ice-cold for 24 hours, which is essential for those exposed, sun-drenched ridges.

Why the Wide-Mouth Lid? We made a deliberate choice to avoid ubiquitous sports straws and complex valve lids. Why? Because out on the trail, grit happens. Straws are difficult to clean deeply and are the first thing to break.

The wide-mouth handle lid is a simple, robust tool. It allows for a clean pour, easy filling from backcountry water filters, and—crucially—it is incredibly easy to keep clean after a long, muddy trip and the simple twist on lid wont leak.

Choose Your Expedition Size

We know that a solo day-hiker needs different gear than a family prepping for an overnighter. The Expedition Signpost is available in three distinct sizes:

• The 12oz Scout: Perfect for younger hikers or short, fast trails.
• The 18oz Standard: The versatile daily driver for most day hikes.
• The 32oz Expedition: For long hauls and serious hydration needs.

We are incredibly proud to bring this artist-led vision out of the studio and into your pack. It’s more than a water bottle; it’s a marker of where you’ve been and where you’re headed next.

Jordan Kempain
Owner & Artist
Kempain Family Outfitters