Solve a Real Problem
Products should exist because they make something easier, safer, or more practical, not simply because another product can be made.
Meet Our Founder
Dr. Larry Andrew
Family, the outdoors, and a desire to build gear that could keep up with both.
A Life Outside
The outdoors came first.
Long before SKÖ became a brand, the outdoors was already a major part of Larry Andrew's life.
As a husband, father, physician, and lifelong outdoor enthusiast, Larry has spent countless weekends exploring Utah with his family, hiking, camping, hunting, canyoneering, and finding reasons to get outside whenever life allowed.
For Larry, those trips were never just about reaching a destination. They were time with family, a way to reset, and an opportunity to experience places that demanded preparation and dependable gear.
And over time, those experiences exposed a problem.
From the archives · Early product development
Where it started · Early waterproof gear
Where It Started
A real problem became an idea.
Larry became frustrated with outdoor gear that worked well under ideal conditions but did not always hold up when an adventure involved water, rough terrain, narrow canyons, or unpredictable conditions.
He wanted gear designed around the way his family actually used it.
Not another bag that was simply water resistant.
He wanted something built for the places where getting wet was part of the adventure.
That frustration became an idea. The idea became prototypes. And in 2020, Larry and his family founded what would eventually become SKÖ Gear.
First A problem encountered on real adventures.
Then An idea for waterproof gear built differently.
Next Prototypes, testing, and improvement.
2020 The beginning of what would become SKÖ Gear.
The Outdoors Became the Testing Ground
Utah has a way of exposing weaknesses.
Building waterproof gear in Utah gives you plenty of opportunities to find out what works and what doesn't.
Rock, water, sand, narrow slot canyons, heat, changing weather, and demanding terrain quickly expose weaknesses in outdoor equipment.
Those environments have shaped the way SKÖ approaches product development, with an emphasis on practical functionality, durability, waterproof protection, and thoughtful design.
SKÖ continues to draw ideas from Utah's community of canyoneers, skiers, photographers, anglers, and other outdoor enthusiasts.
Rock Water Sand Slot Canyons Heat Changing Weather
The Philosophy Behind SKÖ
Three principles guide the way Larry approaches gear.
The philosophy is straightforward: start with something worth solving, build around how people actually use it, and keep improving after the first version.
Build for Real Use
Outdoor gear should be designed around what happens on the trail, in the canyon, on the water, and while traveling, not just how it looks on a shelf.
Keep Improving
Good products are rarely perfect on the first attempt. Feedback, testing, and real-world use should continue shaping what comes next.
Family at the Center
The people around him have always been part of the story.
Larry's life as a father, physician, and founder has always centered around people.
Family adventures helped expose the problems that eventually led to SKÖ, while years of working with patients and colleagues shaped the responsibility and attention to detail he brings to everything he builds.
SKÖ remains independently owned and operated in Mapleton, Utah, with the same family connection that helped start it.
20+ Years practicing
reproductive medicine
reproductive medicine
A Career Built Around Helping Families
A very different career. A familiar philosophy.
Outside of SKÖ, Larry has spent more than two decades practicing reproductive medicine in Utah.
That career and his life as a father have shaped the way he approaches responsibility, preparation, and the trust people place in the products and services they rely on.
SKÖ may be a very different kind of work, but the underlying philosophy is familiar: take the responsibility seriously, pay attention to the details, and build something people can depend on.
SKÖ remains independently owned and continues to grow from its Utah roots.
Still Just Getting Started
What started on family adventures is still shaping what comes next.
What started as a problem encountered on family adventures has grown into a line of waterproof gear designed for people who would rather focus on the experience than worry about what's inside their bag.
SKÖ continues to grow, test, refine, and develop new products around the same idea that started it all:
Build gear for the adventure you're actually going to have.
