Meet Todd Lawson — Founder of RISE Outdoor

Todd’s been camping since he was a boy growing up in the prairies of Alberta. From multi-day canoe trips to lean-to shelters built deep in the bush, his early days were filled with woodsmoke, bug spray, and the sweet satisfaction of sleeping outside. Over the years, that passion grew legs (and wheels), taking him camping across 72 countries, mostly on extended, dirt-caked motorcycle journeys throughout the world.

"Camping has brought me so many memories that it's part of my DNA. I've always loved sleeping in a tent and being close with nature — it's my happy place," he says.

Rugged solo missions or family campouts on the wild West Coast, Todd has always loved the simplicity of life outdoors. But somewhere along the way, camping started to feel like a chore. Wrestling with tent poles and blowing up a mattress lightheaded by headlamp—it all started to eat into the fun.

So, he decided to fix it.

By uniting the tent and the mattress into one smart, rugged, rapid-inflation shelter, RISE was born—a brand dedicated to bringing back the joy of camping, without the hassle.

"At the end of the day, I just want people to go camping as much as possible. Because life is infinitely better when you're spending time outside."