Helena Maker Trxstle Ships Gear Worldwide, Plans Further Expansion
On December 1, 2025, Helena based manufacturer Trxstle was operating from an unassuming Elm Street building while shipping fishing and hunting gear across the country and around the world. The company designs, engineers and manufactures products on site, a model that local leaders say strengthens the county economy and showcases Montana firms on the global stage.
From an Elm Street storefront in Helena, Trxstle has grown from a niche maker of bike packing systems for hunting and fishing gear into a global supplier of outdoor equipment. Founded by engineers John Smigaj and Morgan Misek, the company now produces a range of items including rod protectors, a patented telescopic rod carrier and technical apparel, and ships products across the country and around the world.
Trxstle manages design, engineering, manufacturing, marketing and sales on site at its Helena location. The concentration of functions locally keeps product development close to the testing ground that the founders value. Helena's trails, rivers and public lands serve as real world laboratories for prototypes and refinement, and several product designers and staff bring experience from guiding, outfitting and other hands on outdoor work.
The company pronounced 'trestle' has become a point of pride for local business advocates. Leaders at the Helena Area Chamber of Commerce say Trxstle's international reach helps attract other businesses, and demonstrates that Montana based companies can compete in global markets. That demonstration effect can matter for Lewis and Clark County as it seeks to diversify its economic base beyond government and healthcare employment.
For local residents the immediate impacts are tangible. Retaining design and manufacturing on site preserves skilled jobs in Helena and keeps a larger share of the value chain in the county. Plans for further expansion into apparel and continued product development over the next several years could generate additional employment and create demand for local suppliers and services.
Market implications for the regional economy include stronger visibility for Montana made outdoor goods and potential spillover hiring in shipping, retail and technical trades. Keeping development close to recreational testing also shortens feedback loops, which can accelerate product cycles and improve competitiveness.
Trxstle's trajectory underscores a broader opportunity for Lewis and Clark County. When engineering led manufacturing is paired with local natural assets and a workforce with hands on outdoor experience, small firms can scale beyond the region while still anchoring economic activity at home.
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