Built on the Trail: Matt Evans ’15 and the Story Behind Red Paw Packs
What started as an unprepared hike and a very cold night on the trail became the spark for something much bigger. Teaching himself how to sew and building a brand carried by thousands of hikers, Matt Evans ’15 turned curiosity, creativity, and a little trial and error into Red Paw Packs. His journey is a story of learning by doing, following inspiration wherever it leads, and discovering that sometimes the most meaningful paths begin when you step outside your comfort zone.
As a student at Carrollwood Day School, Matt Evans ’15 spent time in film classes and the AV Club, spaces that encouraged creativity and hands-on learning. That curiosity followed him to Florida State University, where he majored in digital media production with a minor in entrepreneurship. Outside the classroom, he joined FSU Outdoor Pursuits, a club that organized group hiking trips. One of those trips, a three-night trek along the Profile Trail, part of the Appalachian Trail, changed everything.
Matt showed up underprepared, armed with cheap gear but with a lot of determination. He froze, struggled, and quickly realized how important quality equipment really is. When he got home, he started researching backpacking gear and had a simple thought: this doesn’t look impossible to make. With no sewing experience, he taught himself from scratch. A drawstring bag came first, then a sleeping bag, and eventually a fully designed backpack. Friends and roommates started asking for their own, including fellow CDS alumus Justin Lentz.
The turning point came during a hike to Providence Canyon in Georgia, when Matt brought his dog Lucy along. She came home covered in red clay, earning the nickname “Red Paw.” The name stuck, and so did the idea. Red Paw Packs was born in January 2018. The first product he released was the Flex Fanny Pack, designed to be small but functional enough to carry everything he needed. An Instagram hiker named Jonathan discovered it, reached out to Matt, and later became one of the brand’s ambassadors.
By 2019, Matt made the leap to pursue Red Paw Packs full time. His brother built the website, the orders kept coming, and today more than 2,000 packs later, Matt is still designing and creating with the same curiosity that first took him into the woods.
Looking back, Matt credits CDS with helping shape his path.
“I really enjoyed my time at CDS and a lot of it was thanks to having great teachers and mentors. The teachers that left a positive mark on me will be remembered for the rest of my life. They helped me figure out what I wanted to do after I left CDS, and that was huge for my development.”
Equally meaningful were the relationships and shared experiences that shaped Matt’s time at CDS, both inside and beyond the classroom. “I'd say the single most positive aspect of my time at CDS was the friends I made. We still keep in touch to this day, and a good network of true friends is priceless.” Those friendships were strengthened through moments like the service trip to the Dominican Republic, which Matt describes as eye opening and deeply rewarding, an experience he and his friends still talk about years later. Even the small traditions left a lasting impression, including time spent working the Spanish Honor Society churro stand, a memory he recalls simply as a lot of fun, with delicious churros to match.
A cold night on the Appalachian Trail became the unlikely starting point for a journey defined by curiosity, resilience, and a willingness to learn by doing. What began as feeling unprepared sparked a desire to understand, create, and ultimately build something meaningful with his own hands. Matt Evans’ path reflects the power of embracing challenges, trusting the process, and taking risks without having all the answers. His story is a reminder that growth often begins in moments of discomfort, and that some of the most impactful ideas emerge when you are willing to try, adapt, and keep moving forward.
We love sharing our alumni achievements with the CDS community. If you are a CDS Alumni and would like to share your accomplishments, please contact our Alumni Engagement Coordinator, Carli (Gauthier) Mianne '16 at cmianne@cdspatriots.org and let us know what you have been up to since leaving CDS. We look forward to hearing from you!