Presence. Adventure. Responsibility. Kindness. Independence. Tenacity.
It Started as a Brand, Not a Product
PARKIT wasn’t born from a sketch of a chair. It was born from a belief, that the outdoors brings out the best in us. Before there was a prototype, a website, or a warehouse, there was a vision to build a brand for the universal outdoorsman/woman. The person chasing waves down the coast. The skier hunting the storm for that one perfect bluebird day. The dad waking early to fish a quiet river while his family still sleeps in their tent. The sunset crew playing cards around a fire, cold drinks in hand, nowhere else to be.
We didn’t know what our product would be yet, we just knew what we stood for. We knew we wanted to create something that lived up to the lifestyle we loved.
A Stand Against the Norm
Over time, it became clear where that purpose would take root: the chair category.
The truth? The chair industry had lost its way. Cheap plastics, thin fabrics, and designs that broke before the weekend ended. Everything was built to be replaced, not remembered. The industry had become a race to the bottom...
We were tired of it, tired of the race to the bottom. So we set out to build a product that would stand for something better. A chair that prioritized craftsmanship, durability, and experience. Something that would last for years, not months. Something worthy of the moments it supported.
From Garage Sale to Game Changer
The idea crystallized one day when our founder, Steven Wilcox, bought an old 1950s lawn chair at a garage sale in Newport Beach. It was beat up, rusted, and ready to retire, but it had soul. It sparked conversations everywhere it went. People wanted to know where they could get one.
That nostalgia, that simple spark of story, became the foundation for what PARKIT would become: a brand that believes even something as ordinary as a chair can be extraordinary when it’s made with purpose, becoming a conduit to connection.
Then came the final push, a weekend camping trip, a broken chair, an "ah-ha" moment revealed the full picture. Steven realized exactly where PARKIT belonged: in the chair category that had forgotten what mattered most.
Designing the Voyager
The first concept of the Voyager Chair was simple, a modern evolution of the classic American lawn chair, built with elevated materials, ergonomic design, function features and quality craftsmanship. As the design came to life, it became much more real. We added real function: a built-in cooler beneath the seat, durable webbing that could take on art and pattern turning the chair from a bland boring seat to a product with style and soul. We integrated a removable cup holder designed for everything from beer cans to coffee mugs and all the popular drinkware one could find.
Through months of prototyping with an engineering team in Salt Lake City, the Voyager became the first chair that was truly adventure-built.
In 2020, after delays from a global shutdown, we launched PARKIT on Kickstarter. In just 30 days, over 3,000 people joined the movement. It wasn’t just validation; it was proof that people were ready for a better way to sit, live, and connect outdoors. PARKIT was born.
The Values That Drive Us
PARKIT isn’t just a name, it’s an acronym for the values that define who we are:
Presence. Adventure. Responsibility. Kindness. Independence. Tenacity.
These aren’t buzzwords. They’re reminders. To stay present in every sunrise. To adventure boldly and take responsibility for the places we explore. To treat people with kindness, to live with independence, and to build with tenacity. Every chair we make carries these values in its DNA.
Growing Pains and Big Breaks
Like every young brand, we’ve faced our share of hard lessons, supply chain chaos, cost hikes, and long nights figuring out how to keep momentum alive. But through it all, one thing never changed: the mission.
From those early days in Steven’s garage, PARKIT has now shipped 75,000+ chairs around the world, grown to a team of 10, and earned features and awards across the media & outdoor industry.
We’ve collaborated with iconic brands and causes like Birdwell Beach Britches, Free Fly Apparel, Salty Crew, the International Association of Fire Fighters, and the Keep A Breast Foundation, each one telling a story of community, courage, and craft through the chairs we build.
And in 2025, we launched our next chapter: the Eclipse Recliner, a patent-pending design redefining outdoor relaxation.
A Brand Fueled by Community
In 2025, we returned to our roots by launching our WeFunder campaign, a chance for our earliest supporters, customers, and friends to become part of PARKIT’s story as investors. It wasn’t about raising money for the sake of it; it was about ownership, alignment, and building something together.
Today, those same people, from our original Kickstarter backers to new faces discovering PARKIT for the first time, are the driving force behind our growth.
The Mission Ahead
Our goal is simple but bold: to become the category hero in outdoor seating, not by cutting corners or following trends, but by standing for something timeless and building products that serve the needs of today's adventures.
We believe in making products that outlast seasons, stories that outlive campaigns, and moments that outshine everything else. Because a great chair doesn’t just hold you up. It brings you together.
This is PARKIT.
Built for the moments that matter most.
Enjoy the Exploration,
– Steven Wilcox
Founder & CEO, PARKIT Co.
