While studying manufacturing engineering at Cal Poly SLO, Chris McLean begins work on a Product-Process Design project: a vehicle-mounted hammock mount. This early concept plants the seed for what will later become McLean Metalworks.

Years of CAD development, field testing, and iteration lead to a refined, compact, user-friendly hammock mount. The design receives an enthusiastic response at the Pacific Northwest Overland Rally 2016.

Chris leaves his engineering role at Boeing and launches McLean Metalworks, committing full-time to the design and fabrication of high-quality, American-made gear out of his home garage in Shoreline, WA.

While Chris drives the evolution of McLean Metalworks' product and operations, including launching multiple product lines and moving the business into its first commercial space, Jillian McLean—co-owner and Chris’s wife—supports the business behind the scenes, contributing to finance, planning, and strategy while building her own corporate career. Chris and Jillian make a lifestyle change and move both the business and their family to beautiful Bend, Oregon in 2020.

To create a clearer product identity, messaging, and connection with customers, the McLeans launched the Adventure Hammock Systems brand for the entire line of hammock mounts and accessories. Under Adventure Hammock Systems, it was a priority to retain the same focus and continue offering rugged, innovative gear built to help adventurers #HammockAnywhere.

After 14 years in corporate America, Jillian steps into the business full-time, bringing systems thinking, operational excellence, and a renewed focus on the customer experience to help scale the brand’s impact and shape its future.

From our headquarters in Bend, Oregon, we continue to build thoughtfully designed, American-made products—serving our amazing customers who want to take the comfort of their hammock and sense of adventure anywhere their vehicle can go.

Happy Hammocking,

Chris and Jillian McLean