BlackHawk's meticulous obsession with quality has made it the gear of choice for Special Operation units worldwide. This commitment to quality and durability means that Blackhawk is the best choice for the outdoor enthusiast who needs equipment that will stand the test of time in even the most extreme environments.

BlackHawk was founded in 1993 by former Navy SEAL Mike Noell. Mike's US Navy experience provided him the inspiration for the gear BlackHawk now manufactures. While operating 60 klicks inside Northern Iraq, he had to hump a ton of gear by foot in an enemy minefield. The pack failed, dumping his gear into the mine-ridden ground "If I get out of this one alive, I will make this stuff the way it needs to be built so none of my colleagues have to go through this", he remarked to a fellow operator. Upon entering the private sector, that's exactly what he did, making gear and packs in a garage, and growing ever since.

As a member of the SEALs Mike had served his country with distinction. While still at Basic Underwater Demolition School/SEAL Training (BUD/S), he was presented with the Honor Man award, given to the class top achiever in academics and physical field performance overall. He was also given the Fire in the Gut award, an honor for exemplary effort voted by his teammates, the first time in history that both awards went to the same sailor: "I think thats the best honor Ill ever receive, he noted later, because it came from the guys I went through hell with for 6 months in BUD/S Training. That meant a lot to me" Many of those former classmates now use his gear in operations around the globe.

With a network of loyal dealers, BlackHawk continues to maintain its leadership in the tactical industry.