Coastal Range Pivots Camping Stove Design With Custom Parts From Xometry
By leveraging Xometry’s on-demand supplier network, Coastal Range secured precision brass and aluminum prototypes in just two weeks to debut an improved stove design at a key trade show.
John Peretti founded Coastal Range Equipment to create the gear he knew hikers and backpackers were looking for. After spending five years running research and development for a leading camping stove company, Peretti knew that people wanted a small, lightweight camping stove that didn’t sacrifice quality or capacity. He designed his company’s first product, the Backpacker Ultralight Stove, and machined the prototype parts himself so he could put the stove through rigorous testing to get ready for its first production run. The Backpacker was successfully funded on Kickstarter in 2025, and Peretti is continuing to tweak the design in preparation for a larger rollout.
The Challenge: Adjusting Product Design in Time for a Key Trade Show
Testing and early customer feedback on the Backpacker showed that the stove's internal valve assembly needed some adjustments. The original assembly relied on a brass fitting that was pressed in and crimped into place, which could cause fuel leaks if it became loose. Replacing it with a threaded connection would simplify manufacturing and significantly upgrade flame control.
Peretti hoped to have the updated design ready to show off at the Grassroots Outdoor Alliance trade show in Kansas City. With the show just weeks away, he was worried that the overseas manufacturer he usually works with wouldn’t be able to hit the deadline. Backed up with other orders and facing upcoming holidays, Peretti’s primary vendor said they couldn’t deliver the new parts in less than six weeks. Waiting for the parts would mean Peretti couldn’t bring physical proof of concept to the trade show.
The Solution: Xometry Creates Custom Parts on Demand
To secure the parts he needed on a faster timeline, Peretti brought his designs to Xometry. He was already familiar with Xometry’s manufacturing capabilities, having previously sourced 3D-printed plastic concept models and metal 3D-printed functional samples for early iterations of the stove. When he needed quick-turn, production-grade parts, he turned back to Xometry for CNC machining.
Peretti ordered the custom components, including a newly engineered brass spindle, threaded brass lip, and aluminum valve body. The Xometry Instant Quoting Engine® made it easy to upload his CAD drawings, get a price and lead time, and get the designs reviewed for manufacturability.
Getting the parts in sooner … meant that if it hadn't worked, I would have had time to quickly spin a revision. And with that extra time … I was able to do targeted outreach to prospective customers attending this trade show to say, ‘Hey, I’ve got new stuff to show. Come by our booth.John PerettiFounder and CEO
The Results: High-Quality Parts, With Time to Spare
While Coastal Range’s usual production factory estimated it would take six weeks or more to deliver the revised components, Xometry delivered the finished parts in two weeks. Xometry’s network of more than 5,000 vetted manufacturing suppliers gives customers access to manufacturing capacity across the globe, so if one supplier or region is experiencing delays, it doesn’t result in longer wait times or missed deadlines.
“I think I got these parts two weeks early,” Peretti said. “So the turnaround time was really fantastic … better than promised by quite a bit. It meets or exceeds on all the dimensions that matter to me — price and turnaround, and the quality is very good.”
Receiving the parts well ahead of schedule gave Peretti the buffer he needed to be ready for the trade show. He had time to validate the new valve design, assemble fully functional trade show samples, and start booking targeted retailer meetings before the event.
“Getting the parts in sooner … meant that if it hadn't worked, I would have had time to quickly spin a revision,” Peretti said. “And with that extra time … I was able to do targeted outreach to prospective customers attending this trade show to say, ‘Hey, I’ve got new stuff to show. Come by our booth’”.
By tapping into Xometry’s on-demand manufacturing capacity, Coastal Range bypassed overseas supply bottlenecks, allowing Peretti to arrive at Grassroots Outdoor Alliance with high-performing, retail-ready prototypes in hand.
Main image credit: John Peretti