“Designed by the runners”—that phrase pretty much says it all about this project. Ever since we launched the first RUSH in 2014, so many runners have embraced it. Every time I meet them at races or on trails across the country, hearing what they think about the RUSH is the biggest reward for me as a designer, and it’s what drives me to keep creating. When we came out with the RUSH UT, made for ultra-trail running, even more people got on board, and the feedback we got became more detailed. This, in turn, pushed my motivation even higher. It’s amazing how one backpack set off this cycle.
At Paago Works, we call this cycle “Product Communication.” We believe in the power of the conversations that come from our products, and it’s those conversations that help us create new ones. That’s how we think things should be made.
This project was a perfect example of Product Communication at work. I won’t dive into all the details here—those will be in the “Behind the Scenes” section on our website—but let’s just say this project was all about listening to user feedback, making tons of prototypes, and running lots of tests. We had 10 unique and passionate runners test the gear in the field, listened to their feedback, and made tweaks to the samples. After going through this process over and over, I ended up hand-making more than 150 prototypes. In the early stages, I made backpacks that didn’t even look like the RUSH, and by the end, I was making such tiny adjustments that even I could barely tell the difference. Looking back, it was pretty wild!
But here’s what I realized during all this: the RUSH I designed isn’t just “my RUSH” anymore—it’s “everyone’s RUSH.” I thought I was making it for everyone, but really, everyone’s input was what drove me to create it. That’s why I came up with the phrase “Designed by the runners” as a way to say thanks.
So, let’s grab our RUSH and get out there.
Let’s pack and go!

Tetsu Saito, Designer
PAAGOWORKS
Apr. 3, 2023