SCHEELS + Kryptek: Vision and Values Aligned
Heather Hamilton-Post
10/1/2025
“My entire central family, my wife and both of my daughters, have been part of Kryptek from the very beginning,”
Before it appeared on store shelves or in video games, Kryptek was just an idea two soldiers traded between missions in Iraq. Founded by Butch Whiting and Josh Cleghorn, both veterans and avid outdoorsmen, the brand has become a name recognized not only on mountain ridges and in hunting camps, but also in video games, military applications, and retail floors. For Whiting, the company’s true story is still about family, Idaho values, and the land that raised him.
“My entire central family, my wife and both of my daughters, have been part of Kryptek from the very beginning,” Whiting said. “My wife has been the support from the beginning, but both of my daughters grew up in the brand. My oldest daughter for several years ran our social media, and my youngest daughter, Kylee, manages marketing and VIP relationships. She brings a lot to the brand that otherwise I wouldn’t have.”
Family, Whiting said, has been the compass from the start. After years flying Apache attack helicopters and leading American troops in combat, Whiting realized that the greatest honor of his life — commanding Renegade Troop 4/3 ACR in Iraq — came at the cost of being away. “You’re constantly deployed,” he said. “When you were home, you really weren’t home. The real reason I left the military was because I wanted to be a dad. I wanted to be a husband. I didn’t want to miss any more birthdays. I didn’t want to miss any more holidays. God and my family are the most important things in my life and everything I’ve done, I do it for them.”
Whiting’s love for family and the Idaho outdoors are part of a rich heritage. His grandfathers were both influential: one an 82nd Airborne veteran of World War II who fueled his passion for service, and the other a rancher and hunter who instilled a love for the land. “I grew up on a family ranch that was homesteaded in the 1880s here in Idaho,” Whiting recalled. “We spent a lot of time recreating around the natural resources that were right there. Constantly fishing, constantly hunting, constantly shooting. That culture of the outdoors, that culture of shooting, that culture of hunting — that’s really shaped who I am.”
Kryptek’s beginnings as a brand trace back to Whiting’s combat experience and his partnership with fellow soldier Josh Cleghorn. “The brand wouldn’t exist if it hadn’t been for our military experience,” Whiting said. “It is founded on warrior ethos.”
From its earliest days though, Kryptek was more than an idea. It was tested in ways few outdoor brands ever are. “Our camouflage to this day is still the only camo in the hunting market that’s been extensively tested by the Department of Defense,” Whiting said. “And selectively used by both U.S. and Coalition Special Operations. There’s not another brand in the hunting market that can ever say that.” Kryptek patterns went on to appear not only in military use but also in pop culture, featured in blockbuster video games like “Call of Duty” and “Ghost Recon.” The brand now sells apparel, camouflage gear, accessories, and tactical gear.
Even as Kryptek grew to global recognition, Whiting never lost sight of the deeper purpose. “What does Kryptek mean to me? It means that I get to be in a space that I care deeply about, and that’s the culture of hunting, the culture of fishing, growing your family up in that environment,” he said. “It also comes with a heavy responsibility as the brand grows. We have a responsibility to educate others, to give back to conservation, to give back to our community and ensure that generations like my grandchildren’s grandchildren are able to come out and have the same experiences that we treasure so deeply.”
That focus on community and authenticity is one reason Kryptek’s partnership with SCHEELS feels like such a natural fit. Though SCHEELS is a relatively new addition to the Treasure Valley, Tyler Halm, store leader at Meridian SCHEELS said that they’d been looking for the right opportunity to enter the local market for over 20 years. “We aren’t normally that persistent with a market location, but we knew Idaho would be right. The people, the outdoor lifestyle, and the strong community feel are all aspects that resonated well with our brand. We are thrilled with the support we’ve received and couldn’t be happier to call Idaho home,” said Halm.
Now a hub for the Treasure Valley’s outdoorsmen and women, Whiting sees the partnership with SCHEELS as a relationship built on shared values. “What’s so impressive about the organization is the unbelievable culture,” he said. “They try to lean into local brands. They want to go out and find little mom-and-pop brands that are fulfilling out of their garage and bring them in. I would love for the Kryptek brand to be populated out through every single SCHEELS across the nation.”
Halm echoed the enthusiasm. “SCHEELS is fortunate to partner with the best brands in the industry and Kryptek is no exception,” he said. “We are proud to represent Kryptek, an Idaho-based, military-founded company that is a leader in the industry.”
From ranch days in Rockland, Idaho to combat deployments overseas, from camouflage netting to camo patterns in video games, from hunting camps to retail floors, the Kryptek story is one of resilience, innovation, and family. And as Whiting looks forward, he sees the legacy continuing. “I like to think that I’ve built a legacy for my children, irrelevant of the brand,” he said. “The brand’s a part of the story, but it’s about the appreciation for enjoying the outdoors and ensuring it’s preserved for future generations.”
