Comments on: American Made Hiking/backpacking Gear?

By: mikeDJ_L

mikeDJ_L — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 10:37:00 +0000

yeah, Gregory packs are still made in the USA. They are made in Southern California about an hour or so from San Diego (my location). They are great packs and make plenty of other things too. Good luck with the search and Happy Hiking!

By: winterru

winterru — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 06:42:10 +0000

Gregory backpacks used to be made in America. I don’t know if they still are. Wiggys and Stevenson warmlight sleeping bags are american made. White’s boots makes hiking boots in Spokane, Washington. They make some of the best boots you can buy. They are made to order to fit your feet. I try to buy American as much as possible. Sometimes the search gets frustrating.

By: PeterJ

PeterJ — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 04:21:11 +0000

I have found a couple of companies that are based in the USA, that appear to make some, if not all of their gear here. May have to call or email to confirm.http://www.sixmoondesigns.comhttp://www.arucsystems.com/http://www.gossamergear.com/http://www.ula-equipment.com/http://antigravitygear.com/products.php?…
There is a list of more items here,although most of these don’t seem to have a web site, and most seem to be everyday packs, and not camping.http://www.hikemore.com/hiking/usa-gear/…
Another alternative is to make your own, or get a design and have a local craftsperson make you one. There are lots of designs available, a good place to start is here:http://www.backpacking.net/makegear.html

By: Rusty Sanchez

Rusty Sanchez — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 22:52:51 +0000

Good question. Wiggy’s (crazy warm lamilite sleeping bags), Jacks Plastic Welding,(river rafts, sleeping pads), Kifaru (the guy who used to own Mountainsmith, amazingly cool backpacks, sleeping bags, and tents), Arc’teryx isn’t made in the USA, but I’m pretty sure they’re not made in China. There’s also Ray Jardine, who sells camping quilt/pack/tarp tent kits and instructions. That’s all I can think of off the top of my head.
edit-Forgot about White’s Boots. My 10″ lace-to-toe smokejumpers are the best boots I’ve ever had.
Rusty
ps-good question, and thx to those who answered.

By: Willie D

Willie D — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 17:08:54 +0000

Last I checked Osprey packs are still made in the USA, Dolores Colorado I believe.
Equinox, based in Williamsport, PA, makes camping accessories and some small packs as well as shelters.
Mystery Ranch MAY be made in the USA…I’m not 100% sure of this, but they contract packs for the government as well as for backpacking and I’m pretty damned sure most stuff made for the feds have to be made (at least partly) in the USA except for a few things like firearms and automobiles.
Outdoor Products Inc. also used to make a lot of their stuff in the USA…mostly day packs and accessories. I have an Outdoor Products day pack and sport briefcase as well as water bottle holders and ditty bags.
Good Luck with your quest. I too try to buy American first, but at $60 a whack I can’t ever see myself buying “Bill’s Kahki’s” However, I do regularly drop $$$ for Kavu products. They make great hats but the rest o their clothes are mostly cotton…good for sitting around the cabin, but not so much for the trail.