You know the type.
They are more comfortable outside than in. They know that the a group of pheasants is called a bouquet. They can identify poison ivy without reciting a silly saying. They know which mushrooms are safe to eat. They walk for fun rather than exercise or locomotion. They can ski moguls. They tie their own flies. They sleep on the ground on purpose.
For their more indoorsy and pale family members and friends, these wild ones can be hard to shop for.
Luckily, there are several great American companies below who speak their language.
Beckel Canvas Products – Made in Portland, Oregon
Always dreamed of building a custom vacation home?
Well, now you can.
Sure, it might be made of the finest 10 oz Marine Finish Army Duck instead of stone or brick, but you can specify windows, sod cloth and even a stove-pipe hole, if your dream house has a kitchen. (Mine, I fear, does not!)
Currently made by the 2nd generation of a family owned company, Beckel builds its tents to survive both you and the elements.
Beckel tents come in 8 basic shapes, like the Wedge (above, $315), but if you do not see what you are looking for, do not hesitate to ask. Since Beckel makes everything by hand, to-order, in its own facility, it can accommodate special requests and even orders for objects that are not currently in its product line.
A complete canvas goods manufacturer, Beckel also offers outhouses and bags from totes to saddle bags.
Visit Beckel - beckelcanvas.com
Wiggy’s - Made in the USA
If you have ever wondered what you will do if something happens to your favorite piece of camping gear, then you are not using Wiggy’s.
All Wiggy’s products come with a lifetime guarantee so broken zippers, busted seams and insulation deterioration are no longer concerns. On the off-chance something does happen, simply return the injured object and Wiggy’s will fix what it can and replace the rest.
How can a company offer such a claim and still turn a profit? Simple. It builds its products to last using the highest standards for construction and materials and as result, few claims are ever exercised against the guarantee.
Every Wiggy’s sleeping bag (Superlight shown left, $218) has a YKK #10 zipper (which has never failed in over 20 years of production) and is insulated with Lamlite - a lofty, lightweight, drapable, heat retaining, soft insulator. (It is also machine washable!)
Choose from both mummy and rectangular models. Each comes in a variety of sizes, colors and temperature ratings. (Custom orders are welcome, too!)
Wiggy’s is the last sleeping bag you will ever need.
Visit Wiggys - wiggys.com
Danner - Made in USA
These boots were made for walking - in the woods, streams and wherever else life takes you.
Danner has been in the boot biz since 1932. So who better to turn to when you need high quality hiking boots?
The Mountain Light II (left, $300) may be just one of 21 styles of hiking boots that Danner makes in the US, but it is a stand out.*
In fact, it was recently named a National Geographic 2011 Gear of the Year Winner.
Why, you ask? For starters, it is handsome. The boot’s full-grain, one-piece, all-leather upper is as stylish as it is practical. While helping to keep you dry, the rich leather provides a classic, almost distinguished look. But the real appeal of this boot is in the wearing.
What makes the Mountain Light II wear so well are all the details. It is lined with 100% waterproof and breathable Gore-Tex® that keeps your feet warm and dry; the outersole is made of Vibram® Kletterlift which provides excellent shock absorption, traction and stability regardless of the terrain; and the use of Danner’s famous stitchdown construction provides a wider platform for stability. (It also makes the boot recraftable.)
Best of all, The Mountain Light II is available in two widths for men (D and EE), as well as, women’s sizes.
Visit Danner - www.danner.com
*Not all of Danner’s Boots are made in the US. Please check source information carefully.
Moment Skis – Made in Reno, Nevada
Powder-junkies, listen up!
It’s officially ski season again and whether you are headed to Stowe, Banff, Whistler, Vail or Zermatt, you’ll need the gear to be at least as good as you are.
So unless you’re Ingemar Stenmark, Herman Maier, Alberto Tomba, or Bode Miller (and probably even then), the team at Moment has got you covered.
At the edge of the Sierra Nevada Mountains, a group of engineers and enthusiasts makes skis, like the Belafonte (above, $680), by hand from 95% domestically sourced materials and FSC-certified wood cores.
It is up to you to decide to which is more exhilarating – Moment’s variety of ski technologies or its bold graphics. (I cannot/will not!)
Thankfully, however, both are available on each pair of skis. Whether you looking for Twin Rocker and reverse sidecut or snappy flex, traditional camber, and a narrow waist technology, Moment’s got you covered. Moment currently makes 14 men’s models, 4 women’s and 3 kid’s. Each comes in a variety of lengths.
Visit Moment - momentskis.com
Thorlo – Made in USA
Got cold feet? Think Thorlo.
(Sorry, Thorlo only make socks. If you have metaphoric cold feet due to impending nuptials, Thorlo is probably not your best bet.)
Whether you start your day in rentals or custom-fit boots, on the bunny slope or on the black diamond, you know that how your feet feel can have a major impact on how (and even when) your day ends.
So does Thorlo. That is why they make unisex socks to enhance all levels of ski equipment, expertise and environment.
Thanks to Thorlo’s easy-to-use drop down menu, you can choose the perfect ski socks for your next adventure by selecting your desired level of padding, color and/or material content. (For example, the eXtreme Ski Sock (left, $21.99) is one of 3 options that appears if you choose thin cushion padding.)
No matter which sock you choose, you can rest assured that it has been designed for fit, protection, warmth and to wick-moisture away from your feet.
Thorlo also makes winter socks for other cold-weather sports like snowboarding and snowshoeing. But they don’t stop just because the temperature rises. They make socks to enhance sports like golf, tennis, basketball and running; outdoor activities like hiking, hunting, camping and fishing; and for working men and women like police, firefighters, medical personnel and the military.
Visit Thorlo - www.thorlo.com
Feathered Friends – Made in Seattle, Washington
Puff the magic vests.
(Ok, so there is nothing really magic about theses vests. But considering how toasty you’ll feel and how good you’ll look wearing them, you might just create a little magic of your own!)
You probably already know that down is one of nature’s best insulators, but do you know that there are grades of down? The most frequent measure of down’s quality is its fill power which can range from 175 to 900. Like most things (except your post-holiday weight) the higher the number the better.
All of Feathered Friends garments are made with 850+ fill down. (Not bad, eh?)
The company has been manufacturing down vests, jackets, parkas and sleeping bags since 1972. Family owned from the beginning, Feathered Friends has held-fast to one simple goal: make the best down products in the world.
To do this they start with the best shell materials available and fill them with the best down on the market. Then they hand-make each of their products in-house so that they can retain complete control over their products’ quality.
The Hyperion and Helios Vests (above, $174 and $189) are two examples of the company’s lightweight outerwear line, perfect for every day wear or layering in more extreme conditions. Feather Friends also makes midweight and expedition garments just in case you had something a bit more extreme in mind.
Visit Feather Friends - www.featheredfriends.com
Intense Cycles – Made in Temecula, California
Take a bike!
They company may have only been around since 1991, but Intense Cycles M-Series bikes have already been ridden by more professional athletes than any other bike in the history of downhill mountain bike racing.
That is a pretty good indication that these bikes will can get you where you’re going – be it cross-country, up and down a mountain or into the record books.
Intense Cycles offers 4 categories of bikes: Downhill – 4 styles suited for everything from a day in the park to serious trail riding; Enduro-Trail – 3 styles designed for trail domination; XC-Trail – 2 designs suited for cross-country racing and moderate trail terrain; and the DJ-4X (left, $679 frame only) designed for trails, dirtjumps, racing slalom, 4X and more.
Each bike is passionately handmade.
Visit Intense Cycles - www.intensecycles.com
Mission Workshop – Made in San Francisco, California
Wherever you go, you need stuff.
And the more you go, the less you time you have to worry about how you are going to get your stuff there safely.
Luck for you, Mission Workshop has created a rugged line of messenger bags and backpacks that are designed to make your burdens easier to bear.
Each bag is made in a small product run to ensure quality and as a result, comes with a lifetime warranty against defects in craftsmanship and materials. And speaking of materials, Mission Workshop uses technical fabrics and industrial hardware that can take (almost) anything, you can dish out.
Their messenger bags are ideal for bike riders and commuters and are available in 3 sizes. The Monty (above, $149) is the smallest at 1,300 cubic inches. It has a roll top compartment, 2 cargo pockets, 2 internal zippered pockets, a detachable cross-chest stabilizer and can accommodate a 13″ laptop in the front zippered pocket and a 15″ in the main compartment.
Monty, like all of Mission Workshop’s messenger bags, is weather-proof and available in 5 colors.
Visit Mission Workshop - missionworkshop.com
Stormy Kromer – Made in Ironwood, Michigan
Perhaps your beloved wild child is hunter.
Help keep him safe with the Straight-Shooter Hunting Shirt (left, $69.99).
(By the way, I do know that women can also be excellent hunters. I am using the male pronoun here because at this time this hunting shirt is only offered in men’s sizes.)
The Straight-Shooter is an uncompromising garment that is sure to be an old favorite from day-one thanks to its effortless blend of style, safety, comfort and durability.
The classically cut button-down is made of 100% cotton twill that has been enzyme washed for broken-in comfort. Bands of blaze orange acrylic highlight the garment’s extra-large chest pockets, double-seamed arms, reinforced elbows and strong yoke.
You will also want to check out Stormy Kromer’s now famous caps, outerwear and accessories for men, women and children.
Visit Stormy Kromer - www.stormykromer.com
J. W. Hulme Co. – Made in St. Paul, Minnesota
Sitting for hours in a blind, blazing a new trail and even early morning birdwatching can leave you a long way from home with thirst strikes.
And if the weather is a little less than ideal, that thirst may come with a craving for warmth.
That is why the Deluxe Field Thermos & Guard (left, $190) is the perfect gift for every outdoorsy sort on your list.
Rendered in J. W. Hulme’s signature hunter green canvas with leather and brass accents, the Deluxe Field Thermos Guard is 4″w x 12″h x 4″d, lined with acrylic fleece, offers a handle to make pouring and carrying a cinch and holds a 1 liter stainless steel thermos (included). And like all J. W. Hulme products it carries the company’s lifetime repair guarantee.
Make this gift even more perfect by adding a brass personalization plaque where you can have the lucky recipient’s initials or name engraved. ($19 for plaque and engraving)
J. W. Hulme is a 25-person strong company that has been crafting artisan leather and canvas bags since 1905. The current product offering includes everything from handbags and wallets to duffles; briefcases and iPad cases to dog collars; and gun and scope cases to dopp kits.
Visit J. W. Hulme - www.jwhulmeco.com
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Hope that this post has given you a bit of inspiration whether you are a wild one or just shopping for one.
As always, your feedback is welcome!
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Enjoy.
