Editor’s Note: This Made in the USA article was originally published in Overland Journal’s Spring 2023 Issue.
American industriousness has set the stage for modern society since the Industrial Revolution, and the country’s creativity is enjoying a rebirth as entrepreneurs and creators seek to provide local solutions to local needs. The pandemic has exposed the weaknesses of global supply chains, and buying local now makes more sense than ever. A few of the companies featured in this article have been manufacturing goods for decades, and some are new to the market. But all have two things in common: their products are proudly made in the USA and are of the highest quality.
Quality is essential. This is a lesson we have learned as we’ve traveled. Yes, there are items that can be bought without much thought and eventually discarded, but others serve a specific purpose and must last a lifetime. The cheap and cheerful tend to be a false economy as they have a limited life. The well-made is bought at a premium but will last and grow better with age. Supporting American companies is a splendid duty, and we have sourced and assessed these products for use in an overland travel context with all that entails.
Filson
With a headquarters in Seattle and established way back in 1897, Filson is considered a leading outfitter and manufacturer of outdoor goods. The most famous Filson materials, which form the basis of many of their products, are warm Mackinaw wool and durable Tin Cloth. Yes, the company’s products are premium and accordingly priced, but all come with a lifetime guarantee covering workmanship and craftsmanship, failures, and defects.
The Mackinaw Wool Cruiser Jacket, patented in 1914, is a classic. With ample, well-designed pockets and heavyweight wool construction, this water-resistant jacket was originally designed for Pacific Northwest woodsmen who needed a practical, warm coat that offered warmth and durability as they toiled in sometimes extreme conditions. During our test, we found that the red and black Mackinaw is, as intended, effective as a high-visibility hunting/wildlife jacket. Deer, in particular, see in black and white, and the blocked pattern helps to break up a solid silhouette in the forest. Yes, the deer could smell me, but they clearly could not see me. The wool used in the jacket is sourced from sheep from the Northwestern United States and Canada and will absorb up to 30 percent of its weight in moisture without becoming damp or clammy. The jacket is excellent in cold weather, and a large rear pouch is suitable for maps or even a tool roll. The XL size I tested fit perfectly and allowed space for layering. We recommend wearing a long-sleeved shirt beneath the jacket if your skin is easily irritated by coarse wool. The Mackinaw will undoubtedly accompany us to the Mongolian Steppe or Siberia one day.
The Heritage Sportsman Bag is beautifully crafted of Tin Cloth, rugged twill, and USA-tanned bridle leather and is nearly ideal as a gear bag, special tool, field, shooting, or camera bag. Rain-resistant and practical, it’s designed to last a lifetime of outdoor use, protecting and hauling a surprising amount of gear. As a sports bag, it is designed more for practical, specific use than an A to B travel bag, as the five side pockets are buttoned, not zipped, and the strap does not feature a pad to provide comfort from friction (a minor issue easily addressed with an after-market pad). The bag features modular interior dividers and U-zipper closure for full bag access. The superb design, materials, and construction of this bag justify each of the many pennies you will spend on this heirloom piece.
$495/jacket, $425/bag | filson.com
Vermont Gloves
Vermont Glove is a century-old, fourth-generation, family-owned business based in Randolph, Vermont. Once you slip on a pair of their supple, handmade, goat-leather gloves, you will immediately look for a tough job to do. The Vermonter smells of a time gone by; the leather embraces your hand in smooth luxury and creaks until it has molded to the exact spread of your knuckles. Your hands carry the comforting scent of the gloves for a short while after you have worn them, a lingering perfume. You might have guessed that we have fallen in love, and you would be right.
The Vermonter gloves are stitched by hand in the state of the same name, using heavy-duty nylon thread; the seams are on the outside of the glove for comfort. The double-stitched fingertip seams offer protection and durability, while the wide vein protector may ensure your longevity. Do yourself a favor and invest $10 in a bottle of leather conditioner, as your gloves will continue to take care of your hands for years. While we could use these gloves for large-wrench mechanical purposes, we will not; instead, they will continue to be used for winching, firewood chopping, and field craft. When used to flip burning firewood, the gloves protect you not only from the heat but also from critters like desert scorpions looking to escape the fire. The Vermont Glove website provides an accurate sizing guide, and the 10 L gloves tested feel as if they are made specifically for my hands.
$100 | vermontglove.com
Fieldcraft Frontier Mobility Tool Roll Bag
Fieldcraft Frontier’s few exquisite leather products are lovingly handmade in Heber, Utah. As established, there is something mildly intoxicating about the smell of high-quality leather, and Fieldcraft Frontier utilizes only the finest. The Frontier tool roll features seven narrow tool pockets, a larger open-sided pocket, and an extra-large pocket the length of the roll, suitable for hammers, files, or similar tools of length. When rolled closed, the tool roll is secured by two leather belts fed through the riveted ends of a leather handle. The solid brass rivets are hand hammered, and the buckles are likewise solid brass. Our preference would be for modest buckles in stainless steel or something similar. The leather is 6-ounce, full-grain, worn saddle leather, and the straps are a 9-ounce, dark-brown, vegetable-tanned variety. While this tool roll is absolutely up to the task of a traditional mechanics tool roll, we prefer to use it to store our woodworking tools, Vermont gloves, and Fieldcraft knives.
$250 | fieldcraftfrontier.com
Flexcut Carving Tool Set
Flexcut carving tools are made in Pennsylvania, and over 300 products are designed, manufactured, and distributed to the woodcarving industry. Overland travel provides many opportunities for adrenaline-filled adventure and, simultaneously, many long, calm nights beside the campfire. Once the meal is cooked, and the chores are done, there is nothing quite as relaxing and satisfying as transforming a chunk of firewood into a memory or a useful tool. Woodcarving is a natural pastime for an outdoorsman as it is an activity that can be both creative and essential, depending on the project. Our Flexcut carving tools were a gift from a friend, a Pan-Am “veteran” named Brenton, and while the learning curve has been steep, it has been rewarding. The Flexcut carving tools’ ash handles sit snugly in your hand. And the razor-sharp blade reminds you that some things should not be rushed (we recommend a welders glove or similar for the holding hand if you are impatient). There are palm and knife sets for the beginner as well as advanced carver sets available.
$70+ | flexcut.com
Triple Aught Design Overland Shirt
Triple Aught Design is proudly American, with multiple in-country offices employing more than 50 people and supporting at least 200 more contractually, as 95 percent of the company’s products are made in the USA.
Overland travel is tough on clothing. The great outdoors and vehicle-dependent travel demand materials that resist dirt and moisture, tears and grime. This shirt is made with P150 Superdry material, which does not require regular washing as dirt and debris simply brush off. Practical chest pockets are complemented by a hidden pouch, the buttons are of a sturdy slotted design, and the sleeves feature additional slotted buttons and straps should the sleeve be rolled. We have worn this shirt regularly for months, and it has become a go-to asset as we travel.
$110 | tripleaughtdesign.com
Forrest Tool Max Tool Kit
Located in Durango, Colorado, Forrest Tool Company has been manufacturing field tools and equipment since 1993. The company’s Max tool kit is on our wish list. Without the benefit of a long-term test, we will go out on a limb and suggest that, based on first impressions, this tool set will be a true outdoorsman’s best friend, offering the versatility to perform a number of tasks capably. One tool to rule them all? A wood-handled Gränsfors Bruks ax is a thing of beauty, a precision hand-forged tool to be loved, cherished, and used with elegance, whereas the Max tool kit is made to be used with intent. An unbreakable, construction-industry-standard, 34-inch composite polyglass handle supports the 3.5-pound ax head, which itself serves as a mount for a variety of tools, namely a shovel, hoe, pick, broad pick, Mattock blade (for digging, prying, and chopping), and a combination McLeod blade, popular with firefighters. The Max tool kit in green gives us the fizz.
$279 | forresttool.com
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