Bend, Oregon, is shockingly beautiful, a remote nirvana positioned between mountains and grasslands, bisected by the Deschutes River and tributaries of breweries and coffee shops. We were in town to test the newest EarthCruiser and were introduced to Rob Williams of Terrascout, a local startup crafting premium adventure clothing and luggage in North America. The conversation was brief but included Rob handing me a few pieces of clothing to evaluate. Curiously, and unplanned, I am wearing the Terrascout Ukiah cargo pants as I write this story. However, the coincidence is not surprising, as these pants have become my go-to, non-technical travel and trekking pants of choice.
Serendipity aside, Rob is a noteworthy founder, with a rich history of designing Jeeps and being Rivian’s chief creative officer. If that was not significant enough, he worked for Nike designing running and training footwear. Rob clearly loves vehicles and carries the prestige of notable positions (including graduating from the Art Center College), which translates into a new company producing premium apparel for travel.
While I am not typically an apparel evaluator (and even less so an apparel model), I have learned a few noteworthy insights into Terrascout’s clothing worth sharing. The most important is the research that has gone into material quality and selection. Let’s start with the Ukiah pant I wore today while hiking in Sedona and am now wearing while typing at the kitchen table. The pant is made from Japanese ripstop cotton, which looks reminiscent of my Air Force BDU in appearance, but possesses a lightness and softness that my BDUs lacked even after months in the Adriatic theater. The pant is roomy where needed, allowing for ease of ingress into whatever tall 4WD I may be piloting. They have also proven comfortable for long hikes, enduring snags and catches by thorns and branches. The cargo pockets are thankfully undersized and form-tailored, but they may not fit some larger phones (my 11 Pro Max in a Nomad case barely fits). I have also noted some color fading after a half-dozen washes, but I personally like the shade they have taken on.
Terrascout also makes premium wool shirts and jackets, stitched from Japanese-milled wool and lined on the sleeves, yoke, and pockets for comfort. I have worn the shirt-jacket button-down most often this fall and found myself bringing it along on all of my trips due to the utility of having a wool “flannel” along for cool mornings or paired with jeans for a night at the pub. The cut is fitted but conservative, allowing for roominess, yet still looks tailored. I found it to be true to size at an XL for my 6’1″ height and 220-pound frame. I really like the pockets and the overall look of the jacket in most settings. Criticisms are essentially none, although I did find myself struggling with the hidden chest pocket buttons one-handed.
In addition to quality clothing, they have also started producing premium pebbled Italian leather and ballistic nylon bags. I found it to be a unique combination of materials and a genuinely handsome result. I use the utility duffle for quick flights and to extend the volume of a rollaboard for long weekends. The leather panels provide genuine reinforcement and help give the bag shape, while also accommodating a retaining sleeve for sliding over a rollaboard handle.
The zipper is a massive YKK and likely the only ingress point of moisture during a rainy run into the train station. The bag has several thoughtful pockets, including a laptop sleeve and a shoe garage. There are also several more interior and exterior pockets for organizing equipment, cables, and accessories. If packed thoughtfully, this bag could easily accommodate a week on the road. The shoe garage is tight for some shoes (or sizes), so I typically used it as a hamper. I also found the price to be fair, given the high-quality fabric, leather, and assembly.
Overall, I am impressed by Terra Scout for its commitment to quality construction and durable materials. They launched as COVID took hold of the world, and it is impressive to see not only their steadfast commitment to making great gear but to share it with the world during such challenging times. It is spirit like this that will save us all.
terrascoutbrand.com | $175-$450
(Photography by Erin Brown and Scott Brady)
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