Brands I Support
As I posted around Winter Solstice about voting with our dollars and the advice another blogger posted about choosing what brands match your values and principles – and then supporting them with your purchases. Here are my top brands, what I buy from them and why. (I receive $0 kickbacks)
My gear list by season and hike type has the specific gear model and usage.
Shopping Platforms
Why shopping platforms? It’s about personal identity risk management. The more places my credit card or PayPal (my preferred payment method) is used, the higher the risk of my information being taken, stolen, lost or misplaced. Shopping platforms consolidate my shopping as much as possible to have fewer ‘identities’ in our new wild web.
Garage Grown Gear – https://www.garagegrowngear.com – GGG is the place for cottage brand ultralight gear. Their “about us” is a great introduction. For me, it’s the brands they carry, their customer service which is top notch, and their prices are fair and reasonable for both shopper and supplier.
REI – https://rei.com – REI Co-op is my ‘consumables’ and ‘mass marketing’ supplier of choice. Learning how to strategically shop at REI using coupons and sales to buy what you need (out of season or last season’s model) can save hundreds of dollars over several seasons. My largest purchases at REI tend to be shoes and socks. Using the REI credit card generates generous rewards if used at REI.
My Brands
These are the brands that I love – craft they employ, quality materials, design principles and they usually ‘just work for me’.
Gossamer Gear: 3 different packs and accessories, tarp, trekking poles and umbrella. For me, their designs are pragmatic and functional without ‘extras’ that get in way or aren’t used. Their customer service is top notch too. https://www.gossamergear.com
Hammock Gear: I’m not a hammock user, but their quilts and tarps are top notch quality and lower priced than some of the other ‘bigger’ brands. Customer service top notch like the others and they often have sales and carry a host of accessories for van and hammock usages. Their custom quilt capability is great – and I used it. https://hammockgear.com
Durston Gear: Dan Durston seems to be one of the wisest gear guys out there – he spent time on the trails, obviously. I use a Durston tent back / bike packing and would probably never switch. Everything is just in the right place and works brilliantly. https://durstongear.com
SkyGOAT Fleece: Not surprisingly I’m a SkyGOAT fan! Their waffle fleece is high performing and just perfect for OR 3 season adventures. Tops, gloves, hats and camp pants are in the ‘bin’ and one SkyGOAT fleece pullover gets worn almost everyday around the house. They have a new vest product coming in a month / so, and I’m looking forward to that too. https://skygoatusa.com
FarPointe Outdoor Gear: Another very small shop, and this one from OR! They make small lot fleece and other gear. My FarPointe fleece top is warmer than SkyGOAT so I use / carry when the temperatures will be <30. Their merino blend sun hoodies are no-smell great, and my new default sun hoodie. https://www.farpointeog.com
Hilltop Packs: Hilltops makes great packs, obviously, but I don’t use them. They have a great print shop (my stickers and printed ditty / stuff bags). They just excel in accessories and customer service. If I can’t find it at GGG, then I’ll go to Hilltops. https://hilltoppacks.com
Remember …
Well, my hiking days are limited to down the road!! Sturdy boots that don’t pinch my feet are all that needs to be “special.” Love, mom
How about some Canadian brands, Michael? We need all the help we can get right now.
Hey Ken! … that’s an excellent idea and I surely want our neighbors to the north included … I will start looking for good Can gear peeps 🙂
We (Durston) are Canadian. There is also Northern Ultralight, Bowman Gear, Sulak 46, and Little Shop of Hammocks.
Thanks Dan for pitching in … I completely forgot that you all are from up north … nobody makes tents better imho.