Earlier today we noted that Chrome was using old Cold War era Communist Bloc/Warsaw Pact tents and making waterproof bags. We also heard that J.Crew was marketing a line of Military Tent Shorts. These cargo shorts are made of 1940s era military tents and each was made by hand in the New York City design studios, where one tent only produced one pair of shorts.
Apparently these were so popular that J.Crew has sold out even at $220 per pair. We’ll have to watch and see if anymore should show up.
While we’ve heard of swords to plowshares, bag maker Chrome is looking to take old military tents and reutilize these as color bags. These include bags made of the Rain Camo that was originally used by Warsaw Pact nations during the Cold War. The shell is made of weatherproof, 1000-denier Cordura and this bag is big enough to hold a 17-inch laptop, while reflective straps will make the bag visible at night.
This line of bags also feature daisy-chain mounting loops for attaching carabineer or bike lights as well as the iconic quick-release seatbelt buckle with integrated bottle opener – something those commies never considered!
Chrome Citizen Salvage Military Tent Messenger Bags Official Website
While there has been a trend to make “greener” surfboards using a variety of materials, including carbon fiber, for Grain Surfboards nothing beats wood. The company noted that for more than a thousand years surfboards were made of wood and that’s good enough for them.
The makers use Northern White Cedar with a bit of Western Red Cedar along with a natural blend of traditional construction style with New England boat building craftsmanship and the result is one serious surfboard.
Grain Surfboards
[Via Wood Working Network: Wood Surfboards Make Summer’s Top 50]
With a name like Rocky Mountain Holster should we be surprised that the company is introducing a Western themed bike cup holder for cruisers? Andrew Houston reportedly makes each leather cup and beer holder by hand out of leather at his Park City, Utah workshop. He further personalizes these as well.
The Rocky Mountain bike cup holders can carry cans, water bottles, beer, phones and wallets and these attach to a basket, handlebar, pannier or belt. Basically, wherever the leather straps can be looped and snapped, thus giving the bike a western look.
Our friends at Chamois Butt’r have been on a roll. In addition to the Her’ Chamois Butt’r, which the company recently introduced, it has looked to launched a premium cleanser for laundering of technical sportswear and delicate fabrics. The Eurostyle Sports Kit wash was developed for use across the entire spectrum of endurance sports and is purpose-built to address the specific needs of high-end technical fabrics such as those found in cycling, skiing, running or the yoga studio.
Despite its name it is actually produced in the United States, and is minimally scented and easily rinsed away. The Sports Kit Wash thus can prolong the life of garments helping to remove chlorine from bathing suits and yet is 100 percent wetsuit-safe. It is like washing in style – Eurostyle.
There are packrats – those types of people who don’t know when too much is enough. But then there is the Packrafts from Alpacka Raft, which can transform from a small pack to the full-sized tent for those daytime water adventures. These rugged Packrafts can be used for fishing in a remote lake, or hitting the whitewater. As the company proclaims these are “made in Alaska” but are “built for the world.”
Working up a sweat is one reason we work out an exercise but sweat in the eyes is never fun when on a long summer bike ride. This is where the SweatHawg comes in. It is a helmet liner that is made in Oregon of Hydo-phillic fabric from Germany and can reportedly absorb 10 times its weight in water, and which can be rung out if it gets too saturated. It can keep the sweat out of the eyes and thus help on those hot summer days!
Los Angeles-base Ignoble doesn’t do large runs on its products. What it does is deliver quality in small rungs, and this includes the Cora Classic rucksack. This model features a tough nylon construction and offers plenty of space for camping, hiking, trekking or just bugging out.
There are padded shoulder straps along with a padded airmesh back panel, while the Cora offers a large main compartment with internal hanging pocket plus laptop sleeve. There are additional storage with a zippered front stash pocket, hood stash pocket and even dual side utility pockets .The 400D nylon construction with YKK branded zipper closures will keep your worldly possessions safe and secure.
While many companies offer up inspiring names for their bicycles, Paul Budnitz takes a more simple approach with names like Model No. 1 and No. 2. This isn’t to say that his bikes are super plain. In fact his lineup of handmade bikes, which are made in Vermont, are sleek, simple and minimalist yet solid enough for serious riding.
Budnitz offers up a variety of steel, aluminum and even titanium bikes that ride well and look good.
We like the fact that the Statement Bike Rack is made in America, and unlike many sleek and simple bike racks that are little more than a couple of pegs that users stick in the wall this one offers both real form and provides functionality. Designer Daniel Sculnick sees this as a type of art that can double as a place to hang a bike. He is now looking to Kickstarter to raise funds to finish making his statement. Video after the jump
While backcountry wool wear from Voormi’s fall 2013 line is made in America, we’d also like to point out that the wool was also sourced in America. Voormi worked with Rocky Mountain Highcountry Merino exclusively to source the wool for its line of Precision Blended baselayers and midlayers. Continue reading Raised in America: Voormi Fall 2013 Collection
Los Angeles skateboard maker District Skates has seen the skateboarding mature but it continues to do things it owns way. This privately owned company has looked to carve out a niche for itself using eco-friendly materials that include reclaimed wood and taking the custom approach with each order. The company does all the planning, laminating, gluing and pressing for each board in downtown Los Angles. But the skating is left to the rider.
Around since 2009 Meier Handmade Skis makes – as the name suggests – handmade skis. The Colorado-based company also is looking to take what might otherwise be unusable and is finding a use for it. The company is now sourcing wood from pine trees that have succumbed to beetles.
The proliferation of beetles has killed millions of acres of trees in Colorado, but companies such as Meier have managed to find a use for the wood. The result is a quality ski with a wooden core and at the same time it has found a use would the dead trees.
Meier Official Website
[Via GearJunkie: Beetles killed trees, Meier made skis]