Baseball bats come from Louisville – except for those that don’t. But what many fans of America’s pastime don’t likely know is that most – if not all – baseballs are made in Costa Rica or Haiti. In fact most major league balls are produced by Rawling in Costa Rica. But that doesn’t mean you can’t have an American made ball.
Bergino Handmade Baseballs are made in America by the company founded by former sports agent Jay Goldberg. The company makes a range of specialty balls including city maps, and ones with world themes. There are even options for custom balls. So while you may never own a ball signed by Babe Ruth or other greats you can have a ball that is truly all your own.
With a name like ReCycle you can pretty much guess what the company makes: bikes made from recycled materials, including aluminum. The concept behind the company is that recycled aluminum takes 95 percent less energy and creates 95 less CO2 emissions than creating it from virgin material. As such 75 of aluminum processed since the 1880s is still in use.
You can never be fully prepared for the end of the world, and even on a camping trip or hike in the woods there are times when you are bound to have forgotten something. The Cell Machined Survival Baton will not only help ensure that you have some things you might need in an emergency, but it will make sure the items survive a disaster as well.
As we’ve noted from time to time technology developed for the military has a way to trickle down to the consumer market. Without military research we wouldn’t have things such as radar or GPS. But military research also looks for advances in outdoor equipment and clothing. And soon some technology developed to keep our Special Forces warm will be available in civvies as well.
Most big companies don’t start as the result of a school project. Or if they do it is something like FedEx, which Fred Smith came up with while studying at Yale University, not a project for a fifth grade class. But that is exactly how Phoenix residents Devin and Lisa Kelley founded Recycled Skateboards International (RSI) after creating a birdhouse from recycled – upcycled – skateboards.
The bare essentials is what Naked Longboards of Vancouver, Washington is all about. The boards are simple, durable and classy. And while they aren’t (yet) 100 percent made in the United States, the team is working on it.
Slingshots aren’t just for Bart Simpson and Dennis the Menace. But if either had these they’d certainly terrify those Mr. Wilson types out there. The GloveShot from Montie Gear is no mere twig and rubber band. It features a paracord covered body brace against the back of the hand and has a pull weight of 35 pounds.
With a name like American Mountain Co. could its products be made anywhere else but in America? The company is based in Sewickley, Penn. and has a factory in Spokane, Wash. and this start-up, which launched with a Kickstarter project, looks to introduce its first products – the hardshell jacket and fleece – this winter.
Having a good knife while out in the wilds is never a bad idea, and even if you’re not an outdoorsman you probably would appreciate the fine crafted American made Bush Crafter ($99.99) from Camillus Knives. Made of 1095 high-carbon steel, this knife offers a razor-sharp edge that will remain sharp even after a whole lot of abuse, while the light drop tip fat belly blade is designed to be highly-functional for campers and hunters along.
Most cyclists ride with their cell phone, usually stashed in the jersey pocket if it is not being used on the handlebar as a cycling computer. One ride is all it usually takes to realize that sweat builds up on the phone and regardless of the chance of rain, the following ride usually sees the phone placed in a zipper closure plastic bag before being put in a jersey pocket.
Stroll into any bike shop looking for a chain lubricate and prepare to be inundated with numerous choices. From synthetic to ‘biodegradable’ options, picking a lube usually comes down to a recommendation from a shop mechanic or a friend who works on their own bikes. Each year at Interbike there seems to be a new lube making its debut, but is there really any need to change from what already works? This year there was one company bringing a lube to market that maybe worthy of trying something new. Slick Lube of Newark, Delaware has a product line with a laundry list of features, some of which have not appeared in any other chain lubes. 
You’ve just bought or finished building your new bike and it is just about perfect. The weight is where you want it and the positioning is spot on, but there just is something that doesn’t make it feel like your bike yet. A splash of color or some custom engraving can often be that ‘cherry on the top’ to finish off your ride and really make it feel like yours. Purely Custom, of Twin Falls, Idaho, is in the business of manufacturing and customizing anodized aluminum parts for the bicycle industry and they are doing it in America for a very reasonable price. 