Our Favorite US Makers (Part 2)

by Carry HQ, February 7, 2017

Following up on part 1 of our favorite US makers, we salute the sewers, cutters, designers, and more who honor the small details and continuously strive for high standards in part 2…

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Ezra Arthur

Ezra Arthur (formerly Bison Made) crafts heirloom-quality pieces by hand using American materials. Based in Phoenix, Arizona, the company is owned by four brothers and named after their grandfather. Their range of handsome leather wallets are built to last and age gracefully with use to create proper story pieces for future generations.

Rivendell Mountain Works

One of the original heritage brands and creator of the iconic Jensen Pack, Rivendell Mountain Works has an extensive and influential history dating back to 1971. Functioning as a micro-cottage industry, RMW’s gear is made by hand in a number of home workshops and the brand prides itself on quality, durability and attention to detail.

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KILLSPENCER

KILLSPENCER excel at bringing a touch of luxury to everyday and travel carry. The brand’s clean designs merge sleek urban style and premium materials, with each one made by hand in KILLSPENCER’s Los Angeles HQ. Founded by industrial designer Spencer Nikosey, what started out as a personal project is now a thriving business crafting timeless and elegant pieces for work and play.

The Brown Buffalo

The Brown Buffalo is owned by Douglas Davidson, a product designer (and Carryology contributor 🙂 ) whose extensive experience includes serving as Senior Design Director for Burton Snowboards and Design Director for The North Face. The Brown Buffalo creates a diverse range of carry gear in California, including backpacks, totes, luggage and more that fuse urban-friendly aesthetics with versatile designs.

ZimmerBuilt

There are a lot of great backpacks out there, but sometimes you want something personal – and that’s what ZimmerBuilt provides. Specializing in custom-made ultralight backpacks, ZimmerBuilt allows customers to tailor designs and materials to their specific needs and preferences, resulting in unique pieces for each user. The brand’s founder Christopher Zimmer builds each bag by hand in Doylestown, Ohio.

McHale

Founded by Dan McHale over three decades ago, McHale Packs produces custom ultralight backpacks that are specifically designed for each user’s particular needs. Made in Seattle, Washington, the brand’s packs find the sweet spot between light weight and durability, providing comfortable and reliable carry for alpine adventures.

CiloGear

CiloGear is a lean manufacturer building bags on an on-demand basis in Portland, Oregon. The brand’s focus is crafting well-respected and award-winning alpine backpacks, though urban and travel bags also form part of their offerings.

Forestbound

Founded by Alice Saunders and based in Somerville, Massachusetts, Forestbound aims to bring the past into the present, merging practical designs with striking aesthetics. The brand utilizes found and salvaged textiles to create eye-catching totes and carryalls for the Forestbound Originals line, while the ESCAPE Canvas Utility Bag line takes inspiration from vintage canvas tool bags.

High Above

High Above delivers durable and versatile hip packs to demanding users who want to carry their essentials in a bag that can handle urban and outdoor environments equally well. Each bag is handmade in Bellingham, Washington, with owner and designer (and Carryology contributor!) John Canfield at the helm. John’s experience includes product manufacturing at Mystery Ranch and sewing and design for Rivendell Mountain Works.

Yonezawa Leather

Takeshi Yonezawa, the founder of Yonezawa Leather, first started leatherworking in Tokyo. What began as a hobby ultimately became a business based on crafting premium leather goods that are both beautiful and functional. Each piece is made by hand in Beaverton, Oregon, with materials sourced from Europe, the U.S.A. and Japan.