Hello, long time lurker here. I did a search (like I always do to find out what I am looking for) to try to find a list of all the cottage industry hiking gear makers in one place and came up with nothing. I recently sold off almost all of my gear in order to help finance a new kit of lighter weight higher quality gear. I thought it would be handy for those trying to rebuild their kits to have a list of all those hard to find (unless you already know about them) gear makers. I'll start off with a few links to sites... post up others that you can think of and I'll add them to my list.

Gossamer gear- http://www.gossamergear.com/

Integral designs- http://www.integraldesigns.com/

Nunatak- http://www.nunatakusa.com/

Six Moon designs- http://www.sixmoondesigns.com/

Tarptent- http://www.tarptent.com/

Titanium Goat- http://www.titaniumgoat.com/

ULA - http://www.ula-equipment.com/index.htm

MLD - http://www.mountainlaureldesigns.com/index.php

Fanatic Fringe - http://www.fanaticfringe.com/index.html

Oware - http://www.owareusa.com/

Zpacks - http://www.zpacks.com

Ultralight Outfitters - http://www.ultralightoutfitters.com/index.html

Simblissity - http://www.simblissity.net/index.shtml

Ultralight Designs - http://ultralightdesigns.com/

Minibull Designs - http://www.minibulldesign.com/

Speer hammocks- http://www.speerhammocks.com/

Jacks ‘R’ Better- http://www.jacksrbetter.com/

McHale Packs- http://www.mchalepacks.com/

Claytor hammocks - www.mosquitohammock.com

Clark jungle hammocks - www.junglehammock.com

O.E.S.- http://www.outdoorequipmentsupplier.com/index.htm

Cooke custom sewing- http://www.cookecustomsewing.com/welcome.htm

Stephenson's warmlite- http://warmlite.com/start.htm

Stick Pick- http://www.thestickpic.com/



***I don't think these are truly cottage industry but they do make some great gear***

*Hennessy Hammocks- http://hennessyhammock.com/catalogue.html

*Granite Gear- http://www.granitegear.com/Index.html

*GoLite- http://www.golite.com/main/home.aspx

Look at the top of the page!

Tarptent

Ti Goat

Here's a few others. I haven't bought from all these guys.

ULA - http://www.ula-equipment.com/index.htm

MLD - http://www.mountainlaureldesigns.com/index.php

Fanatic Fringe - http://www.fanaticfringe.com/index.html

Oware - http://www.owareusa.com/

Zpacks - http://www.zpacks.com

Ultralight Outfitters - http://www.ultralightoutfitters.com/index.html

Simblissity - http://www.simblissity.net/index.shtml

Ultralight Designs - http://ultralightdesigns.com/

Minibull Designs - http://www.minibulldesign.com/ (alcohol stoves)

I haven't included clothing sites since they aren't really cottage industries usually. Also I haven't included the places that sell materials for homemade gear. Those are interesting as well. There are some other specialized places that I haven't included either. Like guys who make just stuff for extreme cold, etc.

Finally I have to include some hammock links

http://www.speerhammocks.com/

http://www.hennessyhammock.com

http://www.jacksrbetter.com/ (Not just hammocks, quilts and so forth also)

Also: www.Mchalepacks.com Custom made backpacks

Thanks for taking the time to post this. A big help.

Here are a couple more hammock manufacturers (I use Claytor and have used a Hennesy):

Claytor hammocks - www.mosquitohammock.com

Clark jungle hammocks - www.junglehammock.com


Hammockforums.net has a forum for each of 13 different hammock manufacturerers.

Tango

Stony Creek Cottage

Somebody had to post it.

Smart a##. I had a 24X28 garage, with 80# snow load built for the price of the small one.

Oh, I forgot one. For cat cut tarps this guy is the best.

http://www.outdoorequipmentsupplier.com/index.htm

How strict shall we be about the definition of "cottage industry". Most of these companies started with manufacturing literally in someone's garage and ordering only online. Many are still that way. But a few have now become fairly big companies that manufacture in China. Do we care? I don't care per se as long as the gear is good. But if you want a "cottage" then a few of these don't qualify.

Heber

My intention was to shed light on companies/products that would otherwise go unseen. A major part in this is who carries their gear. So I think as long a major players like REI don't carry their gear they can be on the list.

Ah, well then granite gear and hennessy hammocks probably don't count. They are both at REI.

But on the other hand hennessy still has some customer service. You can buy from them directly and they will answer questions etc. So maybe they should stay.

Your list so your call.

Cooke Custom Sewing http://www.cookecustomsewing.com/welcome.htm
Mostly canoeing gear, but the very best tarps you can buy. Definately a cottage industry - sewn in Dan's basement.

Wow, I didn't know REI carried Granite Gear or Hennessy Hammocks. I am taking them off the list.

Why? I would consider my business to be cottage gear (I sew every cozy we sell in my house) yet my book is sold at REI. Selling out isn't bad always....and it sure pays well. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

Because my intention was to help people find gear/companies they otherwise wouldn't have found. If REI carries their gear then people can easily find it.

I would disagree respectfully - even the bigger companies such as Granite Gear are still tiny compared to say Gregory or Kelty. They are more cutting edge, quicker to respond to new trends - they just have gotten distribution, allowing them to make more money...which helps in us consumers getting more choices.

As well....just because REI carries it doesn't mean it is easy to find it - often items are carried on the website, not in stores - meaning that often the items would rarely be noticed by a person not knowing the exist.

Gotta agree with Sarbar on that one. If that is the case though, then why not add Go Lite?????


Alot of newbies use this site as a reference and I think it would be a service to let the reader make the choice. Though, this is your thread. Great idea by the way!!

okay I'll compromise, they are getting asterisks.

“If REI carries their gear then people can easily find it.”

Hey Sarbar, I didn’t know REI carries your book! And I go there all the time!

Thanx for this thread on enlightening me!

-Barry

Don't forget about Stephenson's at http://warmlite.com/

I have a tent and Down Air Matress and both are great, expensive but well worth it.

Chuck

I have a stick pic and love it!!!!!

I was just going through this list and notice that LuxuryLite had not been included:

http://www.luxurylite.com/index.html

They've got a great pack, along with a cot and pillow. Other products, too, that I haven't tried.

There is a list here, but no links. I haven't compared it to the one here, but it's there if somebody wants to do so. I have lost my bookmarks twice in the last year and a half (once due to change of ISP, the second due to a sticky delete key), so find the list here extremely helpful! Thank you, everyone!