California on Be American Made

Epaulet

Mon, 30 Mar 2026 02:04:10 -0400

There’s a certain kind of clothing brand that doesn’t shout. It doesn’t plaster logos across everything or chase whatever trend is burning up social media this week. It just quietly makes great stuff - well-fitted, built to last, made by skilled hands right here in America. That’s Epaulet.

Founded in 2008 by Eva Kuhle, Epaulet started as a boutique on Smith Street in Brooklyn, New York - right in the middle of one of the worst economic collapses in modern memory. Not the easiest time to launch a clothing brand. But Kuhle had a clear vision: clothes worth keeping. Not for a season. For a decade.

Skydio

Tue, 03 Dec 2024 09:00:16 -0500

Ever heard of an American Made drone? We hadn’t either. Actually, we were convinced they didn’t exist.

Thankfully, we were wrong.

Skydio is an American company that designs, assembles and supports it’s drones from right here in the United States.

We take our responsibility as America’s leading drone manufacturer seriously. We design, assemble, and support our products in the U.S. We develop our software in-house and source our processors from U.S. companies. That enables us to provide a high level of supply chain security and serve as a trusted partner to government customers. The result is a homegrown aircraft that reflects the best of American innovation, trustworthiness, and craftsmanship.

Steel Lighting Company

Thu, 29 Aug 2024 09:26:48 -0400

Over the years we have found one of the harder areas stick to our “Buy American” mantra is when shopping for house items. So many companies these days farm out production to wherever they can get the lowest price for labor. More often than not producing an end product that comes nowhere near meeting the standards that many of us desire.

Then we found Steel Lighting Company and their awesome American Made lighting products.

American Giant

Thu, 07 Sep 2023 12:01:29 -0400

In a world dominated by fast fashion and overseas manufacturing, American Giant has emerged as a breath of fresh air in the clothing industry. With a mission rooted in sustainability, quality, and domestic production, the brand has carved a niche for itself as a producer of “the greatest hoodie ever made.” But there’s much more to American Giant than just its iconic hoodie.

One of the pillars of American Giant’s ethos is its commitment to local manufacturing. The company takes pride in producing its apparel in the United States, thereby providing jobs and supporting local communities. By sourcing raw materials and creating its garments within this country, American Giant is able to keep tighter quality control in order to produce higher quality products.

Carbide 3D

Tue, 01 Aug 2023 06:13:39 -0400

There are some machines that we simply find awesome and fascinating. Amount those are CNC Machines.

Lucky for us, and anyone who has the need, Carbide 3D has taken the awesomeness of CNC Machining and brought it to your desktop.

Even cooler, quality matters to them and they do everything themselves:

Design their own electronic
Do their own mechanical design
Write their own software
Make everything they can in the US!

If a Desktop CNC Mill is what you are after, check out their Nomad 3. A “fully integrated, ready-to-run desktop CNC mill that’s at home in any environment.”

Gordon Brush

Fri, 14 Jul 2023 06:13:25 -0400

Gordon Brush was established in 1951 and has been manufacturing brooms and brushes in American ever since.

Established in 1951, Gordon Brush® includes twelve brands, two brands whose origin dates back to 1855 and 1897. All told, the Company’s twelve brands manufacture over 17,000 standard, specialty, and custom brooms and brushes for industrial and commercial applications for customers world-wide.

Bessell Surfboards

Mon, 03 Jul 2023 06:43:57 -0400

Bessell Surfboards founder Tim Bessell has an awesome story.

He has combined a love of art and a love of surfing to become one of the worlds best surfboard shapers.

After legitimizing himself as a shaper, Tim returned to San Diego, California to open Bessell Surfboards. By 1987, Bessell Surfboards had grown into one of the largest surfboard manufacturers in Southern California. Tim also made a name for himself as an artist, with exhibitions as far away as Japan.

Vandersteen

Thu, 25 May 2023 09:27:45 -0400

We know a few legitimate audiophiles who go really deep down the audio rabbit hole. You might know a few as well. They can be described as very ‘discerning’ listeners for sure.

We love to listen to great speakers as much as anyone, however, we may not be as in tune as others when it comes to the minute details that make the difference to a true audiophile.

Tactilian

Thu, 18 May 2023 09:36:39 -0400

As we approach Memorial Day perhaps you’d like to show a little of your patriotic respect with an American Flag magnet on your auto?

Tactilian manufactures American Made magnets in various forms to allow you to do just that.

The company was created by Tyler Knox, a full time law enforcement officer.

Proceeds from every magnet sold support wounded Veterans by benefiting our supported foundation, Homes For Our Troops.

Dsptch

Fri, 28 Apr 2023 11:23:38 -0400

The first thing when we saw when we landed on the website for DSPTCH was their Pet Sling.

As people who frequently travel by train and also because we are dog owners and lovers, we though: this is brilliant.

As brilliant as this is, it is not the only thing that DSPTCH manufactures. They have a full line of packs as well as slings and accessories.

Mission Workshop

Fri, 10 Feb 2023 09:14:19 -0500

Looking for an American Made waterproof bag? Maybe something to use on your overlanding adventures or perhaps just for those big rides to work?

Say hello to Mission Workshop.

All bags produces by Mission Workshop are made right here in America:

From the initial design / prototyping to the actual manufacturing and finishing, every step of our bag’s production goes down right here in the USA (using domestic and foreign components).

Triple Aught Design

Fri, 06 Jan 2023 09:50:45 -0500

We love the mantra of Triple Aught Design:

To Inspire our community to live more adventurous lives through legendary product and experiences.

There are numerous options for both men and women if you are looking for apparel.

They also offer pack equipment.

As we have noted in previous features: we LOVE bags. Primarly backpacks, but really all bags. The Fast Pack Litespeed Sterile Edition looks like one we need to have in our collection.

Take Off

Wed, 28 Dec 2022 10:44:18 -0500

How many times have you had an adhesive stuck to something and you just can’t get it off? For us, hundreds of times.

This is where Take Off Adhesive Remover comes in!

TakeOFF Adhesive Remover is the best solution for eliminating costly mistakes and messes around the house, garage, and workshop. It has been carefully formulated to dissolve sticky adhesives and leave no residue behind.

Inside Line Equipment

Tue, 20 Dec 2022 12:59:39 -0500

Quality bags of all types are one item that we have been able to find numerous companies producing here in America. Previously we have featured Red Oxx, Rickshaw Bags, Range Leather, Bradley Mountain, Road Runner Bags, Frost River and ZPacks.

Today we add another to that list: Inside Line Equipment.

American Made at the core!

ILE products are made from USA sourced materials, and designed with strength and simplicity in mind. Sewn with the best machines and skilled operators, ILE makes bags that last.

Rickshaw Bags

Fri, 04 Nov 2022 10:00:00 -0400

Looking for a new bag? Peraps a backpack or maybe a messenger bag? Possibly a duffle or handbag or simply a laptop bag? Or, maybe you need a bike bag to outfit your ride.

No matter what type of bag you are looking for, you’ll want one made in America. Rickshaw Bags handles all of these bags. And, they make them all in their facility in San Francisco, CA.

Lutema

Thu, 27 Oct 2022 10:00:00 -0400

One thing that most Americans are very aware of these days: Face Masks. The Covid Pandemic brought masks to the top of mind for everyone in the country, and the world.

But, here is a question: where was your mask made? For us, we were determined to only purchase masks that were Made in the USA. That brings us to Lutema.

AeroPress

Mon, 03 Oct 2022 12:34:14 -0400

Coffee. For many, the day cannot being without at least one cup of joe.

The real question is: how do you choose to make your cup of coffee?

For us, it is done with an AeroPress. Specifically the AeroPress Go ’travel’ coffee maker.

This started as a quest to find a method for making a great cup of coffee during a camping trip. Little did we know we would end up using this for every cup of coffee we make. Every day. No matter where we are.

MagLite

Thu, 15 Sep 2022 11:48:35 -0400

MagLite flashlights seems to be almost universally known. It seems that everyone we know has one. Or two or three.

Whether it is the larger full size flashlights that seem robust enough to use as a hammer, or the smaller, compact size flashlights that fit in your pocket, they are everywhere.

We think this can be attributed to the fact that they are quality, Made in America, flashlights.

Bradley Mountain

Fri, 02 Sep 2022 10:47:35 -0400

Bradley Mountain is a small company made up of six craftsmen who make bags by hand in San Diego, CA.

Their motto is:

Inspiring People To Live Adventurously

Bradley Mountain produces beautiful bags such as The Wilder, The Biographer, and the Muir Pack.

All 100% Made in the USA.

If you are looking for something a bit less costly, check out the Accessorires they offer.

Road Runner Bags

Tue, 23 Aug 2022 10:47:40 -0400

Road Runner Bags is a small crew composed of skilled individuals producing hand-made bicycle bags. Each bag is 100% Made in America in their Los Angeles, California manufacturing facility.

Road Runner Bags has always been a company committed to environmental sustainability, and we do everything we can to make sure that all scraps are saved, and no material is wasted. We believe that we have the social responsibility to ensure that all of our products are built to last and never end up in a landfill.

Toehold Flip Flops

Mon, 01 Aug 2022 10:38:06 -0400

Premium flip-flops, Handmade in American. That is what you will get from Toehold.

The story of Toehold mimics that of many great beginnings. A founder has a problem and decides to find the best way to fix that problem. In this case, it was a broken strap on a flip flop. The end result: hand crafted, hand made premium flip flops.

You can read the story of how Toehold started here.

From the FAQ you’ll find all you need to know if you are looking for a quality American Made flip flop: