Worldwide Gear Manufacturers

Another for the UK list.
PHD. Mostly down products including custom work and a neat 'design your own bag' function on-line.
http://www.phdesigns.co.uk/

Miguel

Japan

Nippin/Messner – sleeping bags and tents
Asics
Isuka – sleeping bags/clothing
Mizo – ice axes/crampons including titanium axes
Iwatani-Primus
Mt.Dax
Mizuno
Musshu
EpiGas
Nanga-Schlaf – clothing

NZ

Cactus Climbing – packs, clothing

France

Cassin
Simond

Italy

Salewa

Australia

the only UL or even L product I can think of is One Planet's special order 800 FP/ quantum sleeping bags

Other UK company’s are:

Berghaus

http://www.berghaus.com

Vango

http://www.vango.co.uk/

One that got a mention recently and a good one too.

Robert Saunders Tents

http://www.robertsaunders.co.uk/

Original Mountain Marathon

http://www.theomm.com/

Rohan

http://www.rohan.co.uk/

If I think of any more ill put them on this posting

Can't let the sweeds get credits for Helly Hansen, they already have Hilleberg ;)
You should also add Mountain Equipment to the list of british gear manufacturers: http://www.mountain-equipment.co.uk/

Jørgen, oops! Corrected.

France :

valandré

http://www.valandre.com/fr/frontpage.htm

triple zero

http://www.triplezero.fr/duvets_couettes.php

More from the UK

Sprayway
http://www.sprayway.com

Cumulus sleeping bags (Light)

http://www.cumulus-sleepingbags.co.uk

Pacerpole (if they are what you’re looking for)

http://www.pacerpole.com

Snugpak sleeping bags (ok if you’re on a budget)

http://www.snugpak.com

FurTech (bit like Paramo)

http://www.furtech.co.uk

In New Zealand, there's Kathmandu
Kathmandu.co.nz

It's kind of an REI of New Zealand.

Aarn bodypacks – not exactly UL, but probably in the lightweight category- and the ergonomics of the design are supposed to make up for the weight

http://www.aarnpacks.com

I think this would make a great web page (maybe a wiki page). I would like to see a list like this include other information, such as:

1) More Detailed Regional Info — I think it is interesting to see where stuff is made, especially the small shops. The country info is a good start, but I'm curious about the city (it seems the ultralight folks are really spread out).

2) Common Abbreviations — I think this would be handy, especially to help folks who are new and have no idea what companies like "MLD" or "FF" are.

3) Web site — This is just for convenience (since a Google works just fine) but it might be handy.

4) Product Types — This might be hard to maintain, since it changes quickly. It is also hard to summarize. It might makes sense only for the handful of companies who really focus on one area (like Nunatak for down).

OK, maybe this is too greedy a request, but it would be nice to convert the above lists to 'html format". :)

Greg Lowe was a former Special Forces soldier. I thought Lowe was a 'Merican company.

Eric

Oops, spelling mistake. It should be Lowa.

OK, maybe this is too greedy a request, but it would be nice to convert the above lists to 'html format". :)

Oh no, what have I gotten myself into? (^J^)/"

Actually the underlying text is in html format, it just doesn't display that way… Open up the "source" menu from the "view" menu in your browser, scroll down a bit, and you can see the html all laid out there.

Or do you mean you want an ordered html coded list?

Miguel:

Then can you edit your post(s) and make them clickable html's? Please? :)

Oh, I believe Brasslite stoves are actually crafted in India.

You want me to go through all that again??? Ugh…

Give me a day or so… I think my eyes have turned to prunes!

Are you serious? Brasslite in India? Stop messing with my head! Are you serious?

Another UK outfit. Alpkit. Down bags, sleep mats, bivvy-bag etc at reasonable (for the UK) prices.
http://www.alpkit.com/
This is a very useful thread:)

I think this would be great on a wiki. That way, everyone could edit it (rather than saying "please add this…"). It doesn't have to be a wiki, exactly (or course) but something that everyone could edit would be nice. Like wikis, you have to able to manage hacking and all that.

Korea…makes a lot of nice stuff, including Kovea

http://www.kovea.com/

Not wanting to get into the political sides of things, but surely if it's neither manufactured from local materials nor made in that country, it shouldn't really be on the list? eg, Macpac, Fairydown and Kathmandu may be NZ owned and designed, but certainly not made here or materials sourced from here…

Allison makes a good point. Methinks Miguel should change his category headings from "US Made" to "US Brands" — applying to all other countries as well.

Also, perhaps Miguel can add an asterisk next to those brands that are known to be completely domestic gear makers. Methinks most all of these will be local cottage makers.

Finally, Miguel, Brasslites are indeed made in India, although changing the category title as above will take care of this. Also, Luxe Outdoor is a Hong Kong brand.

Where do you stop if you go down that route?
Do you e-mail each manufacturer for a complete breakdown on every thing they use? Then they e-mail their suppliers who in turn e-mail theirs? What if only 1% of a product is from a different country?
Do you then have lots of different threads?
It would just become silly.
GEAR – 100$ made in country
Company A
GEAR – 90-100% made in country
Company B
GEAR – 80-90% made in country
Company C
Company D
GEAR – 70-80% made in country
Company E
ETC
ETC
ETC

Maybe don't go down that route. What is the point of breaking down gear available "by country" if it doesn't reflect where the raw materials come from or where the gear is manufactured. Instead just call it cool gear available anywhere in the world and put up a website. I would be pretty surprised to find out that, for instance, any of the highest lofting down is sourced anywhere in the continental USA. Doesn't make Feathered Friends, WM or One Planet bad companies to deal with…but if you want to reduce how much stuff you personally import, then knowing how much of the final product is made far away from where you are does become important.

Mike:

Not sure whom you're posing the question to — Allison or me. But my suggestion of using category headings like "USA Brand" instead of "USA Made" would solve the dilemma of gear made with components of many countries.

Putting an asterisk next to brands that are 100% domestic will be of interest to many here. Any brand without an asterisk means that some of their products are imports. I don't think anyone will care about exact percentages.

http://www.foxsox.com/Admin/Default.aspx Fox Socks are US made and as well have a line that use NO oil or oil byproducts.