Kershaw – Blur Knife

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In 1974 Kershaw Knives opens for business in Lake Oswego, Oregon with its no-hassle, lifetime guarantee. It continues that same customer service and manufacturing quality to this day, known for their superior materials and manufacturing techniques. The Ken Onion Blur knife comes from a lineage of award-winning knives, winning Blade Magazine’s Blade Show “American Made Knife of the Year” award multiple times over the last couple decades. The Blur is perfect for all your outdoor adventures. The blade is premium stainless steel providing maximum strength and corrosion resistance and the option of a partially serrated blade to make all your camping and everyday tasks easy. The handle is coated with Trac-Tec that is rough to the touch, but not abrasive. It is a solid build, not too heavy and easy to use with the SpeedSafe opening system. Blade length: 3 3/8″ partially serrated Tanto Closed length: 4 1/2″ Steel: Sandvik…Continue Reading

Igloo Wheeled Cooler

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There are some great options in the food cooling market. A household name around the world, Igloo manufactures their world famous ice chests in Waller County, Texas. A 1.4 million square foot facility that serves as their global corporate headquarters, as well as their warehouse, distribution and manufacturing facility. The 50 quart MaxCold rolling cooler we are reviewing is a perfect option for tailgates, road trips, camping or jaunts to the beach. Yup, I said jaunts. It keeps ice cold for several days, meaning that weekend trip won’t be spent looking for replacement bags of ice. By elevating the floor of the cooler, Igloo has kept the contact to the hot ground minimal, allowing for a colder temperature inside. We have had our Igloo to the beach to roll in sand, and in the back of our car for cross country road trips. Food and beverages stay cold, and no leaking…Continue Reading

DARN TOUGH SOCKS

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Today’s interview is with Darn Tough’s founder and president, Ric Cabot. We talk about the quality, pride, and family heritage that epitomize Darn Tough’s socks.   Can you give 50 BUILT readers some background on yourself and the events that lead up to starting Darn Tough? My father and grandfather were in the sock business, so I was born into it. Growing up there were socks all around the house, and I would flip through the pages of fashion and hosiery magazines that were sitting around the house. I was always interested in joining my father in the sock business and had an appreciation of the fashion and textile industries.   How was the industry different back before Darn Tough? Before I started Darn Tough Vermont in 2004, I was working with my father Marc at our family’s business, Cabot Hosiery Mills. Cabot Hosiery had been very successful up until around…Continue Reading

LEATHERMAN TOOLS

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If you have ever been in the market for an outdoors multi-purpose tool, you have undoubtedly come across the Leatherman brand. It all started in 1983 with their Pocket Survival Tool, when Tim Leatherman and Steve Berliner started Leatherman. Now 30 years later with 30 different models, Leatherman has a 90,000 square foot facility and 400 employees. The above video is from LeathermanMedia. You can visit their factory in Oregon today to see these iconic tools being made by Americans. FACTORY TOUR DETAILS: Cost: FREE Reservations:  503-408-5550 – First 10 people to show up, no group tours. Tour Duration: 1-1.5 hours Factory hours: Wednesdays 10AM Leatherman Tool Group, Inc. 12106 NE Ainsworth Circle Portland, Or 97220-9001 leatherman.com

HANDY TWINE KNIFE

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There is not much left to review after watching the video above and reading the details from Best Made Co.’s website. It’s American innovation in a small ring-size package. It’s been around since 1904 and the shear simplicity has kept it relevant in our 2012 world. Manufactured in Upper Sandusky, Ohio for over a century. From Best Made Co.’s website: • Patented in 1912 • Aluminum ring, steel blade • Titanium Nitride coating on the blade for extended sharpness • comes in a three pack (sizing below) “James Caldwell ran a railway mail route from Pittsburgh to Chicago. On the bucking train he watched over his cargo with a sidearm and ofttimes worked a knife to open twine wrapped bundles of mail. This job was a juggling act and so Caldwell invented the Handy Twine Knife: a highly useful cutting tool worn around the finger (any finger) thus freeing up the…Continue Reading

BLUE WATER ROPES

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If I was a risk taker and had to trust my life to a strand of rope, then nothing would be more important than safety and a long history of quality and top-notch manufacturing. You get these things with Blue Water Ropes of Georgia, and with it comes the knowledge of 7 generations of textile experience. From Blue Water’s website: BlueWater traces its roots to a family-owned textile business that began manufacturing in Georgia in 1890 . Our modern history began in 1969 when we manufactured the first American-made kernmantle caving rope. After Seven (yes Seven !) consecutive generations in textile manufacturing BlueWater is THE standard in quality and durability. In 1975 we introduced the first synthetic low elongation rope for fire and industrial high-rise rescue. Synthetic nylon fiber was a radical departure from the norm of one inch manila ropes that were in use. Our UL Classified NFPA 1983/2012…Continue Reading