When you buy a WIlson football, you are purchasing the only American Made ball of any of the major U.S. sports leagues. Not only does Wilson manufacture the official NFL football, ‘The Duke,’ in Ada, Ohio, but they also make NCAA and Highschool footballs in their USA factory. The ball we’re reviewing today is the Wilson 1003 GST football. The construction of the ball we bought is flawless. Seams are tight and straight and the feel of the materials is top notch. The 1003 GST is unique in that the white stripes on the ball are sewed on to create another level of grip and texture. This additional attention to detail makes for a great feel and better ball control, especially if you don’t have the big hands of an NFL or NCAA quarterback. The composite leather laces have a slight rubberized texture to them as well adding to grip…Continue Reading
So you need a water bottle, everyone does. It can be for everyday, athletic or environmental needs. Almost everyone owns one in some shape or size. The kicker is that 99.9% of the ones available to buy are not made in the USA, BUT they still cost the same, or more. Polar Bottle, founded by Robert Heiberger and Judy Amabile in 1994, is your Made in the USA alternative. When you buy a Polar Bottle, you are assured it is BPA free, safe for drinking, and made to their high quality standards. Each Polar Bottle is insulated, making it more than just another bottle. When I fill the bottle up, and add a little ice, it stays cold well into the day. The top nozzle stays closed, and is even removable to make washing the bottle easier. Sold in a variety of sizes and materials, this one is their 12oz size and…Continue Reading
This month’s wallpaper celebrates Wilson Football’s factory in Ada, Ohio. Available in 4 different sizes for your computer or iphone. Free to download. Also available as a poster for purchase in the shop. STANDARD SCREEN | WIDESCREEN SCREEN | HD SCREEN | iPHONE
Oakley Sunglass company produces some of the most sought after eyewear in the world. They are worn by the most premier athletes in the world and are the eyewear supplier to the United States Military and police forces around the country. On more days than not, you can walk into the Oakley headquarters and a member of the police force or military will be there getting outfitted in the most advanced and the safest optics available. The in-house R&D team tests and abuses all products in the Oakley line to make sure they surpass every regulation and requirement. Through their testing and prototyping, that is done right in Foothill Ranch, California, Oakley has been able to patent over 600 features on their eyewear. Their high-end X-Metal frames (featured in the video above) are manufactured at another company-owned US facility, and are proof of the power that in-house manufacturing can have.…Continue Reading
In a sport that prides itself on being America’s pastime, most of the companies representing the baseball have abandoned American manufacturing. Nokona baseball gloves are one of the few glove companies that can say they are American Made. The Nokona Classic Walnut glove is offered in 11.5″, 12″ and 12.75″. I went with the 12.75″ since I’ll be using the glove for baseball and softball. I’m sure most that use the glove strictly for baseball would prefer the 11.5″ or 12″ glove. The fit is great, and when trying on several different gloves from multiple companies, it was clear the quality of leather used in the Nokonas is superior. The break-in time took a bit longer than cheaper gloves I’ve had, but that is expected. There are some extra holes drilled into the wrist closure, and I used them to re-lace the glove to be a snugger fit around my…Continue Reading
Typically when shopping for shoes online, you get a few options; size, style, color, etc. The New Balance site takes it a step further and allows you to view shoes in two separate categories; “made” in the USA and “assembled” in the USA. Made in the USA, the New Balance 993 is an updated version of their legendary 990 shoe series, while still offering the comfort, durability and classic New Balance style. Meant for high-mileage trainers the construction of this shoe features Abzorb SBS advanced cushioning in the forefoot and Abzorb DTS in the heel. This shoe is responsive and will make sure that you keep on running. From New Balance’s site: “Features -Medicare approved colorways: GL, BK -Pigskin/Mesh Upper provides your foot with a lightweight and supportive feel -Blown rubber outsole is extremely flexible, light, and helps provide cushioning -Polyurethane midsole offers durable cushioning and effective resistance to compression…Continue Reading
Hillerich & Bradsby Co., better known as Louisville Slugger, got its start back in 1884. It began when a furniture maker’s son, Bud Hillerich, used the furniture shop to make a custom bat for professional baseball player, Pete Browning. Two decades later Louisville Slugger signed the first athlete to endorse a bat, Honus Wagner and the rest is history. Today Louisville Sluggers are used in every line up in the major leagues. They use Northern White Ash grown in their Pennsylvania and New York forests. Each year 40,000 Northern White Ash trees provide the timber for the 6,000-10,000 bats produced at the factory every day. That equals 8 million bats a year. The factory mixes tradition with technology, where old school craft meets modern CNC machine. The CNC machine used to make the major league bats is the only one of its kind in the world. From there the MLB…Continue Reading
Since 1941 every NFL game ball has been made by Wilson, and since 1955 all of those balls have been made in their Ada, Ohio factory. It is the only football specific factory in the world. The NFL is the only major sports league to make their ball in the USA. With a production capacity of 4,000 balls a day and over 700,000 footballs a year, it keeps all 120 factory employees busy around the clock. Most of their employees have several generations of factory employees in the family, with decades of experience. The above video is episode 1 of 3 for the Wilson Football Factory series. View Episode 2 and Episode 3. FACTORY TOUR DETAILS: Call 419.634.9901 for all info regarding the Wilson Football factory tour, as details change regularly. Cost: Reservations: Yes, call ahead: 419.634.9901 Tour Duration: Factory hours: Wilson Football Factory 217 Liberty St. Ada, OH 45810 Also, head on…Continue Reading
Brief History: The American Whistle Corporation is located in Columbus, Ohio and is the only metal whistle company made in the USA. Founded in 1956 as Colsoff Manufacturing, American Whistle has been operated by the current owner since 1987. The Tour: I had set up a tour appointment with American Whistle employee, Amber Roberston, and she was nice enough to take the time to show me the facilities and explain the process they use to manufacture their over 1 million whistles every year. Amber talked me through the company’s history, how the whistles are made, what they offer and their niche in the overall whistle market. Amber is the newest member of the 9 person workforce at American Whistle, and she has been there for over 5 years! The rest of the crew measure their tenure in decades, not years, a true testament to a great company. Perhaps the most…Continue Reading