Things that are made better than they have to be

[Nathanrtaylor]

Bikes can be held together with epoxy, yet the framebuilders on VSalon have the gall to put them together with melted brass.
Suit jacket linings can be fused, yet a bespoke tailor will stitch one by hand.
Shoes can be stuck together with glue, yet there are stlll shoes put together in a different (and better) way.

These shoes, for instance. I pre-ordered these last month and they showed up earlier this week.

Fully leather lined, goodyear welted, cork and leather insoled, silicone impregnated canvas shoes. The quality is amazing, and yet they are so low key that no one would look at them twice. A resole or two, a new pair of laces now and then, and I may still be wearing these 5+ years from now.


What else is made so much better than it has to be that you almost feel guilty about it?

[chasea]

Sapim CX Rays

[Til Dropp]

Park HHP-2... weapons grade

[chasea]

Anything that reads "Chris King."

Who makes those shoes, by the way?

[Too Tall]

Chris Reeve folding knifes
Chevy 235 straight six

[jamesand]

Toyota R engine family.

XT thumbshifters.

Coleman 2 burner camp stoves.

.22 Nylon 66

[AbeNP]

eVent fabric.

[caleb]

Any shotgun still made in Europe.

[Zimmermanbicycle]

Murray Carter kitchen knives
handmade in Oregon
my first choice in the kitchen
-Eric

[caleb]

Duluth Pack's Monarch Series





Your grandkids will thank you.

(Here's the rub... As cool as Duluth Packs are, I'd still rather take one from Granite Gear on a long trip - they're the best. But this is about fashion, and Duluth Packs definitely look nice.)

[Nathanrtaylor]

Anything that reads "Chris King."

Who makes those shoes, by the way?

Feit made these for Outlier.

[dhoff]

Billingham Bags, it used to be that you could only get the camera bags in the US and the other bags one had to buy in the UK. Now I cannot find the others anywhere including the UK.

Fortunately I have one of these that is now 5 years old and barely broken in.

[Zimmermanbicycle]

Billingham Bags, it used to be that you could only get the camera bags in the US and the other bags one had to buy in the UK. Now I cannot find the others anywhere including the UK.

Fortunately I have one of these that is now 5 years old and barely broken in.

+1 here,love my Billingham,use it daily,got great customer service when I sent it back to the UK after my dog ate the top flap ,they sent it back repaired and included a chew toy for my dog,awesome bag terrific folks!
-Eric

[Too Tall]

Duluth Pack's Monarch Series





Your grandkids will thank you.

(Here's the rub... As cool as Duluth Packs are, I'd still rather take one from Granite Gear on a long trip - they're the best. But this is about fashion, and Duluth Packs definitely look nice.)

Thanks for that. For three yrs. before college commenced I'd take 10 day voyages into Boundary waters and Quatico using an old school Grumman and those wonderful packs to haul our goods. I'd have one on my front side facing in and one on my back AND the canoe on my shoulders. Brutal.
We would rent these pack from an outfitter in Duluth and they were always very well loved. Beautiful design. Thanks.

[dhoff]

Thanks for that. For three yrs. before college commenced I'd take 10 day voyages into Boundary waters and Quatico using an old school Grumman and those wonderful packs to haul our goods. I'd have one on my front side facing in and one on my back AND the canoe on my shoulders. Brutal.
We would rent these pack from an outfitter in Duluth and they were always very well loved. Beautiful design. Thanks.

For 5 years beginning in 1978, I spent my summers mostly in Northern Ontario, Temagami Region, or once up in with a Duluth pack, a Peterborough, wood and canvas Canoe made sometime before the company started making aluminum canoes in 1957 and a Wanagan (a plywood box with a head strap for carrying). For 4-9 weeks I would see only my traveling companions, unless we, like some odd reminders of the past wandered through some small town like Elk Lake, or Temagami, once Moosenee all the way up on the Hudson Bay. We would paddle until we could hardly move portage over terrain not suitable for mountain goats and keep going no matter how much it hurt. I was 12 the first year and there I learned about how far I could go beyond what I thought my limits were.

This is the foundation of every double century, every tough climb 100 miles from home, every time I ride through the night, this going beyond what I think I can do.

Thanks for the Duluth Pack and to TT for the reminder

[Too Tall]

I ordered yet another item from Saddleback Leather company. The guy makes his goods too well. Honestly, no compromise construction and he donates proceeds to worthy causes. Too good. Thanks Chase, great thread.

Saddleback Leather Co. : Leather Bags, Leather Briefcases, & Luggage

Wallet Simple Carbon Black (WA-SI-CB)
quantity: 1
total price: $12.00

Just wanted to let you know that I sent your leather out just a little bit ago. Your tracking number is listed below along with a link to the shipping company so you can track your leather piece every couple of hours. To care for your leather piece and read about the photo contest please see the Questions page on the website. I have all sorts of tips to keep your leather in top shape there too.

Oh, and by the way, a pretty good chunk of the amount that you sent to Saddleback went directly to loving people through one of those aid organizations on the Dave's Links page. Basically, you just contributed to drilling a well for an entire village or partially sponsored a 5 year old street kid in Rwanda to get into a loving orphanage and go to one of the best schools in the country. This is the main reason Saddleback Leather exists. Just wanted to let you know... between friends. Thanks for helping.

The way I see it, out of the thousands and thousands of companies in the world, on the Internet or down on the corner selling leather goods, you chose mine and I really do feel honored. You are very much appreciated. Glad you're in the family.

Thank you and have a great week.

Warm regards,
Dave Munson
Presidente
Saddleback Leather Co

[dhoff]

I ordered yet another item from Saddleback Leather company. The guy makes his goods too well. Honestly, no compromise construction and he donates proceeds to worthy causes. Too good. Thanks Chase, great thread.

beautiful products, several belong on the "things I want, like now" thread

[chasea]

Thanks Chase, great thread.

This is Mr. Taylor's thread, so the thanks go to him.

As a drummer, I'd say that anything made by Ronn Dunnett is of a higher quality than it really needs to be. He pioneeered the use of titanium as a shell material (cryogenically frozen ti at that!). His drums are all handmade. He has reintroduced the George Way Drum Co. His shells can be found on the signature snare from the Stanton Moore Drum Co. His hardware designs are licensed and sold by larger companies. DW and Ludwig (among others) have worked with him. He's been working on a new bass drum pedal, which I am eager to try out once it is released. Artists endorsing other brands pay their own money to use his gear. The only thing that isn't really up to snuff is his website, which he is working on.

dunnett classic drums

[chasea]

Yes, its totally gaudy. Hell, its even gauche. But it bills itself as the world's only 7-star (out of a total possible 5) hotel. Everyone I've spoken to that's stayed there said the service was "totes nutzoid" (okay, I'm paraphrasing). I'm down to tag along if anyone wants to book a flight and a suite.

Burj Al Arab - Luxury Hotels in Dubai - Jumeirah

[Jeremy S]

Agreed on Saddleback. Nothing better out there. I'm saving up for some of their goods.
Tom Bihn travel bags are also overbuilt. I've beat the shit out of my TriStar for 2 years and it's showing not one bit of wear. In comparison, my wife and I have destroyed bags from REI, Osprey, TNF, Jansport in fewer trips.

Anything Kiton makes is also way superlative.

I am curious how the Feits will wear. They're doing interesting things, but sneakers is sneakers, and sometimes the construction can be better than the materials. (Note: I am pursuing yet another manufacturing project to start making vulcanized rubber / canvas shoes in the USA again)