After founder Thom “Dutch” Ressler thru-hiked the Appalachian Trail with a hammock in 2003, he began making the minimalist camping gear he could not find elsewhere. Today, DutchWare makes American-made hammocks and suspension hardware, including its Chameleon Hammock and invented Dutch Clip, while supplying DIY builders with outdoor fabrics and components. The Lancaster company also provides contract sewing, laser cutting and custom printing for other gear businesses, with a focus on recycled and repurposed materials where possible.
Coalcracker Bushcraft LLCFrom its Pennsylvania base, Coalcracker Bushcraft LLC makes outdoor field gear and teaches bushcraft and survival skills through its Appalachian Bushman School. The company cuts and sews much of its own equipment in-house, including oilcloth shelters and sleep systems, and also provides OEM sewing for heavyweight textiles and wool—materials many production facilities avoid. Its gear is made in the USA and designed around practical use in the field.FRACKVILLE, PA
Hilltop Packs LLCHilltop Packs is a hiker-owned Pennsylvania company that began in Ben McMillen’s basement in 2019 and has grown into a small, hands-on crew in Waynesburg. Its unusual signature is custom printing that turns ultralight backpacking gear into something personal, while the team still makes each piece in its own shop and backs its manufactured gear with a five-year warranty.WAYNESBURG, PA
Weaver ArboristFounded by leatherworker Harry Weaver in 1973 in a 20-by-40-foot shoe shop in Mt. Hope, Ohio, Weaver Arborist makes climbing harnesses and other dependable gear for professional arborists. The company still handcrafts products such as leather scabbards and tool pouches in Mt. Hope, where skilled sewing operators, craftspeople, and quality-control staff give close attention to every detail. Its early customer-service tradition began with Harry personally delivering harness orders in his El Camino and remains part of the business today.MT HOPE, OH
VOITEDFounded in 2018, VOITED designs outdoor comfort gear around its signature 4-in-1 PillowBlanket™, which converts between a blanket, pillow, cape and sleeping bag. The digitally native brand makes its products from recycled or sustainably sourced materials, pairing compact, multipurpose designs with a stated goal of reducing manufacturing waste and environmental impact. VOITED also works with artists, outdoor brands and nonprofits to create distinctive collaborative designs.21ST FLOOR, NY