Made in China versus USA

[divingpa]

It is interesting that Kifaru has figured out how to make a pack 100% American made, to include the sewing needles (as I've been told), but other US companies can't source it....hmmmm.

 

[Salmon River Solutions]

As someone who built plastic injection molds for 8 years, seeing the buckles when I got my Kifaru put a big smile on my face. You can tell they were quality made. No flash, minimal parting lines, and no cold weld from molding. All the other packs I’ve had that were cheap and made in China have had buckle failures.

I’ll never go back to cheap packs like that! Quality and reliability and made in the USA? Hell yea!

 

[Mt Al]

The "where applicable" part is what raises eyebrows. Is whatever is not applicable 10%? 30%? What country does whatever is not applicable come from? What is it that is not applicable?

I think some of it is material availability. For example, I think it was 330D cordura wasn't available US made for a while but now is - might be a different fabric. Some zipper styles used to be only available from foreign factories. Stuff like that. The manufacturer has to weigh performance, weight vs. US made. Just glad we have options and companies are trying to make things here.

 

[Kevin_t]

We are made in America using the best materials for the purpose . Our Cordura is USA made , X-pac is or should be as well . frames are made in US , spacer mesh is USA made as well. However certain things like zippers get convoluted even with YKK.

In some instances though , better things come from overseas . Sometimes the tech just does not exist on this side . Also raw materials are very global . In some instances thread is from the US is used to make a fabric in South Korea , that is finished in China or elsewhere . It can be more complicated .


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[22Jdub]

We are made in America using the best materials for the purpose . Our Cordura is USA made , X-pac is or should be as well . frames are made in US , spacer mesh is USA made as well. However certain things like zippers get convoluted even with YKK.

In some instances though , better things come from overseas . Sometimes the tech just does not exist on this side . Also raw materials are very global . In some instances thread is from the US is used to make a fabric in South Korea , that is finished in China or elsewhere . It can be more complicated .


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I've owned packs from all the big manufacturers and saying some things from overseas are just better is absolutely not true from what I've seen. The buckles, zipper and strap quality of kifaru was much better than any of the USA made packs with foreign components (MR, Exo, Eberlestock)

 

[Kevin_t]

I've owned packs from all the big manufacturers and saying some things from overseas are just better is absolutely not true from what I've seen. The buckles, zipper and strap quality of kifaru was much better than any of the USA made packs with foreign components (MR, Exo, Eberlestock)

It all depends on what you are talking about . Some stuff is simply not available as made in the U.S. We can agree to disagree .


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[trophyhill]

It is interesting that Kifaru has figured out how to make a pack 100% American made, to include the sewing needles (as I've been told), but other US companies can't source it....hmmmm.

This is why I said I find it hard to believe. I believe it's very doable. If the price of my pack cost another 20 bucks because a zipper pull or some other component is sourced and fabbed in the states, then sobeit

 

[Kevin Dill]

As I see it, we benefit from having choices.

 

[trophyhill]

It all depends on what you are talking about . Some stuff is simply not available as made in the U.S. We can agree to disagree .


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

So what is it that isn't availab

As I see it, we benefit from having choices.

And so does China apparently while our own American workers should be the ones reaping the benefits instead

 

[22Jdub]

It all depends on what you are talking about . Some stuff is simply not available as made in the U.S. We can agree to disagree .


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Kifaru gets all high quality components for their packs in the US so I don't see how that's a valid point unless the others have some special Component that no other pack has? What would that be?

 

[Kevin Dill]

And so does China apparently while our own American workers should be the ones reaping the benefits instead

All I can say to this is that we let American consumers speak to their preferences....and they have spoken. Some prefer American. Some have no preference. The freedom to choose is ours.

 

[Dos Perros]

You can get Berry exemptions, FWIW.

 

[tdot]

All I can say to this is that we let American consumers speak to their preferences....and they have spoken. Some prefer American. Some have no preference. The freedom to choose is ours.

Well said.

 

[trophyhill]

All I can say to this is that we let American consumers speak to their preferences....and they have spoken. Some prefer American. Some have no preference. The freedom to choose is ours.

Appears to me that Americans were sold down the river when NAFTA was signed and this took American made choices away. That was corporate and politically driven. Not consumer driven. Consumers had no choice in that decision. Since we do have that freedom of choice, I would urge all Americans to buy American and send the message of no more China! I know that concept might be hard to grasp by alot of companies that are sucking on the China tit, but build it and they will come. Even if it means spending a little more. I know where my freedom of choice will be when given that choice. And it won't be China over America

 

[HuntHarder]

High quality binoculars come to mind, or pretty much anything optical that uses high end glass.

 

[tdot]

Appears to me that Americans were sold down the river when NAFTA was signed and this took American made choices away. That was corporate and politically driven. Not consumer driven. Consumers had no choice in that decision. Since we do have that freedom of choice, I would urge all Americans to buy American and send the message of no more China! I know that concept might be hard to grasp by alot of companies that are sucking on the China tit, but build it and they will come. Even if it means spending a little more. I know where my freedom of choice will be when given that choice. And it won't be China over America

How is China related to NAFTA?

 

[trophyhill]

How is China related to NAFTA?

It allowed American jobs to leave the country initially with good intentions (I think) but then when China joined the WTO, the floodgates opened at an unprecedented rate. The opportunities for companies to outsource started with NAFTA and then China took full advantage and seized on the lacks and stupid trade agreements. NAFTA opened the doors is what I'm saying if that makes any sense.

 

[pc3]

Appears to me that Americans were sold down the river when NAFTA was signed and this took American made choices away. That was corporate and politically driven. Not consumer driven. Consumers had no choice in that decision. Since we do have that freedom of choice, I would urge all Americans to buy American and send the message of no more China! I know that concept might be hard to grasp by alot of companies that are sucking on the China tit, but build it and they will come. Even if it means spending a little more. I know where my freedom of choice will be when given that choice. And it won't be China over America

Agree with your sentiment I actively try to buy products that are;

USA
Australian
European
Japanese

Whenever possible.

Mostly with Chinese rubbish you finish up buying the product made in the above country's any way after the Chinese crap breaks....not that Australia makes too much any more the Polifilth sold us down the river many moons ago, now we are world leaders in gender bending and celebrating anything that degrades normality and the traditional family unit it seems...............the country WAS great once upon a time. The ANZAC's would turn in their graves if they saw whats been done to my country. Decades of writing socialist policy that encourage the stupid and degenerate to breed is beginning to bite us on the ass in my view.

 

[easilyamused]

It allowed American jobs to leave the country initially with good intentions (I think) but then when China joined the WTO, the floodgates opened at an unprecedented rate. The opportunities for companies to outsource started with NAFTA and then China took full advantage and seized on the lacks and stupid trade agreements. NAFTA opened the doors is what I'm saying if that makes any sense.

As a Canadian the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA involves America, Canada, and Mexico) allows me to get an American made pack (kifaru in my case) for a much more competitive price than buying one made in asia because im not paying the extra duty I would be on a MR or kuiu or whatever. NAFTA really helps promote me buying an American made product over something made in china, which is good for you and good for us.

 

[Michiganhunter]

As someone who built plastic injection molds for 8 years, seeing the buckles when I got my Kifaru put a big smile on my face. You can tell they were quality made. No flash, minimal parting lines, and no cold weld from molding. All the other packs I’ve had that were cheap and made in China have had buckle failures.

I’ll never go back to cheap packs like that! Quality and reliability and made in the USA? Hell yea!

I was a mold maker for about the same ammount of time and I thought I was the only one that always inspected the plastic buckles.