Made in VIETNAM

[280twoeighty]

I am for American made also. Clothing is next to impossible though. I want to try some Day one pants and get a Feathered friends vest too at some point.
I pick and choose the clothing pieces I like from the oversea's providers like Cabela's, First lite and Sitka. Some of it is ok but not a fan in general.
I do not harbor ill feelings persae about the countries. Just think supporting our country makes a lot of sense. Most of these places do not like us much so why support those who do not like us.
Also take a look at the prices and tell me it is a great deal.
I definitely know where what I buy is made.

I am referring to third world, sweat shop type area's or the world.

I have quality boots, optics, etc made outside the US that are very high quality that do not fall into that category.

Good for you VH or returning your MR. Tell them why.

 

[BRWNBR]

The guy who owns day one is great to work with! I’ve got one of his pullovers and it’s a great layer. I just should of added wind breaker to it.

 

[THBZN]

To the OP (Violent Hippie, I think?), I would like to propose a test, or challenge; call it what you want.

1. Take all of your hunting gear that you use throughout the season. Check the labels, and EVERYTHING that is not US made, set it aside. Take the remaining items that are US made, and set those in another pile. Now, research, source and purchase the items that are in the "foreign made" pile, replacing your kit with 100% US made gear. Donate your non-US made products to someone getting started out in hunting, sell them on Craigslist, whatever. But the non-US made stuff has to go.

Provide the forum a list of your now 100% US made products. I am saying this with sincerity, not sarcasm. It would be an interesting project, and I believe the OP would be the best person for it. Obviously, he believes strongly in his position and opinion. I commend that, I commend his service to our country. But if the thought of an MR pack being made overseas can kick off this much forum activity, I would like to see if the proverbial "put your money where your mouth is" can be taken one step further, and one can truly have 100% US made gear that fulfills all of the needs of a hunter -- outerwear, boots, optics, packs, water filter, stoves, knives, base layers, headlamps.....the list is long.

So, to the OP, are you up to the challenge?

 

[Whisky]

To the OP (Violent Hippie, I think?), I would like to propose a test, or challenge; call it what you want.

1. Take all of your hunting gear that you use throughout the season. Check the labels, and EVERYTHING that is not US made, set it aside. Take the remaining items that are US made, and set those in another pile. Now, research, source and purchase the items that are in the "foreign made" pile, replacing your kit with 100% US made gear. Donate your non-US made products to someone getting started out in hunting, sell them on Craigslist, whatever. But the non-US made stuff has to go.

Provide the forum a list of your now 100% US made products. I am saying this with sincerity, not sarcasm. It would be an interesting project, and I believe the OP would be the best person for it. Obviously, he believes strongly in his position and opinion. I commend that, I commend his service to our country. But if the thought of an MR pack being made overseas can kick off this much forum activity, I would like to see if the proverbial "put your money where your mouth is" can be taken one step further, and one can truly have 100% US made gear that fulfills all of the needs of a hunter -- outerwear, boots, optics, packs, water filter, stoves, knives, base layers, headlamps.....the list is long.

So, to the OP, are you up to the challenge?

I second this...

 

[Michiganhunter]

I live in the Metro Detroit area where Ford Gm and Chrysler all have there headquarters here. It is amazing that Honda’s and Toyota’s have more American made parts and assemblies then the big 3. So if one truly wanted an American car it might not be The one you think it is.

 

[deerhunter628]

To the OP (Violent Hippie, I think?), I would like to propose a test, or challenge; call it what you want.

1. Take all of your hunting gear that you use throughout the season. Check the labels, and EVERYTHING that is not US made, set it aside. Take the remaining items that are US made, and set those in another pile. Now, research, source and purchase the items that are in the "foreign made" pile, replacing your kit with 100% US made gear. Donate your non-US made products to someone getting started out in hunting, sell them on Craigslist, whatever. But the non-US made stuff has to go.

Provide the forum a list of your now 100% US made products. I am saying this with sincerity, not sarcasm. It would be an interesting project, and I believe the OP would be the best person for it. Obviously, he believes strongly in his position and opinion. I commend that, I commend his service to our country. But if the thought of an MR pack being made overseas can kick off this much forum activity, I would like to see if the proverbial "put your money where your mouth is" can be taken one step further, and one can truly have 100% US made gear that fulfills all of the needs of a hunter -- outerwear, boots, optics, packs, water filter, stoves, knives, base layers, headlamps.....the list is long.

So, to the OP, are you up to the challenge?

With some items there is not an equivalent made in america aption, but some there are. There are good made in america options, at least one Kifaru. If the OP or anybody else pefers made in america good for him, and good for those americans who have the jobs he supports. That does not mean made in america is always a viable option, but i certainly think made in america is a good choice when it is an option.

 

[Kevin Dill]

Funny how things turn around. I remember being a young boy in the 1960s and seeing the label 'Made In Japan'. The overwhelming American interpretation of that label was 'Complete Junk'. Seriously. There was still plenty of post-WWII disgust and hatred expressed toward Japan and her citizens. American workers lost no opportunity to trash anything made in Japan, and that included cars, radios, televisions, motorcycles and so on...in other words anything headed in the direction of technology. Thirty years later Japan was considered THE technology titan in terms of product development and engineering. Names like Sony, Toyota, Datsun/Nissan, Honda, Mitsubishi, Onkyo, Yamaha and many more became synonymous with superior technology....and in many cases the American competition wasn't keeping up. Now Japan has earned worldwide respect for their technology and manufacturing.

Can anyone see any parallels between what happened in Japan and what's happening in Asia with certain forms of manufacturing? Generally Asia is far outdistancing itself from America in textile and related manufacturing. The latest and greatest textile products aren't being produced in any significant quantity in the U.S. Boutique and specialized industries can flourish here, but most textiles and their related final products come from other countries. That's another segment of manufacturing where a competing nation is winning....not just battles but the war. Search a thousand American closets and I think you'll find 975 of them (at least) have more imported clothing and shoes than American made.

I actually think it would be possible to outfit one's self with 100% American-made hunting gear...or at least very close. Russell boots, Filson woolens, Day One, Kifaru, Stone Glacier, Western Mountaineering, Seek Outside, Schnee's....all outstanding companies with superb gear. However you can forget about carrying a GPS, binoculars, spotter, rifle scope and other goods not made in America. I think the final tally on expenses to replace all your imported hunting gear with American-made in the same quantities might be a tad...hurtful.

 

[Jayhawkhunter]

I live in the Metro Detroit area where Ford Gm and Chrysler all have there headquarters here. It is amazing that Honda’s and Toyota’s have more American made parts and assemblies then the big 3. So if one truly wanted an American car it might not be The one you think it is.

This is true, we were in the market for a minivan (I know.....please hold your comments) and were down to the Chrysler Pacifica and Honda Odyssey. The Odyssey is manufactured in Alabama and the Pacifica in Mexico......It was quite eye opening. At least Ford, GM, and Ram manufacture trucks here............for now.

 

[Dunky]

just a plug for MR .. not saying Vietnam is or isn't the best place to make these packs but I understand MR has government contracts ( both military and fire ) . Those require the item to be made in the USA. Their Bozeman facility is at capacity with these contracts so they outsource the hunting and recreation lines. I have visited their factory in Bozeman. They treat their employees well and at least at the time I visited gave them benefits like health insurance, etc. So, if the soldiers and firefighters get the made in the USA stuff, I don't mind the other. My pintler seems flawless in construction.

 

[maninthemaze]

This is true, we were in the market for a minivan (I know.....please hold your comments) and were down to the Chrysler Pacifica and Honda Odyssey. The Odyssey is manufactured in Alabama and the Pacifica in Mexico......It was quite eye opening. At least Ford, GM, and Ram manufacture trucks here............for now.

One of the most American trucks out there is the Toyota Tundra. That one and the Ford F150. My 1996 Ram and my 2003 Ram were both built in Mexico.

Sent from my SM-G892A using Tapatalk

 

[sneaky]

At least you don't have to worry about Iraqis making hunting packs. Those guys carry everything around in plastic bags. But, man, they sure make some damn good bootlegged DVDs.

Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk

 

[juan trueno]

At least you don't have to worry about Iraqis making hunting packs. Those guys carry everything around in plastic bags. But, man, they sure make some damn good bootlegged DVDs.

Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk

What have we here? Singer 15-90 or maybe an 88 converted to electric? Nope. Japanese Clone. The United States government GAVE the Japanese the blueprints all the patant stuff etc on these machines after their surrender in WWII. Same with some other things like a couple typewriters etc- all this was an effort to get them back in the game after getting dickstomped. To rebuild there industry and economy. This machine is the bees knees. Does both silnylon and canvas duck or multiple layers of webbing and cordura equally beautifully. Its every bit the equal of the singer 15-90.

Now I made a couple jokes earlier- but I do get it. I won’t share a sidewalk with a haji- I cross the street. If they work at a business I won’t frequent it. If they walk into the restaurant where I’m eating I put cash on the table get up and leave. I’ll probably be that way forever. Unapologetically. That’s just what happens after a couple of them blow up all over you- or shoot your buddy, or blow up your truck etc etc My uncle would deeply personally offended - I mean table flipping mad- if rice was served at the same meal he was attending. But- that wasn’t my fight- and that’s duality. Just because I had and maybe still do have a cause or what have you doesn’t mean I have to take up my fathers cause or demand my son take up mine.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[THBZN]

I'm still wondering if the OP wants to test the idea of an all American gear vault for hunting season....Violent Hippie....paging Violent Hippie.....

It's a complicated subject for sure. But as mentioned above, MR does considerable business with the US Special Forces; Mystery Ranch won the contract for three of USSOCOM's SPEAR family of packs. More SF teams carry MR packs than do not. Same goes with wildland firefighters. And yes, the hunting and outdoor/mountain packs are made overseas. I just like the fact we as hunters/gear geeks here in the US have so many options, and many of those options are great foreign made products -- Leica spotters? Vortex rangefinders? Gore Tex outerwear from numerous companies? Check, check, check.....the list goes on.

Now, who is getting excited for spring bear and turkey?

 

[deadwolf]

Back when I was in a band, I was looking to get a new guitar, I wanted a Fender Telecaster in a bad way. Told my band mate I was going to get an American made Tele, but damn they were twice as much as the Mexico made ones. Band mate says to me, “That Mexico Tele is made by a Mexican craftsman in Mexico, that USA Tele is made by a Mexican craftsman in the USA. That’s the only difference.”
The idea that any item is inferior based solely on where or who is making it is completely unfounded.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Sverimerica]

Back when I was in a band, I was looking to get a new guitar, I wanted a Fender Telecaster in a bad way. Told my band mate I was going to get an American made Tele, but damn they were twice as much as the Mexico made ones. Band mate says to me, “That Mexico Tele is made by a Mexican craftsman in Mexico, that USA Tele is made by a Mexican craftsman in the USA. That’s the only difference.”
The idea that any item is inferior based solely on where or who is making it is completely unfounded.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Sorry man, I have to disagree on those fender guitars. When I was a kid I bought the standard strat, made in Mexico. My buddy had the standard strat made in USA. Night and day difference. I dont know why, but that American made felt, played, and sounded way better. But yeah, way more than I could afford but that was a much better fender guitar.

Skickat från min G8142 via Tapatalk

 

[deadwolf]

Sorry man, I have to disagree on those fender guitars. When I was a kid I bought the standard strat, made in Mexico. My buddy had the standard strat made in USA. Night and day difference. I dont know why, but that American made felt, played, and sounded way better. But yeah, way more than I could afford but that was a much better fender guitar.

Skickat från min G8142 via Tapatalk

I have had both, and built a couple, you wouldn’t have been able to do the Pepsi challenge and tell a difference.

And if nothing else, maybe we can change this thread into talking about something less polarizing, like Fender vs. Gibson : )


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Kevin Dill]

And if nothing else, maybe we can change this thread into talking about something less polarizing, like Fender vs. Gibson : )

I think you intentionally left Martin out of the comparison, and acoustic discrimination can't be tolerated.

 

[Sverimerica]

I think you intentionally left Martin out of the comparison, and acoustic discrimination can't be tolerated.

Well we should have specified: electric guitars. Certainly any discussion of acoustics without Martin wouldnt be any real discussion at all.

Skickat från min G8142 via Tapatalk

 

[Poser]

I have had both, and built a couple, you wouldn’t have been able to do the Pepsi challenge and tell a difference.

And if nothing else, maybe we can change this thread into talking about something less polarizing, like Fender vs. Gibson : )


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Fender = workin’ man’s guitar
Gibson = show man’s guitar

 

[Michiganhunter]

Fender = workin’ man’s guitar
Gibson = show man’s guitar

I wish I could make either sound like a musical instrument. I have no natrural talent when it comes to music.