On a recent morning, I was threading onto my belt an El Paso Saddlery 1911 2F double magazine carrier. I had purchased the now darkened leather piece of belt kit in my early twenties. It dawned on me, if I lived to be one hundred that carrier would still be serviceable. As the late James Yeager wisely once noted: “I don’t know about you, but I can’t afford to buy things twice.”
When it comes to rugged outdoor clothing and baggage, it’s hard to go wrong with the C.C. Filson Company of Seattle, Washington. Originally established in the 1890’s to outfit Cascade Mountains lumberjacks and miners headed for the Klondike Gold Rush of Canada’s Yukon Territory; Filson is a rugged wear icon.
I first became associated with Filson (also while in my twenties) when my Army Reserve outfit had the plum assignment of training Army ROTC Advanced Camp cadets at Ft. Lewis, Washington during the summers of 1997 and 1998. While on that first trip to the Pacific Northwest, we visited the (then) site of the C.C. Filson home store and factory in the heart of Downtown Seattle where I purchased an Original Twill Rugged Briefcase. I paid around $200 for that bag nearly thirty years ago and carried it throughout the workweek from that point until leaving the high school classroom. The bags, hats, chaps, gallouses and vests I’ve purchased or been gifted since that first item from Filson have been worth every penny paid for them and they will easily outlast me on this Earth.
In recent years, Filson’s ownership has changed hands several times. Sadly, the brand strayed from its roots and was in some cases guilty of selling overpriced foreign made goods; shamelessly duping customers by trading on the company’s rich tradition. Of late however, Filson has refocused its line on the American made wool and tin cloth standbys which made the company legendary. Their goods aren’t cheap, but as the company’s founder famously said: “Might as well have the best.” Life is too short. Don’t skimp on ketchup or kit.
Next Week: L.L. Bean
Happy New Year!
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