Skip to main content

Feel Good Friday- Mountainsmith

If you are an outdoor buff, you have most likely heard of Mountainsmith.

Founded in 1979 by iconic adventurer Patrick Smith, the line is known for seriously durable gear from technical backpacks, trekking poles, tents and sleeping bags as well as their awesome lumbar packs.

Image used with permission by copyright holder

Back in 2005 the owners made a conscious decision to make Mountainsmith a more sustainable company so they partnered with their long time textile supplier and launched ReForge 100% recycled PET (polyethylene terephthalate) RipStop fabric in 2007. As Luke Boldman, Product Line Manager and Lead Designer told us, “that was back when the ‘Green Revolution’ was really starting to happen in our industry and we were one of the first outdoor brands in the US to do this.” He continues, “Our Taiwanese textile factory had seen this type of textile happening on the industrial side of things and came to us and asked if we wanted to try it. We were all about it.”

Recommended Videos

This was one of the most significant innovations to date, for them as well as for the industry as a whole. The process saves plastic bottles from the landfill and in turn, makes their product better and more durable for the consumer. To date they have eclipsed the 6 million plastic bottle mark and ReForge makes up a little over 30% of their product line.

Mountainsmith has also unveiled two new lumbar packs, the Day Classic Hemp, and the Tour Classic Hemp, taking advantage of hemp’s renewable properties. As a crop, hemp uses half the amount of water as cotton, improves soil health, and grows resiliently making it highly profitable for its farmers. Since hemp isn’t very weather resistant, these products do have a polyurethane coating on them to be better suited for the elements.

Luke told us over the phone that “hemp is certainly new for us. It has its limitations for outdoor gear but I am sure that will change in the future. It isn’t as durable as nylon but it does fit in with our renewable resources. We thought it was a good story especially with the marijuana laws easing; it certainly is a buzz word.”

Image used with permission by copyright holder

China is the world leader in hemp production but as Boldman told us, America could rise to number two or three in the next couple of years with all the marijuana potential here. “We are excited to take leadership on making these bags and hopefully one day having home grown hemp products.”

To learn more about the brand click here.

Cator Sparks
Former Former Digital Trends Contributor, The Manual
Cator Sparks was the Editor-in-Chief of The Manual from its launch in 2012 until 2018. Previously, Cator was covering…
8 shows like You that are just as addictive and twisted
You may be over, but there are plenty of other murder dramas right around the corner
Penn Badgley looking ominous as Joe Goldberg

After five seasons of twists, murders, and weird obsessions, Joe Goldberg's story on Netflix's You has come to a close. The crime drama has been a staple on the streamer with its mix of great characters and binge-worthy mystery that makes it feel like the best parts of a true crime documentary you'd watch on Oxygen on a rainy Saturday afternoon while you're sick. While it might not have been the best show on Netflix, You was a great way to get sucked into a different world with interesting storylines for several hours each season.

If you're already missing the soapy, addictive drama of You, we have plenty of similar shows for you to watch next. They range from Emmy-worthy Golden Age dramas to junk-food style crime mysteries that follow parallel themes and arcs to the Netflix hit. These are the shows like You to watch next.

Read more
10 cigar myths the internet won’t let die
The cigar 'facts' shared in every lounge that are actually complete BS
two men enjoying cigars

The internet has been such an asset to the cigar world. It allows us to look up obscure brands, communicate with fellow fans across the globe, and access a greater amount of information than ever before. There's a downside, though: rumors catch on like wildfire, and once they're out there, they're nearly impossible to get rid of.Visit any cigar lounge or read online forums, and you'll find the same tired myths that have been making the rounds for decades. While a few are harmless pieces of folklore, others are robbing you of your hard-earned cash, ruining your smoking experience, or just flat-out lying to you about health hazards.Let's burn down those stubborn misconceptions once and for all.

Myth #1: Darker (Maduro) cigars are always more powerful

Read more
Cigar etiquette 101: Dos, don’ts, and modern manners
Please don't be that guy. Here are the cigar etiquette mistakes that scream 'amateur'
well-dressed guy smoking on a couch in the dark

Walking into a cigar lounge for the first time feels like crashing somebody's secret club. They've got this unspoken language, weird rituals, and enough unwritten rules to make your head spin! But here’s the thing—cigar etiquette is not some gatekeeping nonsense to try to make you look dumb. It's about respecting the process, the experience, and not being the person who ruins everyone else's vibe.Whether you're new to this or have been faking for years, this guide will sort you out because there's nothing more likely to ruin a good smoke than someone who clearly has no idea what they're doing.

The basics: Respecting the ritual

Read more