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The Tip is 'Ask Before You Buy' I went to a department store for a pair of dress shoes recently. The clerk helped me with three different pairs that I tried on. 'The Big Secret' was on the forefront of my mind so I asked, "Are these shoes imports?" The salesman responded that they were in fact imported. "Do you have any Made In America shoes like these?" I asked. To my surprise he said, "We have a whole line of Made In USA shoes." I was able to purchase the same color and style with the Made In USA label. These Made in America shoes were less expensive, came with a better warranty and were more comfortable. It's amazing how often this simple Made in US question yields unexpected and often times pleasant results. I now ask this question regularly, whereas before I would not have thought to ask for a Made in America alternative. More often than not, I can find a Made in America product of higher quality and at the same, or slightly higher price. Asking the question is so simple and can make a positive impact, in both the short and long term. Try it sometime. If you are like me, you may be surprised with how many Made in US products are out there. You will love it when you realize you are making a difference that benefits many. With your help America will be ours again and that is a good thing. Buying Tip Continued - Read more on Made in America Products by Rivendell Mountain Works There has recently been a renaissance of interest in older gear and traditional designs. Part of the success (the re-introduction) of RMW packs is attributable to that. We have not messed with the original designs and we continue to use some materials that modernists and the fashion police consider to be out-of-date. The fact is that these choices are valid because the older components either equal or outperform the newer components and we consider them to have greater aesthetic value. Most of the time, changes occur for reasons of economy and fashion and not because of functional value. If the components we used were inferior, we would find something better. With that in mind, you will find the Jensen Pack? equipped with leather tie-on points (barbells) and leather reinforced stress points. The waist buckle is made from stainless steel that can easily be released with one hand. The shoulder strap buckles are the traditional nickel plated steel, double bar buckles, (they don't break like plastic buckles). Cordura nylon is rarely used in backpacks these days. Most manufacturers have switched to high tech fabrics that are lighter weight, but ironically the Jensen Pack? remains one of the lightest packs in it's capacity range, and achieves many times the longevity of these modern fabrics. Even though the Jensen Pack? is made much in the same image as it originally was, and thus appeals to the purist, it is possible to specify more modern materials and we will work with your requests to adapt the design to your needs. Please see the section on Customize for more information and ordering guidelines. It is a ton of fun to be part of this movement away from mass produced gear and it is great for the consumer because of the proliferation of choices and the availability of unusual niche products. Thanks so much for your support!! |
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