Filson Bag Thread: With Pictures

[nevadabob]

What's the story? Is Filson on a downward slide?

Yes.

Once purchased by Bedrock Manufacturing in January 2012, FIlson nearly immediately started building goods with cheaper materials while increasing prices to consumers.

"Old" Medium Duffle - http://www.filson.com/products/duffle-bag-medium.70222.html - $345 built with only Rugged twill and a bridle leather shoulder strap

"New" Medium duffle - http://www.filson.com/products/duffle-medium.70315.html - $365 - some of the 22oz twill has been replaced with 8.5oz cotton. The leather shoulder strap has been replaced with nylon

---------

Just one example...

 

[MBATF]

Yes.

Once purchased by Bedrock Manufacturing in January 2012, FIlson nearly immediately started building goods with cheaper materials while increasing prices to consumers.

"Old" Medium Duffle - http://www.filson.com/products/duffle-bag-medium.70222.html - $345 built with only Rugged twill and a bridle leather shoulder strap

"New" Medium duffle - http://www.filson.com/products/duffle-medium.70315.html - $365 - some of the 22oz twill has been replaced with 8.5oz cotton. The leather shoulder strap has been replaced with nylon

---------

Just one example...

Actually.... the #70315 Duffle-Medium is NOT the same as the regular #70222 Duffle - Medium. All of their regular duffle bags will still have the leather strap.

 

[nevadabob]

That being said, here's a couple of shots of my newest FIlson - the Dry waistpack. I purchased it for days when I don't have to have much with me on my commute to work.

Initial thoughts: Good size, same material as the small dry bag and the dry duffle backpack I own, zippers are too big to create a waterproof seal. Unlike the other two bags, I would not be confident that my gear will stay dry if I submerge this thing in water.
This pack should work fine for my purposes - protecting a phone and wallet while riding my bike - but in a real downpour, I'll be strapping it on upside down to keep out water.

 

[motosacto]

Yes.

Once purchased by Bedrock Manufacturing in January 2012, FIlson nearly immediately started building goods with cheaper materials while increasing prices to consumers.

That's too bad, really. The Bedrock Manufacturing story is fairly inspirational -- they're the founders of Shinola, for example (explains the Filson/Shinola product mashups):

http://www.economist.com/blogs/schumpeter/2014/02/making-it-America

 

[dcg]

Shinola is about the worst brand name I can think of. Of all the names to resurrect, not sure why they chose that one.

 

[Churchill W]



I finally decided to spring for a Filson luggage tag to go with my pullman and rolling carry-on bags.  Looks like the old luggage tag design is discontinued?  Here's a pic of the old one:

http://hiltonstentcity.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=2344

The new one looks cheaper? 

http://www.filson.com/products/luggage-tag.70156.html

What's the story?  Is Filson on a downward slide?

Apolis used to sell these at a discounted price for a set of 3, but I don't see it on their site anymore. They seem to only sell them in singles now.

http://store.apolisglobal.com/store.search/?q=luggage tag

Or there is this one from Saddleback too:

http://www.saddlebackleather.com/luggagetag

Think they are on their way down. Picked up a vest from Unionmade earlier this year and was surprised to see that it was made in China.

 

[MBATF]

Apolis used to sell these at a discounted price for a set of 3, but I don't see it on their site anymore. They seem to only sell them in singles now.

http://store.apolisglobal.com/store.search/?q=luggage tag

Or there is this one from Saddleback too:

http://www.saddlebackleather.com/luggagetag

Think they are on their way down. Picked up a vest from Unionmade earlier this year and was surprised to see that it was made in China.

The sad part is some of us here understand the value of US made products but only so many people welling to pay for the price tag, therefor companies has to lower production cost in order to meet the price point where customers are welling to pay. It's not easy be in a niche market.

 

[Trompe le Monde]



Yes.

Once purchased by Bedrock Manufacturing in January 2012, FIlson nearly immediately started building goods with cheaper materials while increasing prices to consumers.

"Old" Medium Duffle - http://www.filson.com/products/duffle-bag-medium.70222.html - $345 built with only Rugged twill and a bridle leather shoulder strap

"New" Medium duffle - http://www.filson.com/products/duffle-medium.70315.html - $365 - some of the 22oz twill has been replaced with 8.5oz cotton. The leather shoulder strap has been replaced with nylon

---------

Just one example...

no sleep loss over that bridle leather strap. its not supple. but not stiff enough to hold its shape. just awkwardly so. its not comfortable. you can just see from the pics its hole punched for unreasonably long length. not as adjustable as the fabric strap.

first ive punched extra holes in my 258's strap, then replaced it altogether with a fabric one, which i find is better.

 

[177itch]



The sad part is some of us here understand the value of US made products but only so many people welling to pay for the price tag, therefor companies has to lower production cost in order to meet the price point where customers are welling to pay. It's not easy be in a niche market. 

They're two separate models.

Original med duffle http://www.filson.com/products/duff...roduct=luggage/duffle-bags&fmetaProduct=1019/

New med duffle http://www.filson.com/products/duff...roduct=luggage/duffle-bags&fmetaProduct=1019/

The style numbers and dimensions are different.

 

[MBATF]

They're two separate models.

Original med duffle http://www.filson.com/products/duff...roduct=luggage/duffle-bags&fmetaProduct=1019/

New med duffle http://www.filson.com/products/duff...roduct=luggage/duffle-bags&fmetaProduct=1019/

The style numbers and dimensions are different.

Yes , this is what I have pointed out earlier ( below ). Occasionally FILSON will have limited runs on different color combination and parts. and #70315 is one example.

Actually.... the #70315 Duffle-Medium is NOT the same as the regular #70222 Duffle - Medium. All of their regular duffle bags will still have the leather strap.

 

[motosacto]

The sad part is some of us here understand the value of US made products but only so many people welling to pay for the price tag, therefor companies has to lower production cost in order to meet the price point where customers are welling to pay. It's not easy be in a niche market.

Some companies split things -- they make some stuff in the USA and some stuff elsewhere. Filson has ramped up their production a lot lately, and they're also adding quite a bit of different products into their mix. Their having a few non-USA products is fine by me. I just don't want to see them take great current designs, cheapen the construction, and raise the prices past the moon.

I really hope they don't go the same route that, say, Baracuta went. Baracuta G9 windbreakers (aka Harringtons) are ridiculously expensive now that the company is owned by a fashion house holding company (same folks who own Barbour). It's a frickin' windbreaker. They were too expensive at $200, and now they're charging >$400.

 

[milw50717]



Shinola is about the worst brand name I can think of. Of all the names to resurrect, not sure why they chose that one.

"You don't know **** from Shinola"

That is apparently the reason.

 

[nevadabob]

SHAMELESS (once again): If anyone reading has a Filson playing card case, pen case, draftsman weight or the FIlson/Stanley 100 year bottle carrier laying around, I will pay a premium for any of these items.

I've been looking for years - come close, but haven't obtained any of them yet.

 

[Churchill W]



Some companies split things -- they make some stuff in the USA and some stuff elsewhere.  Filson has ramped up their production a lot lately, and they're also adding quite a bit of different products into their mix.  Their having a few non-USA products is fine by me.  I just don't want to see them take great current designs, cheapen the construction, and raise the prices past the moon.

I really hope they don't go the same route that, say, Baracuta went.  Baracuta G9 windbreakers (aka Harringtons) are ridiculously expensive now that the company is owned by a fashion house holding company (same folks who own Barbour).  It's a frickin' windbreaker. They were too expensive at $200, and now they're charging >$400.

Agreed. Wanted a G9 before, but not they are just so expensive.

 

[dcg]



"You don't know **** from Shinola"

That is apparently the reason.

Saw that. And saw the explanation, but it still makes no sense to me. Even disregarding the shoe polish association, the name just sounds cheap. The watches are in no man's land. USA made quartz watches? Who cares, they're still quartz watches.

Holding out hope that Filson continues relatively unchanged, but feeling good about the fact that I already probably have enough of their stuff to last two lifetimes.