Filson Bag Thread: With Pictures

[OtterMeanGreen]

Are any of you familiar with Jimmy DiResta? He’s a maker/craftsman with a big YouTube channel. He’s in NYC

He’s done some work with Filson in the past and is now working on a canoe that will be in the NYC Filson store from September for those of you close-ish.

Nice! Have never heard of him but now I have, so thanks for sharing. That's pretty cool.

 

[OtterMeanGreen]

Apparently Filson has there own branded Zippo for an uncommonly underwhelming cost of $35. Somehow on their website it's listed as "NEW", however reviews suggest it's been for sale for at least a full year. Apparently the Filson 1897 logo is only embossed and not etched, which explains the mixed reviews. Plus it's finished in antique silver and not brass.....go figure that one

https://www.filson.com/zippo-lighter.html#sku=20014429-fco-005666131

 

[Stratkat]

Exactly my thought, which is why after searching for Saddleback products used in the wild (camping, hiking, fishing, hunting, etc), I couldn't really find much. I'm sure people use them, but couldn't find many of them either.

Wow, I realize this is indeed a Filson forum, but there are lots of sites dedicated to Saddleback, lots of photos too, reviews good and bad. Some of them are just as passionate as you!
I first found out about them on a shoe forum there were the inevitable comparisons to Filson, which is how I found this site

 

[OtterMeanGreen]

Wow, I realize this is indeed a Filson forum, but there are lots of sites dedicated to Saddleback, lots of photos too, reviews good and bad. Some of them are just as passionate as you!
I first found out about them on a shoe forum there were the inevitable comparisons to Filson, which is how I found this site

I extended my search far outside of this forum. If you could link us to those sites (since there are many) then that would help out a lot. I'm of course referring to using Saddlebacks in a manner that many Filson's are used, which is clearly reflected by the plethora of sites that display it. So far all I see are teachers, lawyers and businessman alike using Saddlebacks. Wasn't the founder of Saddleback a teacher? That seems like the polar opposite of C.C. Filson who started off a railroad worker and later an outfitter for the logging and gold rush industries. I have no doubt that you won't find people as passionate about Saddleback as I am about Filson. But will you also find guys like @Toombs, @speedy611 & @mgrennier who enjoy utilizing their Saddlebacks in the field, who are just as passionate as I am with not yet using them for that purpose?

 

[Stratkat]

I extended my search far outside of this forum. If you could link us to those sites (since there are many) then that would help out a lot. I'm of course referring to using Saddlebacks in a manner that many Filson's are used, which is clearly reflected by the plethora of sites that display it. So far all I see are teachers, lawyers and businessman alike using Saddlebacks. Wasn't the founder of Saddleback a teacher? That seems like the polar opposite of C.C. Filson who started off a railroad worker and later an outfitter for the logging and gold rush industries. I have no doubt that you won't find people as passionate about Saddleback as I am about Filson. But will you also find guys like @Toombs, @speedy611 & @mgrennier who enjoy utilizing their Saddlebacks in the field, who are just as passionate as I am with not yet using them for that purpose?

You’ll have to do the research yourself, I satisfied my own curiosity and am very happy with my stuff. I will say I’d venture to say most of Filson customers probably use them for office as well, we are no longer living in the age of exploration. That being said I have the same faith in my Saddleback stuff as I do in Filson, it’s that well made, and there are some features I like more. As to what Dave did Before he became and captain of industry I do not know, I do know he is world traveled and has done a lot of field testing of he designs before manufacturing

 

[Soletrane]

h

The size difference between those two are quite sizable. How was the experience overall. Did you have to hike to your campsite?

The medium (old size) is 2.5x bigger than the small so sizable difference. The advantage of larger sized duffles becomes very apparent when you start packing gear like fleece jackets and towels. The small duffle which I have used for 2-3 day business trips becomes pretty undersized for camping. On the other hand, the Sportsman becomes more useful for hauling odds and ends from flashlights to first aid kits.

I did not hike but drove into the campsite. I liked using Filson goods in this context. Though there was much less navel gazing about my choice of luggage than on business trips.

 

[Soletrane]

Exactly my thought, which is why after searching for Saddleback products used in the wild (camping, hiking, fishing, hunting, etc), I couldn't really find much. I'm sure people use them, but couldn't find many of them either.

My comment was mostly about the huge heavy leather Saddleback briefcases with the heavy steel hardware. But admittedly, I don’t like the cowboy/Western look in most leather goods. Some people can carry it off; I am not one of them.

 

[Soletrane]

I extended my search far outside of this forum. If you could link us to those sites (since there are many) then that would help out a lot. I'm of course referring to using Saddlebacks in a manner that many Filson's are used, which is clearly reflected by the plethora of sites that display it. So far all I see are teachers, lawyers and businessman alike using Saddlebacks. Wasn't the founder of Saddleback a teacher? That seems like the polar opposite of C.C. Filson who started off a railroad worker and later an outfitter for the logging and gold rush industries. I have no doubt that you won't find people as passionate about Saddleback as I am about Filson. But will you also find guys like @Toombs, @speedy611 & @mgrennier who enjoy utilizing their Saddlebacks in the field, who are just as passionate as I am with not yet using them for that purpose?

It’s a hard comparison to make. Filson was founded during a time where almost all men had physically demanding jobs often with exposure to the elements. Saddleback was founded relatively recently with much of its popularity built around internet buzz. Having said that the predominant forum for Filson enthusiasts is on styleforum.net so I am not sure one or the other iis attracting a dramatically different clientele from one another in 2018. Look at the upmarket locations of the new Filson stores and the catalog photography.

 

[OtterMeanGreen]

You’ll have to do the research yourself, I satisfied my own curiosity and am very happy with my stuff. I will say I’d venture to say most of Filson customers probably use them for office as well, we are no longer living in the age of exploration. That being said I have the same faith in my Saddleback stuff as I do in Filson, it’s that well made, and there are some features I like more. As to what Dave did Before he became and captain of industry I do not know, I do know he is world traveled and has done a lot of field testing of he designs before manufacturing

But I already have researched myself (as you will see reflected in both of my comments), and I found next to nothing. Based on your assumptions I should be able to satisfy my efforts with as much Saddleback products in the field/wild as Filson, but that is simply not true. At the very least I should be able to type in Google images and see that reflected, but only Filson is, in terms of being used as intended

He was most certainly a teacher as that is in the company bio.

That's the good thing about forums, it serves many as a key to information, knowledge and passion about something. As you can see on this thread (since you read it twice) that we help each other out and would never say "you'll have to do the research yourself" when someone is asking for help. We even go as far as helping search for bags that one is searching for (I've done it and it's been done for me). It's more like a brotherhood than a forum, at least that's what I think.

 

[OtterMeanGreen]

My comment was mostly about the huge heavy leather Saddleback briefcases with the heavy steel hardware. But admittedly, I don’t like the cowboy/Western look in most leather goods. Some people can carry it off; I am not one of them.

That is what my comment was about too. I understand that they now make Canvas goods, but I understand that to be a newer edition to the company and not yet tested through time and heavy usage/wear.

 

[TinMan3]

Apparently Filson has there own branded Zippo for an uncommonly underwhelming cost of $35. Somehow on their website it's listed as "NEW", however reviews suggest it's been for sale for at least a full year. Apparently the Filson 1897 logo is only embossed and not etched, which explains the mixed reviews. Plus it's finished in antique silver and not brass.....go figure that one

https://www.filson.com/zippo-lighter.html#sku=20014429-fco-005666131

I bought one.

 

[OtterMeanGreen]

I bought one.

but of course you did, as it is a cool product for an incredible low price (so unlike Filson ), about the same price as a regular zippo. I still have my eye on a solid brass one with the pipe lighter insert. That's kind of a side hobby of mine; tobacco pipes and accessories, tons of cool vintage briarwood pipes and antique heritage lighters.

 

[TinMan3]

I bought one.

but of course you did, as it is a cool product for an incredible low price (so unlike Filson ), about the same price as a regular zippo. I still have my eye on a solid brass one with the pipe lighter insert. That's kind of a side hobby of mine; tobacco pipes and accessories, tons of cool vintage briarwood pipes and antique heritage lighters.

To add to this, they had a run last year. I like this design better, but that would be why it has reviews. It’s definitely referring to its predecessor.

I thought $35 was a steal. This is definitely a collectible Filson item that will likely be sought after at some point. But this one goes in my ‘personal collection’, even though I am not a smoker in any variety. Just a very cool piece to take camping twice a year

 

[Stratkat]

That is what my comment was about too. I understand that they now make Canvas goods, but I understand that to be a newer edition to the company and not yet tested through time and heavy usage/wear.

If you picked one up you would know it’s up to any thing you could throw at it.

 

[OtterMeanGreen]

To add to this, they had a run last year. I like this design better, but that would be why it has reviews. It’s definitely referring to its predecessor.

I thought $35 was a steal. This is definitely a collectible Filson item that will likely be sought after at some point. But this one goes in my ‘personal collection’, even though I am not a smoker in any variety. Just a very cool piece to take camping twice a year

So does the new one feature an etched Filson label, or is it still something that might wear off in time?