Everything You Need To Know To Find The Best custom outdoor backpack manufacturer

When Yvon Chouinard started forging climbing tools in his homemade blacksmith shop, he had no intention of starting one of the biggest outdoor apparel and equipment companies in the world. All he wanted was better tools for himself and his friends that would better aid them in scaling the granite walls of Yosemite and beyond. He targeted the hardcore users, and it was only as he and his team grew by creating more products and marketed them more widely that Patagonia became as far-reaching as it has.

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Not every company can be Patagonia though, or wants to be for that matter. Even after luck is taken out of the equation, some brands remain small on purpose, whether it be because the gear they’re creating is custom and difficult to scale, or to better serve their core users through focused attention to detail. This is especially true for the handful of cottage backpack makers that continue to craft covet-worthy bags for everyday users and dedicated thru-hikers alike.

Information about these backpack makers is often spread word-of-mouth instead of through national marketing campaigns; you won’t find their names plastered in magazine spreads and their websites can look like they’re from . The common thread that runs through all of them is a committed base of customers with undying brand loyalty, and that devotion is returned in kind.

Madden Equipment

In , Dan Madden, then an instructor for the wilderness education program Outward Bound, witnessed one of his students dragging a broken backpack along a trail and thought he could do better. He could, and quickly after launching Madden Equipment, Outward Bound students and others began buying his packs en masse. At one point, the company sold more technical backpacks in Europe than any of the leading brands today. Then, in the mid-s, after being acquired by the French company Lafuma, Madden Equipment went defunct due to competition.

Ten years later, with a little help from a revived appreciation for story, simplicity and retro outdoor style, Madden Equipment returned with a new line of backpacks. They still hold true to the originals in that they’re hard-wearing, understated and 100 percent USA-made, and they still use the same rugged materials that made them so beloved in the first place.

ZimmerBuilt

Even large outdoor companies are often based near the outdoor world’s focal points; in states like California or Colorado where, even in cities, access to wilderness is relatively easy. Chris Zimmer builds his ultralight backpacks in his home in Ohio though, and sends them to dedicated customers all over. Zimmer offers two made-to-order backpacks; everything else is custom, built to each buyer’s specifications that are gathered through one-on-one communication with Zimmer himself. Zimmer can design for any purpose, and primarily uses high-end materials like X-Pac, Dyneema and Dyneema Composites.

ULA Equipment

ULA is one of the younger companies on this list. Brian Frankle founded the company in after thru-hiking the Pacific Crest Trail with the idea to make lighter and more durable bags that would cater specifically to the types of hikers who might undertake a similar journey. This community has widely adopted ULA’s packs, and the brand claims that close to half the hikers on the PCT carry one of its bags. The company is based in Logan, Utah, and practices a small approach to business that allows it to focus on quality and customer service. ULA’s collection of backpacks is small but carefully-considered to cover a spectrum of carrying needs.

Today, McHale continues to craft backpacks in Seattle. Each bag is made-to-order using high-quality materials like Cordura nylon and Dyneema. McHale’s approach to pack making is hands-on and collaborative; the process involves sending McHale multiple rounds of measurements and photographs through or DVD. No two backpacks are alike, and if the rave reviews are to be believed, each one is close to perfect.

Hyperlite Mountain Gear

Based in a former mill in Biddeford, Maine, Hyperlite Mountain Gear specializes in making ultra-light, ultra-durable packs and shelters from Dyneema, the strongest material in the world according to strength-to-weight ratio. Hyperlite’s founder, Mike St. Pierre, essentially founded the company on the potential of Dyneema alone and it’s found in some form in every one of its products, from 30-liter day packs to gear-gobbling 140-liter duffel bags. Best of all, each piece is made by hand to exacting specifications. Hyperlite makes such good products that some pro athletes have been known to carry them on the sly despite being sponsored by other brands. If it’s enough to make a pro athlete put down the freebies and pay out of pocket, it’s probably enough for any adventure you’ve got planned.

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1. What are the 18 common types of backpacks that backpack manufacturers produce?

There are 18 main types of backpacks commonly produced by backpack manufacturers:

• Student backpack
• Hiking backpack
• Drawstring backpack
• Camera backpack
• Commuter backpack
• Laptop backpack
• Guitar backpack
• Leather backpack
• Cycling backpack
• Kid’s backpack
• Travel backpack
• Work business backpack
• Tactical backpack
• Hydration backpack
• Diaper backpack
• Ski backpack
• Baseball backpack
• Folding backpack

These different types of backpacks have different characteristics, uses, users, advantages and disadvantages. If you would like to know more about their details, please read: 18 Types Of Backpack: The Ultimate Guide

2. Who are the targeted service groups of backpack manufacturers?

The customers are bag sellers who purchase in bulk or the brand party who plans to conduct backpacks for promotion such as supermarkets, convenience stores, schools, government charity purchases, sports brands, animation brands, etc.

Different customer groups have different requirements for backpack types and designs. Supermarkets usually purchase affordable commuter backpacks. The theme stores sell backpacks for specific groups of people such as children’s backpacks, student backpacks, or hiking bags according to their own customer groups. Student backpacks purchased by government agencies usually have asimple and cheap structure with their own national flags printed on the surface.

Anyway, thousands of backpack models are customized every year. The biggest advantage of backpack suppliers is to provide a full range of customized services to various customers.

3. Customized service for backpack manufacturers

The client’s design team usually sends the design draft to the backpack manufacturer first. After receiving it, backpack manufacturers will first make samples according to the customer’s requirements and wait for confirmation from the customer side before proceeding with production.

Every detail about a backpack can be customized:

• Size
• Structure
• Fabric material
• Color
• Zipper
• LOGO
• Accessories
• Print

The most important properties are the structure and fabric material of backpacks. There are various requirements for different types of backpacks. Children’s bags need to be simple in structure, and small in size with no special requirements for load-bearing. After all, no children will put more than 10 kg in a backpack, right? However, outdoor backpacks and hiking bags have high requirements for load-bearing and capacity. After all, people who travel outdoors have to rely on their own backpacks to carry everything.

Huicheng supply professional and honest service.

Backpack manufacturers can also provide reasonable product design suggestions for custom-made backpacks based on their production experience accumulated for many years. Often a small suggestion can save customers a large number of unnecessary expenses, allowing customers to obtain higher sales profits.

4. How many employees do backpack manufacturers generally recruit? What are their responsibilities?

The number of employees is one core element to measure the size of a backpack factory. Since backpacks are produced manually, the more employees there are, the higher the production efficiency will get. The staff positions of bag factories are mainly as follows:

• Salesman
• Product designer
• Sample maker
• Production manager
• Sewing workers
• Quality Inspector
• Packers
• Person in charge of shipment

Among them, the number of sewing workers is the largest. At present, a manufacturer with more than 100 sewing workers can be regarded as a large-scale backpack supplier.

In a backpack factory, the above employee roles are essential. The whole team can deliver customers backpacks of guaranteed quality and quantity.

5. Backpack manufacturer machine

• Automatic Cutting Machine
• Post Bed Sewing Machine
• Lockstitch sewing machine
• Synchronous sewing machine

6. What is the backpack manufacturers’ production process?

The production process of backpack manufacturers is not completely the same but the steps are roughly the same.

• Make backpack samples according to customer requirements
• Confirm samples with customers
• Purchasing backpack materials
• Cut fabric
• Pattern or LOGO customization
• Sewing by the assembly lines
• Inspection of the finished backpack
• Product packing

7. Chinese backpack manufacturer VS American backpack manufacturer

China is the country with the largest number of backpack factories in the world. The United States also has some bag suppliers because of the large market demand. What is the difference between them? What is the better choice?

7.1 Product types

Chinese backpack manufacturer: good at producing student backpacks, laptop backpacks, commuter backpacks, children’s backpacks, etc.

American backpack manufacturer: good at producing hiking backpacks, leather backpacks, etc.

Usually, the value of products of American backpack manufacturers is higher.

7.2 Quality

Chinese backpack companies: with decades of production experience, Chinese backpack manufacturers’ products show good quality. A complete production system and quality inspection system operate smoothly. They are willing to accept the inspection of a third-party quality inspection company. Of course, there are also some low-quality Chinese backpack manufacturers so pay attention to distinguish them.

American backpack companies: Most of their products are of very good quality. They have superb craftsmanship but the production efficiency is slow. If your product is a very complex backpack, it would be better to find an American backpack manufacturer to produce it.

7.3 Price cost

Chinese backpack companies: China’s labor costs are at the middle and lower reaches of the world thus population-intensive industries can enjoy a cost advantage in China. This is also the core reason why 99% of customers place backpack orders with Chinese backpack manufacturers.

American backpack companies: The labor cost in the United States is one of the highest in the world. For the same backpack, the labor cost in the United States is several times higher than that in China, making the price of that product will be several times higher.

7.4 Production efficiency

Chinese backpack companies: China’s population base is very large and there are as many as tens of millions of employees engaged in the backpack production industry chain. So usually a large order is finished by China and then shipped to various places. Only the production efficiency of Chinese backpack manufacturers can meet the demand for large orders.

American backpack companies: There are a few backpack factories and employees in the United States. If the delivery date of the backpack is urgent, then the backpack manufacturers in the United States may not be able to meet the delivery requirements.

If you are a local customer in the United States and the number of customized backpacks is small, it is best to find a local backpack manufacturer. Facing clients who intend to purchase a large quantity, it will be the most suitable choice to find a backpack manufacturer in China. Therefore, it is not surprising that many backpack brands purchase backpacks in China.

8. How to find a backpack manufacturer

There are many backpack manufacturers in China, and few of them can produce every kind of bag product, choosing from those factories can be difficult. Don’t worry, we list some of the best factories in another article: Top 100 China Bag Factory & Manufacturer.

Honeyoung Bag will always be here to help, if you have any questions, please contact us. We’ll reply as soon as possible.

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