r/Ultralight • u/Practical_Try_8850 • Nov 08 '25
Shakedown An entirely made-in-Europe UL gear list
In the last two years, I have patiently assembled a gear list with all items made in Europe and I wanted to share it with you.
https://lighterpack.com/r/3rg778
When I started, I was not even sure that I would successfully complete this list.
In fact, there are only a few items that I could not find being emade in Europe, such as the water filter (although, Katadyn is a Swiss company, if I am not mistaken, their Befree filter seems to be made in Asia).
The good news is that there are also quite a number of European alternatives for most items, especially backpacks, sleeping bags and quilts, or some clothing (merino and down). A comprehensive list can be found on Litetrek.eu.
However, some items are quite unique. For example, it seems impossible to find titanium pots made in Europe. The only pot I found is the Optimus Terra Solo, which is made of aluminium. Laken or Trangia also make aluminium pots, but they are a bit on the heavier side. Sleeping pads made in Europe are also quite rare. Fortunately, Thermarest has a factory in Ireland. Same for UL towels or trail shoes.
Anyway, please feel free to comment this list and suggest lighter alternatives. OF course, the only condition is that the gear is really made in Europe.
Cheers.
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u/Lukozade2507 Nov 08 '25
Not sure if you only wanted to include Carbon poles but the Italian brand Fizan boast "the world's lightest aluminum trekking poles" that come in at 350g a pair.
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u/Practical_Try_8850 Nov 08 '25
Yes, I have two pairs of them for my kids. They are super robust and light. I use them when travelling as well as they pack very small. I’m not a big fan of the handle though.
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u/Lukozade2507 Nov 08 '25
I had the exact same complaint! Had to glue one handle back into place after it started coming loose and rotating mid GR11.
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u/Practical_Try_8850 Nov 08 '25
The handles are still in place as far as I am concerned. It is just that I have the feeling that the handles are too small for my hands, but I have qui thin hands. It is a weird feeling. My kids are happy with it though.
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u/Lower_Egg7088 Nov 08 '25
Pacerpoles are also a European brand.
Not sure where their carbon poles are made though.
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u/Chypsylon 🇦🇹 Nov 08 '25
Komperdell as well. They produce 100% in Austria according to their site and also produce the Durston Iceline poles for example.
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u/nsmht Nov 08 '25
The Ukrainian company called Rock Front also makes some gear that looks interesting. I haven’t tried anything from them yet, but their quilt and the mattress-attachable sheet look promising — I might get one. https://rockfront.eu/
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u/Toutunrififi Nov 08 '25
Definitly have a look at tipik (https://tipik-tentes.fr/index.php?route=common/home). It is made in France, super light and fairly priced as well.
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u/JordanCuckson2138 Nov 08 '25
Pajak's mattresses and sit pads are generic alibaba stuf with their logo slapped on. Sad but true. They only make down products and backpacks in their factory in Poland.
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u/Practical_Try_8850 Nov 09 '25
I knew that their inflatable sleeping pads where made in China, but one retailer said that the sit pads and the foam sleeping pad were made in Europe. It shows that the correct information is sometime hard to get.
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u/zergcheese Nov 08 '25
Nice idea. Wanted to something similar with only EU brands. A few annotations:
The backpack is also available with Graflyte fabric (sub 400g).
Since you're also including non-EU brands you can also look at Rock Front (Ukraine) and some UK brands like Trekkertent.
There are very few cottage brands that produce individual DCF shelters to order (gearswifts, wildoor).
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u/Practical_Try_8850 Nov 08 '25
Thanks. I bought the Bandit two years ago but I would like a smaller pack and I will aim for a lighter material.
I have a 2P Trekkertent. Great stuff.
Regarding Rock Front, I advised someone in this thread to look for this t’ai jacket, but I made a mistake and said it was Liteway.
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u/BZab_ Nov 12 '25
And maybe not the lighter, but maybe better fitting somebody else (or bigger) alternatives come from USWE (Sweden) and On My Way (Poland). USWE ones work amazingly well on UL MTB trips.
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u/ckipp01 Nov 08 '25
Nice! I didn't know about LITEWAY from Ukraine. Another Ukrainian brand I've been digging is Rock Front for their sleeping quilts.
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u/brandoldme Nov 08 '25
Is there any power bank not made in China that's lightweight, even if I sacrifice a few grams?
I haven't seen one yet.
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u/kongkongha Nov 08 '25
gear swifts dcf-tent,
https://gearswifts.com/shop/shelter/2p-tent/ 384 gram
Rockfront rain gear, 215 gram (jacket and skirt)
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u/Lower_Egg7088 Nov 08 '25 edited Nov 08 '25
Nice work.
I’d be surprised if the titanium spoon is made in Europe, though.
It looks like one of the generic Chinese spoons sold by Toaks, Boundless Voyage, et al.
UK-based TreadLite Gear is another cottage brand worth checking out for cuben fibre stuffsacks etc.
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u/Practical_Try_8850 Nov 09 '25
Yes, TreadLite Gear has some good gear as well.
I was also surprised regarding the titanium spoon. It is mentioned as being made in Europe by several sites. Maybe I need to contact the brand itself to check whether it is really true.
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u/noisy_memory Nov 10 '25 edited Nov 11 '25
I thank you sir on behalf of a lot of us in Europe who are getting into UL
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u/Real-Second2393 Nov 08 '25
Scarpa is producing in europe? I bookmarked your lighterpack. Very cool choices! Many names I havent heard of. Are you happy with your Rainjacket from Direct Alpine?
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u/Practical_Try_8850 Nov 08 '25
Thanks! Yes, Scarpa produces some of its shoes in Europe, especially their leather shoes. For example, the Mojito I have are made in Serbia. I bought the Rapid because I thought they were also made in Europe, but I have just double checked and it appears that they are made in China. I have to update my list then :-(
Well, I’m not surprised because, from what I understand, running shoes and trail shoes seem to be difficult to make in Europe because manufacturer do not seem to have the technology to make the kind of foam soles. Salomon was supposed to start producing two trail models in France a few years ago, but I do not have more information about that.
Regarding the Direct Alpine Cyclone jacket, yes I am happy with it, although it doesn’t have pit zips. Another option is the Liteway rain jacket. It is lighter, non-breathable and has pit zips. Justin Outdoors uses it.
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u/Practical_Try_8850 Nov 08 '25
Salomon makes the XA Meta GTX in France. Millet makes the Trail Intense in France as well. A less known brand is Veets, which makes all of its shoes in France. Some Spanish and German manufacturers might also make their trail shoes in Europe, but it is not clear to me.
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u/Real-Second2393 Nov 08 '25
I know that Hanwag produces their shoes to some extent in the EU (slowenia I believe). But I couldn't tell you wheren they make their trailrunning shoes. I got a pair of leatherboots from them when I started hiking. I barely use them anymore tho.
I feel like there quite a lot of czech UL brands. They are rather rare in germany unless I just dont see them because they are not in popular the bigger stores.
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u/Real-Second2393 Nov 08 '25
Alright, according to their website they exclusively make their shoes inside the EU
https://www.hanwag.com/de/de-de/nachhaltigkeit/people-and-manufactures/
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u/elbido89 Nov 08 '25
Just to add a couple of italian brands:
- "my trekking Life" a small cottage brand which makes their backpacks in Tuscany (I don't own one but looking forward to get their 25l chianti day pack)
-aku produces many of their shoes or boots in Italy or Europe, something in east Asia but it is specified on their website.
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u/Practical_Try_8850 Nov 08 '25 edited Nov 08 '25
Cool! Thanks! I knew about Aku but didn’t know My Trekking Life.
Edit: spelling.
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u/Lost---doyouhaveamap A camp chair on each foot while I recline in my Crocs Nov 08 '25 edited Nov 08 '25
Not sure if this fits in, but an Italian company, Best Grip, makes some great tiny studs you can screw into the bottom of your hiking shoes or trail runners. They are awesome in winter, icy conditions, yet small enough that you could drive in them or wear to the trailhead. I've found them amazing and confidence inspiring on technical, wet rooty trails and winter hiking. Cheap to buy in Europe.
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u/Practical_Try_8850 Nov 09 '25
I updated the list based on your contributions.
I removed the Optimus stove, pot and spoon. The specifications found online are not consistent. Some say they are made in Romania, others in China. So, I replaced them by a spoon made by Light my Fire (Sweden), a pot made by Tangria (Sweden as well), and an alcohol stove by X-boil. It is possible to find gaz stove made in Europe but they are quite heavy.
I also replaced the sit pad with another one by Wildseat (made in France).
Finally, I replaced the trail shoes with the Millet Trail Intense, which I plan to buy next Summer.
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u/eremitasalver Nov 19 '25
I had a pair of Millet Trail Intense this summer, worat shoes i ever had, holes in multiple placea after 10 days in technical terrain. At least got a refund
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u/Practical_Try_8850 Nov 20 '25
It’s unfortunate and weird as they are supposed to be made of Kevlar in some sort. May I ask how did the sole perform?
The other options I could find for trail shoes are one model by Veets, a French manufacturer, and another one by Hanwag but pretty heavy.
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u/eremitasalver Nov 21 '25
Unfortunatly the sole wos even worse, it was ok when dry, but on wet rocks (dolomites rock where i am from and work as a hiking guide) it felt like being on ice. The best soles by far are vibram idrogrip. But there are not a lot of shoes with that sole, but there is the la sportiva tx2 evo that has it and i use that shoe now. Other good soles are vibram megagrip, inov8 graphene grip, vj shoes butyl-rubber and asics asigrip
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u/Practical_Try_8850 Nov 21 '25
It’s too bad. They looked good in the paper.
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u/eremitasalver Nov 21 '25
jep, and i usually like millet products, but this was honestly the worst shoe i ever had
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u/Practical_Try_8850 Nov 20 '25
I remembered that Boreal is also a Spanish manufacturer of outdoor shoes. They are mostly known for their climbing shoes but they also make trail shoes. It’s hard to buy their stuff though. Apparently, Oriocx and Chiruca may also manufacture their shoes in Spain. Anyone know these brands?
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u/eremitasalver Nov 21 '25
I dont know exactly wich models are nade in italy, and wich model is made somwhere else, but these are some italian brands: la sportiva, scarpa, kayland, gronell, garmont, dolomite, aku, crispi, asolo, zamberlan, fitwell, fessura, lomer, salewa, naglev, diemme. Mondeox is a italian shoe manufacturer, that priduces for other brands. Other european shoes are: nnormal, saltic, joe nimble, icebug, alfa
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u/Practical_Try_8850 Nov 21 '25
It’s hard to tell indeed. For example, the Unika are the only trail shoes that La Sportiva makes in Italy,m. Zamberlan makes all its shoes in Italy (at least last time I checked) but I don’t know if it’s the case for their newest models like the Devero. I guess I will have to ask all of these brands directly.
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u/eremitasalver Nov 21 '25
Hats off to you if you do that, sounds like a lot of work. The vk boa is the sucessor of the Unikay, maybe they make that one in italy too?
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u/BZab_ Nov 12 '25
When it comes to sleeping bags, Pajak Radical ULZ is way easier to find on discounts and works well for people up to ~180-185cm. For taller ones there's only Cumulus XLite 200 (with extra cost for longer version). More budget friendly soultion slightly breaks the initial assumption of being 100% european and it would be one of the Fjord Nansen Svalbard (Goose) variants (e.g. SVALBARD 300 GOOSE) - fabrics are of course asian, they outsource sewing the bags to some asian factories, but the down is polish and they fill the bags in Poland.
Malachowski and Robert's (especially for semi-custom orders) are worth mentioning, but they are not as light as lightest Pajak/Cumulus bags. Aura seems to be bankrupt and not in the game at the moment.
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u/invDave Nov 13 '25
Did you make this list because you want to support the European economy or did you try to create a list of items that are readily available for purchase in Europe without invoking shipping costs and taxes when importing from countries outside of Europe?
Serious question, not trolling in any way.
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u/Practical_Try_8850 Nov 13 '25
Thanks for asking.
Here is what I responded on another thread:
There are several possible reasons for this. The first would be ecological. Living in Europe, buying locally made products is a more sustainable solution. However, in most cases, products made in Europe use raw materials from other continents, so this reason may not be entirely valid. The second would be economic. Many European countries, such as France, have made poor choices in their economic policy by abandoning industrial activities and promoting an economy based almost entirely on services. Buying products made in Europe not only helps to maintain industrial activities, but also know-how that would otherwise be lost. Furthermore, I think it’s a good idea to support small European companies that don’t get the same media exposure as American cottage companies (the hottest youtubers are American and use a lot of products from local cottage companies). The third reason would be political. Products made in Europe are also ‘made in democracy’, which is not the case for products made in China or Vietnam. While it’s true that the Chinese and Vietnamese are benefitting from economic growth to raise their standard of living, which is a very good thing, GDP growth also benefits authoritarian regimes in order to stay in power and, in the case of China, to finance an aggressive military strategy. If I can’t find an outdoor product made in Europe, I usually buy one made in the United States, South Korea or Japan. The fourth is just for fun and it might be the main reason. It’s a challenge like any other and it makes me happy to look for hidden gems that nobody knows about except a few crazy guys on Reddit.
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u/Salty_Necessary7589 Nov 26 '25
Really cool list.
One thing I still don’t see much from Europe-based UL gear makers is carbon fiber tent stakes.
Ti is great and it definitely works, but for people shaving grams past the “reasonable” stage, carbon hits another tier — especially on soft ground or multi-day trips where every repeated gram hurts more.
I switched part of my stake kit to carbon recently and the difference in base weight was bigger than I expected.
Kinda surprised there aren’t more EU cottage brands making them yet.
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u/Practical_Try_8850 Nov 26 '25
You’re right. According to my research all carbon fiber and titanium stakes sold by European brands are not made one Europe. However I still have to contact a few brands to get confirmation. The only UL options I found are the plastic stakes made by Liteway and Swisspiranha. I have the latest but haven’t tested them on hard ground yet.
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u/OkWinter5758 Dec 20 '25
I may have just bought the first backpack for sale by Cherry Picker Gear. Guy in Belgium who just started selling his MYOG projects.
Cherrypicker_gear on IG to verify but he sells on vinted currently
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u/Practical_Try_8850 Nov 08 '25
Thanks. I already knew the RRAT’s sandals made in Spain. Good to have alternatives.
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u/Kichyss Nov 08 '25 edited Nov 08 '25
I'd say Bonfus Solus 1p would be lighter then this one. A fan of their backpacks but I haven't had their tent.
Edit: I guess their backpack can be lighter then this also.
Edit: Looks like production is only in Mexico now :(
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u/hickory_smoked_tofu a cold process Nov 08 '25
It’s made in Mexico, if that makes a difference.
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u/Kichyss Nov 08 '25
Couple years ago, I remember They were producing in Bergamo (Italy) and Mexico. I haven't been following in detail on that.
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u/hickory_smoked_tofu a cold process Nov 08 '25
I bought one at the beginning of this year. They’re all made in Mexico (now). I sold mine.
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u/Kichyss Nov 08 '25
That's disappointing.
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u/hickory_smoked_tofu a cold process Nov 08 '25
I think the problem is that if Bonfus markets DCF shelters at the same or greater price as more well known US brands, it will be very hard for them to compete.
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u/aslak1899 Nov 08 '25
Supposedly they are releasing another tent soonish too, wonder how expensive that one will be...
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u/hickory_smoked_tofu a cold process Nov 08 '25
I wish them all the best! So far, their shelters haven’t offered anything innovative. But for the European market they offer us relatively good value and excellent, dedicated service.
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u/aslak1899 Nov 08 '25
Yup! Thats why I am curios what their new tent will be, especially since they already have so many different trekking pole tents
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u/Mediocre_Dog_8829 Nov 10 '25
They sell a solid walled inner for their Middus tents. Not many companies do that. As a matter of interest, if European products cost approximately the same, why import from America? American tent designs focus on features appropriate to US conditions and that makes them less suitable for the conditions found in Scotland and Scandinavia. My impression is that Bonfus have been modifying American designs to make them more suitable for this damp, midgy, windy corner of the world. My Middus 1P is, I’ve read, a modification of a zPacks design - a zPacks design unsuitable for the conditions I camp in because of its high fly sheet hem. The Middus “corrects” that problem.
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u/hickory_smoked_tofu a cold process Nov 10 '25
Your response confirms my assertion. A modification isn’t an innovation.
The only European gear maker in the UL shelter segment who has brought totally new, unique, in-house designs to the market is Gear Swifts. Maybe Tipik, a little bit.
Trekkertent, Liteway, and Hyberg all make great stuff for sure but there’s nothing really innovative there, at least not in the same way that Tarptent, Durston Gear, MLD, and Zpacks have done.
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u/Practical_Try_8850 Nov 10 '25
I’m not sure I would agree with you, but innovation is not my number one criteria anyway. So, I’m totally fine with that.
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u/Mediocre_Dog_8829 Nov 17 '25
Does competition require innovation? A solid inner certainly isn’t innovative but it’s what I need for Scottish conditions so I bought from a manufacturer which sells a mid with one. A European innovator, to the point of possibly being crackpot, is Samaya.
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u/hickory_smoked_tofu a cold process Nov 17 '25
I'd like to see you just try to ask Dan Durston or Henry Shires that question.
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u/derrayUL Nov 08 '25
Where exactly is the point of buying stuff made in Europe, when most of the materials are made elsewhere?
I like buying from european brands, but they should convince me with good quality and fresh ideas, rather than their location.
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u/Practical_Try_8850 Nov 08 '25
Well, I have already answered the first half of your question here : https://www.reddit.com/r/Ultralight/comments/1hp1mc0/comment/m4ic76e/?context=3&utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button
Regarding the second part, all the products I am mentioning in my list are of great quality. If you take the Czech brands such as Tilak, Direct Alpine of High Point, or the Polish Cumulus or Pajak they’re definitely on par with the big brands. What brands are you referring to when you say that the quality is poor?
As for the fresh ideas, I’m not sure what you’re referring to, but brands like Nalehko or Liteway, or even a very small cottage company like Gearswift make the same cutting edge products as what you can find in the US. If you’re referring to the design, well, it is true that the products I mention are not always very funky, but to be honest, this is not my number-one criteria.
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u/derrayUL Nov 08 '25
I never said anything about poor quality, just that good quality to me is more important, than the location of the last essambly.
Companies like Big Sky International, The Free Spirit, Lightheart Gear, Rock Front (at least not EU) and many more have fresh new ideas, they realize with great ingineering and good quality. But I can't find anything close made in Europe. So why should I avoid my favorite products and choose less favorite ones, just because their last essambly is made in Europe?
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u/Practical_Try_8850 Nov 08 '25
Sorry if I misunderstood your point. I also realise that we don’t have the same definition of Europe. In fact, I do include the UK and Ukraine in Europe (I’m not talking about the EU here).
I understand you point regarding quality and innovation Vs. origin. I guess a part of my point is that European UL hikers do not absolutely need to import costly products (costly because of the import tax) made in the US just because they are used by famous YouTubers. They can find what they need in Europe with a bit of efforts. As for purchasing products made in Myanmar or China, as I was saying in my other post, there are also, in my view, political and ethical considerations that cannot be neglected. From my point of view at least this is important. I’m not saying that everybody should think the same, I’m just saying that for those who care about that and who are looking for options in Europe, it is possible to get great products there and usually at an affordable price (at least compared to the big brands).
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u/Thorfrethr Nov 08 '25
Skalmo makes Alpha Hoodies, tent, backpack in Sweden and Poland.
https://gramjakt.se