About Alpine Luddites

Alpine Luddites:

Thanks for stopping by. Alpine Luddites, is, currently, a one person company. Every pack and bike bag is built to order. Whether it's a custom pack or one of the stock bike bags it's built by me, with the same attention to detail. Like many quality, focused bespoke brands I have a waiting list that varies 28-36 weeks. Sometimes it's longer. I do have a select group of retailers who stock some of my gear I can refer you too if you're in a rush.

I was inspired to start Alpine Luddites by some of the small climbing brands of the 70's and 80's. Chouinard Equipment, Karrimor in the UK, Jrat (Tom now owns Imlay Canyon Gear), FROG (From Ray Olsen's Garage), Kletterworks, Rivendell (back in business), Integral Designs of Canada, and the original Wild Things.

I love the classic alpine climbing packs of the 60's and 70's.  I create  & build modern renditions of these iconic packs as well as very focused technical alpine climbing packs.  Bikepacking bags came into the fold having twice raced the Tour Divide, 2700 miles from Banff to Mexico. I sew all packs to order here in Vermont,  with highest quality materials available, one at a time. 

I learned how to sew outdoor gear like many small companies: by making my own gear when I couldn't find what I wanted by the major producers. In the early 90's I had the good fortune of working at Dana Design's in Bozeman Montana sewing those famous packs forty hours a week.  I owe a debt of gratitude to Dana Gleason for hiring climbing dirtbags to work for him.  Today, I sew my packs as well as, or better, we sewed those packs in Bozeman. There are few other companies that built such good packs and I'm glad that Dana's Mystery Ranch is still growing, still building packs in Montana.

Decades of climbing, backpacking, cycling and travel all over the world have gone into the design and build quality of my packs. I don't care for disposable gear and yearly updates to models. I have had to visit Asian factories for other outdoor brands in the past. I want no part of it. If you want something built just for you I offer custom packs as well. just send me an email to get the process started.

I am always happy to talk with customers. Feel free to call or email any questions you may have.

John Campbell

Alison Jane Hargreaves on Kantega . Photo by Mark Twight

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