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Mt. Tabor olive shoes
Danner, danner.com
Made in the USA by Portland-based Danner, Mt. Tabor olive shoes ($230) are low-profile urban hikers made with suede leather and no lining so they stay dry while you cross an overgrown patch of grass on their namesake hill. From the smell, these new suede shoes are begging to be seasoned and weathered in the woods.
Camp Do It All knife and sheath
Trent Turvey Designs, trentturvey.com
Every camper, whether deft or cumbrous, is in need of a trusty blade. The do-it-all knife ($100) is sharp enough for rope-slashing and equipped with a flint ridge in the durable leather sheath. It's handmade in Portland from steel reclaimed from an old mill saw blade and upcycled Brazilian walnut.
Park Place snap-front down jacket
Wild, wildoutdoorapparel.com
Wild designs, creates and manufactures all of its apparel in Oregon. Within this sleek jacket ($225) is a layer of wale and corduroy, insulated with 700 fill down. Whether in the cold or rain, the jacket will keep you warm while being breathable and waterproof
Portable meditation seat
Sweet Persimmon, sweetpersimmon.com
When you're in need of an escape, the Cascades patiently wait. There is no better place to meditate and clear the mind, sitting atop the smallest and most durable meditation seat ($49.99). The seat is handmade in Portland with plantation-harvested hardwood and is so small, it can be carried in a backpack or coat pocket. Standing 5½ inches, the seat will work around a campfire but is ideal for seiza position during meditation.
Campers soap
Root Soap Co., etsy.com
Anna Cools started making soap for her mother's business when she was a little girl. Little did she know, Cools would carry her sudsy skills into her adult life, creating Root Soap Co. The Campers soap ($6) is made with Oregon rainwater, strong essential oils that are naturally bug-repellent, and ground oats for a gentle exfoliant.
Pacific Standard duffle
Bridge & Burn, bridgeandburn.com
Southwest Portland's Bridge & Burn was founded in 2009, and has the vaguely naturalistic Kinfolk magazine aesthetic that has come to define the city. The duffle ($290) is made from waxed cotton, which resists water, and American-made brass hardware.
Canby sunglasses in white slate
Shwood Eyewear, shwoodshop.com
As the sun beams through the trees, don't let your cloud-adjusted eyes take the brunt of the blaze. These sunglasses ($350) are a trifecta of natural birch and walnut, inlaid with slate. The glasses, fitted with polarized lens, are handmade in Portland and come in a hand-sewn leather case.
Hozuki lantern
Snow Peak, snowpeak.com
The lightweight LED lantern ($89.95) from Portland's Snow Peak is cordless and has three brightness settings: It lasts 80 hours on low, eight on high. The light has a silicone shade and is suspended from a hook. It comes with four rechargeable AA batteries. Tap the power button twice for a flickering candle feature to set the mood in a tent.
Aspen blanket
Straightened Arrow, etsy.com
Don't let your summer dreams be ripped at the seams by a chilly night. The Aspen blanket ($300) is made from organic Peruvian cotton and handmade in Portland. This large throw blanket not only keeps campers toasty through the night, but Straightened Arrow donates a meal to a hungry child for every item sold.
Camp stool
Robin Cottage, etsy.com
Robin Smith, owner of Robin Cottage, began handcrafting her line of Americana products in Portland in 2012. Smith's items range from scarves to kid-sized desk chairs, most of which are made with Pendleton fabric. The vintage oak camp stool ($128) collapses for easy transport and is sturdy enough for hours of relaxing by the campfire.
Growler carrier
Pails for Ales, www.pailsforales.com
Growlers clinking back and forth in the backseat is an annoying way to begin a camping trip—let alone the possibility of one breaking. This thick, pine carrier ($50) allows two growlers to be easily transported to the campsite. It's also equipped with holes in the bottom to dry out your growlers once emptied.
Pat's Backcountry dehydrated beer
Available at Global Liquor, 11717 NE 78th Way, Vancouver, Wash., 360-882-1646, patsbcb.com.
OK, this one comes from Colorado, not Oregon, but it's new and too cool not to include in summer camping gear. Pat's Backcountry Beverages makes packets of concentrated craft beer that weigh only 2.1 ounces each ($10 for four). With the help of a carbonator that doubles as a water bottle ($50, 9.8 ounces), you can make a cool, bubbly beer after a long day on the trail. Until the Oregon Liquor Control Commission approves the 50-percent-ABV packets, you have to drive to Vancouver to buy them. But that's a small price to pay for carrying a six-pack of pale ale that weighs about a pound.
WWeek 2015