James Rolin

It’s that time of year folks! As the festive season approaches, it's time to start thinking about those delightful little surprises we tuck into stockings. Whether you're filling stockings for family, friends, or even yourself (we won't tell!), we've got you covered. North 40 Outfitters has countless potential stocking stuffers, but I want to keep it simple by sharing our top seven stocking stuffer ideas that are sure to bring a smile to everyone's face. Let's jump right in!

Recently I met a living legend, or at least a future living legend. 

Hyer Boot Co. was founded in 1875 and went through many iterations until it eventually met its demise in the early 1990’s.  After quite literally inventing the cowboy boot, Hyer Boots were sported by the top celebrities of their day.  The epitome of western fashion and practicality, names like Marilyn Monroe, Ronald Regan, Teddy Roosevelt all wore Hyers.  Rumor has it that Billy the Kid was even buried in his pair of custom Hyer Boots.  And that, it turns out, was the problem: custom. 

Hyer was started by a German immigrant come cobbler in Kansas.  Supporting the local School for the Deaf and Blind through a labor exchange, CH Hyer (the company’s namesake) made high-quality hand-crafted shoes and helped to invent the catalog ordering system.  Clients from all....

Picture yourself gliding across calm waters, the Gates of the Mountains (or your own local majestic waterscape) careening on each side of a narrow Montana lake as you embark on your kayaking adventure. While kayaking offers endless thrills and opportunities for relaxation, it's crucial to prioritize safety to ensure a memorable and enjoyable experience. In this brief guide, we will explore the essentials of recreational kayak safety, equipping you with the knowledge and skills to paddle with confidence.

A popular outdoor activity, kayaking offers an immersive way to explore waterways, lakes, and coastal areas. It provides an excellent opportunity to connect with nature, improve fitness, and enjoy quality time with friends and family. It is important to note, however, that recreational kayaking is very different....

When it comes to selecting the perfect pair of gloves, the material choice holds the key to unrivaled comfort, lasting durability, and exceptional functionality. Among the array of options available, cowhide, buffalo hide, and goatskin gloves have gained immense popularity for their unique qualities. In this article, we embark on an enlightening journey to explore the distinguishing characteristics of these materials, empowering you to make a well-informed decision tailored to your specific needs. 

The Noble Outfitters three pack provides you with the opportunity to try out the three most popular glove choices and make the decision for yourself or simply have different options for different situations. 

These are the standard in work gloves.  Strong, simple, and readily available. In the realm of work gloves, cowhide reigns....

A good friend of mine came up from SoCal recently to visit.  We went out camping to see a little Montana wilderness.  Now, mind you; this was not a deep, backcountry affair.  We just pulled out some camping gear that I had and got to work making a fire to enjoy some beverages around that night.  Still, he enjoyed the experience and wanted to get into a bit of car camping on his own.  After some surface-level research, what he found shocked him: camping is expensive!  The first tent he found was well over $500, which was pretty much his whole budget, and he would still need everything else to properly enjoy his time in nature.

This conundrum got me thinking.  What if there was a cheaper way to get into camping when just starting out?  Enter Outdoor Revival!

Outdoor Revival offers affordable, quality equipment that just works....

Owned by Black & Decker, DeWalt is a huge company of more than 10,000 employees (and about 60,000 if we include all B&D companies).  North 40 has been a proud DeWalt distributor for years and like many of the brands we carry, we get one big question from customers all the time: Are DeWalt tools made in the USA?

We addressed this same question for Carhartt a couple years ago and just like in that blog, the answer is both yes and no.  Let’s take a few minutes to learn about DeWalt, what kind of tools they make, and finally answer the question of where they manufacture their wares.

DeWalt tools has had a long history of innovation.  Founded in 1923 by Raymond DeWalt in Leola, PA, DeWalt tools grew quickly and was purchased in 1947 by American Machine and Foundry Co. then in 1960 by Black & Decker.  DeWalt had invented....