Biggest SALE Ever on SIEGE BELTS & STOVES, plus several stunning new buckle finishes

[Siege Belts & Stoves]

Dear Blade Enthusiasts,
It's been several months since my last post, and I wanted to bring it to forum members' attention that our uniquely functional US-Made SIEGE BELTS and SIEGE STOVES are now ON SALE — for the first time since 2022, and with lowest prices on belts since we reintroduced them (especially on our popular Gray Man finish Belts). We ae also introducing several striking new buckle finishes.

History:
These artisan-crafted belts have long been sought after by those who've seen and owned them. There are posts on this forum from 20 years ago inquiring about these must-have belts (formerly Alp Belts, sold at ExpeditionDepot.com). The master belt maker and inventor of many things, including the world's first sport sandal, Alp Sandals (sold to Teva) stopped making them around that time to focus on his many other inventions and projects, and sadly passed away last year. I was so impressed with the belt he gave me, (which I never leave home without and which still looks like new, even though it's been worn almost every day for over 10 years!), that I persuaded him to teach me the craft of making them. Before he left us, he bequeathed us all his custom tools and stock of high-density webbing, so that we are able to once again make these special belts available.

Versatility:
The belts look great on both men and women and for both casual and work wear. At the master craftsman's funeral, all the men and pallbearers were wearing them with their dark suits, and they looked super. These belts really are essential for travel and over the years have proven themselves in many unexpected travel and daily situations. Belts are a routine item, whereas other popular EDC items such as pocket knives have to be put in checked baggage, and in many jurisdictions and countries there are significant restrictions on what if any knives can be carried.




The Large buckles, such as the Gray Man finish buckle above are popular with men for a casual look, while the Standard size buckles (such as the Brass buckle below) look great with both casual and workwear, for men and women.
With all the new finish options, one can have different belt looks for different outfits and occasions. The custom high-grip ultra high-density nylon is phenomenal, with extreme durability, and can be mounted to the buckle with either the black or brown side facing out.



Ultra-Versatile Siege Stoves are also on Sale:
Our high-performance SIEGE STOVES are a super value given that titanium doubled in price last year (we still have stoves from our prior bulk Ti order). The Gen 4 Flat-Pack stoves are extremely versatile, durable, and functional, with super fast boil times. The stoves use thicker titanium than is commonly used, while being super compact and light weight. Simplicity was a guiding principle in the design, so that the stove is quick and easy to assemble without the need for hinges, which add significant weight and are vulnerable to warping and locking up a stove. The patented universal Cross-Members can be used to quickly convert almost any common can into a powerful, stable, wood-burning and multi-fuel stove -- great for camping, backpacking and prepping. These sets of 4 Cross-Members are popular as low-cost gifts.
These heirloom-quality 100% US-made stoves and belts are designed to last lifetimes and to be handed down for generations.

All US Belt orders ship free and Stove orders over $99 also ship free (Priority Mail). The belts and stoves are listed on separate web sites, but if you order both belt and stove products, we will combine the orders into one shipment and refund the shipping fees for US shipments and any excess fees for international shipments.

We recommend reading the reviews of the SIEGE BELTS and watching the expert YouTube stove reviews of the SIEGE STOVES, and if you have any questions, feel free to contact us any time.

Thank you!

SIEGE BELTS & STOVES
P.S. If you happen to place an order for any of our products, please send us and email to let us know that you found us on Bladeforums!

 

[Siege Belts & Stoves]

It looks like the belt link didn't come through in my post. The belts can be seen at SiegeBelts.com.

 

[NapalmCheese]

Did you used to sell the stoves at Maker Faire a few years back?

I bought the steel stove crossmembers and keep them packed in my emergency box I keep in my truck during the winter! I was just trying to remember where I got those because I want to build a little gassifier firepit/stove with a paint can; but didn't see any branding on them and couldn't remember their name.

I'm not familiar with the belt, but the stove crossmembers are pretty rad. Now I want a flatpack Ti stove!

 

[Siege Belts & Stoves]

That was us! The Maker Faire shut down even though it was so popular and would draw in around 130,000+ attendees every year. I heard third hand that the county was asking too much to rent the fairgrounds plus big sponsors like Google and Facebook pulled out, but that's just what I had heard, so who knows?

I am glad to hear that you keep your cross-members handy. They and the Flat-Pack Stove are so compact that they can easily slip into a glove compartment or pocket, so that one is always prepared. The Siege Stove will support the 3 most important survival needs: water (boil and disinfect), food (cook a meal) and warmth (there's a fair amount of radiant heat from a Siege Stove and it will conserve fuel far more efficiently than an open fire). The Cross-Members and Flat-Pack Stove have gone through a number of upgrades over the years and are about as good as can be, outperforming other stoves in magazine reviews. We committed to making everything in the USA, so margins are lean and we advertise very little, with sales coming from word-of-mouth. To keep prices low we also only sell direct and not through resellers.

I don't know if you met my friend and mentor, Ken at the show. He came up with the first Cross-Members and started the stove business with me. He joined us at the Maker Faire a few times and one year brought his amazing custom camper. There was a line out the door and it won a best of show award. You can see it and Ken in this brief YouTube documentary. What strikes me is that in the comments below is that viewers are as much impressed with Ken as they are with his motorhome. Ken passed away last August, but his brilliance and work perfection shines on in his many inventions. He invented the world's first sport sandal, Alp Sandals, which at their peak were producing some 36,000 pairs a year at his Sonora factory. After an arsonist burned his facility and inventory down and the insurer not paying nearly enough to cover it, he sold the brand to his rival and latter entrant to the market, Teva (I'm guessing around 2 decades ago). They like to claim they were the first with outdoor sandals, but Ken was there before anyone else. The sandals had superior support and for years after, river rafters and others would come looking for them. He also invented the Avery-Dennison Flipback 360 binder, among other things.

Regarding the Siege Belts, Ken developed them when he was in the Navy in the 1960's and perfected them in the following decades. They are a must-have for travel and just going about one's day. Once you've tried one you will appreciate their unique value. He stopped making them some time ago and would give them to friends and family from his small stock. The belt he gave me over 10 years ago has become a part of me, and I never leave home without it. Now that I've developed additional finish options I can start wearing different belts for different outfits . For years I would ask him to teach me how to make them, but he always said that making them was too much work to be worthwhile. That may be the case, but I loved mine so much and seeing how there isn't anything else like them that one can travel with, I finally persuaded him to teach me the craft. Before he passed, he left me his machinery, special custom webbing and buckle blanks, and so they are once again available (as long as I have remaining supplies of the webbing and the time to work on them).

It's great to hear from a Maker Faire attendee! If you have any questions contact me any time.

Regards,
James

 

[NapalmCheese]

I didn't get a chance to meet Ken, but that camper is amazing and he was obviously a fantastic builder. Maker Faire was great, I was at that last one which is when I bought my stove crossmembers. I don't just keep them handy, I use them when I can (but fire restrictions mean I'm usually using a gas stove).

The belts are intriguing, I'll have to pick one up when I get that flat pack stove.

 

[Siege Belts & Stoves]

I'm glad that your Cross-Members have gotten good use! The fire restrictions in CA seem to vary a fair amount, depending on place and time (such as places that have a lot of dry grass later in the year). I haven't really pinned down the ins and outs of it. At that final Maker Faire, a customer described how he leads Scout troops in Yosemite every year and he said he had no problem using the Siege Stoves with them. Countless others have reported being able to use them on their adventures in CA, so they seem to be finding their place. In most other states it's much less of an issue. As you seem to be doing, it's good to have a few different options, so that one has the ability to have a wood fire whenever its permissible. Gas stoves are handy but there's nothing like sitting around a real fire .