Made In the USA

M

mog555

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Jan 20, 2006
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The Blade forums is such a wealth of knowledge not only in the world of knives but just in general. Recently I had posted in the traditionals forum about a chinese made folder and it's lack of quality. A hornets nest got stirred up but as I read the replies I caught that New balance still makes some athletic shoes in the US. So yesterday when I went out to get a new pair of running shoes New Balance was first on my list. I found a pair that fit my bill perfectly, they are ugly as sin, but I think most running shoes these days are ugly. I have never owned a pair of New Balance before they seem to be a great shoe, I did 5.5 miles yesterday no blisters.

So thanks Blade Forums I try to be a conscientious consumer, but up until last week, I thought all athletic shoes were foreign made.

Living and Learning,
Brad
 
Thread is moved to Gadgets & Gear. Read the rules of Community prior to posting in there.
 
New Balance shoes are great and You'll find them quite durable too.
 
http://www.madeinusa.com/

great site, if you don't have a specific company in mind it is sometimes a little clunky sifting through it but if it is made in the USA its likely to be found there.

According to that site, New Balance is a US company using 85% US-made materials and 100% assembled in the USA. Pretty darn good if you ask me! :thumbup:
 
roughedges said:
According to that site, New Balance is a US company using 85% US-made materials and 100% assembled in the USA. Pretty darn good if you ask me! :thumbup:
Click to expand...


And their prices are competitive too.

So, we know that sweatshop, child, prisoner, and slave labor in 3rd and 4th world hellholes is virtually free while American labor is rather expensive. So how can New Balance make an excellent shoe (which is a labor-intensive thing to make) in America and be price-competitive? Obviously, they don't charge as much for the New Balance trademark as Nike does for the swoosh. If you like paying for Phil Knight's fleet of superyachts, then buy Nike. If you want a darn good shoe that supports American workers, then buy New Balance.
 
new balance shoes are dirt cheap and they're quite durable for that price
i HAD NO IDEA they were made in the US, i thought they came from some sweat shop in hong kong
really makes you think, don't it?
 
My New Balance shoes are great, my second pair. I had no idea they were made in the USA though. If only they made a traditional high-top basketball style shoe, I wouldn't have to buy any imported shoes.

That website is an a good resource, but I hope they can keep it up to date. It seems that every day a few more companies are moving manufacturing overseas. And if the website is dependant on self-reporting, well I don't trust the companies themselves to be forthcoming with accurate information or to submit updates on a regular basis.

The main hurdle to buying American is not the desire or spending the extra $$, it's availability.

For example, I had a heck of a time finding an American-made bicycle frame. Gary Fisher and most of the common brands are imported now. I eventually found Monument Cycles who make inexexpensive frames in the USA.

One thing I'm having trouble with now, a simple inexpensive ceramic coffee mug. Every single mug at the store is imported...

-Bob
 
I always thought that they were a womans shoe company, at least I thought that the first ads were directed specifically at women. I picked up a pair of their shoes a couple (4 maybe) of years ago and wore them until they couldn't be used any more. One of the most comfortable pairs of shoe that I ever owned and durable. Went to look for a replacment and couldn't find a pair I liked. I will look again though. I thought they were excellant.

KR
 
I love my Nike hiking shoes and hiking boots, but each consecutive pair I pick up seems to be of poorer and poorer quality. I am going to check out NB, I thought it was a division of Nike for some years.
 
Nike is hit-or-miss with me, as far as fit. Same with Converse. But I've never been unhappy with the quality of either.

-Bob
 
It's worth noting that not all New Balances are made in USA, but to my knowledge the difference is always labeled. The only pair of New Balances I've ever owned were not labeled as US made. I don't recall with certainty what origin they stated, but I think it was China, and the below seems to confirm that.

(from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Balance#Made_in_America.3F)
...New Balance still describes its high end shoes as primarily American-made. Lower-end New Balance shoes are generally made in China, and are described as such on the labeling and boxes.
Click to expand...
I think this could also address some of their 'competitive prices' you guys are noting, but I won't pretend to know enough about their line to say that all their USA models are "expensive" or can't compete.
 
Just pulled my girlfriend's New Balances out of the closet: "MADE IN CHINA" on the tongue.

I feel like patting New Balance on the back for offering the market "Made in the USA" shoes at competitive prices is kind of like applauding Benchmade for "Made in the USA" knives that compete with CRKT prices. Well yea, their Red Line does, but their Red Line isn't Made in the USA. It's an interesting thing when a company is known for USA made products, but also makes a host of non-USA products. As a consumer, if you hold the USA products on a pedestal, you still need to be vigilant when you purchase from these companies.

Again, I don't have a chart with a breakdown of USA/CHINA New Balances and their costs. I'm just saying that people shouldn't get overzealous in praising New Balance.
 
As of just a couple of years ago, Cannondale makes all their bike frames in the USA<

For a coffee mug made in the USA, try craft fairs, there are a lot of semi pro potters out there making them or your local college or university that has a pottery arts program. I made thousands to pay for college.

For knives, some spyderco, benchmade, and buck are us made, and at reasonable prices. But again, you have to look close to see where they were made.

IN clothes, you have to read real close on the labels and sometimes even that is not a true indicator, We wanted some good quality made in the USA polo/golf shirts and ended up ordering from a national mailorder company that said they were made in the USA. When the shipping box came, it said, Made in Siapan, Marshall Islands. Well while technically part of the USA, as a protectorate, they do not have work rules or OSHA or SS for the workers. they are legal USA sweatshops.


So do a little research if you can.
 
Mine are Made in China also. They weren't low-priced shoes, but they weren't premium-priced either. Average or above-average, and if I bought them, they were probably on sale.

-Bob
 
I have been wearing New Balance exclusevely for many years now.

Only brand that fits my 11.5 4E feet!

I have a pair that were made in USA; they are an 'all terrain' shoe, and I don't like them much.

I usually wear a cross trainer, and the current ones (620) are made in China.
 
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