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It shouldn’t be a surprise to anyone that I’m a pretty big gear nerd. I’ve got more backpacks than I have places to put them, enough load-bearing equipment to supply a fire team, and a large crate full of survival kit. On top of that, I’ve always had a passing interest in learning to “roll my own” equipment with a sewing machine and raw materials.

A while back, a comment popped up in one of my articles about load-bearing equipment. So I clicked around his website and Instagram page and decided that I had to know more. Call it a drive to get the stories of everyday people trying to do cool stuff. Kody Hamel runs a small sewing shop making custom nylon gear for whoever needs it.

I wanted to know his story.

But aside from that, I also wanted to get a craftsman’s perspective on what actually makes quality gear as well as some tips and tricks about getting started doing it myself.

Summary

Kody grew up in Minnesota and was destined to work in the logging industry. But along the way, he happened to do a sewing project in school. He fell in love with the process of making things, of taking an idea and turning it into something real.

So he eventually found himself following some friends to San Fransisco where he got a job working at a bag company. From there, he honed his skills in producing quality items.

Kody eventually moved back to Minnesota where he developed a taste for the shooting sports. In a fateful decision, he decided to start making custom gear for the tactical and outdoor world and founded Sewjourn Gear.

During the interview, Kody goes over what he thinks sets quality gear apart and why people should invest in it. We also talk quite a bit about how he got started, the machines he uses, and tips for anyone out there looking to get started making their own gear as well.