wynnchester? anyone heard of them?
- Thread starter trekkingnut
- Start date
Hi there, Kevin from Wynnchester Camp & Adventure Ltd. here. Sorry it took me so long to get to this after Leon invited me to clarify things - we've been madly busy for the past several days working on new products for a show and I needed to give this issue proper attention, plus it's a little complicated to deal with in writing...
So, firstly I'd just like to say thanks to everyone for their interest in what we are doing, all comments appreciated both positive and negative - and that is what a forum is for after all. Apart from that I'll try and keep this brief but certainly there a few things that need to be clarified and which I am obviously in a position to help with. Although I'm not a member I have read parts of the forum for many years and it is of course an awesome place with many great contributions and discussions.
So to keep it brief I'll do it with bullet points if thats OK:
1) "Wild Canvas" were the people I found to make my first canvas bedroll, I had built a first prototype with a local company but they didn't have the right weight of canvas in stock. My bedroll design was based on Australian swags I'd used down under, but also on other historical bedrolls. The main aspect to my design was it rolled up much more compact than aussie ones, and it could be used without the pole AND with the poles set up - most swags were either 2 or 3 poles (a mini tent) or a simple flat cover. And that it should use very high quality 100% cotton canvas, not a polycotton like many aussie ones. I carefully designed a system to enable the cover and worked on every small feature to make it robust and compact. So they started making that for me, all went well, yes the stitching wasn't very straight at times but the product was tough and functional.
2) Next I sent them my concept designs to be made by them of a canvas Baker Tent (something I have been interested in and using for 15 years) with specific dimensions and changes to the classic ones; a canvas tarp with hanging loops, a large 'Land Rover tent' also based on the traditional Baker tent open-fronted tent format which again I had been testing out for several years with my Land Rovers, publishing on youtube and my blogs www.pathofthepaddle.co.uk and www.landorverexplorer.co.uk , and a few other things including a canvas bag for a kelly kettle.
3) But they then set up a website for 'Wild Canvas' and began selling 'the products' direct online and at shows without my permission and undercutting my prices, selling on eBay and direct in Germany through another website.
4) At this time while working on a tarp for Brian Taylor of bribooutdoors (youtube) this situation developed further. Also at this time the quality deteriorated even further as illustrated by the now infamous tarp photo in this thread. There were/are some older photos of this early gear hanging around on Pinterest, Google etc.
5) I immediately sought a new supplier, which I found, and they now make that tarp and all the Wynnchester-designed gear (except the up-cycled military gear which we do here in our own workshops with our small team, hence the confusion noted in this thread).
6) It's ongoing and I can't say any more on the matter for legal reasons.
7) On quality side - the above should put that straight I think: my new supplier since 2013 (and they are the 4th company I have used...) is ISO certified in all things necessary, canvas is cut out by laser, they also work for the British Army, Police, Fire Service, Ray Mears, and make bespoke expedition gear that goes all round the world etc. Their work is absolutely top quality and they provide a superb service.
8) On price - our own designed and manufactured gear is expensive to make, and that is that. It's high quality in design, materials and construction, and stock is expensive, having different colours and sizes etc. is expensive too, research, testing, design and marketing is all expensive.
On our "recon" up-cycled and reconditioned military gear (which is something I have been doing since I was a kid), I fully appreciate the prices seem or actually are high when compared to ''army surplus', and I do understand and respect the negative opinions expressed about that in this thread. I see making efficient use of resources (whether that be natural materials or the money in your pocket...) as a key principle of bushcraft practice, and one which I follow as well. And I've always been an army surplus buyer, its great stuff, great value, fantastic gear. But it's not quite the same: we feel we add a lot of value, we develop our own wax & oil mixes, we repair and alter things, we research and test all the gear extensively in the field for months, and we guarantee that a buyer will 'get a good one' and if they feel when they have the gear it isn't worth the money they paid we will return it and take on board any comments as to why. I am fairly sure I can say with many hundreds of customers worldwide that this has only happened a few times, but even then not in a way that couldn't be rectified, which we will have done every time and always will. We have very very few returns or refunds, and we have many many happy customers, some of whom are of course members here. This is not to brag in any way, just to make the point that we do add some value, and that taking the time in researching and developing the range of gear we do and providing the service we do is generally appreciated by the people who have taken the step of parting with their hard earned money. What we are doing on the "recon" side is a "project" - to make this great vintage military gear available, to have it appreciated and make it usable again, and it's not the same as pile-it-high army surplus (which is again is a great thing in itself, I'm in no way knocking it at all). On that side, as we get bigger I would like to be able to bring the prices down a bit based on volume, and to make it perhaps more widely attainable; but the key for me right now is to make this Recon project sustainable, and that means the prices are set as I feel they have to be in each case based on the time it takes to research and acquire and develop and support each product. And I am personally very excited that so many people feel it is a worthwhile project, it's been very well received generally.
So I hope thats a useful contribution, sorry if it was still long winded even with the bullet points! I hope now I've registered and my commercial interest is declared as it were I can play a bit more of a part in this forum going forward as I know it is a great environment for sharing bushcraft skills ideas and experiences.
Thanks again for all your interest and for this brilliant forum which so many people read and get value from even aside from contributing to. And thanks to Leon1 for seeing the need for this to be discussed and inviting me to contribute - sorry it took so long to get to this but we have a hell of a lot on keeping everything rolling at the moment.
Thanks!
Kevin Ruston, Wynnchester Camp & Adventure Ltd.
So, firstly I'd just like to say thanks to everyone for their interest in what we are doing, all comments appreciated both positive and negative - and that is what a forum is for after all. Apart from that I'll try and keep this brief but certainly there a few things that need to be clarified and which I am obviously in a position to help with. Although I'm not a member I have read parts of the forum for many years and it is of course an awesome place with many great contributions and discussions.
So to keep it brief I'll do it with bullet points if thats OK:
1) "Wild Canvas" were the people I found to make my first canvas bedroll, I had built a first prototype with a local company but they didn't have the right weight of canvas in stock. My bedroll design was based on Australian swags I'd used down under, but also on other historical bedrolls. The main aspect to my design was it rolled up much more compact than aussie ones, and it could be used without the pole AND with the poles set up - most swags were either 2 or 3 poles (a mini tent) or a simple flat cover. And that it should use very high quality 100% cotton canvas, not a polycotton like many aussie ones. I carefully designed a system to enable the cover and worked on every small feature to make it robust and compact. So they started making that for me, all went well, yes the stitching wasn't very straight at times but the product was tough and functional.
2) Next I sent them my concept designs to be made by them of a canvas Baker Tent (something I have been interested in and using for 15 years) with specific dimensions and changes to the classic ones; a canvas tarp with hanging loops, a large 'Land Rover tent' also based on the traditional Baker tent open-fronted tent format which again I had been testing out for several years with my Land Rovers, publishing on youtube and my blogs www.pathofthepaddle.co.uk and www.landorverexplorer.co.uk , and a few other things including a canvas bag for a kelly kettle.
3) But they then set up a website for 'Wild Canvas' and began selling 'the products' direct online and at shows without my permission and undercutting my prices, selling on eBay and direct in Germany through another website.
4) At this time while working on a tarp for Brian Taylor of bribooutdoors (youtube) this situation developed further. Also at this time the quality deteriorated even further as illustrated by the now infamous tarp photo in this thread. There were/are some older photos of this early gear hanging around on Pinterest, Google etc.
5) I immediately sought a new supplier, which I found, and they now make that tarp and all the Wynnchester-designed gear (except the up-cycled military gear which we do here in our own workshops with our small team, hence the confusion noted in this thread).
6) It's ongoing and I can't say any more on the matter for legal reasons.
7) On quality side - the above should put that straight I think: my new supplier since 2013 (and they are the 4th company I have used...) is ISO certified in all things necessary, canvas is cut out by laser, they also work for the British Army, Police, Fire Service, Ray Mears, and make bespoke expedition gear that goes all round the world etc. Their work is absolutely top quality and they provide a superb service.
8) On price - our own designed and manufactured gear is expensive to make, and that is that. It's high quality in design, materials and construction, and stock is expensive, having different colours and sizes etc. is expensive too, research, testing, design and marketing is all expensive.
On our "recon" up-cycled and reconditioned military gear (which is something I have been doing since I was a kid), I fully appreciate the prices seem or actually are high when compared to ''army surplus', and I do understand and respect the negative opinions expressed about that in this thread. I see making efficient use of resources (whether that be natural materials or the money in your pocket...) as a key principle of bushcraft practice, and one which I follow as well. And I've always been an army surplus buyer, its great stuff, great value, fantastic gear. But it's not quite the same: we feel we add a lot of value, we develop our own wax & oil mixes, we repair and alter things, we research and test all the gear extensively in the field for months, and we guarantee that a buyer will 'get a good one' and if they feel when they have the gear it isn't worth the money they paid we will return it and take on board any comments as to why. I am fairly sure I can say with many hundreds of customers worldwide that this has only happened a few times, but even then not in a way that couldn't be rectified, which we will have done every time and always will. We have very very few returns or refunds, and we have many many happy customers, some of whom are of course members here. This is not to brag in any way, just to make the point that we do add some value, and that taking the time in researching and developing the range of gear we do and providing the service we do is generally appreciated by the people who have taken the step of parting with their hard earned money. What we are doing on the "recon" side is a "project" - to make this great vintage military gear available, to have it appreciated and make it usable again, and it's not the same as pile-it-high army surplus (which is again is a great thing in itself, I'm in no way knocking it at all). On that side, as we get bigger I would like to be able to bring the prices down a bit based on volume, and to make it perhaps more widely attainable; but the key for me right now is to make this Recon project sustainable, and that means the prices are set as I feel they have to be in each case based on the time it takes to research and acquire and develop and support each product. And I am personally very excited that so many people feel it is a worthwhile project, it's been very well received generally.
So I hope thats a useful contribution, sorry if it was still long winded even with the bullet points! I hope now I've registered and my commercial interest is declared as it were I can play a bit more of a part in this forum going forward as I know it is a great environment for sharing bushcraft skills ideas and experiences.
Thanks again for all your interest and for this brilliant forum which so many people read and get value from even aside from contributing to. And thanks to Leon1 for seeing the need for this to be discussed and inviting me to contribute - sorry it took so long to get to this but we have a hell of a lot on keeping everything rolling at the moment.
Thanks!
Kevin Ruston, Wynnchester Camp & Adventure Ltd.
Thanks Kevin. Once again, I enjoy and appreciate your hard work, great products, and fine service.
I think that the post above from Kevin Rustin at Wynnchester is a clear and plausible explanation of his business ethos and it seems decent and honest to me. I can see that there would be people who would like to buy and used the upcycled military stuff, not having the time or skills needed to do the items up themselves as most here would be able and willing to do. If I was in that position I think I'd welcome the chance to buy kit like he's offering at those prices.
You pays yer money or you don't, eh?
You pays yer money or you don't, eh?
Well chaps. Going to wake this thread up because of two things!
1. Hurricane Bertha gave me wet legs at Bushmoot and near hypothermia by 5am Sunday. Severely damaging my fledgling relationship with a hammock. 2 of my kids beds were soaked too and with more bad weather forecast we left early.
2. I met the lovely Kevin at Wilderness Gathering yesterday. He is an absolute gent. I was completely taken aback by his Adventurer Bedroll. Yes it's heavy. No it's not the cheapest thing on the planet but what a fantastic piece of quality kit. No way that wasn't coming home with me.
Quality remains long after the price is forgotten people.
However my kids will just have to save up for theirs!
1. Hurricane Bertha gave me wet legs at Bushmoot and near hypothermia by 5am Sunday. Severely damaging my fledgling relationship with a hammock. 2 of my kids beds were soaked too and with more bad weather forecast we left early.
2. I met the lovely Kevin at Wilderness Gathering yesterday. He is an absolute gent. I was completely taken aback by his Adventurer Bedroll. Yes it's heavy. No it's not the cheapest thing on the planet but what a fantastic piece of quality kit. No way that wasn't coming home with me.
Quality remains long after the price is forgotten people.
However my kids will just have to save up for theirs!
Hi Countryman,
I wonder if I could prevail on you to give us your thoughts on the bedroll once you've tried it out? I was at the Gathering yesterday and clocked this piece of kit, and thought it looked really nice. The chap who was manning the Wynnchester stand (I assume it was Kevin) was really helpful and there was no hard-sell and I was tempted, but lack of current funds prevented me from buying it. Might have a small bonus coming up in the next few months, but it would be nice to get an independent view on its pros and cons when in use.
Cheers,
Matt.
They could start by learning about thread tension.... These are not good seams.
That looks to me as if they are using a sewing machine that is not up to the job. You get that sort of uneven stitching from insufficient foot pressure, feed dogs that are not strong enough, and bobbins that won't cope with heavy thread. When I was financing my sailing by doing sail repairs and other associated stuff I had a machine that was designed to handle the heavy fabrics and it makes a huge difference.
I just bought one of their wooly poolys or is that woolie pullies or wooleee pulleees? Can down dear it's only a jumper.
Old news Cranmere.
Taffinch I will certainly be blathering about it as soon as I have had a night out. I'm going to get a neighbour that's very keen on woodwork to turn me two spreader bars ASAP but until then I'm going to be back to ground dwelling. At the moment I can only say it's far too warm to stay zipped up long in my lounge!
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Taffinch I will certainly be blathering about it as soon as I have had a night out. I'm going to get a neighbour that's very keen on woodwork to turn me two spreader bars ASAP but until then I'm going to be back to ground dwelling. At the moment I can only say it's far too warm to stay zipped up long in my lounge!
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I'm glad to hear they sorted their quality problems. I strongly suspect that I'm right though, and whoever was making for them at the time didn't have a machine that was up to the job. I still yearn for my grandma's old treadle machine, that would stitch through darned near anything!
Have to admit ive been eyeing the bedrolls up lately. Believe that there was a video on here giving an unbiased view on it.
As for wynnchester, i have used them lately for a couple of items and found them helpful and friendly and good service.
Do really want one of those bedrolls though......
As for wynnchester, i have used them lately for a couple of items and found them helpful and friendly and good service.
Do really want one of those bedrolls though......
For my hiking trip I was looking for a bivybag and a tarp. I wanted the absolute best heavy duty quality available on planet earth. I paid much money for some very interesting but unfortunately not durable items. Than I found Wynchester. That was an eyeopener for me. Ok, even the original price for the bedroll and tarp is a lot of money. But (and that is a very big "but") the idea, concept, quality and making of this gear is outstanding. I mean, the quality is made not just right for the normal use of these things. You can misuse the gear from Wynnchester. One guy at this company told me, a customer has put the tarp under the wheels of his stuck Land Rover to get the truck out of the mud. I didn't try this because it is very difficult to get a Land Rover stuck ;-)
But I made an improvised crane in the woods to lift heavy trunks. I formed the tarp to a satchel and filled it with stones of about 550 kg to make a counterweight. No damages at webbing or stitching.
Under normal circumstances you can't damage or destroy this gear.
Very friendly: Wynnchester made my bedroll 20 cm longer and the tarp was 4x4 meters with much more loops. Very nice.
Unfortunately I had to leave all my equipment in Britain when I got ill.
When I will continue my trip hopefully in 2019 a Wynnchester bedroll will be a part of my sleeping system again.
The only thing I would like to change is a 2nd pole close to the feet for better ventilation. I improvised this with hazel twigsbut you can't find this plant everywhere on planet earth.
But I made an improvised crane in the woods to lift heavy trunks. I formed the tarp to a satchel and filled it with stones of about 550 kg to make a counterweight. No damages at webbing or stitching.
Under normal circumstances you can't damage or destroy this gear.
Very friendly: Wynnchester made my bedroll 20 cm longer and the tarp was 4x4 meters with much more loops. Very nice.
Unfortunately I had to leave all my equipment in Britain when I got ill.
When I will continue my trip hopefully in 2019 a Wynnchester bedroll will be a part of my sleeping system again.
The only thing I would like to change is a 2nd pole close to the feet for better ventilation. I improvised this with hazel twigsbut you can't find this plant everywhere on planet earth.
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