Jeans Made In The U.S.

• AG Jeans — Los Angeles, California — jeans (only selected products)
• Jean Shop — New York, New York —  jeans
• Levi Strauss & Co. — San Francisco, California —  jeans (only selected products)
• Rag & Bone — New York, New York —  jeans (only selected products)
• Raleigh Denim — Raleigh, North Carolina —  jeans
• Tellason — San Francisco, California —  jeans
• The Stronghold — Los Angeles, California —  jeans
• True Religion — jeans

Accessories Made In The U.S.

• American Optical — sunglasses, eyeglasses
• Bollman Hats — Adamstown, Pennsylvania — hats
• Buffalo Gold – Goodnight, Texas – Bison wool clothing
• David Hart & Co. — New York, New York — neckties
• Dodo Case — San Francisco, California — iPad / iPhone cases
• Edgar Leather — Tallahassee, Florida — leather goods
• Faribault Woolen Mills — Faribault, Minnesota — blankets
• Geier Glove Co. — Centralia, Washington — leather gloves
• The General Knot Co. — Bedford, New York — neckties
• Gfeller Casemakers — Meridian, Idaho — leather goods
• Noble Buffalo — St. Louis, Missouri — leather belts
• Leather Man Limited — Essex, Connecticut — belts, accessories
• Optimo Hats —Chicago, Illinois — hats
• Pierrepont Hicks — Minneapolis, Minnesota — ties, accessories
• Randolph Engineering — Randolph, Massachusetts — glasses, sunglasses
• Shuron — Greeneville, South Carolina — glasses, eyeglasses
• Solesu — Belleville, Illinois — leather belts
• Tanner Goods — Portland, Oregon — leather goods
• Wiley Belts — Charlottesville, Virginia — belts, leather goods

Luggage Made In The U.S.

• Accessories Unlimited — Portland, Maine — bags
• Acorn Bags — California — cycling bags
• Artifact Bags — Omaha, Nebraska — bags
• Bailey Works — Portsmouth, New Hampshire — bicycle bags
• Billykirk — Pennsylvania — bags, leather goods
• Beckel Canvas — Portland, Oregon — bags, tents, etc.
• Buzzline — Fort Pierce, Flordia — bags
• Dandux — Ellicott City, Maryland — bags
• Domke — Hauppauge, New York — camera bags, accessories
• Duluth Pack — Duluth, Minnesota — luggage
• Emil Erwin — Nashville, Tennessee — luggage, accessories
• Estex Mfg. Co. — Fairburn, Georgia — bags
• Equinox — Williamsport, Pennsylvania — bags, outdoor gear
• Frost River — Duluth, Minnesota — bags, tents
• Ghurka — New York, NY — bags, leather goods, accessories
• Goruck — Bozeman, Montana — bags, hats
• Johnson Woolen Mills — Johnson, Vermont — bags, clothing, accessories
• Joshu+Vela — San Francisco, California — bags
• J. W. Hulme Co. — St. Paul, Minnesota — briefcases, bags, accessories
• Klein Tools — Lincolnshire, Illinois — bags, accessories
• LL Bean — Freeport, Maine — luggage (only selected products)
• Makr — Orlando, Florida — luggage, accessories, leather goods
• Mer — Brooklyn, New York — luggage
• Moop — Pittsburg, Pennsylvania —bags
• Port Canvas — Kennebunkport, Maine — canvas bags
• Red Oxx — Billings, Montana—  adventure luggage
• Topo Designs — Denver, Colorado — bags
• Tough Traveler — Schenectady, New York — bags
• Triple Aught Design — San Francisco, California — bags, accessories
• Utility Canvas — Gardiner, New York — bags, accessories
• Wm. J. Mills & Co. — Greenport, New York — bags
• Wood&Faulk — Portland, Oregon — bags, accessories

Clothing Made In The U.S.

• Anderson-Little — Tamarac, Flordia — navy blazerslected products)
• Berle Manufacturing — Charleston, South Carolina — trousers
• Beyond Clothing — Seattle, Washington — outdoors clothing
• Bill’s Khakis — Reading, Pennsylvania — khaki pants, clothing
• Brooks Brothers — New York, New York — clothing, sportswear, footwear, accessories (only selected products)
• Bemidji Woolen Mills — Bemidji, Minnesota — clothing, blankets
• Camber — Norristown, Pennsylvania — tee shirts, sweatshirts
• Carhartt — Dearborn, Michigan — workwear, outerwear (only selected products)
• CC Filson — Seattle, Washington — outwear, bags, accessories (only selected products)
• CEGO — New York, New York — custom shirts
• Commonwealth Proper — Philadelphia, Pennsylvania — shirts
• Centralia Knitting Mills — Centralia, Washington — outerwear
• Crescent Down Works — Seattle, Washington — outerwear
• Ebbets Field Flannels — Seattle, Washington — jackets, jerseys, accessories
• Engineered Garments — New York, New York — clothing, bags, accessories
• Epaulet — Brooklyn, New York — shirts, ties
• Gitman Brothers — Ashland, Pennsylvania — woven shirts
• Hamilton Shirts — Houston, Texas — custom shirts
• Hart Schaffner Marx — Chicago, Illinois — tailored clothing
• Hertling Trousers — Brooklyn, New York — pants
• Homage — Columbus, Ohio — tee shirts, sweatshirts, accessories
• Individualized — Perth Amboy, New Jersey — woven shirts
• Langlitz Leathers — Portland, Oregon — motorcycle jackets
• New England Shirt Company — Fall River, Massachusetts — shirts
• Oxxford Clothing — Chicago, Illinois — tailored clothing
• Pendleton Woolen Mills — Portland, Oregon — sportswear, blankets (only selected products)
• Pointer Brand — Bristol, Tennessee — clothing, denim, workwear
• Post Overalls — New York, NY — clothing
• Ramblers Way — Kennebunk, Maine — wool clothing
• REI — Kent, Washington — outdoor clothing  (only selected products – see their “Made In USA” section)
• Rogue Territory — Los Angeles, California — clothing, accessories
• Round House — Shawnee, Oklahoma — denim, workwear
• Self Edge — San Francisco, California — clothing
• Schott NYC — New York, New York — outerwear
• Spiewak — New York, New York — outerwear
• Sterlingwear — Boston, Massachusetts — outerwear
• Steven Alan — New York, New York — sportswear, accessories (only selected products)
• Stormy Kromer — Ironwood, Michigan — hats, clothing, outerwear
• Taylor Stitch — San Francisco, California — shirts
• Thom Browne — New York, New York — tailored clothing, sportswear
• Vanson Leathers — Fall River, Massachusetts — leather jackets
• Western Mountaineering — San Jose, California — down jackets, sleeping bags
• Wrath Arcane — Cleveland, Ohio — sportswear

Footware Made In The U.S.

• Allen-Edmonds — Port Washington, Wisconsin — shoes (only selected products)
• Altama — Atlanta, Georgia — boots
• Arrow Moccasin Company — Hudson, Massachusetts — footwear
• Chippewa Boots — Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin — footwear (only selected products)
• Danner — Portland, Oregon — footwear
• Darn Tough — Northfield, Vermont — socks
• E. Vogel — New York, New York — boots, shoes
• Fox River Mills — Osage, Iowa — socks
• Keen – Portland, Oregon – footwear — (only selected products)
• Limmer Boots — Intervale, New Hampshire — boots
• LL Bean — Freeport, Maine — boots
• New Balance — Boston, Massachusetts — athletic shoes (only selected products)
• Oak Street Bootmakers — Chicago, Illinois — shoes, boots
• Oliver Moore — New York, New York — custom shoes
• Perry Ercolino — Doylestown, Pennsylvania — custom shoes
• Quoddy — Perry, Maine — footwear
• Rancourt & Co. — Lewiston, Maine — footwear
• Red Wing — Red Wing, Minnesota — footwear (only selected products)
• Russell Moccasin Co. — Berlin, Wisconsin — footwear
• Townview Leather — Dexter, Maine — footwear
• Vincent & Edgar — New York, New York — bespoke shoes
• Weinbrenner — Merrill, Wisconsin — footwear
• Wesco Boots — Scappoose, Oregon — footwear
• White’s Boots — Spokane, Washington — footwear
• Wigwam — Sheboygan, Wisconsin — socks
• Wolverine – boots (only selected products)
• Yuketen — Hermosa Beach, California — boots, shoes

Tools Made In The U.S.

• All American Pressure Cooker — Wisconsin — Pressure Cookers
• Ambruster Tent Company — Springfield, Illinois — Canvas Tents
• Annin & Company — Roseland, New Jersey — Flags
• Baxter of California — Los Angeles, California — Men’s Grooming Products (only selected products)
• Benchmade — Oregon City, Oregon — Knives (only selected products)
• Buck Knives — Post Falls, Idaho — Knives
• Estwing — Rockford, Illinois — Axes / Wood Splitting
• Field Notes — Portland, Oregon — Notepads, Writing Instruments
• Fisher Space Pen — Boulder City, Nevada — Writing Instruments
• Klhip — Ketchum, Idaho — Nail Clippers
• The Good Flock — Portland, Oregon — Technology Cases
• Jacob Bromwell — Tempe, Arizona — pots, pans, accessories
• Klein Tools – only selected products
• Leatherman — Portland, Oregon — Multi-Tools
• Luma Labs — Portland, Oregon — Camera Straps
• PortaBrace — North Bennington, Vermont — Camera Bags
• Pocket Pin High Pro – Knoxville, Tennessee — Golf training equipment
• Rada Cutlery — Iowa — Kitchen Utensils
• School House Electric — Portland, Oregon — light fixtures, home accessories
• Scout Books — Portland, Oregon — Notebooks
• Springbar Tents — Salt Lake City, Utah — Canvas Tents
• Snap On Tools – only selected products
• Steelcase —  Grand Rapids, Michigan — Chairs
• Streamlight — Eagleville, Pennsylvania — Flashlights
• Surefire — Fountain Valley, California — Flashlights
• The United States Playing Card Company — Cincinnati, Ohio — Playing Cards
• Vornado Fans — Andover, Kansas — Fans
• Wiggy’s — Grand Junction, Colorado — Sleeping Bags, Outerwear
• Wilson Bohannan Co. — Marion, Ohio — Padlocks
• Woodman’s Pal — Boyertown, Pennsylvania — Machetes
• W.R. Case & Sons — Bradford, Pennsylvania — Knives
• Zeroll — Fort Pierce, Flordia — Ice Cream Scoops
• Zippo — Bradford, Pennsylvania — Lighters

Audio Gear Made In The U.S.

• Audio by Van Alstine — Woodbury, MN — preamplifiers, amplifiers, digital-to-analog converters, and phase inverters
• Ayre Acoustics, Inc. — Boulder, CO — full line of audio and video components
• Audeze — Headphones
• Car Audio Factory — Richmond, TX — subwoofer enclosers
• Carr Amplifiers — Pittsboro, NC — guitar amplifiers, made by guitarists for guitarists.
• CI Audio — Port Hueneme, CA — headphone amplifiers, monoblock amplifiers, and power supplies.
• Fargen Amps — Sacramento, CA — all tube (not solid-state) guitar and bass amplifiers
• Grado Labs — Brooklyn, NY — high-quality headphones and phono cartridges (their SR80-i is one of the best headphones under $100)
• KCS Loudspeakers — Sun Prairie, WI — custom horn loudspeakers
• Klipsch –  Hope, AR – audio gear
• Koss Headphones – Milwaukee, WI – headphones
• Manley Labs — Chino, CA — Hi-Fi and professional recording gear
• McIntosh Labs — Binghamton, NY: fine audio and home theater sound systems
• Mohu, Inc. — Raleigh, NC — makers of the LeafTM, a USA-made indoor HDTV antenna
• Moog Music — Ashville, NC — miniMoog Voyager analog monosynth, MoogerFooger guitar pedals, and Etherwave theremin
• Ohm Acoustics — Brooklyn, NY — high-end speakers for audio and home theater applications
• Orb Audio — Sherman Oaks, CA — Mod1 and Mod2 satellite speakers for flat screen and home theater applications, handmade in the USA. “Small Speakers for Smart People”
• Schitt Audio – Audio Gear
• Synthesizers.com — Tyler, TX — modular analog music synthesizers, assembled in USA with domestic and imported components
• SVS — Ohio — speakers and subwoofers for music and home theater
• Wavefront Technologies — Los Angeles, CA — theremin musical instruments and accessories
• Westone — Colorado — Earphones
• Woo Audio — New York — amps
• Zinky Electronics — Flagstaff, AZ — electric guitar amplifiers & accessories

Camping Equipment Made In The U.S.

• American Outdoors — coolers, boat totes, camp chairs, etc.
• Arc Flashlight —Phoenix, AZ — LED pocket flashlights that run on a single AAA battery
• Awl for All —Arlington Hts., IL — indispensable wooden-handled awl for repairing leather, canvas, and vinyl outdoor gear
• Butler Bags —Cedar City, UT — sleeping bags, bedrolls, and gear bags
• Cascade Designs —Seattle, WA — manufacturer of camping gear of all sorts (including Therm-a-rest self-inflating camping mattresses, MSR camping stoves)
• Equinox. —Williamsport, PA — makers of ultralight backpacking gear, including sleeping bags, tarps, ponchos packs, and totes
• EZ-Sales and Mfg. —Gardena, CA— American-made hammocks, folding aluminum camp chairs, cots, and canteens (only selected products)
• Feathered Friends —Seattle, WA — sleeping bags, outwear, and comforters
• Fuerte Cases —La Mesa, CA — waterproof protective cases for laptops, PDAs, firearms
• Kirkham’s Outdoor Products —Salt Lake City, UT — manufacturer of Springbar and AAA canvas wall tents
• Nalgene —Rochester, NY — water bottles, bike bottles, travel mugs, and other “hydration necessities” (only selected products)
• Northern Lites —Wausau, WI — high-tech, lightweight snowshoes for all uses, from racing to hiking
• Open Country Campware — aluminum camp ware kits, plates, pots, and canteens made by Metal Ware Corp. (Two Rivers, WI)
• Outdoor Research —Seattle, WA — shelter systems, headwear, gaiters/footwear, and storage systems/stuff sacks (only selected products)
• Princeton Tec — headlamps, outdoor gear, bikes lights
• Purcell Trench Mfg — Addy, WA —ultra-lightweight camping grills and tarp shelters
• REI — Kent, Washington — outdoor equipment  (only selected products – see their “Made In USA” section)
• TarpTent —Redwood City, CA —ultralight, mobile shelters made with US materials in Seattle, WA
• Tektite —Trenton,NJ — LED flashlights and lanterns, divelights, and marker lights

Bikes Made In The U.S.

• Ahearne — Portland, Oregon — bicycles
• A.N.T. Bicycles — Holliston, Massachusetts — bicycles, bicycle accessories
• Bilenky Cycle Works — Philadelphia, Pennsylvania — bicycles
• Brooklyn Machine Works — Brooklyn, New York — bicycles
• Calfee Design — La Selva Beach, California — bicycles
• Courage Bicycle MFG Co. — Portland, Oregon — bicycles
• Cygolite  — bike lights
• Davidson — Seattle, Washington — bicycles
• Fast Boy Cycles — New York, New York — bicycles
• Gunnar Cycles — Waterford, Wisconsin — bicycle frames
• Hufnagel — Portland, Oregon — bicycles
• Independent Fabrication — Somerville, Massachusetts — bicycles
• Ira Ryan Cycles — Portland, Oregon — bicycles
• J.P. Weigle — Lyme, Connecticut — bicycles
• Lightspeed — Chattanooga, Tennessee — bicycles
• MAP — Portland, Oregon — bicycles
• Metrofiets — Portland, Oregon — bicycles
• Moots Cycles — Steamboat Springs, Colorado — bicycles
• NiteRider  — bike lights
• Outlier — Brooklyn, New York — cycling clothing
• Pereira — Portland, Oregon — bicycles
• Phil Wood —San Jose, California — bicycle components
• Princeton Tec — bikes lights
• Richard Sachs Cycles — Chester, Connecticut — bicycles
• Seven Cycles — Watertown, Massachusetts — bicycles
• Signal Cycles — Portland, Oregon — bicycles
• Six-Eleven Bicycle Co. — Roanoke, Virginia — Bicycles
• Steelman Cycles — Redwood City, California — bicycles
• Strawberry — Portland, Oregon — bicycles
• Tet Cycles — West Branch, Iowa — bicycles
• Townsend Bicycles — Monrovia, California — bicycles
• Waterford Precision Bicycles — Waterford, Wisconsin — bicycle frames
• Worksmen Bicycles — Queens, New York — bicycles

The post A List Of Goods Still Made In The USA appeared first on Reactual.

Delesey is a French luggage manufacture that makes stylish and lightweight bags protected by shatter-proof Bayer Virgin Makrolon Polycarbonate. The Helium’s outer shell is nearly invulnerable to impact. It costs about  $129.

The Details

The Helium‘s design is light, durable, innovative, and stylish. It has a Makrolon Polycarbonate finish, which protects the luggage from impacts and extreme temperatures. Travel website Skyscanner tested Delsey luggage for durability and found that it survived kicking, stomping, hammer blows, and even the weight of a car. They concluded that Delsey Helium is “harder than a French legionnaire.” In addition to being durable it is also scratch resistant, so the luggage will maintain its good looks for years.

It is a lightweight and spacious piece of luggage. It weighs 9lbs 8oz and it is 25″ inches high and 11.5″ inches wide. The interior has two lined components, which is plenty to fit a week’s worth of clothes and travel accessories. It includes a buttoned mesh divider and adjustable web straps that help keep your material organized during travel. I found the interior to be relatively  free of gimmicky straps and unnecessary compartments.

It comes with a 10 year warranty.

Another Option

The Rockland 20 inch Polycarbonate Carry On is another durable piece of luggage. It is small and lightweight, ideal for shorter trips. Multi-directional spinner wheels help the Rockland glide across airport terminals with ease. It has a chrome telescoping push button handle.

Rockland products come with a three-year warranty.

The post The Most Durable Luggage appeared first on Reactual.

Alexander offers a 30 day warranty on his goods (they pay for return shipping), and they will repair their products for free.

The Bedford Overnight Bag, featured here, is available for $395.

The post Buy It For Life: Bedford Overnight Bag By Ernest Alexander appeared first on Reactual.

Safari-Beans PR5 Bag by RedOxx

Pros:

• Very durable construction
• Lifetime warranty
• Designed and made in the U.S.

Cons:

• Utilitarian design might limit business use
• Clunky zippers and fasteners may not please some

RedOxx, a company based in Billings, Montana, specializes in constructing very practical and durable luggage. The company was founded by two former military parachute riggers. Their bags are built with tough canvas (1,000-denier Cordura), huge zippers and strong handles. The company offers a lifetime guarantee on all their products. RedOxx states that they expect their products to be “included in your will”. More specifically, if your bag ever needs repair, the company says:

Simply ship the product back to us and we will either repair or replace the item at no charge. The item will be returned to you “return shipping paid”.

The product we are featuring here is RedOxx’s Safari-Beans PR5 Bag. The bag is constructed in Montana, with some parts coming from Colorado and California.

Outside Magazine recognized the Safari Beanos PR5 Safari bag as one of 2004’s 15 best outdoor products. James Glave, editor for Outside Buyer’s Guide, said:

Winning products must offer cutting-edge design and be really rugged. Our testers dragged it with a car down the sidewalk and threw it off the second-story balcony and tried to destroy it. We really place enormous emphasis on rigorous testing.

Note that this bag is built primarily for adventure travel. With its utilitarian design, some people may find that all the zippers and fasteners to be too clunky and noisy for their tastes.

The Safari-Beans PR5 Bag bag is available directly from RedOxx for $220.

The post Buy It For Life: Safari-Beans PR5 Bag by RedOxx appeared first on Reactual.

Features to look for in a folding bike are weight, compactness, ease and speed of the fold, and components. In general folding bikes use either  16″ or 20″ wheels, though there are some with 24″ or 700c wheels. The 20″ wheels are a more standard size and ride more like a traditional bike, while the 16″ wheels provide more compactness. What may have started off as a novelty has now grown into a full-fledged segment of the bicycle market, with more and more manufacturers popping up and traditional bike makers producing their own version of a folding bike.

After surveying reviews from sources such as NYCeWheels, BikeForums.net, Commute By Bike, Bicycle Quarterly, Folding Bikes Blog, and Bike Radar, we’ve come up a list of the top rated folding bikes available for 2011:

Dahon Mu P8 Folding Bike ($700)

Pros:

• Lightweight aluminum frame; upgraded components
• Versatile for commuting or weekend rides
• 20″ wheels, 8 speeds, rides fast and efficient
• Simple folding in 15 seconds

Cons:

• Not the smallest folding bike
• Some may prefer the rigidity of a steel frame for commuting

Top Review Sources:

• NYCeWheels: “Great Value”
• Folding Bikes Blog: “A nimble, attractive and exceptionally fun ride with superb acceleration.”

Dahon is a maker of some of the lightest and most efficient folding bikes as well as the best selling. The Dahon Mu P8 has been a popular choice for commuters over the years and the 2011 model features some nice upgrades including faster Schwalbe tires, stronger rims, and a front luggage truss that allows for simple placement of a bag or basket.

The handlebar can be raised for an upright ride or lowered for a more aggressive feel. Located inside the seat post is a tire pump. Weighing in at 24.7 pounds, the bike can be folded quickly (some even claim with one hand) and carried up stairs or onto public transportation. Folded size is 11.7″ x 30.8″ x 25.7″.

The Dahon Mu P8 folding bike is available on Amazon.

Brompton M3L Folding Bike ($1,270)

Pros:

• Most compact folding bike
• Award winning European design with innovative luggage system
• Internal hub for low maintenance
• Front and rear fenders

Cons:

• Pricey
• Many don’t like the dual pivot brakes
• 3 gears could be limiting for some

Top Review Sources:

• NYCeWheels: “Folds with great ease and forms a small package.”
• Folding Bikes Blog: “Well-built, all-purpose bike”
• Commute By Bike: “Ingenious and elegant; rides well”

When one thinks of folding bikes, the name Brompton immediately comes to mind. Brompton bikes are handcrafted in England and are best for those looking for compact storage, portability, and quick folding all while maintaining an aesthetic design. The M3L is Brompton’s most popular model, though what’s great about the company is that no bike is standard. You can custom build your bike with options such as gearing (up to 6), frame, and color.

Brompton bike frames are steel which makes for a stable commute. The M3L weighs 24 pounds. If you’re looking for the lightest folding bike, Brompton offers a titanium frame which shaves about 3-4 pounds off the bike, but does add quite a bit to the price tag. Brompton also offers a wide array of accessories to increase the efficiency and functionality of a Brompton, including Eazy Wheels which can turn your Brompton into a shopping cart. Bromptons can carry up to 242 pounds.

To find a Brompton dealer near you visit their website or you can order directly from NYCeWheels.

Pacific Cycles IF Reach Folding Bike ($1,550)

Pros:

• Speedy integrated folding design
• Rolls while folded
• Front and rear suspension
• 9 speed drivetrain, 20″ wheels

Cons:

• Relatively heavy (26 lbs.)

Top Review Sources:

• Bicycle Quarterly: “A penchant for both pavement and dirt riding.”
• NYCeWheels: “Pacific bikes are practical and stylish.”

Pacific Cycles is an innovator in folding bike design. Their recent IF Mode folding bike has turned heads and won awards, though it won’t win any awards for affordability. The IF Reach model comes down a bit in price and is best for those who desire the look and feel of a more traditional bike with the convenience of a quick folding design.

What sets the Pacific folding bike apart is the dual suspension that translates well from the road to the trail or would be great for those with a rough commute, though this does add to the weight. These bikes are meant to be wheeled away, not carried, so they work well for public transit, but may not be the best for apartment dwellers or if you need to carry your bike up stairs.

The Pacific IF Reach folding bike is available on Amazon.

Xootr Swift Folding Bike ($749)

Pros:

• Lightweight (22 lbs.), aluminum frame
• Rides like a traditional bike, 8 speeds, 20″ inch wheels
• Folds in 5-10 seconds
• Rugged, built for NYC streets

Cons:

• Pedals and saddle may need to be upgraded
• Not the most compact when folded

Top Review Sources:

• Commute By Bike: “awesome for commuting, training, fun rides, errands, and it’s folding capabilities makes this bike worth the money”
• Bicycle Times: “Excels in rideability”

Born in Brooklyn, the Swift folding bike saw a cult following by NYC commuters for many years before Xootr, maker of kick scooters, began manufacturing the Xootr Swift folding bike. Designed primarily for performance on the road, the Xootr Swift rides like a hybrid bike. Though you won’t get the compactness of a Brompton, it is lightweight for hand carry.

The Swift offers flexibility in components. You can make it a fixie, add an internal hub, change out the tires, get different handlebars, etc. You can also add fenders and pannier racks with ample cargo space behind the seat post. Xootr offers different size frames, which is unusual for folding bikes. Also comes in silver.

The Xootr Swift Folding Bike can be ordered through the Xootr website.

Bike Friday Tikit ‘Model T’ Folding Bike ($1,275)

Top Review Sources

• Bike Radar: “Quick and easy fold, and a good ride quality”
• NYCeWheels: “A joy to ride, fold, and own”

Bike Friday is a specialty manufacturer of folding bikes based in Oregon who are fast becoming America’s version of the Brompton. With a loyal customer base, Bike Friday owners say that these folding bikes handle better than Bromptons, have a better braking system (V brakes), and fold faster. Though Brompton has them beat on compactness.

The ‘Model T’ version of the Tikit is Bike Friday’s most affordable folding bike. They offer custom made bikes in a variety of styles including touring, road and commuting. You can also upgrade to an internal Nexus hub. Like Bromptons, the Bike Friday comes in a variety of colors.

The Bike Friday folding bike can be ordered directly from their website.

Dahon Eco C6 Folding Bike ($380)

Pros:

• Best folding bike under $500
• 20″ wheels- for a traditional bike feel
• 6 speeds for hill climbs
• Fenders included

Cons:

• On the heavy side (27 lbs.)

Top Review Sources:

• NYCeWheels: “An economical solution for casual weekend rides or basic transportation around town”
• Amazon: 4.7 out of 5 stars, based on 3 customer reviews

Even those on a budget can benefit from the convenience of a folding bike with the Dahon Eco C6. Most folding bikes under $500 are too heavy, which can defeat the purpose. The Eco C6 is the lightest budget folding bike currently available. Best for those looking for a fun ride to get around town or run errands without spending too much. A rear rack can be added for cargo storage. The 2011 model comes in red.

The Dahon Eco C6 is available on Amazon.

The post The Top Rated Folding Bikes appeared first on Reactual.