Some fifteen years ago I once bought a Filson vest.
About twelve years ago I once bought a Filson coat.
Perhaps a decade ago I once bought a pair of Filson boots.
I still have all of these items. They have served me well through years in the field and have not yet even begun to show the first signs of the hard use to which they have been put. That’s the reason I buy Filson products. That’s also the reason I’ve only bought these items once – they’ve yet to, and in my lifetime may actually never need to, be replaced.
Every year that I have been standing out in the rain, the wind, and whatever else Mother Nature may throw at me during the Christmas Bird Count, I have been wearing at least one piece of Filson gear. As my feet have pounded the ground searching for birds, butterflies, and other interesting wildlife on three different continents they have done so in Filson boots. Since I first picked up a binocular and set out into the field, more often than any other, my notebook, field guide, and other essential gear has been close at hand in the pockets of my Filson vest.
So when I got the note that told me that Filson was to open a retail store to sell their extraordinary products in Portland, a mere thirty miles from my home in Scappoose, I naturally made the trip to attend their grand opening. To an avid outdoor enthusiast, and not meaning to be hyperbolic, it was a little like making a religious pilgrimage.
Truly – for in deference to all the thousands of hours I have devoted to my own outdoor passions, Filson has stood by me every step of the way through their craftsmanship, their quality, and their absolute determination to be the best. What’s more, they’ve done the same for my father in his work as a commercial fisherman and my grandfather in his as a logger.
Filson’s slogan is simple: “Might as well have the best.” Their guarantee equally as straight-forward: “We guarantee every item purchased from us. No more, no less. Your satisfaction is the sole purpose of our transaction.” In this age of marketing, spin, and obfuscation, it’s indeed comforting to know that there are still companies doing what they have done so well for so long and still absolutely dedicated to doing it in the manner in which they first began.
Those in or planning a visit to the Portland, Oregon area can find the new Filson store at 526 N.W. 13th Ave. Call (503) 246-0900 for store hours. If you already know about Filson, you’ll go. If you have yet to experience their fine quality first hand, you’ll be glad you did. You can thank me later.
Peace and good bird watching.
