PINTO Lined Bottle Pouch

In 1970, Mark Goldstein—an avid outdoorsman and military veteran—couldn't find a backpack that matched the durability of his military-issued gear or the comfort he needed for long treks. So he designed his own.

Working from his Schenectady apartment, Mark hand-sewed backpacks with tough materials and innovative designs. When fellow outdoorsmen saw his work, they wanted their own. Tough Traveler was born.

More than 50 years later, we're still family-operated and still manufacturing every bag in that same Schenectady community. In 2019, we represented New York at the White House Made in America Product Showcase—proof that Mark's commitment to uncompromising quality and American craftsmanship still defines everything we make.

Every bag we sew today carries that original mission: build it tough enough to last decades, comfortable enough to carry every day.