Badger began like many great maker brands do — in a spare room, then a garage, with more determination than space. Joel walked away from a job that wasn’t working to help his partner meet a growing demand for better tool belts, cutting and stitching every piece by hand.

Those early days were lean, gritty, and full of trial and error. But the foundation was clear: build gear with intention, push for better solutions, and stay close to the people who rely on it every day.

As Badger grew, so did the ideas. Joel approached old problems with new thinking — modern hardware, refined bag geometry, improved balance, and smarter materials. Cobra® buckles replaced outdated slide buckles. SuperFabric® reinforced high-wear zones. Designs became cleaner, tougher, and more streamlined.

Many innovations that started in that small garage later appeared across the industry. Badger didn’t chase trends — it set them, proving that a small maker’s shop can push the entire category forward.

The brand that grew from a spare-room workshop now joins Occidental Leather — a company born from the same maker-driven roots, where hand-built gear and problem-solving defined the early years long before the name became iconic.

Occidental’s decades of craftsmanship and small-shop ingenuity now meet Badger’s forward-thinking approach, giving the brand the resources, support, and production strength it has always deserved.

Together, we’re building what comes next for the trades — gear that honors both heritage and innovation.