If you spend much time outdoors, you’ll definitely want to get acquainted with Tuff Possum Gear. Since about 2017, Jayberry Miller and his team have been knocking out bags, pouches, lockpick sets, and more. Along the way, TPG has earned a stellar reputation for quality and customer service.
One of the hallmarks of the Tuff Possum Gear product line is its pressure testing. Jayberry takes every prototype out into the field and tests it under real-world conditions. Does it work the way it should? Are there opportunities for improvement? What failed and why? It’s only after he’s satisfied that the product is ready for prime time that it debuts on the site and is made available for purchase.
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Tuff Possum Gear: USA Made
Almost all of their products are made in the USA, either in-house or in partnership with select manufacturers. This isn’t junk imported for pennies and just given a new label stitched to the side.
I sat down with Jayberry recently to get some insight as to how TPG came about and how things are running today.
1) What was the final push to go from making gear as a hobby to making gear as a career? Was there a specific goal you had in mind that you were able to achieve to then make that jump?
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The push for me started with a gentleman I had gotten to know online, Eric Au of SkinthSolutions. He showed teenage me that you could make a business and a career out of making cool gear! I also had a job for over three years at a small machine shop making aftermarket classic Mustang parts, where I really saw again that you can make great products, sell them, fulfill those orders, and live a fulfilling life. Then we moved across the country around the time I finished high school, so rather than finding a new job, it was natural to just jump right into it full-time!
2) What is your personal favorite product from the TPG line and why?
My all-time, hands-down favorite product is the Multipurpose Sit Pad! It is such a useful piece of gear that helps you stay warm, light fires, be more comfortable, and so much more. I can get along without some of my other favorite products if I have to, but nothing replaces a good sit pad, and it is really the best one out there! It also helps cement in my mind that the Multipurpose Sit Pad is my #1 pick for getting more raving reviews and compliments from people who spend a lot of time outdoors than any other product.
3) Which TPG product is the most labor-intensive to produce?
I would say the most labor-intensive product I personally make is the Satchel Organizer Panels. Just so many rows of Velcro hooks to sew in a batch. You can’t sew them at full speed, or the friction of sewing through the Velcro will heat up your needle. Thankfully, I have a great sewing partner in Montana who takes the burden off me by sewing larger items like the Mini Trunk Duffle.
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4) You recently added some new shop equipment. How is that working out?
Earlier this year, we added a large Thunder Laser to our shop, eliminating the back-straining work of hand-marking and scissors cutting every line. It’s a huge quality-of-life improvement for us, and it unlocked so much potential with laser-cutting awesome laminates like Squadron and Curv.
5) How did you decide to branch into lockpick gear?
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I have been tinkering with lockpicks since my early teens, but it wasn’t until I started diving deeper into the skillset that I found that the perfect lock-picking and bypassing sets for everyday carry didn’t really exist on the market. I had to assemble the perfect kit from a long list of different pieces and then send that shopping list to my friends when they asked me for recommendations.
So, eventually, we partnered with a USA-made manufacturer down in Georgia to put together what we believe is the ultimate set for everyday carry, packing in a go bag, or just learning a new hobby! Since then, I have received many satisfying stories about our lock-pick kits in the field. The users range from first responders and construction workers to maintenance workers, wilderness skills instructors, and everyday guys who were called to step up and save the day.
6) Any future plans you can reveal?
I have about 30 new product ideas that I would like to launch over the next couple of years, but two upcoming ones that may be released by the time this is published are the new MOLLE/PALS compatible Compass Pouch and the new Deluxe Full Size Lockpick Case, both made with the laser cut Squadron laminate I mentioned earlier!
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Let’s take a closer look at a few of Tuff Possum Gear’s signature products.
Multipurpose Sit Pad
It’s such a simple design, but it has so many uses. The Multipurpose Sit Pad is, at the core, a means of providing you with something to sit or kneel on, such as when you’re stoking the fire or taking a break on the trail. It insulates and protects you from the ground. At just 17.5” x 11.0 inches and maybe an inch thick, it’s small enough to easily fit in your pack. Depending on the material/color, it weighs 3.8 to 4.4 ounces, so it won’t add much to the pack.
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In addition to giving you a place to sit, the Multipurpose Sit Pad is great for collecting tinder. For example, if you’re shaving a branch or shredding bark, use the pad as a place to keep it until you’re ready for the fire lay. If the fire is slow to start, you can use it to fan the flames, too.
The Multipurpose Sit Pad is available in several color combinations, including multi-cam and Ranger Green. The opposite side is blaze orange. This is particularly handy during hunting season, as you can strap it to your pack, orange side out, to be more visible.
MSRP: $4
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Tuff Possum Gear Shackleton EDC Satchel
There are many different satchels on the market today. And I own several of them, as it’s one of my favorite EDC conveyances. A shoulder bag isn’t ideal for long treks, but it’s great for day-to-day use. The Shackleton EDC Satchel is my favorite model.
The measurements are 12 inches wide, 9 inches tall, and roughly 4 inches deep. It has a two-inch webbing strap that adjusts from 30 inches to 60 inches. It has an ITW Cobra buckle to secure the main flap. The buckle is adjustable, which is great when you’re carrying more than usual in the satchel.
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I did a full review of the Shackleton EDC Satchel for GAT Daily a while back. You can read it here.
It’s available in Coyote Brown or Ranger Green.
Tuff Possum Gear Entry Kit with Compact Lockpick Case
Lockpicking can be a handy skill. It’s also a lot of fun to practice, especially if you’re fond of puzzles. I knew one guy who kept a few padlocks and a set of picks nearby when he had to take conference calls at home. This was back in the Stone Age, before video conferencing became a thing.
The Entry Kit is an excellent introduction to the basic tools of lockpicking. Among the contents:
• EZ Card – This is used on doors that have spring-loaded latches. You slide it between the door and frame and push the latch to open the door.
• Notched Decoder Shims – Perfect for combination padlocks and luggage locks.
• 5-Piece Riveted Lockpick Set – What you might think of as classic lockpicks, with a nice arrangement of different tools.
• Tension Wrenches – These are used to provide, you guessed it, tension on the lock as you do your thing with the picks.
• Custom 5-Piece Bypass Multi-Tool – It features two jigglers and three comb picks, along with a QuickStick.
Several other tools are included as well. But as with anything else, the tools are the easy part of the equation. Learning how to use them effectively takes practice. Fortunately, there are tons of great YouTube videos that explain the basics. Jayberry has even compiled a curated playlist of instructional videos he recommends.
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