ABOUT

I’m Pat Shields, the designer and sewer of Sabo Equipment. My studio is based out of Washington in the western foothills of the Cascade Mountains. Each piece begins with a loose idea, then prototyped, tested, refined, then finally patterned and sewn by hand.

Sabo is a recent endeavor. After years of working in mainstream design I was missing what got me originally into it — making with my hands and experiencing life in the outdoors. So in 2024, my partner and I left our jobs, sold our stuff, made some gear, and set off on a year or trekking, bikepacking, cycling, and backpacking. All the gear I made was put to the test, from the Himalayas to the Rocky Mountains. That year of making, testing, and refinement is what formed the groundwork for what has now became the initial collection of Sabo.

SABO (Saah-bow)

The word Sabo (saah-bow) is a nod to the nature preserve I grew up next to in western Michigan's woodlands. It's an idea of how humble beginnings can carry through and define one's life. It wasn't some epic mountain range, but as kids we explored it for days on end, alone with just the essentials, instilling a love and respect in us for nature and an early sense of independence and confidence.

The goal of Sabo is to provide UltraLight and UltraDurable products. That means balancing the benefits of lightweight with longevity of use. Each product focuses on simplistic construction methods, distilled and intuitive features, repairability, and durable material selections.

CONSTRUCTION PHILOSOPHY

PLACING ORDERS

When ordering, please select all options that apply (ie. color, add-ons, accessories, etc). Currently all orders have a 4 week lead time. If you have additional requests for features, color, sizing needs, or rush orders for the item please list in notes and we can talk through your needs.

WARRANTY

2-Year Manufacturing Defects: Reach out ASAP if your pack has a manufacturing defect. You will be provided a shipping label to return your pack for repair and then it will be shipped back to you free of charge. Examples of manufacturing defects: loose stitching, incorrect dimensions, missing component, straps pulling out, incorrect color use, incorrect buckles or other hardware. Warranty does not apply to normal wear and tear from usage.

This policy fully applies to any regular purchased item and applies on a case-by-case bases for Prototype Sample Sale items.

REPAIRS

Durability and repairability are big aspects Sabo products and I hope you put your gear to the test. Eventually when repairs are required there are a few options to consider:

  1. I encourage you to consider repairing yourself. If a part is replaceable or serviceable you can purchase a new part and repair yourself. Examples would be broken buckles, lost accessories like bungees, or applying new seam tape.

  2. Reach out to a local tailor or seamstress for repairs.

  3. Contact a professional gear service such as Rainy Pass Repair, Mountain Soles, Switchback Repairs, or Rugged Thread.

  4. Ship your product back to the Sabo studio for repair. Due to being a one-person operation, this will likely be the slowest option.

All of the packs main bodies are made from waterproof materials, primarily X-PAC, Challenge Sailcloth, Dyneme, or similar laminated or treated materials. The fabrics are robust and waterproof themselves, meaning when it rains the fabric won’t become saturated with water and water won’t be absorbed through the fabric itself and into your bag. This is enough protection for most situations and still more water protection than a traditional backpack you may be familiar with.

However the seams themselves are not waterproof, they are finished with internal binding or zig-zag stitch. This means if left in the rain for prolonged periods of time or submerged and held under water, moister can enter the pack through the seams.
A rain cover can be used for additional rain protection or accessories like waterproof stuff sacks can be used to keep your gear absolutely dry.

WHY NOT TAPE ALL SEAMS?? - You can order a bag with taped seams as a custom order if I don’t offer it taped as a standard product. I avoid fully taping seams on most standard products due to durability and repairability. The adhesive tape can degrade over time, adds additional time and cost, makes repairability more difficult, and usually is overbuilt for most peoples needs.

WATERPROOFING

HOW TO CLEAN YOUR PACK

Spot Clean Areas: Use warm water, diluted soap and a soft cloth. Scrub at specific areas and hang to dry.

Deep Clean Entire Bag: First, detach any accessories, remove any inserted foam panels like in back panel. Next, fill a clean container or bathtub with warm water (not too hot, as it could damage the fabric), soak the pack for a few minutes, scrub the pack with a soft cloth or sponge, and change the water and repeat if necessary. Lastly, rinse with clean water and hang to dry.