In The Spotlight: Duluth Trading Company Brand Profile

Quirky ads, cozy flannels, and durable soft-goods define Duluth Trading Company.

A quick perusal of Duluth Trading Company’s past ad campaigns should make you giggle. Of note: Plumber’s crack, “Ballroom Khakis,” and “Buck Naked” underwear. Clearly, Duluth Trading Company is a brand with a sense of humor.

But its products are serious. Founded on tool carriers and workwear, GearJunkie readers regularly comment positively about the brand, especially if omitted from a round-up.

Learn more about Duluth Trading Company, and keep that plumbers butt covered!

Duluth Trading Company: Fast Facts

Founded In: 1991

Home: Duluth, Minn.

Mission: Innovation for the job site: Every product is field tested on job sites by a grizzly bunch of construction workers, dock hands, cycle riders, old hippies, and other hard-as-nails characters.

Buying Tip: Duluth Trading Company is an American brand with “American Sizing.” They fit larger than some brands.

Fun Fact: The first headquarters was a refurbished barge on the waterfront of Lake Superior in Duluth’s shipping district.

First Product: Bucket Boss – two brothers working in the trades designed a durable canvas tool organizer to fit on a drywall bucket. That morphed into a full line of tool organizers.

Duluth Trading Company: Best Selling Products

Men’s Fire Hose Workwear

This line of clothing is made for work and uses materials meant to stand up to abuse. That means a lot of cotton, but there is still an element of tech here. Most of the pants, for example, use four percent spandex to enhance stretch. The Duluthflex Fire Hose Work Pant, is probably one of the highest rated products on the Internet, with a 4.8-star rating and 3,555 reviews!

Free Swingin’ Flannel

Go ahead and swing that axe! The Free Swingin’ Flannel has roomy back pleats and “F.O.M.” (Freedom of Movement) armpit gussets. These cotton flannels are price-conscious and offer solid quality for under $50.

Men’s Longtail T

Crack is whack! Thus, the Longtail T-Shirt is cut longer to remain tucked in even when your bent under a sink, wrench in hand. These are tremendously popular, and a good value at $20.

Duluth Trading Company: New To Market

Bullpen Corralling Boxer Briefs

Duluth Trading Company hops into the booming trend of, erm, ball pouches? Well, call them what you will, brands like Saxx and MyPakage first pushed the concept of a “ball room” for your boys. This fairly new development in men’s underwear is pretty lovely, but does create a unique sensation. The Bullpen’s “corral” keeps your manhood, um, managed. Couple that with a comfy 4% nylon/polyester/spandex blend and these should be a nice entry into the market. Give ’em a try at $25.