STONE HOUND // Bozeman, Montana

The story of Stone Hound’s upcycled bicycle inner tube products starts probably just as anyone would guess, with a pile of blown out tubes in a garage.

It was more than a handful of seasons ago, when there had been a particularly troublesome few mountain bike rides that were suspiciously flush with flat tires. It was a daunting mess of rubber, and it looked like such a waste when gathered up and thrown out.

It was little more than a moment’s curiosity, but I couldn’t seem to keep from wondering if there was something else that I could do with those tubes … That curiosity then became a sort of nagging question that just kept lurking around, looking for an answer.

Probably because I had been working a sewing machine for a while by then. The highlights of the Stone Hound endeavor up until that point including making Laundry Loops and Conrad Anker’s 12-pack ice screw holders.

It was with all that in mind that it seemed to me that I should be able to think of something else, something better, to do. I mean we use retired climbing rope sheath for the 12-packs project.

And so, there I was, the night before a mountain biking road trip, finding myself with what would prove to be the fortuitous situation of wishing I had a smaller hip pack than the one I had. Because in that moment, thinking I could just run something off on the sewing machine that would get me by, the only material that seemed appropriate to work with for this experiment was the latest busted tubes hanging from the work stand in the garage.

With a semi-frantic, hold-my-beer-and-watch-this sort of effort, I cobbled something together that I could test on the trip. I didn’t really have high hopes, or know if I would even be brave enough to put it on and let people see it. That first one was ugly, only vaguely looking like what I had imagined.

That said, it seemed functional, and like it would hold together at least just long enough to indulge my curiosity.

It was a great trip, with good friends, stellar riding and amazing scenery. And yet, the ultimate highpoint – and surprise – was that I didn’t hate the hip pack. I liked it. It performed admirably.

So, a few easy tweaks later, like a bit of adjustment to the dimensions and some refinement of the shape, and then a few more test rides and alterations … And then, one day I found I had something that people noticed on the trail and off, and in a good way.

After that, the question became, what else can I make?

And so, here we are now … still finding new answers to that question.

Here in the shop you can find what I call the “standards.” Even though when using spent tubes, no two bags ever really come out exactly the same. Still, these are the ones that should fit almost any/every bike. 

If those offerings don’t fit the bill for what you’re looking for, reach out HERE, I bet we can figure out a way to make something that does.

And by the way, thanks for looking around at what Stone Hound has going on! I couldn’t keep doing this without you. Much appreciated, cheers!