About

Recycling old outdoor and climbing gear and saving it from landfill. The upcycling movement for the outdoor industry.

Unit 11 Lake District Business Park, Mintbridge Road, Kendal LA9 6NH


Dirtbags Climbing began in 2017 with a reluctance to throw away retired climbing gear, a sewing machine found in a skip, and two mad creatives. Jen and James have since worked their butts off collecting old gear, and fabrics to create and make ever since.

We aim to educate and inform those who want to do their bit by upcycling, repurposing and recycling. We collect old climbing gear, outdoor textiles and just about anything that comes our way to give it all a brand spanking new life.

We don’t mass produce, we design and make everything ourselves.

https://www.berghaus.com/blog/sustainability/rehaused-by-dirtbags-2/

The nature of modern consumerism damages our playground, so retail companies must act to minimise this. The way Dirtbags’ products are made reflect our love for the outdoors, and hopefully encourage all to reduce, reuse and recycle.

https://www.in-cumbria.com/news/19511197.dirtbags-climbing-kendal-working-major-brands-upcycle-outdoor-equipment/

WHO MAKES DIRTBAGS? WE DO. LEARN MORE ABOUT THE TEAM…


Team Dirtbags

Staff

JAMES

Engineer. Climber. Fixes everything; designs most things.

JEN

Gear collecting, repurposing/ recycling eco warrior. The ‘creative’ type.

KARLY

Chalk bag maker extraordinaire. Strong, fierce and goddamn clumsy.

EMILY

Anti-establishment.


Dirtbaggers

Climbers, swimmers, bikers, runners, outdoor folk who are out in the world as part of our Dirtbag rabble, who write the odd blog along the way.

ANNA TAYLOR

Anti gravity, bold slab climber. Lake District based.

ZOE ALLIN

Zoologist, climber and badass. Quite good at writing.

JAKE

Always psyched. Medium/excellent climber.

ELIZABETH

Endurance athelete. Seriously. Vet to be. Don’t even think about contacting during lambing season.

KISHAN

Adventure seeking human, who climbs and does martial arts. 

ALI

Swimmer, climber, runner, all-around outdoors lover. Celebrating every single body type outdoors.

LILY

Fell runner. Bog siren. Adventurer in the making, keen for wacky challenges.

AUDREY

‘Have a go or you’ll never know’. Yorkshire lass learning to climb to combat fear of exposure at height. Bossing it.

SIDDRAH

 Climber celebrating small wins and continuing to push herself out of her comfort zone. Currently working towards engaging more of the Muslim community to take up climbing. 

ALLAN

Climber. Counsellor. Exploring the benefits of climbing with mental well being. Agreed to try and help save the planet with us.

ELLIOT

West Yorkshire boulderer. But don’t hold that against him.


Credit: Jonathan Doyle

Go zero waste. Support a circular economy.