What is the Campfire Co-op - A Handshake Across Brands

by mindy grimes

Pull Up a Log, You’re Among Friends

 Imagine a circle of weathered camp chairs under a pine canopy, firelight dancing across gear-laden packs, half-cooked bannock sizzling on a stick, and someone pulling a ferro rod just to prove they can do it one-handed. That’s the energy of the Campfire Coop.

The Campfire Coop isn’t just a group. It’s a fire circle of makers, instructors, authors, influencers, and legendary brands who believe in passing on skills, making gear with meaning, and leaving the woods (and the world) better than they found it. Born in the bushcraft, survival, and everyday carry communities, we came together over a shared belief: we’re stronger when we work together.



What is the Campfire Coop?

The Campfire Coop is an alliance of creatives and professionals dedicated to outdoor adventure, everyday preparedness, and self-reliance. From backyard bow drill experts to global gear brands, we’re united by a single spark: the love of useful, well-crafted tools and the knowledge to use them.

We celebrate the garage tinkerers, the hand-forgers, the authors writing or drawing survival techniques at 2am, and the instructors who have calluses older than most influencers have been creating. But we also work side-by-side with industry veterans who have turned their craft into legendary brands.

Some members forge knives. Others teach kids how to start a fire. Some run YouTube channels with tips on urban survival, or everyday preparedness. And others design tools so clever they make MacGyver look unprepared. The Campfire Coop is where those worlds overlap—a coalition of creators and doers.



Why The Co-op Matters

In a world where algorithms fight for our attention and fast fashion floods the gear space, the Campfire Coop stands for something slower, steadier, and smarter.

  • We believe in gear that earns its place.

  • We believe in teaching people how to use it.

  • We believe in community over competition.

This isn’t just a showcase of cool stuff—it’s a movement for quality, utility, and meaningful connections. We cheer for each other’s launches. We collaborate across companies. We help each other grow.

It’s not just networking. It’s camaraderie.



Who’s Around the Fire?

 You’ll find:

  •  Makers forging knives, bending titanium, cutting steel or printing bushcraft books.

  • Instructors running survival schools, guiding treks, or teaching online.

  • Writers and authors sharing the philosophy behind the ferro rod.

  • Influencers who know their stuff and share it freely, not for clicks but for community.

  • Veteran brands bringing credibility, quality, and deep roots to the fire.

Each member brings something different. All bring value.

Why Grim Workshop Joined

At Grim Workshop, we've always believed preparedness is not just about gear—it's about community, collaboration, and shared knowledge. That's exactly why we’re thrilled to be a part of the Campfire Coop. This dynamic collective brings together passionate individuals, innovative businesses, influential reviewers, skilled instructors, and knowledgeable writers from across the bushcraft, survival, and everyday carry (EDC) communities.

We joined the Campfire Coop because it aligns seamlessly with our core philosophy: real preparedness thrives in a supportive community. By collaborating with other businesses, we're able to innovate more effectively, test ideas thoroughly, and ensure our gear meets real-world needs. Partnering with influential reviewers and content creators helps us gather authentic feedback and continuously refine our products, keeping them both practical and highly functional.

What truly binds us to the Coop is our mutual commitment to authenticity and practicality. Like us, every Coop member values gear that’s genuinely useful, easy to carry, and thoughtfully designed. We all prioritize real-world readiness over flashy gimmicks, and we share a passion for empowering individuals to handle everyday challenges and unexpected emergencies confidently.

Additionally, we deeply respect the Coop’s instructors and authors, who tirelessly share their invaluable skills and knowledge. Their dedication to teaching essential survival and bushcraft skills resonates deeply with our own mission: equipping people with the tools—and knowledge—they need to thrive, not just survive.

In short, Grim Workshop and the Campfire Coop share more than just common interests—we share common values, goals, and a genuine enthusiasm for enhancing everyday readiness. Together, we're creating stronger communities, smarter gear, and a more prepared future for everyone.



 Why You Should Join

 Join or Support It If you’re a gear maker, content creator, instructor, brand, or something new and want:

  • Support from like-minded, and veteran creators

  • Access to cross-promotions and collaborations

  • Visibility in new as well as established markets and communities

  • Camaraderie with people who actually get what you do, because they do it too.

… then the Campfire Coop might be your new favorite circle.

And if you’re not a maker but love gear and the people behind it, this is your inside track to the best the bushcraft and EDC world has to offer.

How? Because they're all here!



What's our Favorite Gear? 

check out this collection of our favorite brands, and gear, within the campfire co-op

How to Get Involved

 Interested in joining or partnering with the Coop? Reach out. Whether you’re a one-person shop a ten-person brand, or someone who employs dozens of workers in your area, there’s a place for you here.

The only real requirements? Integrity. Craft. Community spirit.

We don’t just build tools. We build each other up.


 More Than a Hashtag

 The Campfire Coop is more than just a page or a logo. It’s a mindset. A handshake across brands. A nod of respect between makers. A shared thermos of coffee at a trailhead.

So pull up a seat.

 We saved you a spot around the fire.

 

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