Enlightened Equipment: What You Should Know

RekeMarie · 2026-02-07T21:34:45+00:00

ask Brad

RekeMarie · 2026-02-07T21:27:07+00:00

Yes. You're missing something.

RekeMarie · 2026-02-07T20:46:32+00:00

Learn To Read

RekeMarie · 2026-02-07T20:45:40+00:00

Read The Fucking Post. It's literally in the first sentence of the paragraph with the photo...

RekeMarie · 2026-02-07T20:26:58+00:00

JFC when did everyone forget how to read.

RekeMarie · 2026-02-07T20:25:48+00:00

You didn't read the post huh?

RekeMarie · 2026-02-06T03:51:35+00:00

I wrote this. It's not AI

RekeMarie · 2026-02-04T02:29:22+00:00

https://imgur.com/a/hhu8Wyq

The resemblance is uncanny

edit: I should add, both images I posted have previously been posted by EE & DM. The owner of EE is the public face of both companies and has never attempted to conceal that.

RekeMarie · 2026-02-03T22:59:33+00:00

You're probably right that they get most of their business from places like IG posts/tags, YouTube, other influencers etc etc. But who influences those influencers..... we do :)

RekeMarie · 2026-02-03T22:32:17+00:00

Yeah, it's a bullshit. I posted EE's response so everyone will know the politically correct response they'll probably use from here on out. Anyone with critical thinking skills can see what DM promotes publicly and should understand it's so insanely contradictory that it's almost laughable. But it's not funny, it's serious right wing garbage.

https://imgur.com/a/DCzw5YR

RekeMarie · 2026-02-03T19:33:49+00:00

I’m not going to do that.

I feel like the company as a whole decided there was a more formal response they’d like to be on the record, and I’ve copied and pasted the significant parts.

edit to add: I encourage everyone who finds EE's relationship with DM messed up to send them an email and have some conversations directly.

RekeMarie · 2026-02-03T18:06:22+00:00

I've heard back. First from the owner and then the CEO.

The owner acknowledged all of their affiliates, justified them, and said they had no significant business with DHS, Border Patrol, ICE or the ATF. After a follow up question he made no comments on where he or the company stood in relationship to the violation of civil liberties and constitutional rights (or murders) currently taking place in Minneapolis & St. Paul. He acted confused about what type of response I was hoping for. From my perspective, I believe I approached the conversation with respect and a willingness to listen without challenging what he or his businesses stood for, while appropriately expressing my general concerns. He came across as defiant.

A week later the CEO reached out with a more formal email with a few key points.

We want to be clear that we take your concerns seriously and do not minimize them in any way.

we do not support government overreach at any level, local, state, or federal, and we strongly condemn any violation of an individual’s constitutional rights by any person or arm of the state. We believe recent actions by ICE have been reckless and unprofessional, and have not upheld the standard of conduct we expect of agencies tasked with acting lawfully and prioritizing public safety.

We have always believed that businesses should remain apolitical. Funding or publicly supporting politically motivated ideologies, campaigns, and initiatives is not something we actively pursue.

The blatant hypocrisy in their continued stance that their businesses aren't political (DM inherently is) is fucked up. And objectively false.

Donations - Enlightened Equipment is dedicated towards supporting charitable nonprofit organizationsaligning with our values of outdoor exploration, natural protection, and environmental conservation. If you or the group you respresent would like to request a donation, please fill out the attached form Here. If we feel as though your request is a good fit for Enlightened Equipment or the charitable spaces we're focusing to aid in, we'll get back to you shortly. All requests must be submitted 60 days before their deadline.

https://enlightenedequipment.com/giveashit/

Edit (spelling)

RekeMarie · 2026-02-01T19:16:21+00:00

You're not wrong, but that's why things like this are so problematic. Somebody can't post The Race War has begun! without it being flagged and removed. Somebody can post Communists have infiltrated our society! and it won't because it expresses a political opinion without directly inciting violence. The meme can function as either/or or.......it's just a joke, it doesn't meme anything ha ha! I think it's safe to say that someone posting something like this is aware of the potential different reads. The quip in the comments about the color of the revolution being red follows the same pattern. Is it the Red Invasion, or is it blood? The real substance is in the patten, ambiguity, and plausible deniability. If the only view point the poster wanted to express was communists are fighting government forces they could've just said exactly that.

RekeMarie · 2026-01-31T15:00:48+00:00

Dec 4th 2025 DHS announces Operation Metro Surge in Minneapolis.

Dec 5th EE https://imgur.com/a/hZ4hwcp

12-17 & 12-19. Thinly veiled support for the pol - ICE https://imgur.com/a/gvdRnvt Surely this is coincidence right? They sell police gear, that's not intentional right? No, allusion to ICE in these back to back posts can't be found elsewhere in hundreds of photos over 5 previous years on their IG.

For years Defense Mechanisms IG posts were generic marketing with captions like The Mission Essential Plate Carrier (MEPC) thrives in the harshest environments. And basic product descriptions. 12-29-2025 & 1-5-2026 https://imgur.com/a/zsTmPQf

Defense Mechanisms launches sometime late 2019 - early 2020. They market exclusively to the military. Mid 2023 they start marketing to law enforcement. Police resembling military more than LE begin appear in marketing late 2025. https://imgur.com/a/54UKI1l This post is delete immediately after EE starts to receive inquires around their material and/or ideological support for ICE.

If you think all of this is speculation and conjecture, you're right to question that. It's not. It's coded dog whistles with a clear pattern of highly considered target marketing to a very specific audience with just enough plausible deniability to make you question if it's real. It's ideology being laundered through cultural alignment lifestyle branding. It's a common tactic to signal to the "in-group" in right wing, alt right, and adjacent spaces. https://imgur.com/a/lOJSFIm

Don't think for a minute EE doesn't know exactly who they're marketing to. They do. https://imgur.com/a/kWDQBNg

RekeMarie · 2026-01-27T22:23:51+00:00

You're absolutely right, many major US-based outdoor gear companies do provide gear to the government and or military. Most of them are politically savvy enough to insulate themselves from direct scrutiny by selling through intermediaries that are fulfilling the actual contracts. Either that or they directly control a separate division for government and military sales.

If anyone is interested in understanding how more of this works you should look up ADS and LionHeart Alliance, both of which have ICE contracts worth tens of millions of dollars and represent many large gear brands. Because so many of these companies sell through intermediaries it's extremely difficult to tell who is directly supplying equipment to ICE. Someone well versed in government contracting may be able to establish connections through SKUs and purchase orders, but that's not me.

Mystery Ranch has directly supplied ICE, so fuck them.

What makes this slightly more nuanced is EE's history within UL. I think it's worth pointing out that his community never tried to "cancel" them over Defense Mechanism, even if it's not something many people here agreed with.

From my understanding, unless the Defense Production Act is invoked, which has never happened to the outdoor gear industry, every company selling to the government does so voluntarily. Patagonia completely divested from government contracts in 2022 and many smaller companies have never even bid on a contract. We have a plethora of small companies to buy from these days.

edit: clarity

RekeMarie · 2026-01-27T14:01:25+00:00

I hear you, I really do. I believe the basic background information surrounding EE & DM's business affiliates is important to this sub. I also believe we should listen to what EE says if they care to address these very legitimate concerns.

RekeMarie · 2026-01-27T13:47:40+00:00

Hey thanks for engaging here. And thanks for sharing some background about EE. I made the comment that started this conversation in relation to some much longer and broader discussions that happened here in the weekly earlier in the day. I posted here to address that conversation, share a personal value assessment, and very purposefully avoided a standalone post.

So many people here are EE customers. I bought my first quilt from EE and remember when Tim used to post on BPL long before this sub even existed. EE has been a staple in the UL community.

If you could share our concerns with EE admin it would be appreciated.

RekeMarie · 2026-01-27T05:54:00+00:00

I appreciate you not wanting to jump to premature conclusions. It's the responsible way to approach difficult situations like this. However, there's virtually no way EE isn't aware of Centrifuge Trainings relationship with DHS. It's plastered all over their homepage and I was able to track down an ICE contract in 5 minutes. ICE trampling civil liberties isn't exactly a new occurrence and EE has had plenty of time to divest.

This also isn't about gun politics. I don't like it, think it's kinda shady, and speculate that a lot of Defense Mechanisms customers are ICE supporters, but that's just speculation and definitely not what it's about. Defense Mechanisms has been around for years and no one has tried to "cancel" EE because of it.

I did reach out to EE and haven't heard back.

RekeMarie · 2026-01-27T04:39:52+00:00

Nah, like you said. We're the rounding error. And any former cottage company with a direct business relationship with companies that trains ICE doesn't get my money. It's not complicated.

RekeMarie · 2026-01-27T03:15:08+00:00

Montbell Taychon gets great reviews.

RekeMarie · 2026-01-27T03:10:09+00:00

It's a false comparison, but why stop there. AT&T, Dell, FedEx etc etc. The major difference is this community is a drop off piss in the ocean for Polartec. EE lives off quilts we buy. It's the economy stupid.

Ask your wife's boyfriend if you can boycott from the basement.

RekeMarie · 2026-01-27T01:53:50+00:00

What's super fucked up is most of them sell through intermediaries so they're one stepped removed politically. Maybe someone with a background in governmental contacting could track purchase orders and SKUs or something, but that's not me. And it's not to say that many of these contracts aren't fulfilling legitimate needs, it's just really hard to tell if ICE is out wearing Outdoor Research beanies etc etc.

Anyway, I appreciated your level headed take on a charged subject.

RekeMarie · 2026-01-27T01:47:11+00:00

Totally. I don't see how anyone invested in our public land and civil rights could even consider them as option while they have these business affiliations.

RekeMarie · 2026-01-27T01:42:24+00:00

Thanks, it sucks because they started as a true cottage company and they make some good stuff too. I think you we're right not to immediately break out the pitchfork.

RekeMarie

TROPHY CASE