The number of American sporting goods brands that have been operating for more than 100 years—and still do today—yields a very short list. Often working in the realms of hunting and fishing, these foundational outdoor brands began building gear before the popularization (and even creation) of many of today's most popular outdoor pursuits: rock climbing, trail running, mountain biking, and so on. With its founding in 1856, Orvis stands near the top of that list today.
To better understand what gives the iconic outfitter such lasting power, I loaded up my Subaru and drove north from Philadelphia with Manchester, Vermont in my digital GPS crosshairs.