It’s impossible to create quality products without quality materials, which is why our makers are so considerate about the materials (or ingredients) they use. For example, are they sustainable, durable, high-quality, innovative, organic, renewable, beautiful, functional, time-tested, healthy, delicious, or locally sourced? For this series we asked our Bay Area Made companies to tell us about the materials they use and why. Because materials matter!
The All Good Equipment Company is located on the SF Peninsula in San Carlos, Ca. We hand build teardrop trailers — compact, practical, and lightweight campers that offer a shelter that is both beautiful, durable, and versatile for all types of adventure.
With its space-efficient design offering a queen size bed and a functional kitchen, the All Good Equipment Co teardrop trailer is perfect for those who want the essential comforts without excess. At only 1000 lbs. they’re light enough to tow with almost any vehicle, and small enough to store easily when not in use. Our trailers are built with performance, reliability, and beauty in mind. We don’t use plastic cladding, funky graphics, or trendy veneers. Instead, we look to real materials with intrinsic beauty that have stood the test of time—not just in function, but in how well they age.
At All Good Equipment, we believe that quality has an aesthetic, not only because of the materials chosen, but also because of the care with which something is built. Our goal is to build trailers that are functional, practical, and a pleasure to use. The materials we use don’t pretend to be something they’re not. They’re chosen for their proven real-world performance and the way they age with grace.
We use FSC Certified Okoume Marine Plywood for the trailer’s structure. It’s light, rot-resistant, and has a beautiful grain. It is used extensively in the construction of custom sailboats and fine wooden kayaks. It meets the BS1088 marine-grade standard, which means it excels in wet and demanding conditions. We chose Okoume not just for its strength and weight, but for its beauty—it has a smooth consistent grain and a warm color that can be enhanced with stains. With care, it lasts for decades; if neglected, it’s easily repairable. This is a material that does its job in both form and function.
Our outer shell is clad in mill finish aluminum, left unpainted and uncoated by design. We appreciate aluminum not only for its lustre but also for its stability. Once the top few microns of the surface have oxidized, the material becomes essentially inert. As opposed to fiberglass or paint, it doesn’t flake, fade, or shed particles into the environment. We like that it doesn’t try to be anything other than what it is: light, tough, and resilient. Over time, it develops a patina—a visible history of use that becomes part of its appeal. If the owner so chooses, a buffing wheel can bring the aluminum back to its original shine.
For insulation, we use sheep’s wool—a renewable material with remarkable thermal and acoustic performance. It’s safe to touch, doesn’t off-gas, and helps regulate humidity inside the trailer. These properties can help manage condensation. Wool absorbs and releases moisture without losing insulating value. It’s also biodegradable, fire-resistant, and naturally antimicrobial. Unlike polystyrene, we can use every ounce of the material during the building process, there are no off-cuts and therefore no waste.
We try to minimize our use of plastic where it makes sense, seeking to use materials like stainless steel that can be recycled or will eventually break down naturally. In cases where plastic is the most practical material— like electrical components, sealants, and plumbing fittings we use the highest-quality components we can source.
We design our trailers with the knowledge that nothing lasts forever. But we want the time these trailers do have to be spent well: on the road, in the wild, earning scrapes and stories. And when their service life comes to an end, we want them to age out gracefully. Materials like wood, wool, and metal make that possible. They’re renewable, repairable, and wear beautifully over time.
View the All Good Equipment Co. profile.
