Is Chums Made in USA?
Last checked Oct 19, 2026 · 5 verified products · see the evidence
Verdict · checked Oct 23, 2026
Mostly yes
Chums makes its eyewear retainers at its original factory in Hurricane, Utah, near an entrance to Zion National Park. Chums says it "manufactures 15,000+ Units a Day in our Hurricane, Utah facility" and that "Chums Signature products are proudly made in the USA." Its product pages for the Original cotton retainer, Original Patterns, the No Tail, the Universal Fit 3mm nylon rope retainer and the Slip Fit all read "Made in the USA."
| Product line | Made in | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Original cotton retainers (Standard, Large, Kids), Original Patterns, No Tail, Elastic, Upcycled Cotton | Hurricane, UT | Made in USA |
| Universal Fit and Fish Tip 3mm nylon rope retainers, Slip Fit, Ripcord | Hurricane, UT | Made in USA |
| Handwound cotton retainer | Guatemala | Imported |
| Wallets and bags (Bandit, Surfshorts, Rover and others) | Origin not stated; no US-made claim on product pages | Mixed |
Not everything Chums sells is US-made. The Handwound retainer is "handmade in Guatemala," and the pages we read for Chums wallets, such as the Bandit and Surfshorts wallets, make no US-made claim. If you want a US-made Chums product, look for the "Made in the USA" line on the product page.
How we checked: On 2026-10-23 we read Chums' Made in USA page and About Us page, and the product descriptions for its cotton, rope and wallet collections on chums.com.
Sources: Chums: Proudly Made in the USA Since 1983, Hurricane, Utah factory · About Chums: 15,000+ units a day in Hurricane, Utah · Chums Original retainer: Made in the USA · Chums Universal Fit: Made in the USA · Chums Handwound retainer: handmade in Guatemala
American Score
Average American Score across 5 listed products. Only products at 70% or higher appear on this site.
Manufacturing Details
- Made in
- Hurricane, UT
- Headquarters
- Ketchum, ID
- Location detail
- Specific city confirmed
- History
- Long record of US manufacturing
- Founded
- 1983
How we verified Chums
Most recent check: Oct 19, 2026
From the brand's website
US-manufacturing statement found on chums.com · checked Oct 6, 2026
Store listings
We read the live store listing for 5 of the 5 Chums products on this page (most recently Oct 19, 2026). All of them state US origin on the listing itself:
- “Made in the USA” on Chums Original Cotton Eyewear Retainer Made in USA Standard End
- “Made in the USA” on Chums Original Cotton Eyewear Retainer Large Frame Made in USA
- “Made in USA” on Chums 3MM Universal Fit Nylon Rope Eyewear Retainer Made in USA
Ongoing monitoring
We scan news for factory closures, offshoring and ownership changes. Last scan Sep 21, 2026: no change found.
These checks are run by our software on a schedule: brand websites are re-read about every three weeks, store listings weekly, and news is scanned monthly. Every flag is checked against its original source before anything on this page changes. How the American Score works.
Free Weekly Newsletter
American-Made Finds
One maker's story, the brands newly listed here, and a few US-made picks, every Thursday.
About Chums
Chums makes cotton and nylon eyewear retainers at its factory in Hurricane, Utah, near Zion National Park. A few items, including the Handwound retainer, are made elsewhere.
A river guide's sunglasses strap
Chums was started in 1983 by a dory boat captain on the Colorado River who wanted a way to keep sunglasses on through rapids. The Ferries family bought the company in 2002. Chums now has offices in Ketchum, Idaho, Salt Lake City and Hurricane, which it names as its world headquarters, and more than 75 employees.
The Hurricane factory, the company says, turns out more than 15,000 units a day.
What says Made in the USA
Chums' product pages for the Original cotton retainer in standard and large sizes, Original Patterns, No Tail, the Universal Fit 3mm nylon rope retainer and Slip Fit all read "Made in the USA." Every retainer we list is one of these.
The Handwound retainer is handmade in Guatemala, and the wallet and bag pages we read, such as the Bandit and Surfshorts wallets, make no US-made claim. Look for the Made in the USA line on the Chums product page before buying anything outside the core retainers.
American-Made Chums Products
USA Verified
USA Verified
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Chums made in the USA?
Yes. Chums is made in the United States, with manufacturing in Hurricane, UT. Chums eyewear retainers and accessories are manufactured in Hurricane, Utah. Founded 1983. Approximately 70% of products by volume are made in their Hurricane, UT facility. Amazon listings explicitly state Made in USA.
Where is Chums made?
Chums is made in Hurricane, UT. The company is headquartered in Ketchum, ID.
Which Chums products are made in the USA?
The site lists 5 verified American-made Chums products in Sports & Outdoors. Each one links to a store that sells it.
Where are Chums retainers made?
Most are made at Chums' original factory in Hurricane, Utah, which has operated for over four decades. Chums says the facility produces more than 15,000 units a day.
Is the Chums Original retainer still made in the USA?
Yes. Chums' page for the Original says "this product is still manufactured in the USA" from 100% cotton.
Are any Chums products imported?
Yes. The Handwound retainer is handmade in Guatemala, and Chums' wallet pages make no US-made claim. Chums says its "Signature products" are the ones made in the USA.