Stringbean Bags are hand-sewn, highly durable, and thoughtfully designed for outdoor enthusiasts. The bags are sold in more than 20 shops across the Southeast—bike shops, outfitters, fly-fishing stores, and even some REI locations. “Anywhere that kind of coalesces outdoor people in any sense,” Koellmer says. “I have a wide enough variety of bags that can appeal to a number of different outdoor users.”

Koellmer’s journey into bag-making began more than a decade ago. “I just wanted nice gear, and it was out of my price range,” he says. He started sewing bags that were bright, lightweight, and versatile—bags that could function as a bike bag and also a fanny pack or a shoulder bag. The goal was simple: “Something with a bunch of character,” he said. 

The business name comes from Koellmer’s trail name, Stringbean, which was bestowed upon him during a 2021 bikepacking trip along the Colorado Trail. 

Durability and function are at the core of every bag. “I have a lifetime warranty on my bags,” Koellmer said. “I take a lot of pride in offering that to people and a big part of that is sourcing the nicest fabrics. They’re expensive, but they have to be lightweight, waterproof, and durable.” He emphasizes that the materials keep getting more costly, but customers appreciate the difference—choosing lightweight handmade bags over heavier mass-market gear from brands like North Face or Patagonia.

Production remains intimate and intentional. Most bags are made in batches, which saves time. “My two most popular bags take around an hour each,” said Koellmer. “Custom frame bags take around three to four hours.” Retail partners typically order about 20 bags at a time, with top sellers moving as many as 120 bags a year.

There is a seasonal nature to Koellmer’s business, with online orders ramping up during the holidays. He’s also recently seen a surprising amount of website traffic from overseas. “A lot of traffic is coming to my website from places like Australia,” he says. “There’s maybe only one company in Australia that produces bags like mine. If that’s not your vibe, you’re looking to the US or Europe.”

Despite increasing demand, Koellmer has no plans to scale up in the traditional sense. “I have no interest in outsourcing the bags,” he said. “If this becomes such a thing where it blows up, and the only way to continue is to outsource production somewhere else, I’ll just wrap it up. I’m a maker. I’m a doer. I do this because I love sewing.”

Stringbean Bags could not exist without the unique entrepreneurial ecosystem of Western North Carolina, Koellmer says. “I know that I wouldn’t have this business if it weren’t for Western North Carolina and the community here,” he says. “When I first came here, I was offered a job at a bike shop on my first day. Everybody just seemed so jazzed on my products.”

Koellmer credits the region’s culture of connection and the support of organizations like the Outdoor Business Alliance and Mountain BizWorks for his success. “People really gravitate towards wanting to support people in their community,” he says. “The sheer volume of events—outdoor festivals, bike races, trail days—is something you don’t find anywhere else in the country. This is truly a special place for outdoor brands.”

For now, Koellmer is focused on managing seasonal production spikes and looking ahead to a possible temporary hire during the spring rush. But he remains deeply committed to the small-scale, hands-on nature of his work. “If it’s only a means of making money and not necessarily working with my hands and being creative,” he says, “then I really have no interest.”

Learn more at StringbeanBags.com.