Rite in the Rain
Rite in the Rain, operating as JL Darling, LLC, is a Tacoma-based manufacturer of patented all-weather notebooks, paper, pens, and TPU storage gear sold to military, federal agencies, outdoor professionals, and consumers through DTC, national retail, and GSA channels.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1916
- HeadquartersTacoma, United States
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Rite in the Rain does
Rite in the Rain is a privately held, 109-year-old manufacturer of all-weather writing products, organized as JL Darling, LLC and headquartered in Tacoma, Washington with a factory on the Port of Tacoma. The company's core technology is a proprietary water-shedding paper substrate produced via a patented, environmentally responsible water-based coating process (patent granted 2005) that allows writing in rain, mud, humidity, and underwater conditions, paired with a pressurized ink cartridge pen system that performs from -30F to 250F and writes upside down. Its portfolio spans all-weather notebooks (top spiral, side spiral, stapled, soft cover, hard cover), printer and loose-leaf paper, card stock, index cards, mechanical pencils and carpenter pencils, a line of TPU-based Monsoon storage and EDC products, and industry-specific tactical, public-safety, agriculture, and field-science SKUs.
Rite in the Rain sells through a multi-channel model combining direct-to-consumer e-commerce at riteintherain.com (with free shipping on orders $49+), wholesale distribution through national retail chains (Home Depot, Lowe's, Bass Pro Shops, REI, Academy Sports, Sportsman's Warehouse) and regional dealers (CANSEL in Canada, WILCO, Atwoods), and government procurement via its 2002 GSA contract and four U.S. military exchange channels plus Ability One Base Supply. Unit pricing is concentrated in the $3–$25 band, with bulk printer paper reams around $110, supporting high-velocity consumer and field-transactional economics. Multiple products carry NSN numbers, and the 20 lb and 32 lb papers meet the ANSI/NISO Z39.48-1992 archival standard and are PFAS-free, serving as procurement and sustainability differentiators.
The company's served markets are diversified across Military & Tactical Operations (primary), Federal Government Agencies, Outdoor Field Professionals, Law Enforcement & Public Safety, Outdoor Recreation, and Food & Beverage. Marketing is built around field-portrait content, a brand ambassador program, and an active social presence. Ownership transitioned from founder Jerry Darling to Lloyd Silver in 1958 and to Todd and Scott Silver as co-presidents in 1993; an August 2025 investment from Pennington Creek is the first publicly disclosed external capital event, accompanied by a professional CEO role held by Karl Mejia.
Rite in the Rain firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Rite in the Rain
- Legal name
- JL Darling, LLC
- Website
- https://riteintherain.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1916
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- Rite in the Rain, operating as JL Darling, LLC, is a Tacoma-based manufacturer of patented all-weather notebooks, paper, pens, and TPU storage gear sold to military, federal agencies, outdoor professionals, and consumers through DTC, national retail, and GSA channels.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Rite in the Rain industry classification
Industry- Product category
- All-Weather Writing Products
- NAICS
- Paper Manufacturing (322), Stationery Product Manufacturing (32223), Printing Ink Manufacturing (325910)
- SIC
- Papers & Allied Products (2600), Blankbooks, Looseleaf Binders & Bookbindg & Relatd Work (2780)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Specialty Paper Manufacturing (Coated, Release, Thermal, Filter, Security) (IMAMAEAC)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Printing & Business Forms (continuous forms, checks, tickets) (IMAMAHAH), Printing Inks (IMAEAHAG)
Keywords
Where Rite in the Rain is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Tacoma
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices3 records
Markets served
Rite in the Rain business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Operations, Supply Chain, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Direct Product Sales (B2C E-commerce): Direct consumer sales through riteintherain.com e-commerce platform. Products include notebooks, paper, pens, and accessories with free shipping on orders $49+. Individual unit and bulk/pack pricing.
- Retail Distribution: Wholesale distribution through national retail chains including Home Depot, Bass Pro Shops, REI, Lowe's, Academy Sports, and regional retailers. Products sold through physical store locations and online marketplaces.
- Government/Military Sales (GSA): Federal government purchasing through GSA Advantage website for U.S. Military, USDA Forest Service, USGS, US Fish & Wildlife Service, NOAA, BLM, National Park Service, and BIA. Products carry NSN numbers for military logistics.
- Brand Ambassador Program: Product seeding program in exchange for content (photos, videos, testimonials). Ambassadors receive free products based on content delivered, not monetary compensation.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Click Action Pen - $13.95/Each |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | All-Weather Metal Clicker Pen - From $22.95/Each |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Metal Portage Pen - $24.95/Each |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Metal Bullet Pen - $22.95/Each |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Top Spiral Notebooks - From $3.47/Each |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Bulk Printer Paper - From $109.95/Ream |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Monsoon Storage Products - From $9.95/Pack |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels6 records
Marketing channels10 records
Rite in the Rain product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Rite in the Rain manufactures proprietary all-weather writing products built around a patented, environmentally responsible water-based coating applied to paper, notebooks, pens, pencils, and TPU-based storage gear. Its core competency is producing paper and bound notebooks that shed water, mud, sweat, and grease while remaining printable with standard office printers and compatible with pencils or pressurized all-weather pens. The product portfolio extends into tactical and industry-specific field books, mechanical pencils, pressurized ink pens, planners/calendars, and the Monsoon line of watertight TPU everyday-carry storage and organization gear.
Product overview
Rite in the Rain is a manufacturer of proprietary all-weather writing products founded in 1916 and headquartered in Tacoma, Washington. The core product line consists of All-Weather Writing Paper and bound notebooks that use a patented environmentally responsible water-based coating technology to shed water and preserve written notes through extreme conditions. The product portfolio includes All-Weather Notebooks in multiple binding styles (top spiral, side spiral, stapled, soft cover, hard cover), specialized All-Weather Pens with pressurized ink systems, Mechanical Pencils, and the Monsoon Storage Gear line of TPU-based everyday carry accessories. Additionally, the company offers Planners and Calendars, industry-specific products for tactical, medical, agricultural, and outdoor applications, and pencil refills and accessories. Products are available through resellers, direct government purchasing via GSA contract, and the company-operated e-commerce website.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- All-Weather Notebooks Proprietary all-weather bound notebooks featuring water-shedding paper technology, available in top spiral, side spiral, stapled, soft cover, and hard cover bindings in sizes from 3"x5" to 8.5"x11". Designed for outdoor professionals, military, law enforcement, and consumers needing durable field notes.
- All-Weather Printer Paper Patented environmentally responsible writing paper that sheds water, sold as printer paper in standard, synthetic DuraCopy, card stock, and loose leaf formats in multiple sizes and pack counts (50, 200, 500 packs). Designed for office, field, and industrial printing where moisture exposure would destroy standard paper.
- All-Weather Pens Specialized pens with proprietary pressurized ink cartridges that write through water, extreme temperatures (-30F to 250F), underwater up to 35 feet, and at any angle including upside down. Includes Metal Readiness Pen, Metal Bolt-Action Pen, Tactical Bolt-Action Pen, Metal Portage Pen, Click Action Pen, Metal Clicker, Metal Bullet, Mini Bolt-Action Pen, and Pocket Pens. Sold to field professionals, military (with NSN codes), and consumers.
- Mechanical Pencils Durable mechanical pencils including No.9 Twist Pencils, No.14 Slide-Click Pencils, No.13 Clicker Pencils, and No.15 Work-Ready Pencils, designed for field use in all weather conditions and sold alongside the company's all-weather paper products.
- Monsoon Storage Gear EDC (Everyday Carry) storage and organization products made from TPU (thermoplastic polyurethane), including utility bags, pouches, wallets, field desks, and pen holsters with watertight shells, welded seams, weatherproof zippers, and TPU-coated webbing straps. Resistant to salt water, harsh weather, and UV rays.
- Planners and Calendars All-weather pocket calendars, undated spiral planners, desk calendars, wall calendars, and weekly planner refills built on the company's waterproof paper technology, designed to survive field and outdoor conditions.
- Industry-Specific Field Products Specialized field books and forms for tactical, military, agricultural, energy, environmental, geological, recreation, public safety, medical, and underwater applications. Includes combat cards, shooting targets, maintenance logs, and other industry-specific products often carrying NSN numbers for military procurement.
- Pencil Refills, Ink Refills, and Writing Accessories Replacement leads (.9mm and 1.3mm), erasers, pressurized ink cartridges (black, blue, red), Click Action pen refills, carpenter pencils, and gravity-fed lead holders sold as standalone consumable products for the company's pencil and pen lines.
Quantifiable outcome
- Archival quality paper meets ANSI/NISO Z39.48-1992 standard, lasting several hundred years under normal use
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Rite in the Rain
Customer profileNamed customers17 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Rite in the Rain technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Rite in the Rain partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered major and regional.
- Bass Pro ShopsmajorNational outdoor retailer carrying Rite in the Rain products in stores nationwide and Western Canada.
- The Home DepotmajorNational home improvement retailer carrying Rite in the Rain products in stores nationwide.
- Lowe'smajorNational home improvement retailer carrying Rite in the Rain products in stores nationwide.
- REImajorOutdoor recreation retailer carrying Rite in the Rain products nationwide.
- Academy Sports + OutdoorsmajorNational sporting goods retailer in South, Southeast, and Midwest regions.
- Sportsman's WarehousemajorOutdoor sporting goods retailer with 137 stores throughout the US.
- AAFAES ExchangemajorArmy & Air Force Exchange Service - authorized purchasing channel for U.S. Army bases worldwide.
- Navy ExchangemajorAuthorized purchasing channel for U.S. Navy bases worldwide.
- Coast Guard ExchangemajorAuthorized purchasing channel for U.S. Coast Guard bases throughout the US.
- Marine Corps ExchangemajorAuthorized purchasing channel for U.S. Marine Corps bases.
- Ability One Base Supplymajor150 Base Supply Centers nationwide for government purchasing.
- CANSELregionalCanadian dealer with branches throughout Canada for international distribution.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Rite in the Rain competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Leuchtturm1917: Premium European notebook manufacturer with strong numbering/indexing systems and color variety. Overlaps with Rite in the Rain in the premium notebook consumer segment but lacks weatherproofing technology.
- Moleskine: Global premium notebook and stationery brand with broad retail distribution. Comparable as a broader-incumbent player in the premium notebook category, though without Rite in the Rain's waterproof or government-contract positioning.
- Pentel: Established writing instrument and mechanical pencil manufacturer with broad product portfolio. Comparable to Rite in the Rain's pen and mechanical pencil offerings, particularly in office and consumer channels.
Direct peers
- Fisher Space Pen: Manufacturer of pressurized ink pens designed to write in extreme conditions including underwater, upside down, and in zero gravity. Directly comparable to Rite in the Rain's all-weather pressurized pen line, sharing the military, tactical, and outdoor customer base.
- Field Notes: Maker of memo books and pocket notebooks popular with outdoor, design, and EDC enthusiasts. Comparable to Rite in the Rain's stapled and small-format notebooks with overlapping lifestyle/outdoor retail distribution.
- Zebra Pen: Manufacturer of writing instruments including tactical/military-grade pens (e.g., Z-Grip Flight). Comparable to Rite in the Rain's pen line in government/military distribution channels and pricing tiers.
Others
- YETI: Premium outdoor lifestyle brand with ruggedized storage and EDC products. Adjacent comparable to the Monsoon TPU storage line given overlapping premium outdoor retail distribution and brand positioning.
- Pelican Products: Manufacturer of protective cases and ruggedized storage for tactical, military, and outdoor applications. Comparable in ruggedized outdoor/tactical storage adjacent to the Monsoon product line and military distribution overlap.
Emerging players
- Baron Fig: Direct-to-consumer premium notebook and stationery brand. Comparable as an emerging lifestyle stationery brand with similar online-first distribution strategy, though without waterproofing or government contracts.
- Rocketbook: Smart reusable notebook that bridges physical and digital workflows. Comparable as a notebook brand targeting tech-forward professionals, representing both an adjacent category and a potential substitute threat to traditional paper notebooks.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Rite in the Rain social profiles
Digital presenceRite in the Rain compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance3 records
Rite in the Rain financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Rite in the Rain leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Rite in the Rain funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors2 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Rite in the Rain M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Rite in the Rain
What does Rite in the Rain do?
Rite in the Rain manufactures proprietary all-weather writing products built around a patented, environmentally responsible water-based coating applied to paper, notebooks, pens, pencils, and TPU-based storage gear. Its core competency is producing paper and bound notebooks that shed water, mud, sweat, and grease while remaining printable with standard office printers and compatible with pencils or pressurized all-weather pens. The product portfolio extends into tactical and industry-specific field books, mechanical pencils, pressurized ink pens, planners/calendars, and the Monsoon line of watertight TPU everyday-carry storage and organization gear.
Is Rite in the Rain a public or private company?
Rite in the Rain is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was Rite in the Rain founded?
Rite in the Rain was founded in 1916. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Rite in the Rain based?
Rite in the Rain is headquartered in Tacoma, United States, in the North America region.
How does Rite in the Rain make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Direct Product Sales (B2C E-commerce) is the primary driver. The others are retail Distribution, government/Military Sales (GSA) and brand Ambassador Program.
Who are Rite in the Rain's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Leuchtturm1917, Moleskine and Pentel. Direct peers are Fisher Space Pen, Field Notes and Zebra Pen. Others are YETI and Pelican Products. Emerging players are Baron Fig and Rocketbook.
Does Rite in the Rain have an API?
No public API is recorded for Rite in the Rain.
What industry is Rite in the Rain in?
Rite in the Rain's product category is All-Weather Writing Products. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAMAEAC, Specialty Paper Manufacturing (Coated, Release, Thermal, Filter, Security), with a secondary code of IMAMAHAH, Printing & Business Forms (continuous forms, checks, tickets). Its NAICS code is 322 and its SIC code is 2600.