You’ve seen the ads, likely during a late-night news broadcast or in your social media feed. The messaging from 4Patriots is powerful, tapping into a desire for security, self-reliance, and patriotism. The products—from solar generators to 25-year survival food—promise peace of mind in an uncertain world.
But before you make a purchase, you have critical questions. Who are the people behind this company? In an era of global supply chains, where are these “patriotic” products really made? And is 4Patriots a legitimate business you can trust?
You’re not just buying a product; you’re investigating a brand’s promise. At Vecharged, our mission is to deliver clarity, and that requires moving beyond marketing slogans. We’ve done the deep-dive research to provide a citable, fact-based guide to the 4Patriots company, so you can make a truly informed decision.
The Ownership Question: Who Founded 4Patriots?
4Patriots, LLC is a privately held company based in Nashville, Tennessee. It was founded in 2008 by the husband-and-wife team of Allen and Erin Baler.[1][2]
Allen Baler, a Harvard University honors graduate, spent 14 years as a corporate executive for companies like Easton Press and the Danbury Mint before founding 4Patriots.[3][4] This background in corporate marketing is crucial to understanding the company’s strategy. In his own words, Baler and his wife consider themselves “self-reliance evangelists,” aiming to provide both products and education to a like-minded audience.[3] They started the company from their kitchen table and have grown it to a business that has served over 8 million customers.[1][4]
Expert Take: A Company Built on Marketing
Understanding Allen Baler’s background reveals the company’s DNA. 4Patriots is an expert direct-to-consumer marketing company. They have masterfully identified a core audience, understood its values and anxieties, and built a powerful brand narrative that speaks directly to them. This is a key reason for their visibility and growth.
Is 4Patriots a Legitimate Company? A Look at the Data
One of the most pressing user concerns is whether 4Patriots is a legitimate business. The answer, based on official records, is yes, it is a legitimate company.
4Patriots, LLC is an accredited business with the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and currently holds an A+ rating.[3] This accreditation means the company has committed to upholding the BBB’s standards for trust and customer service.[3]
The Reality Check: Customer Complaints
While the A+ rating confirms their legitimacy, it’s important to look at the complete picture. The BBB profile also shows that 4Patriots has received 300 complaints in the last three years, with 117 of those closed in the last 12 months.[1] The details of these complaints often revolve around shipping delays, refund processes, and issues with the product upon arrival.[1] For a company that has served millions, this volume of complaints is not necessarily unusual, but it does highlight that some customers experience issues with logistics and service after the sale. 4Patriots actively responds to these complaints on the BBB platform.[1]
“Made in the USA”? An Investigation into Manufacturing
The brand name “4Patriots” creates a powerful expectation of American manufacturing. This is the area of greatest confusion and scrutiny from potential customers. Our research, including a direct statement from the company’s own website, provides a clear answer.
4Patriots solar generators are designed in the USA but manufactured in Asia.[5]
On its own FAQ page, the company states: “Most lithium battery products in the USA – Including ours – are made in Asia.”[6] They clarify that while the products are designed and developed at their Tennessee office, the complex electronic components are sourced overseas due to global supply chain realities.[6] This is standard practice for nearly all consumer electronics brands, from Apple to Anker.
Their survival food is handled differently. While the company is clear that the food kits are packaged in the USA (at a warehouse in Salt Lake City, Utah), the individual ingredients are sourced globally.[4][6] For this reason, the food kits are not labeled with a “Made in the USA” stamp, which has strict legal requirements.[4]
Expert Take
The gap between customer expectation and manufacturing reality is the single largest source of friction for the 4Patriots brand. While they are a US-based company with US-based design and support, the core of their electronic products is not American-made. This is a practical reality of the modern electronics industry. The key for a consumer is to judge the product on its performance and value, not on a perceived manufacturing origin that is rare for this product category.
The Question of Political Affiliation
Given the brand’s name and marketing themes, many users question if 4Patriots is a right-wing or partisan company. Based on available information, the company officially presents itself as non-partisan.
While the marketing and messaging appeal strongly to a conservative, self-reliant demographic, their stated mission is to help all Americans prepare for emergencies, regardless of political affiliation.[5] The company’s official charitable work is focused on supporting US veterans and active military personnel, causes which have broad, bipartisan support.[6]
The Vecharged Conclusion
4Patriots, LLC is a legitimate and successful American company founded and owned by Allen and Erin Baler.[1][3] It has earned an A+ rating from the BBB, signifying a real and responsive business operation.[3]
The primary point of contention for consumers—the manufacturing origin—is now openly addressed by the company: their generators, like those of most competitors, are made in Asia with US-based design and development.[5][6]
The decision to purchase from 4Patriots should be based on a clear-eyed understanding of their business: they are a premium-priced, marketing-driven company selling preparedness products sourced through a global supply chain. If the product specifications and price meet your needs, you are dealing with an established and legitimate business.
The next logical step is to move past the company and evaluate the product itself.
Suhas Shrikant is the founder of Vecharged and an engineering enthusiast specializing in high-power off-grid solar systems. He has designed and built over a dozen custom systems and uses his hands-on, field-tested experience to create Vecharged’s expert guides and reviews.
Vecharged is the consumer education platform of the Electricity Delivery Forum, an organization dedicated to the professional discussion of energy infrastructure and policy. The experts at the Forum recognized a critical gap: while industry professionals had a place to discuss the future of the grid, there was no trusted resource dedicated to helping homeowners and consumers navigate these changes in their own lives. Vecharged was created to fill that gap. We ground our practical, hands-on advice in a deep, foundational understanding of the broader energy landscape, ensuring our content is not only useful but also accurate and forward-looking.
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