32 years and counting

I got my first Wiggy's sleeping bag, an Ultima Thule, in 1987. I used it on several sled dog races here in Wisconsin, and in Minnesota and Michigan. I also used as a kayak camping bag in Yellowstone in September. We know a bit about winter here in the upper Midwest and it performed excellently. For the last 25 years I have used it as my primary sleep system in my yurt. Finally this last winter the inner nylon liner split . I still use it at home but I need a new one for camping. One bag lasted 32 years of regular use. If anything you make them too good! Thanks.

– Joe Edmonds

DO YOU WORK IN THE NORTH DAKOTA OIL FIELDS?

If you do work in the North Dakota oil fields then you know all about the cold weather that you experience during the winter in North Dakota. It is very often said that North Dakota is colder than Alaska. I have heard that comment enough that I do not doubt that it is true.

Wiggy’s has been supplying the Alaskan oil patch for about 20 years with the warmest Nomex FR parkas, bibs, mittens, and mukluks all these years. We also make non-FR parkas and bibs when the FR is not required.

I make a bombastic statement now; “THERE ARE NO OTHER GARMENTS FOR THIS PURPOSE AVAILABLE ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD OF EQUAL PERFORMANCE.” Whether it is for working the oil fields or for any other purpose when it comes to cold weather clothing Wiggy’s has no equal. Why is this so, it’s called Lamilite/Climashield the most efficient insulating material on planet earth and the way I use it, laminated as well as the weights I use.

In addition to the parka and bib we make mittens, hard hat liners and most importantly mukluks and over boots. Without warm hands and feet, you will work far less than you think.

Of course, the fishnet underwear and Lamilite socks are a must.

When you look at these garments on the Wiggy’s web site you will note they all have FR reflective tape on them. We also have the primary color navy blue as well as black and tan.

Also keep in mind that the moisture that comes out of your body will move while in a vapor state out of the garments as can be noted in the picture of me on the home page of the web site, I am the one on the horse on the left side of the photograph wearing the Fossil Ridge parka that has the frost on the outside of it. That should give you an idea of how well the Lamilite allows vapor out of the garment. If you are wearing clothing with any other form of insulation you will not see the frost on the outside of the garment because it has no chance of moving through whatever the insulation material might be. Then again whatever the company manufacturing the garment claims has as insulation in it is only fooling you.

The garment insulation should be soft to the touch, and form around your body. The garment should be able to move around you in the opposite direction that you are moving. As a skier l learned as I was skiing faster and harder that my body movement within my parka could ne restrict me. So, I basically was floating in the garment. I remember seeing the Haystack Mountain ski school instructors wearing beautifully tailored Head Ski parkas. With the zippers ripped out of them. The reason was the insulation a needle punched polyester fiberfill that did not give when pressure was put on the garment. The Head design team was there, and I told them they had to use a fiberfill that would collapse and recover when pressure was put on the stress points of the garment. The next season the used the original version on Lamilite when I was laminating Polar Guard. This is what is known as “engineering” the construction of the parka. The youth of the outdoor industry doesn’t know how to make a handkerchief let-a- lone a winter parka.   

Go to wiggys.com and in the search box write fr clothing