are you alone

THE ALONE SHOW

One reader has sent to me an interesting and for me an educational comment pertaining to how things take place on the alone show. I am appreciative, thank you John B.

Hi Wiggy,

I read your observations about the Alone program a few days ago. I won’t disagree with anything you said, however, you might not be aware that the contestants are not totally free to choose what they bring to wear. What specifically they choose is never revealed on the program unless the audience is very observant. For instance, any logos on clothing must be covered up. There have been a few over the years that have lost their “cover” after a few weeks, but for the most part the rule has been followed. They don’t want contestants being billboards for manufacturers, a term I seem to recall you using in the past.

I knew they gave a list of items they wanted the contestants to have but was unaware the contestants were not completely free to choose. As for covering labels I agree although several who watch the program have told me they have seen my label.

While your sleeping bags have been well represented in several seasons (I’m pretty sure 3 of the first 5 seasons winners used them) the clothing is more ambiguous. The first few seasons, a thick parka was not on the approved list, as I recall. They were not in that cold a climate. I haven’t seen enough of this season to know what they have for the deep cold. The fellow who won last year’s offering had spent a winter or two with reindeer herders in Siberia and was using much of the same clothing he had used there. One female contestant last season (finished 2nd) had made much of her clothing.

One thing to remember about the challenge they face: for the most part, by the time it gets really cold, almost all the contestants are severely short of calories. Thus, their ability to generate body heat is diminished. Many have built shelters large enough to contain a fire. This has resulted in a few shelter fires. One contestant last year, had he not gotten his sleeping bag out of his burning shelter, might well have perished before they could rescue him the next morning. Their helicopter could not make a night flight/landing.

If the contestants were wise enough to wear Wiggy’s fishnet underwear and used the liner vest and liner jacket they would not necessarily have diminished physically as much as the writer suggests. Further comments at the end.

There are certainly several of the products that you offer that would fit some of the categories, and I am confident that they would serve the contestants well. Parkas, fishnets, mittens, and bibs come to mind. Because they specify wool, socks might be an issue as might head protection, simply because of the styles they mention. They must include clothing that will be comfortable in fall weather since they seem to start about that time. Last season they got snow very early which was unusual. They may have started earlier this year…I don’t think anyone has said yet.

Here is the list that is in use for this season, which is at Great Slave Lake, just south of the Arctic Circle, same as last season:

My thoughts on the list of clothing items to take.

1 pair of high-leg hunting boots------- I agree so long as they are NOT goretex lined or Thinsulate lined. They should be 100 percent leather outer and leather lined.

1 pair waterproof Arctic winter boots-------- one pair of Lamilite overboots and one pair of Muk Luks. they are interchange able depending upon the weather conditions.

1 T-shirt (short sleeved) ------- I do not know the purpose of this item. They should wear a fishnet top and the bottoms when the cold sets in.

1 fleece/wool shirt ------ these items are sure to retain by absorption 100 percent of your sweat. They should be replaced with the liner vest and liner jacket.

2 wool sweaters ----- the reason they want you to take 2 wool sweaters is because they know each will absorb and retain your sweat and they think each when not being worn will dry, it will not happen. Again, using the liner vest and liner jacket are significantly more efficient at retaining heat but not your sweat. So, there is no reason to take them.

6 pairs wool socks ------ why 6 pair of wool socks, why not 16, they are not going to dry and they are all going to get stretched out of shape. How about 2 pair of Lamilite socks. They do not absorb and retain sweat from your feet, the do not get stretched of shape and the do not retain odor. And if you did want to wash them just put them in the lake and then hang them to dry which will happen in an hour or so.

2 hats (brimmed, wool, fur, Arctic or baseball) ----- we do have a baseball hat, we also have a Lamilite insulated balaclava, that does not absorb and retain moisture. Our parka comes with a fur ruff which is needed. See below.

2 buffs or neck gaiter (no balaclavas) ------ I do not know what buffs are and I also did not know balaclavas are neck gaiters.

1 shemagh OR scarf ------ as I understand it this product is very similar to my insulated head cover, which I know is far more efficient. Again, no capacity to absorb and retain moisture which the shemagh will do since it is made from wool I believe.

4 pairs of gloves (1 insulated, 1 leather work-style glove, 1 over mitt, 1 thin glove liner) ------- I agree with the leather work gloves, and add to that the extreme arctic mittens, which come with an insulated insert.

2 pairs of underwear/briefs ------ two pair of fishnet tops and bottoms.

1 insulated parka-style jacket ------ one Antarctic parka!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2 pair of outdoor pants/bibs (can unzip into shorts) ------ no comment

1 pair of fully insulated or waterproof winter pants/bibs ------ from my experience being in arctic conditions and from my observation of the show the leg jackets will work extremely well.

1 waterproof uninsulated shell/Jacket ------- a ducksback Alaska range parka.

2 pairs of thermal underwear (long top and bottom) ------ fishnets

1 pair of gaiters ----- our insulated gaiters

1 leather belt (or synthetic equivalent) ------ interesting requirement. Don’t the show directors know that the contestants will be showing up wearing pants held up by a belt?

1 toothbrush ----- with the handle cut off?

1 pair of eyeglasses ----- what if you really need glasses to see? If so, you are at a disadvantage if you lose the one pair you have.

1 personal photograph ------ is this so they can recognize you when they pick you up or so they can put you in front of a mirror so you can see what you looked like at the beginning and now this is what you look like?

I hope you found this of interest. Of the “survival” type of show, this is probably the most legitimate one going, although, it is apparent that they do take some “liberties” with the editing process. One of the contestants figured out that less than 5% of the video the contestants shoot is ever used and sometimes the chronological order is inaccurate and sometimes events are spliced together to create a single event that didn’t actually happen as it was shown.

I will save my personal experiences with your bags and clothing, all positive, for another time.

Thank you for your company and your integrity.

John B

The only item I would swap would be the Antarctic parka with the Alaska Range parka with both liners.

Now that I have commented on the clothing items, I noted that they do not offer and direction for the sleeping bag, the SINGLE MOST IMPORTANT ITEM THEY TAKE WITH THEM. Why is this the case. If the bag performs day in and day out to keep the contestants warm so the sleep that will go a long way in their survival. If the sleeping bag simply does not absorb and retain moisture or even stifle it from leaving the bag that will also go along way giving them comfort. There is ONLY one sleeping bag in the world that can guarantee they will survive in comfort, not necessarily for the hundred days, there are other reasons one might give up but the Wiggy’s bag and the rest of the Wiggy product will not be contributors to quitting. The bag of which I speak is the Antarctic bag.

I am sure the producers of this program have never experienced trying to do what they would like to see others attempt to do.