dumb and dumber

KNOW IT ALL PEOPLE!!

Did you ever hear of a web site “cleverhiker”? I did not until one of my customers sent me the link to the site.

His comment was “Check out why they can’t recommend synthetic bags...BS”

I went to the site and was only interested in their comments about sleeping bags. What I found interesting is the fact that these people who own the company live in the northwestern USA and believe that down bags are the best there are. This tells you they are not so “clever” as a matter of fact they are downright dumb. That said why would they be “clever” about any of the other products they write about.

They seem to promote buying these products from rei does rei pay them as an advertising agency? Do all of the companies they promote products for also pay them? As far as I could see they do not sell products themselves.

Worldwide there people who have the false belief that they can make sleeping bags and all of them are of the mind set they know about insulation. These “clever” people must believe the information they are given by the companies whose sleeping bags they are writing about.

If you truly want to waste your money on a sleeping bag then you buy any brand of sleeping bag other than Wiggy’s. And if you listen to these “clever” people you will waste a lot of money because they love to promote down bags.

I decided to write to them.

“A customer of mine sent me the link to your web site.

I have never heard of your company, I guess you are a company.

The reason the web site was sent to me was because of your gear section about sleeping bags.

That is the only section I reviewed because that is where I have the greatest interest

I reviewed it and came very quickly to the realization that YOU PEOPLE ARE NOT SO CLEVER!!!

You two have absolutely ZERO knowledge of what it takes to make a sleeping bag and even LESS knowledge of insulation for use in sleeping bags.

It is my intention to expose you to the general public as promoters of sleeping bag products that have ZERO ability to perform as the brands that make these products advertise.”

The following is their response.

“Hi Jerry,

We’re really sorry that you feel that way, but we have to disagree with your opinion. We’ve spent hundreds of hours researching and field testing this equipment and have spent decades backpacking and using this equipment.

We get great feedback from our audience who’ve purchased this gear, so we’re going to continue to do what we’re doing.

Best of luck with your business.

Take care,

Dave and Annie”

My response.

“Annie,

Considering that Wiggy’s Inc. is now 30 years old and is the LARGEST quality sleeping bag manufacturer in the world has obviously been avoided by you two.

In addition they are the most accurately rated and are oblivious to moisture.

Machine washable and dryable. And they easily last longer than any down bag made.

Had you done any research you would have come across Wiggy’s years ago. So your research leaves a lot to be desired.

What you recommend are “no sleep sleeping bags”.

What I wrote is not “opinion” but reality.

EDUCATE YOURSELVES AND LOG ON TO MY WEB SITE AND START READING ALL OF THE TESTIMONIALS YOU WILL START THE PROCESS.”

To my surprise I received the following response.

Hi Jerry,

Our niche is lightweight/ultralight sleeping bags for backpacking, so perhaps that's why Wiggy's is not represented on many of the "Best of" lists out there. Warmth to weight ratio is one of the most important considerations in most of the gear we recommend. Your ultralight bag weighs 3.5 lbs., which isn't practical for most lightweight backpackers. We stand by our recommendations wholeheartedly.

While your unprofessional approach leaves a bit to be desired, we wish you the best of luck moving forward.

The following was my response.

Lamilite insulation is the ABSOLUTE BEST INSULATION ON THE PLANET.

Literally every sleeping bag noted on your web site DOES NOT PERFORM AS IS NOTED BY THE COMPANY SELLING THEM STATES.

I guess your people are camping in Key West Florida in July.

You are promoting bogus products.

I guess being as knowledgeable as I am about all of the components required to make sleeping bags in particular the insulation which goes back 58 years now does not make me a professional. But someone who has zero knowledge of the subject is a professional in their own mind. Note also how they are deeming with the “best wishes” B/S.

My bags are in theory heavier than all the others but they work as the other do not.

This woman is attacking a battleship with a pea shooter.

Maybe she should read this email I received today.

Jerry,

Is there a chance to acquire a strip of mending tape for my poncho as I snagged it on a rough piece of wood and made a small tear at the foot of the skirt area?

All Mickey has to do is use needle and thread to sew it up which is what I suggested. Nothing like the insulation will fall out.

This poncho provided me with complete comfort on my winter wet inclement weather camps and I greatly appreciated its value. So now that the weather is warmer here in the South it's time for preparing my gear for
a trip to the New England area where weather changes faster than my clothes.
Once again I'm more than satisfied with the warmth and No sweat problems with Wiggy sleeping bags and poncho.
Other camp gear companies may state their equipment is good but I haven't found anything as comfortable and performs as well as your products for a dry and warm nights rest.
I've tolerated other campers complaining about not having enough blankets to get them warm; while I have eliminated the burden of packing heavy wool blankets and enjoyed your sleeping pad as well which added to protection under my bag and ease of carrying. I hope to soon purchase your lightweight jacket before leaving on my trip through the mountains of New Hampshire and Maine as it would be a test of the elements I'll encounter there.
Once again I can't appreciate enough the satisfaction of your materials and workmanship.
Mickey Mikulis

I think “annie of clever web site” should pay attention to Mickey’s friends who need extra blankets because they have those 1.5 pound “no sleep sleeping bags”.

Once again a customer shows up to state that other products for the same purpose never did work very well.

I would like to see “clever” web site show as many testimonials as Wiggy’s does.

Many thanks Mickey