fishnets, ducksback and overboots

FISHNETS AND DUCKSBACK

Hi Jerry,

Went jogging today in 54° weather in a pouring rain. The few walkers and joggers there all eventually left as the rain intensified. I was the last man standing and finished my workout. I wore the fishnet top and second layer, light nylon shirt and Alaska Range Parka shell in Ducksback. I was comfortable - not too hot or cold. I really like the Ducksback! The joggers were wearing sweats and sweaters and stuff like that - no match for the weather.

Jared Suzuki

I can attest to Jared’s comments only without the Ducksback parka since it did not exist when I was biking years ago. Back then I was using a coated nylon pullover. All the moisture from my body just accumulated on the pullover. This same affect will happen with any fishnet and Lamilite insulated Ducksback parka. You will stay warm in rainy situations.

Today if I were to go jogging when the temperature was in the 40’s and 50’s I would wear the fishnet top and the wind-shirt. The second layer is optional. If it started to rain which will cause the temperature to drop a few degrees you will still be warm even when you stop for whatever reason.

Most joggers these days and probably for a long time have been and are wearing close knit tops which very successfully trap body produced moisture otherwise known as sweat which makes you clammy and cold when you stop jogging.

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Covid 19 has recked havoc on the retail businesses all over the world actually and this has changed the workings of many companies supplying the retailers. Here I am going to point out how one industry is affected by this turn of events which from my perspective can be a good thing for the consumers.

The boot makers have for 40 or more years placed in the retail stores boots made with goretex/Thinsulate stating the boots are waterproof and warm to -100 degrees F at one time. Many years ago, I called every boot company in the country asking for proof of this claim. With in two years the boot companies stopped stating this erroneous claim. However, my efforts to educate these companies to the falsehood of both goretex and Thinsulate to work as they have been advertised has fallen on deaf ears. But things might change as we go forward.

I am very sure boot sales have not been as strong this year as has happened in previous years due to covid 19. Retailers that have been weathering the storm so to speak have not moved as much of their boot inventory this year and as a result the boot suppliers haven’t made as much as they have had in the past.

This situation I like to think has given them the opportunity to think about their product mix and some items will or should be discontinued. But what to replace them with, easy answer as far as I am concerned; ALL LEATHER BOOTS THAT ARE DEVOID OF GORETEX/THINSULATE.

Then of course they can also incorporate the Lamilite/Climashield in some models. When they see how well these boots are selling, they will very well move further away from goretex/Thinsulate.

Who will be the prime benefactor of their actions, the ultimate consumer who I like to think has been educated to the fact that the surest way to cold feet is to wear wool socks and goretex/Thinsulate lined boots! Most days of the week I receive either an email or phone call from a guy who most often is a hunter telling me he has cold feet. My advice is always to get the Lamilite/ Climashield socks and the over boots to be worn over whatever boot they have and in the future look for an all leather boot without the goretex/Thinsulate additive.

The boot companies will benefit because they will most likely sell more boots. And of course, sales will further increase if they incorporate Lamilite/Climashield.

Hunters for the most part get into stationary locations on the ground or in tree stands. Being stationary means blood flow to your feet has to be very warm to keep your toes warm, but it is never enough to off set the cold that your toes are experiencing so you need further insulation and that comes in the form of the Wiggy overboots or mukluks depending upon how cold the environment is.

When I started hunting in November in the Fossil Ridge Wilderness, I took my mukluks and they were part of the life saver for me when I was lost. About two years later when I was making the overboots I started taking them since the temperatures were mostly in the 0 to -20 F range. Needless to say, in my ten years of hunting there I never had cold feet nor did I ever have cold anything.

So a word to the wise, ask your fellow employees at the boot company you work for if they when they hunt as I am sure many do if their feet are warm as can be in the goretex/Thinsulate boots you make or are they cold, just like your customers.