more about the light weight nonsense and some specials

ANOTHER COMMENT ABOUT ULTRA-LIGHT BACKPACKING

Hi Jerry,

One more comment about ultra-light sleeping bags. I backpacked for many years. I tried a 2lb bag and froze my a** off at 40 degrees. I started using one of your Ultra-Light bags 20 years ago and found that with a little effort it would compress enough to fit in my backpack. All the rest of my gear was ultra-light but my sleeping bag was one thing I wouldn't compromise on.

Best regards,

Scot Carpenter

It is obvious that Scot knows the most important piece of gear he carries is his sleeping bag.

The person who did not sign the testimonial yesterday did send her name but it was part of her e mail address and since I never publish e mail addresses I did not realize it wasn’t at the end of her comments. Her name is Anne A. She wrote to me this morning identifying her.

Daily I read articles in the online publications serving the companies associated with the outdoor industry, never open to the general public about a product that is now being made lighter than similar products from other companies. There is a competition between companies striving to satisfy the desire of some backpackers who want the lightest everything they can get. These ultra-light backpackers do not care about durability so the companies that make these products available do not care either. It all comes down to finished weight of the product, not performance.

One of the critical items is footwear. From what I have been reading about the light weight backpacking footwear items will most likely fall apart while you are on the trail and because they do not have much support sprained ankles could become a real problem.

How about all of the very light weight very packable jackets that fit so nicely into a corner of these very light weight back packs that offer zero warmth if you encounter a sudden cloud burst.

What about the close knit shirts that is supposed to wick away moisture? Do they; NO! So when you pull that skimpy waterproof breathable jacket out of your backpack and put it on you really find out what it is like to get a chill due to the fact that your wicking knit shirt did not wick any moisture away from your body.

But you went out for a 4 day hike with a total of 20 pounds on your back and your intention is to brutalized yourself.

When guys write to me asking for compressed size of one of my bags I do answer but I also know these guys are not going to become customers because I chose not to compromise my knowledge to give them a sleeping bag that in my opinion would be worthless if the temperature dropped below 50 degrees. I value my reputation of making sleeping bags that actually perform at the temperatures I assign to them. The other companies out there that sell sleeping bags do not care if the customer is warm or not so long as the customer gets the weight and compressibility that they are wanting, even if they have to wear every item of clothing they have taken with them and even doing this is no guarantee that they will be warm. Chances are as far as I am concerned they will not be warm.

ANTARCTIC DUCKSBACK URBAN PARKA

Last winter we received a significant number of orders for this garment and we had a slow shipping situation since the number of orders was much more significant than I expected.

That said I am now offering the parka at a reduced price so people who want one for next winter can get theirs. The price is $275.00.

This special price will be in effect until September 30, 2019 after that date it will return to the price of $310.00. The cost for the coyote ruff remains the same.

LAMILITE BOOTS ALL MODELS

Shortly the last of my inventory will appear on the web site and the price is $185.00 per pair.

Each pair will still have a pair of socks included.

Morning Wiggy's!
Wanted to write about the Kodiak Mittens that I purchased several years ago (they have tan palms). I've used numerous different glove brands over the past 3 decades, from living on Donner Summit, CA to skiing in temps to minus-5 degrees Fahrenheit (the wind chill was well below that). Hands down Wiggy's mittens are the absolute best. Using store-bought gloves (REI, OR, etc.), my hands would get cold. If the gloves got wet, that was game over for trying to keep warm fingers.
I've used the Kodiak mittens in cold temps, and while wet...and my fingers are warm, if not toasty. Yes, mittens are different than gloves, and before Wiggy's, I've never worn a pair of mittens/gloves that stayed warm while wet.
Another unique benefit is that the palm doesn't get stiff, and crackly, when they dry after getting wet!
Keep making quality products!
Regards,
Chris (Reno, NV)

The Kodiak mitten is a copy of the original “boxing glove” (actually a mitten) made by the Grandoe Glove Company now long gone. I still have the pair I bought from them in 1968.

Grandee was the largest mitten manufacturer in the country serving the ski industry retailers.

Thank you Chris