weather is my friend

WEATHER THIS YEAR IS MY FRIEND

Just after the Gulf war ended the 200 desert sleeping bags I made for the Marine Corps were instead of being sent to the desert they were sent to 29 Palms CA. Marine base. They were issued to 200 young healthy Marines who were on the same training mission at the same location on the same days. They used them as low as 27 degrees F. I considered myself lucky to have had this happen; I mean how could this have occurred in the civilian world? Well it has happened.

As you can read the testimonial comments below I got lucky with the extreme cold weather we are experiencing. More and more people are contacting me telling me how well my products are performing in these temperatures. So as I say I have gotten lucky again only this time it is Mother Nature doing her stuff. Maybe she is tired of hearing about global warming. So this year more than ever the extreme weather is my friend!!!

Hello Sir, I hope that you are well.

Just wanted to say that if all America knew what I know about Wiggy's cold-weather garments at this time of "polar vortex" extreme cold in the U.S., you would be 100% sold out. Keep up the great work!

-rick

At this writing I do not know where Rick is located, but it sounds as if he is in Europe.

Jerry,

This week the Midwest has experienced a cold wave that is setting records for low temperatures and wind chills. I live in Michigan and yesterday our Governor issued a state of emergency for Tuesday and Wednesday closing all government offices and asking that no one but essential personnel be on the roads.

The local temperatures were hovering around -20 degrees today with wind chills between the -40’s and -50’s. I have two driveways that were drifted and need cleaned. I live out in the country and use a 1953 Farmall Cub, with no cab, to push my snow. As much as I didn’t really want to get out in the weather, I figured it would be a good test for my Wiggy’s gear. I’d been using Wiggy’s products all hunting season long with good results but the temperatures never dropped into the extreme levels that really pushed the envelope letting me really experience the performance potential of my Wiggy’s gear.

Well, today was the day I’d get to experience Wiggy’s gear in what most would consider extreme conditions. My choice for layering was a custom jacket liner that Wiggy’s custom made for me with parachute cloth exterior material and L6 Lamilite, under an L6 Lamilite insulated hooded parka, Kodiak mittens and Sun Walker 2 boot liners. I headed out to the barn where I keep my Cub but by the time I got the Cub fired up and ready to plow I was starting to sweat. I didn’t put on my fishnet undies while getting dressed so I was concerned that I’d get my shirt damp from the sweat so my first stop on the Cub was at the house to exchange the L6 jacket liner for my regular Wiggy’s jacket liner (with L3 Lamilite). That combination was perfect. I spent the next hour and a half plowing snow with the wind blowing like crazy. My only concern was keeping a balaclava covering as much exposed skin on my face as possible. Any exposed skin was freezing cold almost immediately but other than that, I was comfy cozy. A couple of times my thumbs started to get cold but pulling them in to the main part of the mittens warmed them right up. Anyway, to say that I was pleased with my Wiggy’s gear is an understatement.

Thank you, Rick Young

Thank you Rick!

Hi Jerry,

I don't know what the Canadian military is using for clothing these days, but it isn't as good as what they use to issue.

I have an old Canadian military Extreme Cold Weather parka that was manufactured in 1979. The design changed very slightly over the years it was issued. I know from personal experience that the old winter gear worked. It wasn't as good as your parkas or Lamilite, but it did work for the most part. The insulation in my 40 year old Canadian military parka isn't chopped fiber, it's continuous. The liner is open at the bottom to allow moisture to escape, I don't remember how effective it is since it's been so long since I've really put it through those kinds of activities.

Back in the day winter gear was a base layer, t-shirt, wool sweater, poly/cotton blend combat shirt (think BDU top), poly/cotton cold weather coat (think M65 with liner) and then the parka which was also a poly/cotton shell. Sitting around you would be warm at -40, active you stripped layers to keep moisture to a minimum. (They still are adverse to fishnets)

It used to be that the clothing was generally good some "expert" got involved and changed things.

There's enough real expert reviews out there that if the US and Canadian militaries listened, all those who serve their countries would have good gear that served them as well as the person using them is serving his or her country. One would think if it is required survival gear for planes it would work just as well for the people on the ground.

I've used a lot of military and commercial gear over the years from the heat of Florida to the cold of Canada and the Fargo, ND area. The gear I reach for now whether its summer or the last few days in Fargo says Wiggy's on the label. I don't have all the gear I want, but I'll get there. Next on the list are Lamilite socks so too with an old pair of US made Herman's Survivors I found at a great price.

Jack

Thank you

Mr. Wigutow,

I own two sleeping bags, a ducksback sweater, coat liner and vest liner.
You should be getting an envelope by regular mail with my next order and a cashier’s check. I am ordering another coat, sleeping bag, etc.

Your gear is phenomenal. It does everything as advertised. The sleeping bags are the best I have ever had. The ducksback sweater has replaced my other winter coats for everything except welding and working with barbed-wire. Had I known about your gear 30 years ago; I would not have wasted my money on not-as-good brand name winter gear. Thanks again for keeping me warm (awake and asleep) during the winter. If there are any questions about the order, feel free to call or e-mail.
Respectfully,
David Shapiro

Thank you

Wiggy - per your most recent Newsletter dated 30 Jan, "Consensus" simply indicates the absence of leadership. I can tell you are (somewhat...) of an opinionated SOB, and that's exactly what is necessary, generally speaking. It naturally helps that you are most often correct a fault that I suffer under as well. Such is life! ;)

Best Regards
Ted Peterson
Waterloo, Iowa
U.S.A.

And I thought I was always right versus “most often”!!

Warmer Than Expected (THE BALACLAVA)

I've been wearing this skiing for some time now. It replaces a wool hat or helmet over a wool balaclava. We just had our first sub-zero since I bought it. I was surprised that a light orlon balaclava covering my face was all I needed under this balaclava to keep me warm at -2F. Five knot wind gusts had no effect.

– Charles Fletcher

Charles thank you, like all Wiggy products made with Lamilite they work even in the balaclava.

For the past two days I have been contacted by a person whose husband is planning on walking the 400 miles across Lake Baikal located in Russia. She was told by me that I sponsor no person or persons who chose to do something they want to do but they could buy my Antarctic bag since that is what is necessary. No purchase yet.

Then I received an email from a woman intent on doing the same thing. Turns out she is the guys walking partner. She told me she has a -40 C down bag. I told her that no company makes or sells a -40 degree sleeping bag in the world or has one ever been made except by me. She wanted to try my Antarctic bag and if she liked it she would use it and write about it. I told her the same, buy it.

I further told her I think she has a death wish and would never make it using the down bag which really isn’t possible to function at -40 c or f.

These people are influenced by the likes of northface, Patagonia or arcteryx or who knows who, but I do firmly believe they are taking their life in their hands and may get their wish. I suspect the clothing they will be wearing is very in adequate and they need to wear fishnet base layers which they will not be doing. They are ignorant of how dangerous their very own perspiration is. Body perspiration becomes your enemy in cold conditions specifically arctic conditions as many are learning this winter. They are also very much ignorant of what it would take to wear for the best chance of success.

Aside from the fact that deciding to walk 400 miles across the lake is fool hardy in my opinion which tells me they have nothing better to do with their time. They should do what I did, get on a boat and sail in the warm waters of the Caribbean and swim in unfrozen water. If you stay away from the sharks you will certainly not die. Normally I walk from people like this but wish them success but in this case in order for them to be successful I believe they will need a miracle.

Regardless it is very gratifying for me to receive so many letters in the form of emails stating how well Lamilite/Climashield a insulation used in all of my products proves to perform in the arctic conditions we in the USA are experiencing this year. The fact that I lived through a blizzard and comparable temperatures taught me how good the Lamilite/Climashield does perform and if it performed for me why not everyone who wears products made by me with it. Also the fact that so many who have purchased the fishnet underwear speak so highly about them is also gratifying to say the least.

Now if the military is paying attention maybe they too will come on board; do not hold your breath!!!