when my boot inventory is gone it is gone

BOOT FACTORIES

A few men have written to me suggesting small shoe companies who might be interested in producing for me.

I have looked into these companies; one based in NYC with a factory in Mexico, then one in Africa and one in Boulder, CO to note three. However, I just do not have any desire to further my activity in the boot field.

I am making a significant number of mukluks for the military and it appears that their need is increasing. I am seeing an increase in mukluk and over boot sales to civilian consumers.

Based upon what I am experiencing I accept the fact that the boot industry with their mindset of using materials that will not because they haven’t worked for 40 years will work now, so these boot guys are helping me sell the mukluks and over boots as well as the Lamilite socks. In this manner I have control over my production and the ability to service my customers quickly.

I am also seeing an increase in the sale of the Lamilite Sunwalker pack boot inserts. For those unfamiliar with them, they were originally created to replace the sponge felt liner inserts that come with pack boots. I made them for police officers who worked in Barrow, Alaska. They are far and away more efficient than the felt liners and water does not have an adverse effect on them.

Maybe one day one or more of the product engineers at one or more of the boot companies will confront their marketing people and say our customers have cold feet and we can correct the problem by eliminating goretex or the like and the thinsulate. Just a pipe dream on my part that they or at the very least one of them would wake up to reality and order some Lamilite insulation for their own production.

Unfortunately they cannot even be shamed into trying it.

One of my readers sent me a link to the Patagonia web site where they are now selling goretex rejected fabric garments. That coincides with rei selling Patagonia rejected garments, these companies have a symbiotic relationship, they engage in selling trash. I suspect that there are more and more companies that are involved in the same pursuit and the play it up as saving these garments from going into landfills.

If they paid attention to what they were doing as in the quality of the materials and workmanship they might just make a garment that will last.

As an example and I believe I mentioned this before I have two soft sided pieces of luggage made by TNF in the late 1970’s that were made in California. I cannot tell how many miles they have on them and they are basically in new condition. When a guy who worked at the ice core office for the University of N.H. called me to make a Lamilite arctic parka he sent me his 10 year old TNF parka to basically duplicate. Aside from the fact that the down was as flat as can be the garment looked as close to new as possible. And that my friends does not happen from TNF any more or the rest of the fancy companies in the outerwear industry these days; except maybe Wiggy’s.

Pay big dollars for today’s trash from these fancy companies and you will be cold for the entire winter.

A comment about the biodegradable article;

 Hi Jerry - Just wanted to comment on your article. It's pretty amazing how all these companies will try and sell you total BS! I got caught in the REI trap and spent 1000's over the years and was always cold - come to think of it I really don't know how I made through some - 0 days? One thing for certain I will never buy anything but Wiggys! I think once the survey guys here at work see what I wear in FEB when the wind chill is - teens they will want your gear!! Keep up the good work and we can spread the word about crap equipment!

_Brady Hyland