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MARCH / APRIL 2006
LOGIC
“Logic has a single law, the Law of Identity, and it various corollaries.” (“Philosophical Detection,” in Philosophy: Who Needs It) “Whatever you choose to consider, be it an object, an attribute or an action, the law of identity remains the same. A leaf cannot be a stone at the same time, it cannot be all red and all green at the same time, it cannot freeze and burn at the same time. A is A. Or, if you wish it stated in simpler language: You cannot have your cake and eat it, too.” (Atlas Shrugged) Ayn Rand defined logic as the “art of non-contradictory identification.”
I am continuously amazed when I encounter people who simply refuse to recognize reality. I have been concentrating for sometime now on providing the Armed Forces of the USA with the best possible sleeping bag that they can get. In some respects I have been very successful, a national stock number for several models used by Special Forces Groups, the Air Force ground forces, Navy Seals, etc. In all instances my bags were the bag of choice after extensive field testing. I was not treated any differently than any other manufacturer who had an interest in selling to the military. It was just that my product out- performed all other products. In one instance I made bags using all the other forms of insulation available and they all failed against my Lamilite.
The results of all of these tests showing that my product or more specifically my insulation used as I use it produced a product so good has meant nothing to the military personnel charged with developing a sleeping bag or system. This same lack of interest so to speak permeates most of the retailers of sleeping bags. There is a conscious desire not the think about all of the facts that are presented to them. Reality cannot be faked.
“Knowledge is hierarchal. To understand this principle and make it part of one's thinking is to gain clarity and to put order in one's thoughts.” (Volume 12, Number 2, February 2006 issue of IMPACT the newsletter of Ayn Rand Institute).
I have been as I stated for over 40 years involved with synthetic fiber fills for use as insulating mediums. The knowledge that I have today is an accumulation of the many years I have spent in the industry. I produce products today based on that accumulation of knowledge. I could not have done this 25 years ago because I did not have adequate knowledge. As I learned about the fiber fills and manufacturing methods my overall knowledge increased. It just did not come to me in the middle of the night as a revelation. It was acquired through testing and observation as well as input from other men who had at the time greater knowledge in their area of expertise than I had. As an example my first endeavor into the sleeping bag and outerwear manufacturing business was a company called Olam Outdoor Sports. My partner new nothing about fiber fill insulations but he knew a great deal about how to cut and sew the fiber fill as well as all other fabrics. One of the first operations I learned was the importance of serging each component before joining the components. If you do not use this step in working with nylon fabric as Snugpak bags chose not to do you can expect the nylon to ravel as happens to their bags.
Had the foundation of knowledge not taken place I would be wandering through a maze of inaccuracies and use bad judgment in the manufacturing of my products just as the other companies are continuing to experience. That is because those charged with the responsibility of developing sleeping bags and cold weather outerwear simply do not have a good foundation of knowledge if any with respect to insulations and how best to use them. Remember when I spoke of a civilian from Canada , who had virtually no knowledge of any aspect of what it took to make a sleeping bag, was in the employ of the U.S. Marine Corps to help develop a sleeping bag? Well he has company in the employ of all other companies that make sleeping bags, as well.
THE DANGER OF SNUGPAK SLEEPING BAGS
As you know I have been informing hopefully the world about how bad product Snugpak sleeping bags are. The internet is an incredible medium for people to acquire information. I have said that Snugpak bags are potentially dangerous, the danger being if used in cold temperatures regardless of what is stated by the Brett Harris Company states about their temperature rating you can die from hypothermia. Unfortunately the proof of that statement has happened.
Recently I attended the SHOT show. It is a shooting sports trade show that takes place each year for the hunting market place. However, it is not limited to recreational hunters it is also attended by military people from all over the world. This year a Chilean officer told a friend of mine who is the national sales director of a sleeping bag manufacturing firm that in May 2005 a unit of trainees was descending out of the Andes mountains when they encountered a very severe snow storm. The storm was so bad that all visibility was lost so they stopped and set up camp. The unit had 150 men and as I understand the trainees were from that region of Chile . In an article that I read on the internet one colonel said it was a “tsunami of a snow storm.” Since the trainees were from the region snow and cold were not unknown to them.
One reason the officer was at the SHOT show was to find sleeping bags. The Chilean military had purchased Snugpak bags and issued them to these men. 81 of the men died from hypothermia.
As I see it the unit was moving out of the mountains and once they met the storm they probably pushed on harder. The amount of perspiration they were generating must have been enormous, and where was it going, no place but into their clothing. When they stopped they started to get cold quickly as always happens when the temperature is in the 20's. It wouldn't have been any colder, since the best snow fall is when the temperature is between 20 and 30 as a rule. They probably got into their sleeping bags and because the bags offered little or no insulation they froze.
In order for them to have survived in the situation they were in they would have needed sleeping bags that were rated for -40 degrees. The bag would have retained their heat and caused the moisture they had generated to be driven out of the bag in a few hours.
I have presented this information to the Consumer Products Safety Commission requesting that they stop the sales of the Snugpak brand sleeping bags. I have also presented the same information to the GSA requesting that they stop all companies with GSA contracts that list these bags to eliminate them from the contracts. I also have been told by the Department of Defense, Philadelphia , PA. those textile products that do not meet Berry Amendment certification can not be sold to any DoD agency. The Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force and Coast Guard are DoD agencies. Today it may also include the CIA, FBI, DEA and Homeland Security as well. I do not what more evidence to present to the GSA that will cause them to do what is right and make sure these dangerous sleeping bags are made unavailable to those who are protecting us.
Remember the statement that Harry Truman had on his desk while he was president “the buck stops here.” That is not the case with either the Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC) or the GSA. They wrote back to me saying they have referred the matter to the Federal Trade Commission. The CPSC wrote that they have jurisdiction over more than 15,000 consumer products and apparently the consumer product known as a sleeping bag does not come under their jurisdiction. Go figure.
The GSA believes that because the Snugpak bags are part of a contract that has multiple items and these items are available to all federal agencies they do not have to single out sleeping bags that are restricted from being purchased by DoD agencies. Therefore, they will not at this time advise DoD agencies they can not purchase these bags. Go figure.
Following is an e mail I received; “the last years both 2004 and 2005 I was in the mountains of Afghanistan ---I know cold…and I know about lightening my load-and I know about the Snugpak bag I was issued-and left home. I did my own test before I left on my first deployment and hands down I took my Wiggy's bag weight size or whatever-construction-zippers-everything-I wasn't going to be cold or die of exposure because someone at GSA didn't/wouldn't make the right choice for me. I don't leave those decisions up to someone who isn't going with me. Thank you for making a superior product-I was warm in Afghanistan on the boarder at 9,000 and 10,000 feet because you guys at Wiggy's care. Thanks, Steve R. contractor.”
I have heard the same from a substantial number of our fighting men as well as from guys in Europe, a mix of civilian and military who have e mailed me after they read my newsletters exposing Snugpak for what it is. I think the expression I heard recently was “ snugcrap. ” A copy of this e mail will be forward to GSA. They need to here from users not some sleeping bag maker who knows the materials and construction needed to make a good sleeping bag.
So in both agencies their motto is the “buck gets passed.” It should also be noted that the GSA gets a percent paid to them every quarter by contract holders of what ever you sell to federal agencies and the Snugpak bags are more expensive than mine so if all of the bags purchased were Wiggy's they would be losing money, I think the tax payers would be saving money.
For those who have had the experience of being issued one of the Snugpak bags or if you are a civilian who has been hood winked by these bags you can complain to the contracting officer at the GSA. They have told me they need input from users to know how bad the product is. Write to Jeri F. Bird-Contracting Officer-U.S. General Services Administration- 819 Taylor Street- Fort Worth , TX . 76102.
Textile World web site had an article published on March 14, 2006 titled “Hayes Seeks To Expand “Buy America” Law. “Robin Hayes, R-N.C. has introduced legislation that will require the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to procure items directly related to security from domestic manufacturers. Under the so-called Berry Amendment, the Department of Defense (DOD) and the Coast Guard already are required to do so to the extent domestic manufacturers can meet their needs.”
I continue to read articles that clearly and plainly state that textile products are protected by the Berry Amendment with respect to DOD. But, for some yet to be explained to me reason the GSA clearly does not adhere to the law.
One other bit of activity I have implemented is to make all of this information known to all 25 members of the Senate Armed Services Committee. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y. who is on the committee raised holy hell about the bullet proof vests some time back. I have not heard word one from her office as it relates to sleeping bags. The senator from Colorado on the committee, Wayne Allard, R, has also not made contact with me and he is MY representative. So much for our elected civil servant representatives.
LETTERS
“Wiggy,
Several weeks ago I went on my annual winter backpacking trip. I have used one of your sleeping bags since 1997 and have always been impressed. A few weeks before the trip I ordered a set of your fishnet longjohns and one of your sweaters. While at first I was put off by the appearance of the longjohns, they performed exactly as you have advertised. I was using your inner bag rated for 0 degrees Fahrenheit. (Super Light) The temperature in my tent when I got up that Sunday morning was minus 8 degrees Fahrenheit. I was warm as toast and I am not a warm sleeper by nature. Usually when I know the temperature is going to dip below zero I pack my Ultima Thule bag, but I was looking at saving weight. I always pack longjohns so your fishnets did not add any weight to my pack. I kept the fishnets on for the 7 mile hike out and even though I did work up a sweat, I never felt chilled or clammy as I have while wearing other synthetic longjohns. This included me stopping at the top of the mountain to let my less athletic friends catch up. Normally under such conditions I would have felt chilled after stopping for ten minutes, but with the fishnets this was not the case. I only wish I would have purchased these years ago. The other bit of gear I just bought from you is your sweater. Sitting around the campfire in single digit temperatures was actually comfortable for a change. It packs down quite small in a compression sack, taking up little room in my pack.
Keep up the outstanding work! Your products are definitely underrated.
Sincerely,
Mark W.
Hello,
My name is Jack B. I am a recent transplant to Alaska .
I came here from Colorado . I know what cold hunting is. I was invited to hunt moose on thanksgiving weekend up near Fairbanks . My hunting partners said to be prepared for 30 below zero temperatures. I researched all the bags available in Anchorage . Marc (Marc Taylor owner of Wiggy's Alaska ) at the local store said I would be safe with the two bag system (Super Light FTRSS). I looked at the cost ($340.00) and continued to look at others, on sale and discount products. However, my gut said you better listen to Marc. I did and now I know why. We were 14 miles in by snow machine and the temperature went to 40 below and our snow machines froze up, dead and would not start, last resort, build a camp. The only thing that did work was the chainsaw. We built a fire and did ok. The temperature went to 50 below, we decided to go to bed and wait for help the next day. I slept like I was at home. Not cold at all. The next morning the game wardens came by and said it had been 55 below that night.
I will go back out and do it again; I know my Wiggy's bag will work. My buddies will be down to see Marc before they go back out.
Thanks again,
Jack
SPECIALS
At this time and until April 30, 2006 all of our sleeping bags are available at a 15 percent discount.
Our woodland camouflage Desert Combat Parka is on sale at a 25 percent discount as well.
All of our poncho liners are on sale for $17.50 each as long as they last. They are available in woodland and desert camouflage.
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SEE OUR WEB SITE FOR NEW PRODUCTS: www.wiggys.com
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