insult

An interesting conversation

Good afternoon-

Dave here, a retired combat veteran Marine and Federal agent residing on the Canadian border in NW Montana.  I have used several of your products over the years and have been very pleased.  

I am now an outdoor writer, backcountry guide, avid hunter, trapper and test gear for many companies who value my unbiased opinion.  I am a writer and moderator on the largest western, outdoor hunting and camping forum as well.  Given my experience in the military and vast training and operations in cold weather locations all over the globe they turn to me for cold weather reviews.  

Enough about me.  I am contacting you regarding your mukluks.  I am conducting a field test and review of 3 of the best rated and known mukluks.  Wiggys is one of the 3.  Would you be interested in providing a pair for a real-world test and review for an unbiased field study?  

I can provide more information and can be reached via phone.  

Thank you,

Dave

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On Tue, Mar 4, 2025 at 10:33 AM Wiggys <wiggys@wiggys.com> wrote:

Dave,

Every product we manufacture and sells exceeds the limitations I put on them.

As for the muk luks I have personally used them in a situation that you will not.

If you read my story of being lost in the Rockies at 12000 feet in a blizzard for 3 days, I wrote about the muk luks and how they performed.

Several years ago, Natick labs purchased 300 pairs that were used in Alaska for a couple of winters, and they outperformed every other brand in the test program.

THEY PURCHASED THEM

Before that I supplied the 10^th SFG from Germany with 500 pair that were issued to the troops sent into Bosnia. These 500 troops were the only ones with warm feet.

THEY PURCHASED THEM

Years later I received calls from a few who were still using them in civilian life.

They also had 500 of my ULTIMA THULE bags. Because of them the 151st Infantry also in Germany bought 150 for their use also in Bosnia.

THEY PURCHASED THEM

I could go on and on about supplying the military.

Wiggy’s is the largest producer of sleeping bags in the world not because of testers but because of my knowledge of how to make all forms of cold weather products and the information I have received from customers. THEY PURCHASED THE PRODUCTS

Your being satisfied with the performance of my products adds you to a vast number of customers. DID YOU PURCHASE THEM?

 If you want the mukluks you will have to buy them.

Please know I have never engaged in providing people who want to test my products as I view it as an insult to my knowledge and intelligence.

Jerry Wigutow

Wiggy’s inc.

866-411-6465

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Well Jerry, my intention was not to insult you.  I am not a "social media" person.  I have 26 years of highly specialized training and real-world experience.  I do not do this to get paid.  I do not get anything from testing gear, I do it because I love it.  I was in Kosovo during the war- along with several other combat zones.  If you have been to Greenland, Norway, Antarctica and LIVED above the arctic circle as I have-well that is impressive.  

My offer was not to "get something free", rather put your mukluks in extreme environments that I routinely operate.  I'm not going to argue over who goes into harsher environments or respond to you saying you've been in spots I have not.  That is silly.  

Most companies that are proud of and stand behind their gear with confidence are excited to have an independent evaluator test them against the other top manufacturers.  I can see you don't want to be involved.  No worries. 

If you took my offer as an insult, that was not my goal and my apologies to you Sir.  

Good day.  

MY RESPONSE

“Most companies that are proud of and stand behind their gear with confidence are excited to have an independent evaluator test them against the other top manufacturers.  I can see you don't want to be involved. “No worries. 

If the people involved in the manufacture of their products stand behind them, they would not need to have independent evaluators evaluate them.

Further, you requested a cold weather product from me to evaluate versus a cold weather product from any other company. I know it is inferior because whoever made it lacks 60 plus years of knowledge and experience in the field of insulation as well as how best I do to use it in whatever product they are making.

I do care where in the world you go cold is cold.

Jerry Wigutow

Wiggy’s inc.

866-411-6465

Now that you have read the conversation, I want you to know I have not pursued them as this one in the past. I have never had anyone with any knowledge confront me based on wanting to test my products regardless of the history my customers have written about to me. They are the true testers of my products. They are the ones who have proven in the field how well they perform. Maybe this fellow Dave would be interested to know that our Antarctic bags are used and have been for 30 years or more by the National Science Foundation all over the camps in Antarctica.

Yes Dave you did insult my intelligence.