retired military testimonial

LATEST TESTIMONIAL FROM A RETIRED MILITARY INDIVIDUAL

Jerry,

I found your post on the GI-issue bag with the history very interesting. A couple years ago, you and I spoke regarding an order but I don't think I told you something which is: Around 2005, I was part of the Contingency Response Group at Travis AFB CA. (I am retired USAF.) The CRG deploys small teams of USAF subject matter experts to austere locations lacking infrastructure for the purpose of "standing up" combat air operations usually at the outset of a conflict/operation. As my mountaineering background was known, I was asked 'what sleeping bag would you recommend?" No hesitation in my answer and not long after, maybe 50 of us were issued the Wiggy's 2-bag system with the bivy. My opinion at that point was informed by experience and moreover by the input of an old mountain hardman who owned a Vegas gear store in the 90's. "Mike" as I knew him had been a Special Operations Medic and alpine climber with substantial resume. Mike sold Wiggy’s bags and insisted that nothing else came close - certainly if durability and US-made (vice China) had any value to the consumer. Mike's shop sadly failed and we lost touch but I still own Wiggy's and treasure the advice he gave me as a young climber. He was 100% correct about your sleeping bag - which I confirmed with many nights on the open ground in single digits. And it would take a lot of that to wear out a Wiggy's. All the best, Joe

Joe many thanks for your story. I have never known of the CRG teams and wonder if they are still buying Wiggy’s. Back in the early 2000’s many units came directly to me, now they are inundated by fast talking gsa reps, and they will only sell the cheapest to get an order, hence the grunts suffer. I know no other brand will be spoken of almost 20 years later as Wiggy’s is by retired military personnel.

HUNTING SEASON

Hunting season is upon us and I know many of you will be hunting in stationary situations of all sorts and being stationary your feet will be the first part of your body to get cold. Is this preventable [?] absolutely.

If you can keep your feet warm there are many benefits such as helping to keep the rest of your body warm. But first your feet. Wear the Lamilite socks versus any wool sock. Lamilite socks do not absorb and retain moisture as wool socks do. Next your boots which in most cases I believe have goretex and Thinsulate. Both are notorious for keeping the moisture from your feet in the boots. By wearing the Lamilite socks that moisture moves away from your feet so they do no get cold as they will with wool socks. Now for the icing on the cake the mukluks. They are worn over the boots and if you were properly dressed for 50 below zero your feet would not get cold even when sitting still.

When your blood moves into your feet and if your feet are warm the blood moving back to your heart is warm and that means you provide less energy to heat it. Of course, if you are wearing Wiggy’s Lamilite mittens the same process holds true for the blood moving in and out of your hands.

Aside from noting the guys with who I was hunting having cold feet, we were at 12000 in November so they were standing in snow. Of course, I had my mukluks. They had cold feet and I didn’t, how many bought the mukluks after that I do not know. I have received dozens of calls during the past 25 years from guys who complained of cold feet, some have purchased the mukluks or over boots and some still believe they can get away with their hunting boots, big mistake but such is life.

There are a series of other products we make all of which are not affected by water that work very well for hunters but the mukluks or over boots are a good start.