testimonials

WHAT MORE CAN I SAY!

1.Pat, I know that you have listened to Bob extol the virtues of Wiggy's (he has to be the biggest walking Wiggy advertisement out there). But one thing about Bob is that he tests shit before he will recommend it. Since Bob has recommended Wiggy and I have tried it, I now have over a dozen and a half sleeping bags from 35*F overbag, to -20* F Ultima Thule bags (when combined are -40*F). I have Wiggy's water bottles, sleeping pads, dog coats, boots, bivy bags, underwear and other items. The thing about Bob is that although he is sometimes irritating in his stubborn support of a position, he is most often also correct...which makes it more irritating!


Anyway, the first Wiggy's bag I had was the one that I took to the desert. I did not know it was Wiggy's because I had purchased it as a US Cavalry product. I used it day in and day out for 6 months. Never washed it once and by the time we got back to Camp Lejeune it smelled so bad, that I thought I would need to burn it. Into the washer, and it was as good as new. (Wiggy not only allows you to wash his bags and other gear, he actively encourages it.) I still own and use that bag 25 years later!


As a salesman, I know that we are mostly all liars, and I take the marketing with a grain of salt. I am now sold on Wiggy's for the science and the performance. The temperature ratings are as accurate (conservative) as they can be.


Once I was out with the scouts and I grabbed my trusty Wiggy's zero degree Super Light. You know I very seldom sleep under a tent, and that night was no exception. About 0100, I woke up cold and could not seem to get warm. I was mother f-ing Wiggy, and his mother, and his company, and their crappy temp ratings! After all it was, only 17*F and I was freaking cold! Well I put my wool hunting coat over the torso portion of the bag and slept just fine through the rest of the night. When I got home and unpacked the bag to air it out, I discovered that I had mistakenly packed my 35*F over bag. It was NOT comfortable, but it was survivable...even at 17*F!


If I had been inside a tent (the way Wiggy rates his bags), then I don't know if I would have even woken up at all? My coldest night out (in a Wiggy's bag Ultima Thule -20*F) has been at -17*F. (Not in a tent, on a frozen lake, two sleeping pads-one Wiggy's and one foam pad). I was warm and comfortable through the night...no issues at all.


Anyway, I'm sending this out to some of my camping friends for their edification. I camp less than any of you, and I would never dream to pit my outdoors knowledge or experience against theirs, but I do know that this Wiggy's stuff WORKS! Not because of marketing and high priced labels, but because of science. Linked below are two recent Wiggy's articles explaining the science of keeping dry and keeping warm (nothing new here).


Take it for what it's worth, but I believe this is a great product. US made, lifetime unconditional warranty, quality throughout. Like I said, I have dozens of Wiggy products and have not been disappointed yet. A little heavier, a little bulkier than down, but IMHO a good night's sleep is well worth an extra pound or two.


Chris

I've had these chukkas from early November and have worn them nearly every day since in rain, snow and slush. Perfect fit out of the box and fine performance on every level.
People who review Wiggy's products go on about Lamilite. I'll just stipulate that within my experience it's the best insulation you can buy. What I'd like to concentrate on in recommending these boots is design and construction. Nice finish and tight seams are in evidence. And leather, repeat leather, gives you many options for maintaining your purchase. It isn't just as Wiggy says that you can re-sole these beauties, although that is a considerable advantage. You can use multiple means to preserve the leather and make it water resistant. I've used Pecard's Duck Wax leather dressing for years and these boots love it and look better than the day I received them.
My opinion? Buy Wiggy's and get a long term investment that will help keep you safe, warm and comfortable in the outdoors!
Best boots I have ever owned. I like them better than my White's customs.

– Bill Rhoades

Many thanks to Bill for his testimonial and care suggestions.

TO THE TRADE

I have been told that some in the outdoor industry take the time to read my commentary, my question is, are they people with companies that sell the bogus waterproof breathable materials and boot manufacturers? To that question I do not know, but do suspect there are some that do.

This past week I received my copy of Specialty Fabrics Review and noted an article “Keeping it Coo”. “Scientists at Stanford University have developed a textile to keep you coo. It is a plastic-based material that can be woven into a fabric to cool the bodytwo ways, allowing the wearer to feel nearly four degrees (F) cooler than with typical cotton clothing”. These are scientists at a university so you would expect them to be smart, but alas no. Maybe someone not a scientist should tell them that nylon, polyester are also plastics just like the polypropylene. Polypropylene is the plastic they are working the magic with.

“It (polypropylene) was modifiedby treating it with benign chemicals to enable water molecules to evaporate through nanopores in the plastic, allowing it to breath like natural fiber”. Remarkable that these scientists believe in animate objects are capable of breathing. What they believe they have created has been in existence for at least 40 years that I know of. They are laminating it to both sides of a cotton fabric to boot for strength. Maybe they should go to the Columbia Sportswear web site and read about the omni waterproof breathable material which is for all intents and purposes the same thing only with one layer of the polypropylene film. I would say they are a day late and a dollar short in creating a non-functioning product.

So this is the quality of intelligence in some universities science departments. My opinion they have plenty of company. And you wonder why our younger generation lags behind so much of the world in science.

Maybe some youngster will decide to try and sell this new/old product in a garment.