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The Softest Merino T-Shirt: Outlier Ultrafine

I’ve tested many merino wool t-shirts over the years — including those from Icebreaker, Minus 33, Smartwool, Ibex, Wooly and Arcteryx. The softest merino shirt I’ve tried is the Outlier Ultrafine T-Shirt. The fiber used in this shirt feels almost buttery to the touch. It has a excellent drape too, due to the use of 17.5 micro merino fibers. Merino has the ability to …

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Underrated Fiber Series: Yak Wool

Similar to Bison wool, Yak wool is a very warm, lightweight and soft fiber. Yaks are primarily raised by nomadic Tibetan and Mongolian families. Their wool is combed (not shorn) once per year in the springtime when the animals shed their winter coat.

The Best Waterproof Boots

The best waterproof boots of 2016 are Chippewa’s Super Logger Steel Toe Waterproof Insulated Boot. They are high-end leather safety boots that are hand-crafted for rugged outdoor use. They blend traditional craftsmanship with the latest in waterproof and insulation technology to produce a boot that is both fashionable and durable.

The Most Durable Boots Available

The most durable boots available are the Boss Engineer boots by Wesco. They are hand-crafted with the highest quality leather and have an extremely durable vibram sole. Wesco boots are hand-made in the United States and are resoleable. With proper maintenance, they can last a lifetime.

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The Lightest Waterproof Jacket

The lightest waterproof jacket currently available is the Outdoor Research Men’s Helium II Jacket. The jacket weighs just 6.4 oz and is made with 100% Nylon and a 2.5 layer 30D Pertex Shield DS rip-stop fabric.

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The Most Durable Wallet Available

The most durable leather wallet is the Saddleback Leather Front Pocket ID Wallet by Saddleback Leather Co. It is made with 100% Full-Grain boot leather, which is among the thickest and most durable leathers on the market.

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The Most Durable Jeans: 25 Oz Super Heavyweight Denim

Iron Heart, a Japanese company, makes the thickest and more durable jeans available. They use 25 oz Japanese selvage denim to make “super heavyweight jeans“. As a comparison, most jeans are typically made with 12 oz denim. Iron Heart says: These jeans are on the limit of what can be made. We had to insist that the people sewing them wore protective glasses …

Selvedge Denim Jeans Made In The USA

Tellason Jeans Tellason jeans are made in San Francisco, were they were first product during the Goldrush. Tellason jeans are constructed selvedge denim form Cone’ White Oak mill in Greensboro, North Carolina. Selvedge denim is made on traditional shuttle looms. Selvedge denim is tightly woven, making the denim stronger and more durable. Selvedge also has a stronger outseam that will …

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Buy It For Life: Classic Backpacks By Duluth Pack

Based in Minnesota, Duluth Trading Company makes high durable work clothes (for both men and women), and classic luggage. Duluth products are all made in the U.S. and are guaranteed for life.

Buy It For Life: Mulholland Waxed Canvas Negotiator Bag

Founded in San Francisco in 1984, Mulholland is a small company run by a father and his two sons. They specialize in handcrafting bags and accessories using raw materials sourced in the U.S. Their Negotiator Bag, featured here, is made with waxed canvas, a heavy-duty fabric which is dipped in paraffin for water resistance and strength.

Underrated Fiber Series: Bison Wool

In our underrated fiber series, we will be featuring products made with wool from alpacas, llamas, vicunas, bison, musk oxen, and yaks. Let’s start this series off by looking at Bison wool, which is harvested from buffalo in Colorado and South Dakota each spring, when the animals shed their fur. Bisons were almost driven to extinction, but today they are making …