Wild Things

Anybody used any of Wild Things new clothing?

They have some custom stuff you can design similar to Dead birds Atom LT and a primaloft jacket on sale now.

Curious abotu durability, fit etc...

Cheers
T

Ordered the Insulight Jacket, the materials are bomber...More durable than the Atom LT, BUT...

I am a large in every clothing line on the planet. I called, asked about the fit, was told it was similar to patagonia/arc'teryx. Got the large. Not impressed by the construction and the fit was super slim with a T-Shirt underneath. Put a mid-weight layer and it was constrictive. Tried on a buddy's XL and it was HUGE and boxy. Ill fitting is putting it nicely.

Over all impressed with fabrics, not impressed with construction or fit. I ended up with a large in the Atom LT and it fits perfectly. Although made in China, the construction is impeccable and I wear it for everything. I think WT has a few things to dial in, if you are a MADE in the U.S.A. kind of guy, I would also check out NW Alpine or Melazana.

Custom clothing, unless tailored, has always been a huge letdown for me. I bought a very expensive Beyond custom softshell and it was total crap. I'm not willing to go through that again.

I've been using WT as my go to pieces for when things are more serious and love everything I have, but fit can be tricky to say the least.... personally all the clothing I have I purchased when I lived in the east so I could go to the shop and try on the sizes before buying, normally I am a medium straight across the board but with WT I have some pieces that are mediums and some that are larges, and thats the only company I have ever been bigger than a medium with. as far as durabilty I have yet to damage any WT gear I have to a point that I feel its no longer service worthy and some of the stuff I've had for going on 8 years now, specifically the alpinist event shells, belay bibs, and an andinista.

Note to self. Anyone that says it fits like Patagonia and Arcteryx in the same breath is totally clueless.

Dane wrote:Note to self. Anyone that says it fits like Patagonia and Arcteryx in the same breath is totally clueless.

Thanks Dane - wish you were around when I was making my decision to buy!!!

Today I am wearing the Wild Things Wind Pro hoody I got in the mail last week. I purchased this as a possible replacement for my R1 hoody. I just bought the standard blue color instead of trying to mess around with the customized fabrication.

Initial impression is that it fits quite similar to the R1 (long). I'm 6'2 and 225 lbs (large frame) and the XL fits pretty well. With the wind pro fabric it will function as a mild temps or below tree line outer layer, but the hard face means that it will slip underneath a shell layer damn well as a mid layer when the wind picks up.

I'm also impressed with the craftsmanship and "look" of the piece. Zippers are sturdy and seem bomber as do stitching and seams (but I'm no expert in those areas).

The two big things that might make it inferior to the R1 is that the balaclava style hood will not cover the lower face (although that's ok with me for times when I've got a helmet on me noggin') and the lack of thumb loops.

I have no experience with any of their other pieces.

My comment wasn't really fair I suspect. I have used and have supported Wild Things for many years. Since their very inception actually.

wildthingsgear.com/wild-thi…

Just haven't seen anything recently that impresses me. When WT lost so much of their communal brain trust and then later started selling to the military I kinda lost hope. Good for the US military though.

I haven't seen anything recently to change my mind on that. Which is sad. I was really hopeing for a come back that would again lead the industry in smart designs and innovative products for alpine climbing. But I suspect that is too much to ask after a 20 year hiatus. Love to have that orange and red once piece suit again though..in Primaloft 1 and Neoshell.

Tits: where do you fall on their sizing scale online? I'm a skinny fella and barely fall into the medium category which leaves me with 2 in of play around the chest. Was it boxy like Patagucci or fit like Deadbird?

Cheers
T

Rock,
I am a large across the boards. 48" Chest / 34" waist / +1 ape index. Arc'teryx fits me perfect, Patagonia used to fit perfect.

The Large WT Insulight seemed to be a trim fit. It was a bit short in the torso, as well as the arms. I tried the XL and it was the exact opposite. Baggy and boxy fitting. More like a belay jacket than a layering piece.

NOTE: I also ordered the windshirt, which was so poorly cut, I probably could have made it myself. My sentiments are with Dane, WT left the climbing world as an innovator, unfortunately the rest of the gear companies have far exceeded them. In order to return to the top of the market, they will need to dial in a number of issues.

I've got a part zip windshirt made of Epic fabric from a few years ago. I like the fit, very slim and fits me perfect.

I also have two pairs of their pants(wind pants and insulated pants) and both are not fit well, the cuffs are too large and the pants are boxy.

I also have a belay jacket that is fine, fit is ok. I think for the weight and bulk though I'll go for a down jacket next time I have the chance.

thanks for the replies...i'm asking because i'm looking for a solid climbing layer that wont get destroyed on the SE granite and sandstone. I'm pretty tired of climbing in a 300 weight fleece sandwiched under my soft shell.

Other suggestions on puffy's with durable face fabrics would be welcomed. The Atom LT/SV fabrics just feel so flimsy and tearable.

Patagonia's cut are too boxy for my skinny frame. I'm 39 chest, 31 waist with long skinny arms

Cheers
T

rock_fencer wrote:thanks for the replies...i'm asking because i'm looking for a solid climbing layer that wont get destroyed on the SE granite and sandstone. I'm pretty tired of climbing in a 300 weight fleece sandwiched under my soft shell. Other suggestions on puffy's with durable face fabrics would be welcomed. The Atom LT/SV fabrics just feel so flimsy and tearable. Patagonia's cut are too boxy for my skinny frame. I'm 39 chest, 31 waist with long skinny arms Cheers T

either go with the cheapest puffy you can for this ... i use a 19$ old navy puffy which now has a few holes in it ... buy very cheap and onsale cause youll wreck it ...

or just wear the fleece anyways ... since its SE, i assume its rock and not ice?

or suck it up spend the $$$$ on those yuppie brands and get holes in em anyways ;)

are ya climbing in it, or looking for something for belays?

looking for something to climb and belay...ice is a possibility but for the most part rock and the occasional summer alpine.

The fleece just isn't warm enough for those days when its hovering around freezing and the wind is whipping.

and its heavy and old

buy what is on sale then ... theres a ton of em if you look and have a good idea of the fit ... a synth light puffy wont be much warmer than a fleece except for the windproofness ... for warmer you need to go with a heavier jacket or down (which can soak in sweat when climbing)

just go to department of goods, outlets, or even department store sales ... as long as it works and is cheap ... trad rock climbing with jams, chimneys and other such will destroy a thin shelled jacket pretty quick ...

i wouldnt spend more than 50-100 smackaroos personally for something that will get wrecked

i use this from old navy for 19$ ... does it have the fancy logos, "perfect fit", or coreloft/PL1 ... nope ... but its light enough, warm enough, windproof and most important cheap enough to destroy and not cry over it ...

Sounds like WT is downhill. i like some others have used WT stuff since the early'80's and loved it.
It always seems to have had a bit of slim fit. Beleive it or not, they used to make CLIMBING gear !

Rock - I have used my Atom LT on everything from cool early season rock as a wind shirt to cold RMNP approaches to ice - including bush whacking through dead fall. I too was concerned about the shell material, but it has held up well with no rips.

The only time I have seen it rip was on a buddy's as he shouldered an ice tool and it slipped a bit, making a small tear. Good ripstop characteristics kept it from spreading.

The Atom LT is a great mid layer for winter climbing, but maybe too light for a full on belay jacket on those cold days.

Hi all. I happen to work for Wild Things, and I've been thinking about this thread. Thanks for the constructive feedback. I will certainly share it all with the product development team. Without you folks, the product can't get better.

I can tell you that the first round of Insulight Jackets had some fit problems that we have since corrected. Tits' experience with the fit is spot on to what those problems were. We are in fact dialing in any lingering construction and fit issues.

Simple fit customization like sleeve length is something we are striving for, but our program is more about colors and features. Custom fit would drive the cost of any garment through the roof and an online tailoring experience really isn't going to provide a true tailored garment. Heck, you need a tailor for that.

True, a 20 year break is a long time, and it takes at least a season to fix big problems, but I do think we're on an upward climb. Time will tell.

Thanks All.

Hey Michael- I got a Makalu parka from back around85/86,,,, anyway to get a new shell on it ???

Michael Boardman wrote:I can tell you that the first round of Insulight Jackets had some fit problems that we have since corrected. Tits' experience with the fit is spot on to what those problems were. We are in fact dialing in any lingering construction and fit issues.

Dang...guess that's what I get for jumping on the first generation.

Unfortunately, first impressions stick. I bought an Arc'teryx Atom LT that I probably won't look to replace for at least 5-10 years. I feel that I gave WT a fair shake and they didn't come through. Shame I won't know how the updated and resolved issues Insulight Jackets will be.

Best of luck to Wild Things, their Customer Service has been top notch and super helpful throughout my experience with them.