The Very Best Thread

hillstrubl

Founding Member
Who makes the very best wool flannel shirts? I bought a Pendleton on the advice of someone and this thing smells like a barnyard no matter how many times it's washed. Much different from my experience with Smartwool merino wool. It also has strange horizontal buttonholes and is scratchy. Thumbs down, need a new brand.
I know you said wool, but I have 2 or 3 Jetty (cotton) flannels and love them https://jettylife.com/products/arbor-flannel-navy-1
 

WreckITFrank

Technical Excellence Contributor
Time to talk pants now that fall is right around the corner.

I wear through clothes pretty quickly. I think between riding a motorcycle a lot, working in the garage, camping, fishing, hiking, etc. my clothes get worn out pretty quickly. I have liked Dickies pants because they are fairly inexpensive and I like the fit but after wearing out so many pairs I decided to start looking elsewhere. My first stop was Edgevale and I bought a pair of their Foothill pants:


These have been great, my biggest gripe is they didn't come in the length I needed so I had to order them a little long. I will probably end up hemming them. I really like the material, a pretty light ripstop fabric but seems very durable. I did get some grease on them that I have not been able to wash out which is kind of a bummer. They are lightweight enough that they wouldn't be too hot in the summer. I made the mistake of wearing them while TIG welding and now I have a small burn hole right in the crotch. Luckily it is very small but I will definitely not make that mistake again. The back pockets are enormous, each one goes from the middle seam in the back all the way around to the seam on the side. That is not necessarily a negative but sometimes my wallet does move around a lot. The back pockets do have velcro to keep them closed but my wallet can still fit through one side even when the velcro is closed, but they are really deep too so I haven't had issues with my wallet coming out on its own. I really like the fit, fairly slim fit but definitely not "skinny". I was thinking about getting some of their Cast Iron Stretch pants but they are pricey and are not made in the US like their older Cast Iron pants were so I am not sure if I will. Plus they are out of my size right now.


Next, I wanted to get some work pants that I could wear in the garage or when I am on my motorcycle, or just around town in the winter. I came across 1620 and decided to get a pair of their double knee utility pants.


I am a pretty thin guy and prefer slim or sometimes even skinny fit pants. These pants felt enormous. Like I was wearing clown pants. I loved everything else about them but just could not get over how poorly they fit me so I sent them back. Luckily, right after I sent them back they released a "slim" version so I ordered a pair. I haven't really had a chance to wear them yet but these pants look incredible! I love the fit and the material feels bomb proof. They custom cut them to whatever length you want which was awesome. I wish they came in khaki color but I like the granite too. These were a little pricey but I am hoping they will last me many years, and they are made here in the US. I also bought a work hoodie from them that I love.


Next, I wanted some lightweight pants for hiking and fishing (wet wading) in the summer and for wearing around town in the cooler months. My brother in law had some of these pants from 686 so I decided to try some


So far they have been awesome. I took them camping and rafting this summer and they have held up great. Nice and lightweight, they dry really quickly too. They have a drawstring in the waist which is nice if you don't want to wear a belt but they also have belt loops. These are great for summer camping in the higher altitudes where it is hot during the day and cold at night. They are also great for wet wading in rivers/streams in the summer. I'll have to see how well they hold up, the material feels pretty sturdy for how lightweight they are. I definitely won't be welding in these though ;) They come in a ton of different colors and they have 2 fits, relaxed and slim. I of course went with the slim and they are perfect.


Anyway, just thought I'd share the results of my quest for some better pants. I would love to hear from you guys about any pants you have found that you like.
thanks for sharing. pants are my kryptonite. even though I work in my basement every single pair of pants I own likely rips in the crotch area and my left knee. I put on a uniform for 21 years and cant really get on board with "soft pants" but i do like comfort. I'll check these out even know the warranty wont hold up to wear and tear.
 

jymmiejamz

Founding Member
Callsign: KN4JHI
Who makes the very best wool flannel shirts? I bought a Pendleton on the advice of someone and this thing smells like a barnyard no matter how many times it's washed. Much different from my experience with Smartwool merino wool. It also has strange horizontal buttonholes and is scratchy. Thumbs down, need a new brand.
I know I’ve already told you about this, but I’ll post it here for anyone else. It’s worth mentioning that I don’t own any other wool flannels, so I don’t have anything to compare it to.


I have one I bought in probably 2017 that has been great, and also just bought a second one. Super comfortable and isn’t itchy. I would say it takes about a week of wearing to break in ti be really soft.
 

evilfij

Well-known member
thanks for sharing. pants are my kryptonite. even though I work in my basement every single pair of pants I own likely rips in the crotch area and my left knee. I put on a uniform for 21 years and cant really get on board with "soft pants" but i do like comfort. I'll check these out even know the warranty wont hold up to wear and tear.
Wear work pants like dickies or walls as business casual pants.
 

KND

Well-known member
I love cars, guns and Japanese steel, I have a few collection range from 10 $ to 20k $ steel but my favorite as I'm using exclusively for my restaurant is Kasumi Yanagiba. I have like 15 of them and those are my last six that I bought when the price are starting to go up in Canada due to inflation and cheap Canadian dollars. I'm using them for the last 15 years and not a single one of them has been damaged. There are many other fancy and expensive Japanese Yanagiba but the Kasumi brand is like the Toyota of the car world, it just simply work and reasonable price.

V6EAJ3A.jpg
 

chris snell

Administrator
Callsign: NW5W
Staff member
I know I’ve already told you about this, but I’ll post it here for anyone else. It’s worth mentioning that I don’t own any other wool flannels, so I don’t have anything to compare it to.


I have one I bought in probably 2017 that has been great, and also just bought a second one. Super comfortable and isn’t itchy. I would say it takes about a week of wearing to break in ti be really soft.

Nice cut but I'm not into the dark colors at all. I love basic traditional flannel colors. Also, no mention of merino wool. Do these shirts smell? Every non-merino wool thing I've bought stinks like a barnyard.
 

jymmiejamz

Founding Member
Callsign: KN4JHI
Nice cut but I'm not into the dark colors at all. I love basic traditional flannel colors. Also, no mention of merino wool. Do these shirts smell? Every non-merino wool thing I've bought stinks like a barnyard.
Definitely do not smell.
 

vtlandrover

Well-known member
Can we return to a jean discussion? I just got a few pairs from Todd Snyder and Rag/Bone, with the hope of 'upping' my work appearance... L.L. Bean jeans are just fine for the weekend, but always am feeling frumpy when I'm around people. I just printed return labels for all of them because they were just plain ugly... baggy in the thigh and narrow at the ankles at the same time. Suggestions?

I do like the comfort of my VT Flannel shirt, although they are cotton:

 

dkemm

Well-known member
I love cars, guns and Japanese steel, I have a few collection range from 10 $ to 20k $ steel but my favorite as I'm using exclusively for my restaurant is Kasumi Yanagiba. I have like 15 of them and those are my last six that I bought when the price are starting to go up in Canada due to inflation and cheap Canadian dollars. I'm using them for the last 15 years and not a single one of them has been damaged. There are many other fancy and expensive Japanese Yanagiba but the Kasumi brand is like the Toyota of the car world, it just simply work and reasonable price.

V6EAJ3A.jpg
Fun Fact - Yanagiba = Iris (as in shape of the blade)

some of my favorites (biased opinion)
Damasteel - Rose pattern chef knives I have made.
 

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jymmiejamz

Founding Member
Callsign: KN4JHI
Can we return to a jean discussion? I just got a few pairs from Todd Snyder and Rag/Bone, with the hope of 'upping' my work appearance... L.L. Bean jeans are just fine for the weekend, but always am feeling frumpy when I'm around people. I just printed return labels for all of them because they were just plain ugly... baggy in the thigh and narrow at the ankles at the same time. Suggestions?

I do like the comfort of my VT Flannel shirt, although they are cotton:

I have been buying A.P.C. for more than the past decade. I buy a pair and wear them daily until they get a hole in them. Once they’re broken in I take them to the APC and trade them in for half off a new pair. I used to get them repaired until I found out about their Butler program which is where they sell broken in jeans for $100 more than new ones.
 

Angus

Well-known member
I have been helping a few folks work on their cars in my shop and wanted a better roller chair. I am getting too old to grovel on the ground. After a little research, I discovered Vyper (https://www.vyperindustrial.com) and ordered one of their chairs. It comes completely disassembled, but it is like a lego set to assemble. Very nice styling and quality. I build aircraft for a living, and it looks like aerospace construction. Aluminum and stainless components. Comfortable, rolls smoothly, and looks very well built.
Vyper Chair1.jpg
Vyper Chair2.jpg
 

cdmbrennan

Well-known member
I have been helping a few folks work on their cars in my shop and wanted a better roller chair. I am getting too old to grovel on the ground. After a little research, I discovered Vyper (https://www.vyperindustrial.com) and ordered one of their chairs. It comes completely disassembled, but it is like a lego set to assemble. Very nice styling and quality. I build aircraft for a living, and it looks like aerospace construction. Aluminum and stainless components. Comfortable, rolls smoothly, and looks very well built.
View attachment 27132View attachment 27133
Interesting; I’d never seen one of these before, and it looks really well-made. I spend to much time on my back UNDER the rover to use this in the garage, but it looks like an excellent option for the workshop. Height-adjustable?
 

Angus

Well-known member
It is height adjustable. It is near its lowest setting in the photo, and raises about another 12 inches. This is their lower version, they have ones that are taller, more like bar stools.
 

chris snell

Administrator
Callsign: NW5W
Staff member
NAS-ROW braintrust: who makes the very best cot? I am 6'1" and need some lightweight cots for my new Snowtrekker hot tent. I like the Snow Peak but I think it will be too short for me.
 

mitherial

Well-known member
NAS-ROW braintrust: who makes the very best cot? I am 6'1" and need some lightweight cots for my new Snowtrekker hot tent. I like the Snow Peak but I think it will be too short for me.

^ I don't use cots while camping (maybe I should), but Cabelas has a number of solid options, including (crucial) thick sleeping pads for on top of the cot.
 

mitherial

Well-known member
Returning to the subject of camping chairs, after spending way too much money trying all kinds of folding chairs, including Walmart chairs that failed literally on the first time I used them, I settled on the Yeti Trailhead chair as the best option (if budget permits).

The Yeti Trailhead is far and away the most expensive folding chair that I have ever purchased, but also far and away the most comfortable and durable. Extremely solid, very easy and pleasant to use "central folding" mechanism, solid carry bag; only negative other than price is that they are quite heavy. Yeti's "Hondo Base camp" chair is also comfortable, but it is even heavier, and does not fold nearly as compactly.

1686077111520.png


For lighter weight chairs, the Kovea Titan flat-folding chairs (or here) are also excellent and very nicely constructed relative to their weight, but seem to be impossible to find in the US in a reasonable color.

1686077122483.png


The Kermit chairs (discussed above in this thread) are perfect for motorcycle-camping, but are really sized for a smaller person, and I am not a fan of sitting that close to the ground.

The overlanding types all seem to love the ARB central folding chair, and it is definitely a big step up from the standard Ozark Trail Walmart chair, but I found the folding mechanism to be endlessly annoying, along with the awkward drink tray that has to be clipped on for each use (unlike the permantly attached Yeti above), and found the travel bags to be difficult to use, and I ended up hating them.
 
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