Hi everyone,

As I'm reading Winter Wise by Montague Alford (nice little book and really affordable) I noticed that the author wears wool pants with suspenders. I thought there was a reason for wearing suspenders and no belt particularly during winter. So I found this text on the site www.jackmtn.com/gear.html

"The old loggers who spent their lives in the woods wore suspenders
to keep their pants up in cold weather. They were practical people,
and as such there was a reason they did so. Tight clothing was always
avoided, as it is uncomfortable and doesn't insulate nearly as well
as loose clothing. Having your pants tight around your waist, either
by the nature of how they fit or the use of a belt, stops the warm
air generated by your legs from rising to warm your upper body.
In warmer weather this warm, moist air contributes to overheating
and sweating in the crotch area, which can be uncomfortable or worse
on a long trip. Using suspenders and a loose waist allows it to rise
and escape through an unbuttoned shirt. In bitter cold conditions
it helps to keep you warmer by allowing the warm air generated by
your legs to rise and warm your upper body."

I think it's a pretty good explanation and makes sense. I would like to get a pair of Filson but I'm not sure where I can try some on here and they are not inexpensive. Do you wear suspenders? Do you know any good alternative brands of wool pants with suspender buttons?

Thank you
François

My field experience says that suspenders are there to hold everything in place, more or less. During hard physical activity outdoors, I've always had a problem keeping my shirt tucked into my pants and my pants up high enough that the crotch didn't interfere with my stretch and stride. A belt is great for gp, but when bucking timber, or chasing elk, or hiking the fjords, suspenders really made a big difference in ease of motion and in keeping the ensemble together. There were occasions where, without the benefit of suspenders, I would charge up a hill, choker in hand, ending up at the top looking like Dick Van Dyke dancing with the Penguins in Mary Poppins. Lowriders may be the "In" style for gangstas and hooligans in metro center, but they are dysfunctional in the wild. I dunno about the air flow part, that's never been a concern for me or anyone I've spent time with out in the boonies. Keeping them britches up over my hip bones has been the prime (and only) consideration for me using them.

Frankie,

My experience agrees with that of Benjammin. Suspenders were used to keep our pants up. I have spent many hours on poles during the winter around the Great Lakes. We used heavy military surplus Swedish, Norwegian, or Finish double wool pants that had a pair of wind proof shorts between the layers of wool. If your pants started to slip, there was no way to tighten your pants belt once you were in your safety belt. When you are up a pole on spikes without those inter wind proof shorts, the lake wind would penetrate the wool fabric and quickly chill your femoral arteries. Before you knew it, your legs were absolutely useless, if you make it down the pole, you could hardly crawl let alone walk to your truck, then you could barely work the clutch, gas, or brake pedals. Boy, those were the days.

Check out the military surplus resources for military wool pants.They all have suspender buttons. If you find pants without buttons, go to www.crosscutsaw.com They sell 'batchelor butttons' for suspenders, all metal affairs you attach like two piece rivets with a batchelor's sewing kit( large hammer,rock, brick <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />)

Carpet thread, large needle, pliars and some buttons for the local sewing shop.

Frankie, this fella on eBay regularly runs quality wool military surplus trousers at a bargain. They are surplus from the Korean war era but well made. I have bought several pairs of the cotton sateen versions but not the wool. He has a variety of sizes. If this is not your size, I am sure he would substitute for your size as he has a sizable inventory. Take a look:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...=ADME:B:SS:US:1

I live and hunt in Pennsylvania, and I always wear wool pants (with long underwear underneath of course) and suspenders. I also wear a belt! but I keep it loose so the suspenders are the ones holding the pants and shirt in place. The reason for the belt is to have my Leatherman Wave and flashlight and a belt knife strapped around me. The pants I wear are usually bigger than I need, that way they are loose and don't restrict the flow of air. I read about this in a book about Eskimos, and they know about cold weather!. By the way the suspenders and the pants are surplus from the German armed forces. The suspenders are made of stretch material and they have hooks to go on the belt loops. Nothing bits wool in cold weather hunting. It is soft, silent and they still keep you warm even when wet. Just my personal opinion

Hi Joaquin,

That's what I was wondering about. How to carry belt stuff like a multitool with the suspenders system... Anyway thanks everyone for the replies.

Frankie

I am a big advocate of wool too. I have no problem wearing wool against my skin, but it is no longer number one for hunting for me. Check out this link:

http://www.riverswest.com/

This new material is lighter and warmer than wool, and is wind and waterproof, yet breathable. It is also very quiet material which is necessary for stalking. The only downside is it is more expensive, but it is very tough and durable, and comes with a lifetime guarantee.

I have a hunting suit made of this stuff, and when it got to single digits and below zero here in Denver a couple weeks ago, I wore this and the only discomfort was in my toes and my face, which were exposed more to the winds. I've held two gallons of water slung in the jacket without it leaking through for half an hour, not even damp on the outside. I can't push a one inch stick through the material, though I am sure if you snagged it on barb wire or the point of a knife it would open up. If it does, you just send it back to the company and they patch it or replace it for the cost of shipping.

Not too bad. I still wear wool, but for the absolute max protection, I wear my ranger suit. I may look funny or obnoxious coming into the office with it, but I am also the most comfortable.

I have just received my ECW Polartec fleece overalls. They are ARMY surplus and they are very warm, comfortable, not as itchy as wool - and they were inexpensive. $24.95 (on E-bay). They are supposed to be worn under Gortex however, as they are fleece and fleece is "fashionable" these days, I wore them to the store and nobody gave me a second glance. It looked like a set of ski bibs (except fuzzy). They are supported by suspenders. Worked for me. Just thought I would add my $.02. EPI