The Superior Hat

Not actually Erin.

Picture by KJ Photography.

Used with permission.

That title isn't my opinion; it's literally called the "Men's Superior Hat" over at Duluth Trading Co., but I do have to say that it is pretty nice. 

Ladies, don't let the name put you off from this hat. Despite the name, you'll look good in it too, and since the reviews state "It runs small, so order a size up" I'm certain that a medium or large size will fit you. 

I bought mine so long ago that I can't recall when it was; it was after I moved back to Florida in 2005, but before I started this blog in 2014. It was available in other colors back then, including forest green (the color I have), camouflage, khaki, and I think red. These days it only comes it black, which is a shame, but it likely keeps the cost down and black does go with everything. 

https://www.duluthtrading.com/s/DTC/mens-superior-hat-11106.html

I haven't used it often, as this is a cold-weather hat and Florida doesn't get very cold very often, but I'm always happy to have this hat when it does. 

Here's what the Superior Hat has:

• The exterior is hard-working and hard-wearing firehose cotton. Considering I've had mine for 15-20 years and it still looks new, that's a testament to its toughness. 
• The fabric is treated to be water-repellant, and I've never had it leak on me. 
• There's a fold-down flap that can cover my ears. 
• The 150-gram Thinsulate insulation keeps my head and ears toasty warm in even the coldest of Florida weather (which is, let's face it, only about 30° F).
• In case I get too toasty and start to sweat, there's a moisture-wicking sweatband built into the buttery-soft polyester fleece liner. 
• All this for only $30 (today's prices; I think I paid $20-$25 for mine.)

Since I don't live anywhere it snows, I don't know how well it would keep you warm in truly wintery conditions. However, the first page of reviews shows four star ratings from Michigan and Oregon, and the only reason they didn't give it a full five stars is because they ordered their regular size, found it to be too tight, and had to exchange it for the next size up. I figure if it's good enough for them, then it ought to be good enough for anyone not living in Alaska. 

https://www.duluthtrading.com/s/DTC/mens-superior-hat-11106.html

My Rating: A+

It does everything it says it will do, and has done so for over a decade without showing signs of slowing down. I recommend this for all preppers.

Even if you have a winter hat you already love, or need something more robust where you live, at $30 this is something you can keep in your car for emergencies or let friends and family borrow if they're caught in the cold. 

You'll get your money's worth out of it, and more, for a good long time. 

Product Review: the $30 Gun Belt

The dust has settled and the First 72 Hours have passed. Follow along as I build a long term plan via Prudent Prepping.

Way back in January of 2021 I bought a replacement belt to go on my work pants at the recommendation of several good friends. At the time it only needed to hold a phone case all day, so something really heavy duty wasn't at the top of my list, and the belt looked nice in the ads. 

https://www.30dollargunbelt.com/products/distressed-ccw-full-grain-leather-gun-belt

From the $30 Gun Belt website:

• One solid piece of beautiful Genuine USA Full Grain Leather Steerhide. 
• You may see some natural hide and color variations on the front and back, this ensures a genuine full grain leather hide.
• Custom handcrafted at a real USA company leather shop.
• Vegetable tanned (veg-tanned) drum-dyed leather hides.
• 1/4 inch thick or in leather talk, right around 14-15 ounces.
• 1 1/2 inches wide - Perfect width for standard belt loops and holster slots.
• Heavy-duty roller buckle with a thick center tongue/prong.
• For Options in hardware  Click Here
• We use high quality Chicago screws for changeable buckle.
• Nine (9) large oval buckle holes spaced at 3/4 inch apart.

Two years later, I'm really happy I bought it. Not only has the belt held up from the initial wear of a phone case, I also had to start wearing a small belt-clipped tool bag/notebook holder soon after. Here's a picture of the belt at the area that carries the tool pouch:

Scuff marks from a belt clip

The scratches are on the inside of the belt where the pouch rides, sliding between two belt loops. This is the only wear that's visible on the belt, as the outside of the belt is rubbed on by cloth/canvas material which is smooth. 

Other than the belt taking the normal 'set' where the back belt loop warps it, this belt looks like new on the outside. I don't do anything special to it; I just wipe it off with a damp paper towel, and only that if there is obvious dirt. I've paid more money for less sturdy, poorly constructed belts that show their wear in months, while this belt is practically new.

The only potential downside of this belt is that at 1 7/16" wide, many dress slacks belt loops may not big enough to fit. I've had no problem wearing it with Dickies' khaki work pants and Levi's and similar, since those brands traditionally are made for heavy belts.

Oh, and after the economic turmoil of the past 2 years, this $30 Gun Belt is still only $30! How much longer it will be this price is anyone's guess. I really like this belt and can't recommend it more highly!

Recap and Takeaway 

• While you certainly can spend more on a hard-working belt, in my opinion you won't be getting anything extra but a fancier brand name.
• If you wear dress slacks, this may not be your best choice. 
• One $30 Gun Belt purchased direct from $30 Dollar Gun Belt: $29.99 plus tax and shipping.

* * *

Just a reminder: if you plan on buying anything through Amazon, please consider using our referral link. When you do, a portion of the sale comes back here to help keep this site running!

If you have comments, suggestions or corrections, please post them so we all can learn. And remember, Some Is Always Better Than None!

NOTE: All items tested were purchased by me. No products have been loaned in exchange for a favorable review. Any items sent to me for T&E will be listed as such. Suck it Feds.

Walking It Off And On

The dust has settled and the First 72 Hours have passed. Follow along as I build a long term plan via Prudent Prepping. 

I have never had a job that was behind a desk, or one that allowed me to sit for long periods of time. I've always been standing, walking or moving to do my job. Now is no different, and staying comfortable is important.

How Important?

So important that the National Safety Council published several reports on workplace injuries that show fatigue is a major factor in injuries and deaths on the job. 

Now, I am not driving a big rig, flying planes or operating complicated equipment, but I am doing work that could seriously injure myself or others if I'm not careful. That's why I want to be tired at the end of my day, but not even close to exhausted.

I walk somewhere between 3-5 miles a day for my work. That is a lot of walking, but it doesn't really help me be or stay fit, since I don't get in any sustained walking. It certainly wears me and my shoes down though, much faster than I'd like, and the shoes in particular are a problem. I have very wide feet (EE or EEE, depending on the brand) with very high arches. Complicate things with a bad Achilles tendon, and this combination makes finding shoes that fit difficult and usually expensive. 

I've gotten around this in the past by finding inexpensive boots that come in wide widths, only for the brands to drop the style I need. Lately, though, even the brands I've bought have had their quality go down to the point where I'm not getting a year's wear before the boots fall apart. Relating my problem with shoes elsewhere brought a comment that perfectly illustrates my problem:

“The reason that the rich were so rich, Vimes reasoned, was because they managed to spend less money.

Take boots, for example. He earned thirty-eight dollars a month plus allowances. A really good pair of leather boots cost fifty dollars. But an affordable pair of boots, which were sort of OK for a season or two and then leaked like hell when the cardboard gave out, cost about ten dollars. Those were the kind of boots Vimes always bought, and wore until the soles were so thin that he could tell where he was in Ankh-Morpork on a foggy night by the feel of the cobbles.

But the thing was that good boots lasted for years and years. A man who could afford fifty dollars had a pair of boots that'd still be keeping his feet dry in ten years' time, while the poor man who could only afford cheap boots would have spent a hundred dollars on boots in the same time and would still have wet feet.

This was the Captain Samuel Vimes 'Boots' theory of socioeconomic unfairness.”   

― Terry Pratchett, Men At Arms

I am in a position (finally!) to buy the proverbial $50 boots this year, which I did. After shopping around and looking at and trying on several different brands, I found what fits me the best are shoes from Red Wing. Not only do they offer wide widths, there are multiple options for inserts to give me the arch support to keep my feet from hurting at the end of the day. No joke: it took a good 45 minutes to swap shoes and inserts to arrive at what fit me the best.

Red Wing #8336

https://tinyurl.com/3k4cnhcj

Stay fast, cool and comfortable on your feet in these lightweight, light-duty soft toe shoes with abrasion resistant mesh upper, plus electrical hazard protection. CrossBreeze technology surrounds the foot with an instant cooling effect. Underneath, the Vibram SpeedSole delivers best-in-class slip and abrasion resistance.

I have worn these shoes for two months now, and while they are not a work boot nor have steel toes (which, fortunately, aren't a requirement for my job), there is more than enough support to keep my feet comfy. When I told my co-workers about these, one of them said "Hey, my sister is the district manager for Red Wing! I should check them out and see if there's a discount I can get!" 

This shoe also isn't waterproof or even water resistant. This isn't a big problem for me, since in the worst case I'm less than half a day's walk home, and as long as I'm moving wet feet have never bothered me as long as I have wool socks. With California's drought conditions, the chances of me walking home with wet feet are slim!

I know there are fans of other work shoes and boots, especially currently serving and former military friends who have their favorites (Danner) that I would really like to try on; my problem is no one close has a big selection to allow me do that, and I really do need to try before I buy. I also know I am able to order direct from Danner but I really, really hate the whole buy-and-return complication of online ordering. So while I certainly have nothing against another popular, well-respected and friend-referred brand, I had to use what was close.

Recap and Takeaway

• I am finally able to shop smart. Not only for shoes, but other parts of my prepping supplies.
• Sorry, there is no Amazon link for these shoes, and they are a bit more expensive than Capt. Vimes' boots, but they are worth it.

* * *

Just a reminder: if you plan on buying anything through Amazon, please consider using our referral link. When you do, a portion of the sale comes back here to help keep this site running!

If you have comments, suggestions or corrections, please post them so we all can learn. And remember, Some Is Always Better Than None!

NOTE: All items tested were purchased by me. No products have been loaned in exchange for a favorable review. Any items sent to me for T&E will be listed as such. Suck it Feds.

Range PPE

I’m sure the majority of our regular readers are aware of the importance of range safety. Most people know this means following range instructions from the range safety officer and/or match director, keeping your muzzle down range, and other basic safe gun handling, but there’s more to it than that. Range safety also includes personal protective equipment (or PPE) which includes dressing properly for the range.

I’d like to think everyone knows about the importance of eye and ear protection, but experience as an instructor and Range Safety Officer has taught me better.

Eye Protection
While many modern plastic prescription lenses have similar attributes to safety glasses, they are not the same thing. For one, regular eyeglasses do not generally have side shields. There are too many stories of people getting eye damage from a piece of bullet jacket, an empty casing, or a ricochet hitting them from the side.

Prescription safety glasses are available as well as regular safety glasses that will fit over your everyday glasses. Yes, they might not be as comfortable, but I’m willing to lay odds that they’re more comfortable than an eye patch.

Ear Protection

The unit of measurement for sound is the decibel. The decibel scale is logarithmic, which means that a change from 10 to 20 decibels is not double, but ten times the volume. Any sound in excess of 140 decibels, without hearing protection, can cause instant hearing damage. A .22 rimfire pistol generally exceeds 150 decibels at the muzzle, and volume goes up from there.

Another aspect of hearing damage from sounds is duration. Exposure to a lower volume sound for a longer period of time can be just as damaging to our hearing as exposure to a loud sound for a shorter time.

Both the National Institute of Health and Safety (NIOSH) and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) have more information on both hearing loss and hearing protection.

Decibel chart with specific emphasis on firearms

More generalized chart of common noise levels

Hearing protection is listed with a Noise Reduction Rating (NRR) value. For hearing protection to be good while shooting, it should have a NRR in the 20s at least.

Keep in mind, the actual decibel reduction is not what‘s listed on the package. To determine this value, take the NRR number (as decibels), subtract seven, and then divide by two. As shown in this 3M Hearing Protection Guide (PDF warning). So a product with an NRR rating of 27 would reduce volume by 10 decibels.

Some people like to double up their hearing protection, wearing plugs and muffs, for example. However, the two ratings aren’t added together; five decibels of protection are added to whichever element has the higher NRR value.

Proper Clothing
The general recommendation is to wear a long sleeved, high collar shirt, long pants, closed toed shoes, and a hat, and avoid low cut tops. All of this it to keep ejected brass cartridges off our skin. Brass gets hot when fired; in fact, one of the main benefits of the metallic cartridge case is that it takes a significant amount of heat with it when it leaves the gun. I don’t think any of us want that heat transferred to our skin, and anyone who’s ever gotten a piece of brass down their shirt knows just how uncomfortable this can be. As I was told during firefighter training more than once “people cook just like chicken.” I’d say more like pork, but whatever.

There are many good reasons to wear proper protective equipment while shooting. It won’t protect us completely, but it can go a long way to making our experience safer and more enjoyable.

Leather Care

A friend’s shoulder harness failed after more than a decade of loyal service. According to him, all he did was wear the shoulder holster harness and gave it no additional care. This is a shame, because leather can last indefinitely with proper care. I have some World War II vintage holsters and pack straps in my collection that are nearly as supple as when they were made, and I know people who have leather goods that are even older.

Do's and Don'ts
Two of the biggest enemies of leather are getting too dry and getting too wet. Leather contains certain oils and fats that are necessary to maintain flexibility and strength. When leather gets wet, those elements can be flushed out or diluted, leaving the leather stiff and inflexible when it dries. This can lead to cracking, which is fatal. Once leather develops cracks, there’s not much that can be done to preserve it for further use.

Do

• Blot wet leather dry as soon as possible.
• Allow it to air dry naturally.
• Apply a leather conditioner once dry.

Don't

• Use an artificial heat source, such as a hair dryer or radiator, to dry leather! At best this will cause shrinking, and cracking at worst.
• Immerse leather items in water.
• Run them through the washing machine or dryer
• Use an iron on leather items.

Left: leather that has cracked through lack of care

Right: leather that has been properly cared for

So what’s involved in maintaining leather and what supplies are needed? The answers are Not a lot and Nothing too complicated.

Cleaning
When leather gets dirty, one of the first things to do is wipe it down with a soft brush or a dry cloth to remove any loose dirt  (pay special attention to seams, where dirt and debris can hide), then use a proper leather cleaner to remove any deeper soil or stains.

Murphy’s Oil Soap, when used correctly, is a good choice, but in a pinch you can use a bar of moisturizing soap to clean leather. Rub the bar on a washcloth dampened (not wet just damp) with warm water and gently wipe it along the leather to remove any dirt. Make sure to wipe off all the soap residue as soon as possible.

A reasonably good home-made surface cleaner can be made from a mixture of equal parts olive oil and white vinegar. Shake them together in a spray bottle, lightly mist the leather, and wipe clean with a dry cloth.

With something like a holster or belt that gets exposed to sweat and body oils, an additional option is using a steam cleaner to help disinfect and remove buildup and salt stains from the leather.

 
Conditioning
The next part of leather maintenance is conditioning, the purpose of which is to help leather maintain its supple and flexible nature without saturating it with oil. After leather gets wet or is cleaned, and on a regular schedule of every three to six months regardless, use a leather conditioner to help replenish the leather’s natural oils.

Store-Bought Conditioners
Depending on the type or leather product and its exposure to the elements, a variety of preservatives and conditioners can be used.

either as-is or mixed with other ingredients. This list includes items as varied as: 

• Vaseline
• Lanolin
• Beeswax
• Mineral oil
• Olive oil
• Mink oil
• Neatsfoot oil
• Linseed oil

Olive oil, specifically extra virgin olive oil, is preferred over other vegetable oils due to its lower acidity, the specific fats present, and its longer store time before going rancid.

The Pecard company has offered a wide variety of leather care products for over a hundred years. Their Classic Leather Dressing is particularly well regarded so they must be doing something right. 

Home-Made Conditioners
There are also many different leather treatments you can make. One such is a mixture of one part white vinegar to two parts linseed oil. Apply a light coating with a soft cloth, let the item rest for 12 hours, then buff the leather.

Another option is one part beeswax, one part cocoa butter, and two parts almond oil. Blend them together on medium heat until the oils are melted. After it cools, massage it into the leather with your fingers before polishing with a dry cloth. 

Waterproofing
Leather is a natural material and is very porous. It can never be completely waterproof, but there are a number of surface treatments to help defend leather from moisture. These include a variety of commercial products, such as Sno-Seal, that can help protect leather if it gets exposed to water. 

An option that can be made at home is a beeswax-based cream. Beeswax is a natural waterproofing solution and can be fairly effective at waterproofing leather.

Beeswax Waterproofing Recipe   

• 1 cup extra virgin olive oil
• 2 ounces beeswax
• Glass Jar
• Medium pan of cold water
• Clean, soft buffing cloth

1. Pour the extra virgin olive oil into the glass jar.
2. Break the beeswax into pieces and add to jar.
3. Place the jar in a pan of cold water.
4. Carefully warm the pan on a stove.
5. Stir the mixture until the beeswax has completely melted and blended with the olive oil.
6. Remove the pan from heat. Carefully remove the hot jar from the pan.
7. Continue to stir the wax/oil mixture until it cools and stiffens. This can take up to 20 minutes.

After the mixture has cooled and stiffened, spot test the cream on an inconspicuous area of the leather. Making sure to begin with clean leather, apply the cream with your fingers, gently buffing the leather surface as you go. This treatment will need to be repeated to build up a protective coating.

When applying any waterproofing, make sure to pay particular attention to seams; with shoes pay special attention to where the upper meet the sole.


If we take care of our leather products, they will take care of us and the following generations. And remember, in the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game, rogues and rangers prefer leather armor because it’s made of hide.

A Shmidgeon More About Shemaghs

Not actually Erin.

Picture by KJ Photography

& is used with permission.

I thought I'd written more about the various uses of the shemagh on this blog, but it turns out that was in a podcast segment that wasn't transcribed. 

A shemagh (properly pronounced shuh MAAG, but most Americans shorten that to "schmog") is the Swiss Army Knife of clothing. It's a 42 x 42" square of cotton or cotton-poly blend cloth, and it can do anything that a bandana can do and more besides. The "more besides" is what I want to focus on today, because unlike a bandana a shemagh can wrap around your entire head. You can wet it to keep you cool in the heat, or filter out smog or smog. Most importantly, it protects you from the sun and airborne irritants without making you overly hot -- at only four ounces, it's very lightweight and very breathable fabric. 

https://amzn.to/2WVddBP

The hardest part about wearing a shemagh is learning to tie one. There are various methods of tying it, along with a few tricks that I'll share with you.   

This is my favorite method:

However, this method has a lot of utility, although I could never get it to work for me:

This video shows 17 different ways of tying them. Some are more decorative than others:

You'll note that every single method involves the shemagh starting out as a triangle, which is why I stored mine the way that I did. 

Finally, this method is known as Berber style, and it comes to us courtesy of LawDog. I am not sure if this will work with a standard size shemagh or if it requires a different length.

Tips & Tricks

• Wear a ball cap. Not only will the brim of the cap keep the sun out of your eyes more efficiently than the shemagh ever will, but the cap also helps provide a frame for the floppy fabric when you're wrapping it around your face. This is more helpful then you'd think, as shemaghs seem to like giving you tunnel vision. A cap brim keeps your field of view clear and your eyes shaded. 
• Beware of fog. If you wear glasses, a shemagh is a great way to fog them up if you have it wrapped over your mouth. I've found that the fogging is mitigated somewhat by breathing through my mouth rather than my nose, but not entirely. Alternately, you can uncover your nose and keep only your mouth covered, although that eliminates a lot of the benefit of having something to protect against airborne irritants.  
• Research your colors before you get one. Red, red and white, black, or black and white shemaghs are typically associated with a country or political movement, so don't be a dumb westerner and wear a thing without realizing you're making a political statement. Olive drab, foliage green and coyote tan are all good choices. Yellow is probably okay, but if you're in an area with a gang presence, blue (the color of the Crips) is probably not a good choice, as is the aforementioned red (the Bloods). 

You can buy a shemagh at Amazon with Prime shipping for the princely sum of about $10 (depending on color choice). 

Prudent Prepping: New Belt

 The dust has settled and the First 72 Hours have passed. Follow along as I build a long term plan via Prudent Prepping.  

Things are a bit slower than normal around Equipe Escargot, with the weather bringing gusts of 45 mph and rainfall measured by inches per hour not too far away. This prompted my friends and I to look over our emergency supplies. My gear is in good shape, and the Purple Bag Lady is just fine, but the internet and power were not reliable and backup power packs and flashlights were made ready to go. 

One thing that I seem to neglect checking are everyday items like clothes. I have favorite things that I like and keep well past time for replacement because they're familiar, like my old belt: the area where my phone case clipped on was terribly worn with the color rubbed off, and the holes in the area I buckle were so stretched the next hole was too tight. I needed a replacement. I bought this:

Thirty Dollar Gun Belt

I'd originally looked at this company's belt as a gift after several people mentioned how nice their own were holding up. Since I've spent more than $30 on inferior belts in the past, I decided to order one for myself first instead of ordering somewhat blind as to quality and finish. All I can say is WOW! This belt is solid, stiff but flexible, and looks better in person than what the picture shows.

https://tinyurl.com/y6hm4mm7

 This is the Distressed Black Belt, and there are barely noticeable 'distress' marks in the photograph. I wasn't sure what 'Distressed' meant exactly... was the leather showing actual scarring or marks from the cow? Could you see the brand mark? Well, not exactly; the marks are added to the belt after it has been made, to give the appearance of some age and wear. Info from the website:

• One solid piece of beautiful Genuine USA Full Grain Leather Steerhide. 
• You may see some natural hide and color variations on the front and back, this ensures a genuine full grain leather hide.
• Custom handcrafted at a real USA company leather shop.
• Vegetable tanned (veg-tanned) drum-dyed leather hides.
• 1/4 inch thick or in leather talk, right around 14-15 ounces.
• 1 1/2 inches wide - Perfect width for standard belt loops and holster slots.
• Heavy-duty roller buckle with a thick center tongue/prong.
• For Options in hardware  Click Here
• We use high quality Chicago screws for changeable buckle.
• Nine (9) large oval buckle holes spaced at 3/4 inch apart.

I chose to order the standard buckle and order my regular waist size, since this is to be a non-gun belt. The sizing instructions are very clear on how to get the perfect fit by measuring from the crease on your existing belt to the buckle hinge. I measured and chose to have less tail showing past the buckle.

It's been 3 weeks now, and other than my phone case not quite clipping all the way over the belt I have zero complaints. Thanks to everyone who mentioned this great company!

Recap And Takeaway

• Check your gear, all of it, to see if things are worn and broken. My old belt wasn't broken, but if I had to go somewhere right after work, it would have looked shabby.
• One extremely nice belt from Thirty Dollar Gun Belt, ordered direct. Sorry, not available from Amazon.
• Check out all their other gear too. If those items are as nice as this belt, there should be zero complaints!

* * *

Just a reminder: if you plan on buying anything through Amazon, please consider using our referral link. When you do, a portion of the sale comes back here to help keep this site running!

If you have comments, suggestions or corrections, please post them so we all can learn. And remember, Some Is Always Better Than None!

NOTE: All items tested were purchased by me. No products have been loaned in exchange for a favorable review. Any items sent to me for T&E will be listed as such. Suck it Feds.

Waterproofing Cotton

Not actually Erin.

Picture by KJ Photography

& is used with permission.

"Cotton kills" is an aphorism that all campers, hikers and preppers ought to know. Cotton is often called "death cloth" because wearing it in a cold, wet environment can lead to hypothermia. But do you know why?

It's because spun cotton fibers are hollow. When water meets cotton, that water becomes trapped inside the hollows of the fibers. In fact, cotton is so good at trapping water that it can hold 27 times its weight in H2O! That much water takes a long time to dry out, and when you add that to the fact that water is an amazingly efficient conductor of heat, you can see why wet cotton clothing can be a killer.

But this flaw in cotton's design can also be its salvation. If we fill those hollow fibers with something else, then water cannot clog them in first place. Ideally, that "something else" is a substance which repels water anyway, thereby making the cotton garment doubly impregnable. Most spray waterproofing substances just coat the outer fibrous layers, with the predictable result that a gap in coverage means water is still dispersed throughout the fabric. However, if we wax our cotton garment, then water will bead off it due to a combination of surface protection and an inability of it to soak in.

https://amzn.to/2RFiXJB

There are many forms of cotton wax out there. I prefer Martexin Original Wax, which comes in a 1.5 ounce metal tin ($12 with Prime from Amazon) and which provides enough wax to treat a boonie hat. Coincidentally, I know this because that is the garment I treated my tin of Martexin; for larger items, such as coats or jeans, you will need more than one.

Application of the wax is easy, albeit messy. Martexin wax is soft and slightly sticky, like an ointment, and so I scooped some up with my finger and worked it into the fabric. I find that a circular motion works best, although you can alternate between up-down and left-right; what matters is that you coat the fibers as thoroughly as possible. Pay special attention to seams and other places where fabric overlaps to ensure that you have covered it from every angle. When you are finished the material should have a waxy sheen to its surface. In the picture below, the right side is waxed and the left side is not.

When you have finished waxing your section of garment (I suggest doing it by sections to avoid fatigue and to ensure that seams have overlapping coverage), melt the wax into the fibers using a heat source. I prefer using a heat gun as that is both fast and hot, but you can make do with a hair dryer or even a camp fire.

Be careful! All waxes are flammable to some degree, but waxes made with paraffin -- a petroleum derivative -- are especially so. Do not set fire to your waxed garment!

The heat will melt the wax, which will sink into the fabric and the surface will no longer be glossy. Your garment may look slightly darker but otherwise normal. In the picture below, you can see that the beige to the right is slightly darker than the beige to the left. 

Now turn your garment over, or inside-out, and coat the other side exactly the same way. This gives you a double-layer of protection.

If you have any wax left, pour water over your garment. The water should bead off it as if the cotton was nonporous; if you notice any wetness, you missed a spot, so dry your garment and cover it with more wax.

When you are done, you will notice that your waxed cotton garment is darker and stiffer. This is normal, although in the case of coats and jeans the stiffness will work itself out after a few days of wearing it, much like new leather.

Unfortunately, just like other forms of waterproofing this, too, will eventually fail. Hot days and direct sunshine will cause the wax to seep out of the cotton fibers, and constant flexing will crack the wax surrounding fibers at points of motion. However, touching up your waxed cotton is as simple as adding more wax and applying heat -- far easier and far less expensive than chemical waterproofing, and likely to last longer as well.

No go out there and wax your cotton!

Prudent Prepping: The Shorts of It

The dust has settled and the First 72 Hours have passed. Follow along as I build a long term plan via Prudent Prepping.

Well isn't this interesting! I finally have both brands of wool underwear, and there's been enough time to properly evaluate them!

Wool-ed I Do It Again?
Short answer? Yes, and I will probably buy more fairly soon. Just to do a really quick recap, I mentioned Minus 33 boxers in this post and then followed up with a post on the last-minute substitution of the Wooly brand here. This is what I found:

What Is Similar

• Both brands have virtually the same make-up in their fabric and the waistbands are also the same flat, almost no-seam elastic.
• When holding or wearing both brands, the 'feel' is also difficult for me to tell apart. 
• Both are smooth, almost silky and my DriFit shirts are about the same 'silkiness'. 

Having now worn both brands for almost a week each, I really like how nice I feel at the end of my day. The weather has not been as hot, but my work has made up for that lack by expecting more production. The waistband was something I wasn't sure about since my regular boxers are covered on the inside, and these are like jockey brief waistbands, but I have found no problem with how it feels, probably due to it being flat. I don't really know why the waistband feels good, it just works.

What is Different
As I've shown above,  there is surprisingly very little difference in the feel or material. What is different is the cut or style of each brand:

• The Wooly brand is shaped much more like my regular boxers: somewhat straight legs and about the same length.
• The Minus 33 are shaped wider in the leg and maybe not quite as long. I was having a hard time trying to describe what the shape is when a former military friend said, "Oh, those sound like PT shorts!" After looking at what has also been described as 'silkies' and 'Ranger Panties', that's about what they resemble: wide of leg and loose. 

However they're described, I'm keeping both of them.

Recap And Takeaway

• If you can get past the high price for either brand, I recommend both of these. I will be wearing nothing else in the hot weather. (Nothing else? Oh myyyy! -- Erin)
• Nothing else was purchased this week, since these boxers ruined my Fun Money budget for the next several weeks.

* * *

Just a reminder: if you plan on buying anything through Amazon, please consider using our referral link. When you do, a portion of the sale comes back here to help keep this site running!

If you have comments, suggestions or corrections, please post them so we all can learn. And remember, Some Is Always Better Than None!

NOTE: All items tested were purchased by me. No products have been loaned in exchange for a favorable review. Any items sent to me for T&E will be listed as such. Suck it Feds.

Prudent Prepping: August Roundup

The dust has settled and the First 72 Hours have passed. Follow along as I build a long term plan via Prudent Prepping.

As is my usual excuse, I've got several things to discuss and either there isn't enough info to expand the topic up to a full post or I'm still gathering my thoughts, which lately will fit easily into a Dixie Cup. The small size.

What's First
I mentioned my temporary relocation for work, how amazingly hot the location and work is, and what I'm trying to do to survive and work comfortably in this post. Unfortunately (but not unexpected), the shorts I ordered are delayed even longer than shown. I will not receive the Minus33 shorts until Friday, if I'm lucky, so what I did was to go looking for another previously recommended brand: Woolly Clothing Men's Merino Wool Classic Boxer.

https://amzn.to/2EFHLhe

Now I haven't anything to compare these wool boxers to other than my cotton ones, and while it has not been as hot as last week, I really like the feel of these!

Some info from the Amazon ad:

• [ 100% 150 GSM 17.5 micron Australian merino wool ]
• [ ULTRALIGHT CLASSIC BOXER ] Flatlock seams, tagless interior, double tough high-wear zones, soft elastic jacquard. Full merino construction for extra stretch, odor resistance, moisture wicking, itch free, 4-season comfort.
• [ CASUAL FIT FOR COMFY DAILY WEAR ] These boxers will keep you comfy during work, play, leisure, travel, and workouts. Ultralight merino in a classic boxer cut, made for all climates and pursuits.
• [ PICTURED MODEL STATS ] 5'10'' // 155 lbs // 30'' waist. Wearing size small.
• [ MERINO PERFORMANCE FOUNDATION LIFESTYLE WEAR ] Woolly pairs the nature proven benefits of merino with classic everyday styles that work anywhere. Enjoy the no-odor, anti-microbial, fire resistant, moisture wicking, and long wearing comfort of merino in every aspect of your life.
• [ BACKED BY THE WOOLLY PROMISE ] We like to keep things simple. If you are ever dissatisfied with our gear, at any time, just give us a shout and we'll work to make it right.

The Initial Good
The feel of these is hard to describe, since I've worn cotton boxers for, well, a really long time! There is an almost silk-like feel to the fabric, but not slippery. When thoroughly sweaty, the Woolly Shorts didn't bunch up, get sticky or feel clammy if I sat down for lunch and cooled off some. They are also cheaper than the other brand.

The Initial 'Eh, But Waiting For More Info'
The sizing of the Woolly boxers leaves me a little bit undecided, since I fit right between the Medium and Large recommendation. I ordered the Large and while I like them, I'm unsure if I want to keep them. The cut is wider than my existing boxers and I'm not sure how the elastic in the waistband will last in the long term, since these start out bigger than what I have now. I will make a decision when (if) the originally ordered brand shows up.

About Those Amazon Orders...
I recently placed an order for some CLP, since the local gun store was out and the next closest retail gun store had a location burglarized and is closed. There was no delay shown for the CLP, and here is my 4oz. tube of Break-Free CLP-4 Cleaner Lubricant Preservative.

Yes, that's what the box says!

Yes, I got my 4oz tube all right, along with 11 that I really don't need! Even figuring the fact that I seem to lose oils and lubes before I use them up into the equation, I'm looking at well over a lifetime supply, maybe longer.

There are many different lubes out there, but I was looking for something that would thicken or get stiff very slowly, since several items I want to clean and then re-oil don't see a lot of use.

From the Amazon ad:

• Penetrates and spreads along metal surfaces into every pit and crevice to undercut contamination and lift residue away where it can be removed.
• Long-lasting lubricating film dramatically reduces adhesion of sand, grit or other abrasives which cause wear and failure.
• Corrosion inhibitors prevent the formation of rust while Break-Free's unique boundary film protects metal surfaces from moisture and other contaminants.
• Specially formulated synthetic oils won't lose viscosity, dry out or stiffen up in extreme environments - such as cold, heat, dust, dirt, humidity and even salt air - keeping equipment in ready condition for months at a time.
• It has been proven to preform in temperatures ranging from -65F to +475F and after saltwater immersion

If I follow the recommended amounts, I think this matches what I need.

Recap And Takeaway

• So far I'm really happy with the Woolly Boxers... other than the fit. I'm keeping them until I can compare my first order. Two pair of Woolly Boxers ordered from Amazon: $29.99 with Prime.
• Yes, CLP is what I need, but only one bottle. Yes, I am contacting Amazon about the mis-shipped product. Karma seems to have me on Speed Dial, so it is going back. One bottle (and only one!) of CLP 4 ordered from Amazon: $7.58 with Prime.

* * *

Just a reminder: if you plan on buying anything through Amazon, please consider using our referral link. When you do, a portion of the sale comes back here to help keep this site running!

If you have comments, suggestions or corrections, please post them so we all can learn. And remember, Some Is Always Better Than None!

NOTE: All items tested were purchased by me. No products have been loaned in exchange for a favorable review. Any items sent to me for T&E will be listed as such. Suck it Feds.

Prudent Prepping: Baby, It's Hot Outside (and Everywhere Else)

The dust has settled and the First 72 Hours have passed. Follow along as I build a long term plan via Prudent Prepping.

My job has temporarily changed in both the location where I work and the type of work I do. For the next 6-8 weeks I will be working in a gigantic warehouse, loading trucks. Not only is the warehouse hot, inside the trailers it is 20 degrees hotter. 

How hot is that, you ask? 

Very Hot
In my part of California it barely gets over 100° maybe 5 days a year. This year, not only has it been over 100° longer that that, it's also been as hot as 107°; in S. California, Death Valley reached 128°!  

I need to change what I do at work, how I stay safe, and also what I wear, starting with underwear. I'm tired of damp shorts, and as it's over 90° at 5 AM and I'm sweaty 30 minutes after starting work, I need something that will not bind or feel soggy for 8 hours, so I ordered a pair of Minus33 Merino Wool 1114 Men’s Woolverino Micro Boxer Shorts for $39.99.

https://amzn.to/3iXim1o

Now before anyone gets gets anything bunched up (heh!), I want to point out that I wear wool socks all year for their moisture wicking and lack of wadding up in my work boots. If you are like me, you've seen a bazillion Facebook ads for wool T-shirts that won't smell and feel great, even if you wear them for a week. I don't know anyone who purchased from those ads, but I do know several people who have these wool blend shorts. Based on their recommendations, I ordered some.

From the Amazon ad:

• wool
• Imported
• QUALITY LIGHTWEIGHT BASELAYER: Woolverino designed for "First-On-Last-Off" extreme comfort quality active wear. The best in easy care technology means your merino wool is machine washable and dryable. Minus33 briefs naturally wick moisture and control odor.
• CRAFTED TO FIT: Sizes S to 2XL Regular Fit. Outfitting anyone from the active athlete to the comfortable couch-potato.
• EXPERIENCED BRAND: Although there are many copy-cats on the market today, Minus33 has been a trusted brand since 2004.
• IMPORTED: As the legacy of a 100+ year old USA based woolen company, Minus33 knows quality and comfort in Merino Wool. We are committed to bringing you the best Merino Wool products at a reasonable price.
• TECHNICAL DETAILS: 84% 17.5 Micron Merino Wool, 12% Nylon, 4% Spandex 150 g/m2 Jersey knit construction with flatlock seam. UPF Rating 40

If you read the description carefully, there is one bit of information that seems very odd to me and I wonder if anyone else finds it peculiar too.*

Now for the other part that has me feeling a bit light-headed (and I'm sitting down): the price! Yes, double WOW from me, too! When compared to the DriFit T-shirts that I wear these boxers are more expensive (but not by much) and I believe they will be worth the price in the long run. 

Since boxer shorts are not a priority product, Prime Shipping will have them to my front door on Saturday and I will do a review as soon as I possible. 

* UPF stands for Ultraviolet Protection Factor and is a rating system to indicate the UV (Ultraviolet) protection provided by fabrics. Why does underwear need to block UV light?

Recap And Takeaway

• Being comfortable at work means not only do I feel better, but I should also be able to do more work with less stress.
• I ordered two of the Minus33 Merino Wool Boxers from Amazon for $39.99 with the new slower Prime shipping.

* * *

Just a reminder: if you plan on buying anything through Amazon, please consider using our referral link. When you do, a portion of the sale comes back here to help keep this site running!

If you have comments, suggestions or corrections, please post them so we all can learn. And remember, Some Is Always Better Than None!

NOTE: All items tested were purchased by me. No products have been loaned in exchange for a favorable review. Any items sent to me for T&E will be listed as such. Suck it Feds.