Viewing a single comment thread. View all comments

UglyViking t1_iw4j4x4 wrote

Reply to comment by sl8rfan2 in Barbour Bedale and M77 combat boots, will wear the same garments in 50 years. What are some good options for outdoor pants? by [deleted]

Just as a bit of a counter, for all intents Filson is now a fashion brand, and the longevity of their clothing is far less than what it was in decades prior.

If I were to buy a pant to use heavily it would be the Fjallraven pants you linked 10 out of 10 times.

20

eternalvoid501 t1_iw4lm5i wrote

Fjallraven is my choice over Filson for these exact reasons. Fjallraven pants will look new after they're ran over by a few trains. Not really, but it wouldn't surprise me if it happened.

7

FatherJohnFahey t1_iw5txst wrote

I've got a pair of Prana Zion pants that has been on nearly every backpacking and hiking trip for 10 years. When I bought them I wouldn't have guessed that would have been the case, but dang, they are great.

4

eternalvoid501 t1_iw5u5kn wrote

I have very few prana items, but what I have is amazing. Everything from the fit to the feel of the materials. You reminded me I need more prana haha

3

sl8rfan2 t1_iw54201 wrote

While this is true, some things are unchanged in quality. Their bags, their mackinaw wool, and the tin cloth jackets and pants. Among others.

So yes, don’t buy a tshirt or hat if you want “buy it for life” but definitely invest in their tried and true gear.

I agree with you that much of their stuff has gone the way of carhartt and other brands (banana republic, north face etc.).

I will say that a large portion of filsons gear is still BIFL.

Edit: I would also say that Filson and fjallraven are vastly different in their utility. Trekking…tfjallraven. Heavy farm work…filson.

Trekking in tin pants is unbearable. But waxed fhallraven has been with me all over the backcountry for hiking, backpacking, orienteering….

But, I only chop wood in Filson tin cloth and (if the situation necessitates) husky chaps for chainsaws.

Important distinctions.

4

UglyViking t1_iw57mga wrote

I don't doubt that Filson still has some quality stuff, for now, but that said if all you're doing is chopping wood in them, then they are really vastly overkill for your use case anyway and you wouldn't realistically notice a degradation in quality.

I have no doubt their stuff is still made to take more of a beating than something from Levis, for example, but it has fallen from where it was.

2

sl8rfan2 t1_iw5h3pl wrote

That was an example of what I do in these pants. I mow, plant, reap, hunt, and play on the property in these pants.

But I see what you’re saying. They are a serious pant. And they will last a very long time.

About the quality of this particular garment; i must respectfully disagree.

Enjoy your night.

2

gabba_gubbe t1_iw6fg5i wrote

It will be a cold day in hell before I pay 400 fuckin dollars for a wool shirt... Filson is on crack charging that much. Has their stuff always been so expensive?

1

UglyViking t1_iw77nio wrote

I don't know if they have always been as expensive as they are now, I'll admit I'm not a fashion writer or anything, but they have always been more expensive than something like Carhartt as long as I've been around.

Historically, the quality justified the additional cost for hard work, even when Carhartt was in its better quality years, and especially if you wanted to not be throwing stuff away often.

Currently, from what I've seen and read, they have turned wholly into a fashion brand. Some of that is good, more modern cuts, some cool t shirt designs, and makes it more likely to continue on. However, it's also bad for durability, since as the market is more fashion focused, people demand clothing that is soft and fits well for casual use.

1