I have a pair of moose hide mukluks that I got as a teenager. I use them for snowshoeing. I am now over 60 and those mukluks are precious to me. They were made by the John Palmer Co. Ltd. in Fredericton, NB. The sole is double layer of moose hide. No tread. You have to be careful around a camp fire, you can slip easily. What I like about them is on a cold day, the leather goes hard. They become a shell. I put a felt sole inside and I wear these really coarse wool socks. The socks are so coarse that you wiggle your toes and your feet warm up. One fall during salmon season I had Ted Williams knocking on the camp door, when I opened the door to greet him I was wearing these socks. As soon as he saw the socks I got a million and one questions about them from him. Ted knew quality. I still have the socks they are part and parcel of the mukluk wardrobe. I suspect the socks were made by a farmer's wife as every Saturday I would go to the farmer's market in Fredericton. Anyway real quality. The socks are 40 years plus. A few holes that have been fixed but other than they are still going strong.
Great video, Paul. I got ya beat, though 😉. I'll be 59 this year, and I still wear my Johnson jacket every year. My parents bought it for me for a ( early ) Christmas present in 1983 .... It's in perfect shape still . The only exception is a hole in the bottom of one inside pocket . That's my own fault, though . I left a juice box drink in there, and somehow, it leaked. Unbeknownst to me . I discovered it the next fall , after the sugars had dried out the fabric, and it basically crumbled ... Without a doubt , it's one of , if not the best piece of hunting gear I own . One other thing about wool ,,, the smell 😊. It triggers so many memories of so many hunts, the places , the people , and all the stories ... My son (he's 20 and serving in the Marines now) has worn his grandfather's, my dads jacket , for the last 5 or so seasons . Just like yours and mine , it, too, is still in perfect shape . We also have the matching pants to go with the jackets . He wears my dads and I have mine (same christmas) ... Anyway , long winded , hehehe ,, but just thought I'd share ... Love the videos and content,,,, also the podcasts.... All the best to you and yours and a special hello to your dad ! Best hunting partners ever !
Thank you for this video! I’ve been collecting Woolrich hunting shirts, jackets, and coats for about ten years now, mostly from a nostalgic impulse I had for these beautiful and functional garments (I’m a Michigan resident and deer hunter for 60 of my 73 years). I’ve actually not seen one of these from Johnson Woolen MIlls, but I will start looking for them now. Good stuff! Thanks.
As the old timers die off, I see a whole lot of Woolrich clothing for sale at yard sales...Just got a nice old pair of red plaid pants for $1.00, looks brand new.
Thanks for sharing. I wear a 50s era carter. My grandfather wore it every season, and I have worn it every season since he passed. I doubt very much any modern hunting garment will see 65 years in the deer woods.
My father passed his Johnson wool jacket on to me prior to his passing 9 years ago. I still have a vivid memory of him wearing it skinning out a big 10 point buck in the snow when I was 6 years old. I don’t know how many years he had owned it before then. I sure wished I had asked him. I still wear it, and it looks barely worn! I have never hunted in it because I guess I am trying to protect it, although after watching your video, I may reconsider. With that said, I agree, other than Filson, who in America makes products with this kind of craftsmanship and quality. I am now 65 years old, so mine is somewhere between 60 -70 years old, or perhaps more!
Great video, I use to wear the classic Woolrich hunting coat until it wore out and I grew out of it. The new woolrich garments are not made as well so I replaced it with camouflage. Several years ago I replaced the camouflage with the traditional red buffalo plaid and the jacket I purchased is from Big Bill. So far I am happy with it, but I know it won’t stand up as well as yours.
Agreed! I have two Double Mackinaw and two single Mackinaw jackets from the famous Seattle company, but I honestly think they're too heavy for tracking deer. I have a 100% 24 oz blaze orange Johnson Wool Jac-Shirt with the double shoulders. It's great! I do protect it with an oversized blaze orange polyester shirt or fleece overtop of it. The over-shirts take the brunt of snags and debris and are so much easier to wash.
A quality wool hunting jacket will last generations, I love my wool coats pants and Jac shirts, I own Johnson Woolrich, Filson. Each one has a different use depending on style and weight. The red and black buffalo is iconic.
Excellent video, thanks for sharing. I have a Johnson Wollen Mills jacket in the green and black plaid that I bought in 1981, it’s been used every year, it’s still in great shape and has only been dry cleaned twice only because of the deer blood on it.
Great video! I've never owned a Johnson, but am on my second Woolrich since 1979. The first one got passed to a cousin when I outgrew it. I also use a couple of filson Mackinaw jackets for late season when it's usually below 0°F. It's hard to beat wool jacket and bibs in the deer woods.
I bought a new wool jacket last week I’ll test it out this moose season. I ended up going with LL Bean as it was 200$(canadian) cheaper than Johnson’s. Although Johnson’s was my first original choice I am quite happy with how the LLbean is so far. Sure hope I get 28 years out of it!
I’ve got a LL Bean wool jacket I’ve been using for 30 or so years. I did have to have the zipper replaced, but they replaced it for free. I’m sure you will like it
Great jacket fr sure. Thanks for sharing! I own two Filson Mackinaw cruisers. One green and one green and black plaid…only bought the green/black because the color looked so good . Sure didn’t need it as my original one i bought back in the early 90’s looks like new. I love all the pockets & rear pouch/map pocket. I actually prefer the pouch over a waste pack. Wouldn’t go deer hunting in the north woods without one.
I still have my Pennsylvania tuxedo.(“woolrich coat with matching pants”) Doesn’t get that cold anymore here in pa. To wear it much. But when it does get cold, I’ll be sportin my pa. Tux. Lol.
I run a Johnson wool jacshirt with the built in blaze cape in green black plaid. Had a local seamstress add a pack pocket similar to a bird jacket would have with a heavy Velcro top closure. This for me is perfect. Not too heavy where I sweat to death on a track but enough warmth on cold days with maybe one extra layer under it.
Excellent video! I had a full suit similar to that when I hunted. All wool, bought at JCP in the early 70's! I got too fat for it and got rid of it after I got married!
Too bad we have so many burrs and briars here in WV. We'd walk out of the woods looking like a loofa if we wore this. Unfortunately. Love my wool coat, but it's worn while ice fishing up north instead,
Great video. Why do some trackers from Maine wear green and black? I always thought green and black was a Canadian hunter and red and black US hunter, What are your family's thoughts?
