The Argali Clothing Project

[Brad@Argali]

Any chance you had a 5’11” 220 pound model to build some of your sizing off of?

I mix and match so much because some companies don’t care about the short fat guy in their pants, but their tops fit great and others have good pant sizing but their tops suck.

I know, I could lose weight and make my body fit their sizing better, but that ain’t happening no matter how much I tell myself.

We have a lot of different body types we are using to test out fit because it is really, really important. I think it's impossible to make every piece fit perfectly for every body type, but I've put more hours/days of work into getting the sizing and fit as perfect as we can for as many people as possible. I'll explain my philosophy on fit on this thread a bit more later, but hear you loud and clear.

 

[Brad@Argali]

How about a guy that's 5'11" 220 "and not fat? lol. In seriousness, no skinny jeans. I normally have to size up a size to get my calvs in pants, then there still tight.

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We are going to have a tapered fit in our pants to reduce fabric rubbing between the legs, but our guiding principle on fit is function, not fashion. I'll have more to say on the fit here soon.

 

[Brad@Argali]

Just curious, what’s the use case for single chest pockets on light weight base/mid layers?

I realize that it’s pretty much the standard for every brand these days, but any time I’ve put anything meaningful in those pockets it just feels like too much for such a light weight shirt. And if you wear a bino harness it’s not even accessible, or if you run warm it’s just another patch layer of material sitting there. Just trying to make sense of this popular feature every hunting brand seems to do…

I think it depends on personal preference. I use them for elk reeds during archery elk season, but that's about it. Some people use them for other small items as well. Some people, like you, don't ever use them. I'm listening to what people have to say on this. So far the feedback we have received is that a lot of people like the option of having it, or it doesn't matter one way or the other to them. Haven't had a lot of people say they dislike it altogether, but I'll be listening to what you all say.

 

[Ramem7mm]

Vest with zippered pockets are good. Lightweight shirts I don't see where they could hold much weight except for maybe the elk reeds, maybe chapstick. Bino harness and pack straps will get in the way so just doesn't seem super useful, especially if you already have a vest with a pocket. Just my opinion.

 

[WyldGoose]

I think it depends on personal preference. I use them for elk reeds during archery elk season, but that's about it. Some people use them for other small items as well. Some people, like you, don't ever use them. I'm listening to what people have to say on this. So far the feedback we have received is that a lot of people like the option of having it, or it doesn't matter one way or the other to them. Haven't had a lot of people say they dislike it altogether, but I'll be listening to what you all say.

I appreciate you listening. Yeah I just figured they don’t add much for breathability or storage to be worth it, especially when almost everyone hunting is wearing a bino harness for chest storage.

 

[WeiserBucks]

Just curious, what’s the use case for single chest pockets on light weight base/mid layers?

I think it depends on personal preference. I use them for elk reeds during archery elk season, but that's about it. Some people use them for other small items as well. Some people, like you, don't ever use them. I'm listening to what people have to say on this. So far the feedback we have received is that a lot of people like the option of having it, or it doesn't matter one way or the other to them. Haven't had a lot of people say they dislike it altogether, but I'll be listening to what you all say.

From a pure feedback standpoint, I absolutely hate a zip chest pocket on a base and it's an automatic disqualification when I'm looking to buy.

 

[92xj]

For a heavy base layer or mid layer fleece, I hate that zippered chest pocket. I’d rather save the $5 on the cost of the piece by eliminating that step in production.

I’d actually trade that pocket for a kangaroo pocket. I feel like I’m the minority with this, but i absolutely love kangaroo pockets and wish more grid fleece had that option. Not a lot of companies adding them to a grid fleece these days.

 

[Brad@Argali]

Noted.

For a heavy base layer or mid layer fleece, I hate that zippered chest pocket. I’d rather save the $5 on the cost of the piece by eliminating that step in production.

I’d actually trade that pocket for a kangaroo pocket. I feel like I’m the minority with this, but i absolutely love kangaroo pockets and wish more grid fleece had that option. Not a lot of companies adding them to a grid fleece these days.

This is why it's good to ask people what they do and don't like, because I've never heard anybody that dislikes them, but now at least a few of you have made that clear. I don't know what we will end up doing, but I do appreciate the feedback.

 

[WeiserBucks]

There's a few base shirts that I'd like to try but they're a non starter due to the chest pocket. I wouldn't buy them if they were $5 and made in USA.

 

[Alpine4x4]

For a lightweight baselayer, 100% no need for a chest pocket. For a mid or heavy weight, they dont really get in the way as theres more material to make them not stand out, but still kind of useless. I dont want to be fumbling with a zipper to get stuff in and out, especially on thats going to be buried under my bino harness.

100% agree on the kangaroo pocket as its like having a built in hand muff. The only downside to a kangaroo pocket is they will fill with every piece of brush and leaf that breaks off as you walk through the brambles.

Also a 6ft 220lb "fit" build with a beer belly

 

[Texasbuckeye]

I like all the body style fit requests, fit with a beer belly is a good one.

I really like the ideas in the pants and top so far. Are the pants resistant to brush in any manner? I have some light pants for archery hunting in warm weather but they are essentially worthless from a protection stand point and will easily get cuts from briars and thorns and pokes from limbs and branches on my legs if I am busting brush tracking an animal through the thick stuff (after the shot). It isn't a huge issue but it would be nice to have a pant that is breathable but somewhat protective/durable to the legs vs just covering the legs.

 

[Jaden Bales]

I like all the body style fit requests, fit with a beer belly is a good one.

I really like the ideas in the pants and top so far. Are the pants resistant to brush in any manner? I have some light pants for archery hunting in warm weather but they are essentially worthless from a protection stand point and will easily get cuts from briars and thorns and pokes from limbs and branches on my legs if I am busting brush tracking an animal through the thick stuff (after the shot). It isn't a huge issue but it would be nice to have a pant that is breathable but somewhat protective/durable to the legs vs just covering the legs.

I always laugh a little reading these because I swear I need a pant that fits two body types for me each season - one for pre-season waistline and one for post-season waistline. I've tried pants that are marketed to do such a thing and did NOT enjoy the system.

Until there's a magic fabric that can accommodate changing waistlines, but still prevent plumber's crack and sliding down when you're carrying a pack, I'm not sure a fit can exist for every single body type. Haha.

To your point on these pants in brush, I absolutely poured the coals to them in the nasty brush in Alaska.

I was able to get a tiny rip to happen when I was essentially falling through steep knee-to-chest high brush with a full pack of meat and camp on my back. A broken branch just caught it perfectly right at the gaiter line. In another case in Alaska, I slipped on a slick log and ate it hard. I landed squarely on a broken branch with my left buttock, leaving a solid bruise, but miraculously, it did not rip the pants in that case.

I think these proved to be a great blend of what you need for versatility in nasty wet-cold temps and hot muggy ones on that trip while still being tough enough to do what you need them to 97% of the time. But if a guy was going to tell me they're busting nasty brush all day every day, I'd imagine a thicker pant specifically built for that purpose would be best suited for the job. The heat-dumping tradeoffs of a thick double-front are just not what I'm interested in for the everyday Rocky Mountain backpack/western hunting pant.