The Argali Clothing Project

[agohn155]

We have a good bivvy or testers right now but I appreciate the offer!

How is the testing going and when is the release date in 2026?

 

[Brad@Argali]

@Brad@Argali I'd be interested to hear why you started with grid fleece and not a piece with evolve or alpha direct? More of a preference thing with you, simplicity, performance, or based on past product use? Aside from fabric weight, are there any other differences with your approach on the light vs mid-weight pants?

Great question. For tops, there are a variety of reasons. I'm a big fan of synthetic insulation and active insulation, but I wanted to start with a piece that was simple, approachable, and could fit in any backcountry hunters layering kit. While there are a lot of midweight fleeces out there, finding one that I can actually wear while hiking has been a chore as I've found they are often too warm or not warm enough. To me our Guide Air Fleece threads the needle as the kind of midlayer you can take on almost any hunt.

I've found that in anything but cold weather hunts, evolve and alpha in any of the weights are warm to wear while hiking, and for me, too warm, unless it's naked alpha. But naked alpha has it's own issues that I don't think are ideal for hunting (i.e. snagging on everything). So, I like alpha and evolve, but until I'm hunting in colder weather, I use them to keep warm while glassing or hanging out at camp.

On the pants, It's hard to describe in the abstract, but a great pair of pants has to have great fabric, excellent fit, and the right amount of functionality and features. My approach is simplicity above all else. Proper fit, simple feature set, durable, QUIET fabrics with the right amount of stretch, and the right cut for the pants (i.e. tapered not straight leg). I'm going to share some photos from a recent moose hunt I just did showing some photos of the Torex just to show how we're testing and what I'm finding.

Also, I do have a jacket I am nearly done with that uses Evolve that I absolutely love that I'll be talking more about here soon. I'm a big fan of synthetic, active insulation in the right pieces and we will absolutely be making some of those pieces.

 

[wysongdog]

Absolutely. Quiet has been one of my primary focuses. Both pants are quiet. I used the Vesper on an NV archery mule deer hunt this year and they were great.

Well awesome where’s my pair to try? Lol

 

[RWT]

I am in on this. I really appreciate well made purpose driven clothing. I now only buy Hart Schaefer suits. Why. I still have the one I was married in from 2006 and it still looks great. Fits well and although not in style with the skinny Jean flat fronts, it is classic and I remind the youngsters. I am a MAN. I have MAN parts and those parts need to be taken care of with room to move.

Still have my Rivers West original fleece jacket and pant. They have been on many hunts and are by far the warmest jacket I own. That set is 18 years old. Does not breath at all, but very warm. It’s a shame they suck at marketing or new design.

Make a great product and they will still be using it 20 years later.