C.C. Filson

[WAYNO]

I've known of Filson products for many years. An oily and heavy canvas coat just never seemed to suit me. I know however, other folks really like them.

What I didn't know, they are based in Seattle. I was in Seattle yesterday, and the guy I was with said he needed to stop at the Filson store. I just assumed it was a Filson store at an outlet mall. I was wrong. It was the real deal, with a sweatshop full of sewing machines and an inventory of products that was quite impressive.

Their stuff is extremely expensive. Domestically made clothing is. They also had a lot of imported stuff, with their brand name, that was just as expensive.

Just an observation. Not a criticism of anything about them.

And in the middle of hipster chaos, (hipster is a large portion of their customer base), it was just like the Harley shop on weekends. Free food. :mrgreen: Clam chowder, salmon, and oysters.

 

[jimbo1096]

It was worth the time and effort just for the free food!

 

[Kevin]

I have two of their bags. One is a backpack from a thrift store find. I also have one of their range bags...just used it today in fact. I just wanted it to be made in the USA. Plus it’s a really nice range bag, I’ve had it for about a year and it still looks brand new, so it should last many more years...

 

[WAYNO]

It was worth the time and effort just for the free food!

Oysters is fish bait.

I don't care for salmon.

The line was too long for the clam chowder.

But I do appreciate the gesture.

Maybe next weekend they'll have crab and shrimp. Then you can count me in.

but...

I have two of their bags. One is a backpack from a thrift store find. I also have one of their range bags...just used it today in fact. I just wanted it to be made in the USA. Plus it’s a really nice range bag, I’ve had it for about a year and it still looks brand new, so it should last many more years...

Their stuff appears to be very well made.


I am glad I went, even if I didn't eat their food. I had no idea their product line is so diverse.

 

[427mach1]

I've got one of their tri-fold wallets; it is a serious chunk of leather. With no plastic, no fabric, just leather, it will likely be the last wallet I ever need.

 

[T.A. WORKMAN]

I have hunted rabbits most of my adult life in heavy briers and multi-flora rose, and I can tell you Filson's bibs and hunting coat are well worth the money. Neat to read your brief description of the factory, would be neat to visit.
Terry

 

[powder smoke]

Woolies, is what I call em. I'm in T A's corner on this! Those Bib overalls are toasty
warm and also extremely water repellent. Ice fishing or chasing bunnies and dogs in the north country. They are hard to beat. Worth every nickel they last for years. ps

 

[gramps]

I always thought of Filson’s as a place to get fine woolen products for outdoor wear. Thanks for the report.
gramps

 

[tom black]

Twenty-six years ago I bought one of their double mackinaw cruiser's. I've worn the crap out of it every winter, it's been used but not abused. Honestly, it's in about as good a shape as the day I bought it. I've never regretted buying mine and they have doubled in price since then.
Tom Black

 

[Rick Courtright]

Hi,

I wanted to try a Filson's gun case from probably as far back as high school days, but their prices always left me thinking I needed to move to Seattle, join their union and go to work for them (yes, I believe Filson is a union shop, which certainly isn't a price cutter) then see if I could get an employee discount on it!

Jump forward more years than I have fingers and toes to count on, and the price of the gun case had risen to $300. They had 'em on sale for $200, and I figured "Ok, I paid $100 for a Boyt (from Korea, now China) which couldn't hold a candle to the old U.S. made Boyts we used almost daily in the gun shop, and they're splitting the difference with you, so give it a try."

I did. Only one regret: I wished I'd known how dry their leather is. They brag on it, as being top quality U.S. made bridle leather. Well, one end of the carrying strap cracked the first time I put a gun in the case and walked around the house with it to get the length adjusted. I was less than pleased, and called Filson's to see about exchanging the strap.

The first thing the lady asked me was if I'd had the case out in freezing weather. No. She told me they'd had some problems with recent batches of leather not liking the cold. Had I treated the leather yet? No, I hadn't. They recommend Obenauf's and she suggested I treat all the leather on the case, sooner rather than later. I didn't have any of that, but did have a fresh tin of Huberd's which has served well with other leather products. Then she wanted me to send the case back, on my dime, rather than just send them the strap. The cost of shipping wasn't that far off the cost of a new strap which they'd ship for free. So I waited until they had straps on sale and bought one for a spare, in case the original kept cracking. The case had now soaked up half the tin of Huberd's. There's a fair amount of leather there and most of it was still thirsty!

While waiting for the new strap to arrive, I showed the original to a now deceased friend who was a retired saddle maker. He looked, said something less than complimentary about the quality of so much of the leather we get in the U.S. these days, then told me to treat it with a liquid product, just a bit at a time, until it quit soaking the stuff up. He suggested Lexol, which a lot of people like. I've not been a fan of it, though, so I set to treating all the original leather with "pure" neatsfoot oil (not the "compound") from Fiebing's. The case is now several years old, gets moderate but regular use, looks like new, and that original strap has only gotten a bit softer, like nicely broken in boots, with no further cracking. I give all the leather a refresher treatment of neatsfoot oil now about once a year, and may never need that spare strap (which can be used on a couple of my other cases in the mean time.)

Is it a $300 case? Maybe to someone, though that still seems quite dear. But is it a $200 case? I think it has been to me. If Filson's canvas clothing is as tough and well put together as that case, it's probably a bargain in the long run! Just be advised about their leather...

Rick C

 

[exavid]

I don't have any of their gear but I'd never pass by Ivar's clam chowder or any kind of salmon. I'm shocked. I thought my wife was the only one in the world who doesn't like salmon, that most divine of all fish.

 

[J. R. WEEMS]

Have one of their gun belts, which is great, but the keeper sucked big time. Was 'stapled' together. :roll:

 

[pete44ru]

.

When I first started hunting, I was a young man starting a family, so I had to buy whatever was the least expensive that fit my needs.

After several years (and kids), I realized that I was having to replace most of my "outfit" annually... :roll:

Once that false economy dawned on me, I started to replace my stuff with higher quality goods from the likes of L.L.Bean, Carter, Woolrich, and (yes) Filson.

In the decades since I started doing that, although I've had to make a few repairs (mostly sewing/patching friction worn areas), I still haven't needed to replace any of the better quality goods.

Interesting tour Wayne - thanks for the pics.

.

 

[WAYNO]

.


In the decades since I started doing that, although I've had to make a few repairs (mostly sewing/patching friction worn areas), I still haven't needed to replace any of the better quality goods.



.

I had no idea of their extensive warranty.
https://www.filson.com/customer-service/support-repairs

 

[TCGuy]

The other clothing destination in Seattle is this place (which is definitely a "hipster" thing).

https://www.utilikilts.com/

They're not for everybody, obviously!

 

[WAYNO]

The other clothing destination in Seattle is this place (which is definitely a "hipster" thing).

https://www.utilikilts.com/

They're not for everybody, obviously!

That must be where this guy shops. :mrgreen:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cnVjkE87FDY

 

[TCGuy]

The other clothing destination in Seattle is this place (which is definitely a "hipster" thing).

https://www.utilikilts.com/

They're not for everybody, obviously!

That must be where this guy shops. :mrgreen:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cnVjkE87FDY

Their customers make their own commercials.

Like this one: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ky93GpjObzI