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  Ric Cox February 21, 2011 at 2:45am

  I concur.  The people in the think tank knew what they were doing.  I got divorced a few years ago and from time to time have had to live off the grid in my car.  I still have the LL Bean sleeping bag.

   

  Here in Texas, cold weather is anything below 50.  So, when I pull out my sleeping bag rated to 20 below, I am thankful that someone knew what they were doing.  I wore the big blue LL Bean coat for years.  My interium year interim year was spent in Bismark, ND.   Over the years, I grew out of it (by about 50 lbs. 

   

  Down here, Walmart has Herman Survivors, but none in stock are rated to 20 below.  Next year, I may just order them from somewhere online or up north.

   

  By the way,  I do remember you.
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  Donna Hobbs Schleicher February 20, 2011 at 4:23pm

  I still have some of my stuff! When it's really, really cold, I still pull out my trusty, dependable, big green down coat and my Sorell snow boots. They are bad to the bone!I have always been so thankful for them. Living in Colorado, I have actually used them when it's especially bad weather. My son loves the outdoors so he has taken most of my camping stuff. He got a kick out of his mom having all these things! I must say, I think those that picked out what we bought did a good job! I know many things are out-dated for today's standards, but it's been over 30 years and I still use some of my stuff! Pretty impressive!
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  Ric Cox February 20, 2011 at 2:51pm

  You are a real trooper (wayfer) to still have your pak.  I remember being told it should be with us the rest of our lives.  Right!   Like I had room in an apartment for all the class materials and my Mal Pak and a child or two.  It causes me to pause to wonder how you did keep it.

   

  It can boggle the mind to think about the changes in history had the cell phone been around.  For that matter, GPS would have been great in all the wars (Texas included).  Imagine going toward the enemy and missing the battlefield by a mile or two.  Hmm. 
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  John Richeson February 20, 2011 at 9:31am

  I still have my Mal Pak in my attic from then. Having grown up in the country way out in the middle of nowhere in Kentucky, I always liked the idea of wilderness survival. I find it fascinating. My brothers and I would camp for days with no communication from our parents. They knew we would be ok.  

   

  But one thing I would add today is my I-Phone. Ha, ha. Daniel Boone could have used one of those. Comapss, GPS, solar charger, Google to see world news and to spot the nearest edible plants and of course some nice music along the trail. It doesnt seem right, does it. Ha, ha.     
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  Jeff Stanley January 19, 2011 at 1:56pm

  I suggest you give them to them. As far as I can see the way things are going, they may need them yet.

   

  :)
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  Gail Spicer May 12, 2010 at 12:19pm

  I have a Mal pack for my children...who are now mid 20"s.....lol!!gota clean out my basement!!
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  Ric Cox May 6, 2010 at 4:58pm

  Frank,
  
  That is great information. I will check it out.
  
  Richard Barton
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  Frank Abissi May 6, 2010 at 12:57pm

  Let me interject, DON'T USE SNOSEAL!! You see technology has caught up with foot wear or vice versa. You see A large percentage of boots are made with Gore-tex or some similar products. these products breath by having millions of tiny holes per square inch. Large enough for air and water vapor to pass through but too small for water droplets to get through. the heat from your foot pushes the moisture though the material. Now, SNO-SEAL is a paste that fills all the pores i the leather so as to not allow any water to get into the boot. it also doesn't let any water escape either. If it's a paste addition don't use it.
  
  Now what to use and why. The best products on the market are made by Granger or NikWax. Either Leather and Farbic Proof or The Aqueous Wax is a liquid which connects to the leather fibers on a molecular level. It builds a one molecule thick layer over the leather fibers which as a result waterproofs the leather. It allows Air and water vapor to pass through leather while not allowing water droplets to pass through.
  
  BTW. Putting your boots near a fire or in an oven is a no-no. do so and soon your boots will begin to sing as the soles come off.
  
  After waterproofing with NikWax if the boots begin to get heavy because of water absorption, dry them out and reapply. (You usually have to do this twice a year. Because I use my gear almost constantly during the summer and winter I usually do a treatment every 3 months.
  
  For more on how to waterproof things look at Nikwax's site. God Bless
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  Ric Cox May 2, 2010 at 4:15pm

  Thanks Cindy,
  
  I did find out they were actually called "Herman Survivors". Wal-mart has a pair they promote, however they are not insulated to -20. You are right though, Vibram soles and sno-seal!!!! Gotta have it.
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  Cindy Kuchmy Kelley May 2, 2010 at 9:43am

  I think they were "Red Wing" boots. - Remember to get Vibram soles! Also, you are supposed to cure them by putting a can of sno-seal on them.