Arborwear is a company that makes durable work clothing, originally for the arborist and forest industry. I became interested in their products years ago after reading a magazine article in which Jon Krakuer mentioned that he wears their Original Tree Climbers Pants pretty much every day. I ordered a pair for myself and at $54.95 they are some of the greatest pants I've ever owned.
The Originals and the other models, save the Tech Pant, that the guys and gals at A/Wear make is similar to a pair of Carhartt work pants in that heavy canvas duck is the material used. All similarities end there. A/Wear pants are tapered at the ankle, a design which keeps them from bunching up under tree climbing spikes but which also keeps one from wearing baggy, heat losing trou. They make for a neat look and the taper also keeps your pants close to your legs and for me, that means no chafing and the ability to move fast. Also, unlike Carhartt pants, the Original tree Climbers have no plethora of pockets and hammer loops waiting to get hung up on doors and such. There's one pocket besides the front and rear and it is on the top of the right thigh. I clip my pocket knife here or use it for a pen or pencil when wood working, I use it for a MARS bar too in the cool months, a suggestion gleaned from their catalog.
I get almost $400.00 a year in a work clothing allowance and I buy with my own money and wear Tree Climbers instead of the crap I can get free. The first year I did this, I bought just two pair of the Diesel colored pant. I'd wear one and wash the other, back and forth, five or six days a week for the whole year save July and August when I'm allowed to wear shorts. Those two pair of pants lasted two years. A pair of Carhartt duck canvas work pants didn't make it four months, same treatment, worn every other day with a pair of LEE denim work pants as the other. Buddy Lee might be tough but the jeans lasted two months total.
They also make one of the greatest ball caps anywhere and I have at least two of each in each color as well as one of each color of their Tree Climber's belts. They are a cut and burn style nylon belt with heavy duty nylon D ring buckle that are perfect for not only holding up one's pants but also, flying. No metal for the detector to discern hence one gets to keep their trou up. The caps, by the way, are eminently moldable and so comfy it's silly.
Their sweatshirts are, bar none, the best sweatshirts ever made. My double thick green is well worn but still looks great, a little faded but otherwise fully intact and it has endured much time in the yard, chainsawing, hunt prep in the field and hours and hours and hours of loading metal scrap in the truck. Like all the A/Wear goods, this is the real deal.
On a final note, my wife and I have actually become friends with John and the rest of the A/Wear crew, Paul and Bill, and these are really, really great people. If you need hardy gear, go with A/Wear! read more
