By Peggy Tartaro,
Executive Editor

On the second day of the 2008 SHOT Show, I trekked from one end of the Central Hall, where the Second Amendment Foundation booth was, to the opposite wall, to make my afternoon appointment with Ami Terai of Filson. It was a long walk, but I have long since given up anything but the most comfortable shoes at SHOT, so I actually arrived a few minutes early.

Amy was most welcoming as she lead me around Filson's lodge-inspired booth and sat down to talk company history-both its past and its newest chapter, which includes a line of women's clothing for the first time in the company's 101-year history.
Clinton C. Filson started his company as an outfitter in Seattle for those taking off for the Klondike for the Gold Rush and for others involved in the logging industry. He received his first patent in 1914 for the Cruiser coat, a garment the company still makes.

In addition to general outdoor gear, like jackets, vests and boots, the company also makes hunting clothing and fly fishing gear (as well as luggage, dog accessories and more), but until this year the company made nothing specifically for the women's market.
New management noticed that the company had women customers, obviously aware of their excellent track record, deep product line and longevity (the company has records of garments passed down from one generation to the next), but no product designed especially for women.

While some clothes, especially in the outdoor field, are truly unisex-socks come to mind here-many are not. Filson set to work on a women's line, which debuted at SHOT, and whose Spring iteration will be available this March, with a Fall 2008 line available later in the year.

C.C. Filson's Cruiser jacket is now styled for women in 100% Virginal Mackinaw Wool with cotton oil finish shelter cloth yokes and a plethora of pockets. It retails for $205.
A very handsome Tin Cloth Field Jacket also in oil-finished 100% cotton, would be at home on the range, but just about anywhere else as well. Retailing at $270, the jacket comes in sizes XS-2XL (most of Filson's Women products are available in XS-XL).
The company also showed some nice looking Shooting Shirts, available in long sleeved ($65) and short sleeved ($60) models, and available in a Desert Tan color and Light Blue, with shooting patches on each side of the shirt.

I've been "test driving" a Filson Mackinaw Wool Vest for a few weeks now, starting at SHOT. The Virgin Wool vest with double front pockets and adjustable back waist tabs ($105) has been out and about in a variety of settings.

I wore it running from casino to casino on Super Bowl Sunday in Las Vegas, where the deep front pockets kept my hands warm. I wore it over a long sleeved t-shirt and jeans for the long, long flight home and was plenty comfortable, even though I'm usually cold on planes. Arriving home after midnight and to an ice-covered car, the vest (now topped with a wool jacket) was fine for chipping my way into the car. It's also seen duty for snow shoveling and dog walking-where the pockets are super handy for all the little extras-from water bottle to plastic bags. The generous arm holes allow for ease of movement whether ice scraping, slot pulling or snow shovelling. And, although the fit is typically boxy, the vest actually falls a few inches below the waist, so there's no "gaposis."

The Mackinaw Vest comes in Charcoal, Gray and Brown as well as a Red/Black check. Since mine's the Red/Black check, I also wore it on a chilly (high temperature of 28) Valentine's Day with a black sweater, black pants and a red chenille scarf-fashionable and comfortable-eat your heart out, Cashmere Mafia!

The dense, but not heavy wool, has an almost felted feel to it, and the company claims the formula absorbs up to 30% of its weight in water while maintaining its insulating qualities.

All of the seams on the vest are nicely finished, and-unusual to me even in a high-end gardemnt-buttons are well-sewed and there were no thread "kites" hanging off of it.
Nearly 70% of the Filson line is US made and available at selected dealers, at the company's two retail stores (in hometown Seattle and in Denver's Cherry Creek neighborhood) or on-line at filson.com.

Filson products come with a "Garment Registry" in keeping with the company's slogan "Might As Well Have the Best," guaranteeing the product will perform to the customer's satisfaction.

In addition to specifically-purposed outdoor pieces, the Women's Line includes some casual everyday t-shirts, henleys and polos, which all come in tan, light blue, white and a very appealing salmon color.