He works in Wigwam socks, he professionally Big Game Hunt Guides in Wigwam socks, he travels to the Middle East and Beyond on Armed Forces Entertainment Tours in Wigwam socks, and he is a big supporter of our American Made brand. Here is his latest testimonial:

Please pass onto everyone at Wigwam my thanks for putting me in the most comfortable, highest functioning socks I've ever worn. They got me through 12 hour days at the Vancouver Olympics as the Field Talent Annoucer for all the Nordic Events. I wore your product inside a pair of brand new TAC Issued US Armed Forces Combat Boots (which I wear as a way of showing support to our soldiers and their families).

Simply amazing quality. As a 9 year veteran, former National Team Athlete in the sport of Biathlon, 14 Year Veteran of Coaching and Servicing for the US Ski Team and Olympic Teams, I've had my share of socks on my feet.

I'm happy to be promoting my use of your products. Your products American made and American quality really rings with me. Thank you.

- Rob Powers

Landscape and wildlife photography brings me to many different places to make presentations. I get a lot of questions about the kinds of gear I use. Obviously, the camera equipment I use is important. However, what most people don’t realize is that the gear I wear in many regards is just as important as what I use to create my images.

In other words, my socks are JUST as important as my lenses, or filter systems. Your socks!? You’re kidding, right? Let me explain.

Every time I go out, I learn something, whether weakness or strength. If it's a new route or a route I've been on a bunch of times, it seems as though something is always revealed. A lot of the time is can be a humbling experience, and sometimes it can be an experience of perfection. These moments vary from time to time...but I guess that's what it's all about...allowing those moments in and using them for the greater good of your goals. And hopefully, someday, at some point, you'll get the opportunity to put to work everything you've learned, all the experiences you've had, to persevere past your limit.

This year has been a totally different year of climbing for me. It's the first year that i've actually tried to climb and climb past my "limit". What a trip this has been. It's forced me into positions that are totally out of my comfort level. During a day of training, my coach began to push me in this area "comfort", as he recognized that my climbing was "too comfortable". The result of this process, me taking a huge whipper off of a tiny icicle falling 25ft top speed. It was cool. The point: to stop climbing comfortably and push past your "safety blanket". We're getting there in this area. If you want to push in your sport, you can't stay at a "comfortable level". You need to put down your blanky and give 'er.

The night before a big comp, or any comp for that matter can be an emotional rollercoaster. At the world Cup in Saas Fee, we had a big athletes dinner, did some “testing” for a UIAA survey, mingled a bunch, had a big dinner, and then went home. (Oh, side note, I played a lot of ping pong and owned the table all night…beating all the euros! Yah!). When we got back to the apartement, I tuned my tools, tried to relax and then went to bed. The problem with bed was that my body still wasn’t used to the time change, so sleeping ended up being sort of minimal. So basically I layed in bed for a few hours, then got about 6hrs of sleep. Not bad, but not great. Sleep is important…especially before a big comp, or anything that requires energy and focus.

Isolation.

When my mom used to ask me what I want for Christmas it was always a quick easy answer, 'wool socks'. While to most, socks may not seem like an awe-inspiring present, but for me it was the perfect gift. Warm, comfortable. There are few better things than having toasty feet on a cold day.

Now-a-days, I ask for Carbon offsets as presents so my sock collection has dwindled a bit. Never fear, the sock fairy is near. I received a box of Wigwam socks from the North Pole today and immediately put on a pair. My feet were pleased with my behavior - especially since I had been wearing the same pair for the last three days.

Wigwam socks in the picture: 40 Below, Blue Ox, Cool-Lite Hiker Pro, Merino Comfort Hiker and The Ice Sock.

Wigwam Mills, A couple of months ago I sent you a letter about our team of Marines out here and wondered if you could send us any socks. To my surprise a large box of 30 socks arrived. I distributed them out to all the Marines. They were all really excited and believe it or not I have converted many of them on "nice" socks. Many of them use cheap socks and swear by them. However, now that they have worn wigwam socks they have "seen the light" Thanks so much again for supporting the Marines out here. We really appreciate it.

- Ben Crovella

 

A letter from our troops:

Dear Wigwam,

It has been the worst day of my life. I am sure you heard the news about SE Afghanistan and the roadside bomb that killed 8 US soldiers. They were my plt. Out of the 25 guys in my plt, 8 died yesterday. Then today we recieved your package with the socks. My SQD was in tears knowing that someone back home took time to send us socks, and the fact that we got them SO QUICKLY.

The term "It is what it is" relates to pretty much everything in life.  It's simple, yet deep.  To find the mental position of accepting this term for what it is, it can prove to be a great challenge.  Allowing such a term to dominate any given situation that would normally cause frustration and dismay, it takes time and effort.  The term offers relief.  It presents opportunity.  You just need to be willing and focused.

Finding the right direction is something that only you can answer.  No book, video, coach, friend, or parent can help you...but only suggest to you.  At the end of the day, you're the one that has to put one foot in front of the other.  Some days that can prove to be very challenging.  However, what it comes down to...is how deep you're willing to dig in order to keep your feet moving.

A lot of the time it's hard to find the right direction, the one that works best for you. There's so much literature, so many opinions, out there, typically you end up just pulling all your hair out from frustration. How do you know what or who to listen to? How do you know that the new book on the shelf has all the answers, boasting that this new and improved "way" is the right way? Well, put simply...you don't.

Stepping backwards is always a hard thing to do.  Naturally, we just want to keep moving forwards.  It takes patience, humbleness, and hard work to step back for the long run of gaining momentum.  A route that i've been working on for over a year, my nemesis, that's been mentally toiling with me day and night.  A route that caused injury and other such hindrances...there was something different to this route.  I've climbed harder routes than this one, but as i've begun to realize that it wasn't about the number grade, but the journey to the succession of sending such a project.

For more check out: http://www.machavok.com/Climbing