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Jill is wearing
BC Hats The
Bushwalker in
bark, with
suede finish
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Viv loves her
BC Hats
Bac-Pac
Traveller in
bark, with
suede finish
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WAVE Journey tested BC Hats - The
Bushwalker, and The Bac-Pac Traveller.
Jill enjoyed the comfort and fit of her
Bushwalker hat. It lived up to its reputation,
has been crushed while travelling and come
back into shape. Bill created this hat because
his customers demanded a sleek low crown.
The Bushwalker will keep you dry with
rainproof leather and a wide brim which also
provides excellent U.V. protection. The brim
has been reinforced with a flexible wire to
allow this hat to be crushed.
Viv has been wearing her Bac-Pac Traveller
hat since it arrived three weeks ago and
enjoys the fit and protection from the
elements. It's small enough to take anywhere,
can easily be packed in a bag and then
brought back into use without losing its shape.
The Bac Pac Traveller features a small brim
which is reinforced with a flexible wire to allow
this hat to be crushed if needed for travel. It is
designed with a snap on each side which
allows for a band or scarf of your choice. This
hat is made with rainproof suede and is fitted
with a comfortable suede sweat band.
WJ recommends BC Hats and won't leave
home again without them.
BC Hats website: www.bchats.com
Their website lists information on the products
and where they can be purchased.
Tested: July 2007
Reviewed: July 2007
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BC Hats by Will Conner
In April of 1969 Bill Conner was making and selling all
kinds of fine handmade leathergoods. In the beginning,
sandals were his most popular item but it wasn't long until
his original hats became his most sought after product.
Below is an old, torn and faded magazine I found in a
shoe box called Earth Garden. It contains early
information about Bill Conner and his first published
article on leather work.
I was recently speaking with one of my father's
leathercraft teachers form the 60's, Dan Holiday and he
said, "young Bill was able to figure out the best way to put
a wire in the brim of a leather hat so that it could be
shaped, he just had a knack for it." Today his original
design and construction method is world renowned and
the quality of a B.C Leather hat is still unsurpassed.
With the creation of B.C Leather Hats, Australia's hat
industry was revolutionized. Suddenly there was a choice
on the market for a new type of functional headwear
besides the traditional Fur Felt. In 1988 when Australia
hosted the World Expo, B.C. Hats became internationally
recognized. And later, in 1993, Bill won the prestigious
Exporter of the Year Award for the State of New South
Wales. He received this coveted award in recognition for
not only creating Australia's original leather hat but
successfully bringing it to the world market
Today, B.C. Hats is still a family owned company
dedicated to quality, service, and original Australian hats!
-Will Conner
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Western boots
by Ariat
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Ariat Women’s
Cobalt™ XR Pro
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Ariat Women’s
Heritage
Stockman
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WJ wore Ariat cowboy boots on our recent
dude ranch trip in Idaho.
Incredibly comfortable and functional boots!
From the barn, to the saddle to the dance
floor, WJ was in step thanks to their Ariat
boots.
Jill tested Ariat® Women’s Cobalt™ XR Pro -
Designed to meet the rigorous demands of
the serious horseman, professional rider and
trainer, featuring:
* Cobalt™ XR technology extends stability and
provides increased balance in the stirrup and
on the ground
* Full grain leather shaft
* Premium shoulder or analine cowhide
leather foot
* Leather lined
* Duratread™ outsole
* Saddle vamp on some styles
* 8-row stitch pattern
* 11" height
* W toe profile
Viv tested Ariat® Women’s Heritage Stockman
- Traditional styling and superior comfort for
wear all-day, every day, featuring:
* Full grain leather foot and shaft
* Leather lined
* Saddle vamp on some styles
* Duratread™ outsole
* Single stitch welt
* 6-row stitch pattern
* 11" height; U toe profile
Ariat's website:
www.ariat.com
Tested: July 2007
Reviewed: July 2007
WJ recommends Ariat Western boots and will
be found wearing them as much as possible.
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Ariat International - The World's Leading Performance
Equestrian Brand
Ariat was founded with one simple objective - to provide
the most technologically advanced riding boots to the
world's top equestrian athletes.
In 1990, co-founders Beth Cross and Pam Parker set out
to create a new company and a new way of thinking about
footwear for riders. The two realized that traditional riding
boots, both English and Western weren't all that well
suited for riding. They were stiff, heavy and hard on the
feet.
So they assembled a group of top footwear engineers
and designers, and set them on the task of creating the
world's most technically innovative performance riding
boot for both English and Western riders. They started by
re-designing the outsole, rethinking the arch support
system and finally taking a hard look at the suitability of
"traditional" last shape and fit.
While they were establishing the technology platform for
Ariat boots, they were also talking to hundreds of top
riders who helped in the design and development of the
final product.
In 1993, Ariat shipped their first pair of boots.
Today, Ariat offers a full range of Western and English
riding boots, work boots and casual footwear. Our
products are sold around the world in over 4,000 retail
outlets.
Whether you are a professional equestrian athlete or
novice rider, Ariat has a performance technology
designed for you. Ariat boots cushion the foot while
stabilizing the heel and arch, dramatically reducing
fatigue and stress to feet, legs and the lower back.
America's number one English riding boot and fastest
growing Western boot company, Ariat is now recognized
as the official boot of numerous prestigious associations
around the world.
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Fox River Socks ~ www.foxsox.com
Fox River has a great selection of socks for
the entire family and WJ sampled a variety of
their womens socks - casual, liners, athletic,
AXT wick dry, their good earth collection and
more.
Talk about responsible innovation! A few
pairs of the socks we tested were made from
Ingeo (TM) corn fiber, a 100% annually
renewable resource, fully compostable in the
right conditions and with all the performance
benefits you would expect. Moisture wicking,
exceptional fit, durable and comfortable. Fox
River Socks are terrific - check out their
website and their "Find Your Sock" page
helps you figure out exactly the right sock and
the right size. Viv and Jill each took ten pairs
of Fox River Socks on their South Africa
adventure. We love them! Great fit, fun
designs, comfortable, no blisters (Viv always
gets blisters), durable and reasonably priced.
Triple love the AXT wick dry.
www.foxsox.com
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Fox River Mills ~ www.foxsox.com
Fox River Mills, Inc. was founded in Appleton, Wisconsin
in 1900 and got its name from its location in the Fox River
Valley. During its first 60 years, Fox River manufactured
socks, mittens and gloves primarily for hunters, fishermen
and lumberjacks. In the early 1960s, Fox River extended
its product line to include new and innovative styles and
colors to keep pace with the expanding active sports
market.
In 1985, Fox River began manufacturing hosiery under
the Wick Dry® brand name. The patented Wick Dry®
Health System™ reinforced Fox River’s commitment to
meet and exceed consumers’ expectations. Today, that
commitment continues with innovations like our award-
winning high-performance socks-Wick Dry®, anatomical
styles, and the naturally antimicrobial X-STATIC® (X-
Static)—The Silver Fiber® socks. NASA has even
certified four of our styles for use in the space program.
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