PMCI December 2014 | Page 16

MEET THE MANUFACTURER pmcimagazine.com 16 GOING WILD Bill Thomas gives us the low-down on a company he has been working with for the past few years - and the awesome gear they make I t has been my great pleasure over the past few years to work closely with the great team at Wild Things Tactical; this premium US manufacturer of clothing and gear is best known as an outdoor pursuits brand, coming up with technically advanced designs. Combining huge knowledge of the technical manufacture process along with “on the ground” operational experience, these guys really know how to build gear for the harshest of terrain and conditions! Wild Things was founded in 1981 with a set of designs that were considered by many to be the first look at specialised gear and clothing for “Light is Right” alpine climbing in the United States. Founded as a technical outerwear and gear manufacturer by two accomplished alpine climbers, John Bouchard and Marie-Odile Meunier, Wild Things has been referred to as the “Tin Shed” of alpine climbing in the United States, introducing generations of climbers to the fast and light philosophy of mountaineering and clothing design. From 1981 to 1990 countless big climbs were done in Wild Things gear. In the late 1990’s, Wild Things attracted the attention of the U.S. Military, designing customised gear for the SOF community. In 2000, Wild Things began winning contracts to design and produce gear for the U.S. Army and the USMC