Who
Wild Things® is a technical outerwear and gear manufacturer founded in 1981 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 Light is Right philosophy of mountaineering and clothing design. Under the WT Tactical™ brand, Wild Things® brings this experience to a line of gear tailored to the needs of the Military and Law Enforcement communities.
What
Wild Things designs and manufactures two lines of technical outdoor clothing and gear: Wild Things® for the alpine climber and backcountry enthusiast, and WT Tactical™ for the Military and Law Enforcement communities. Our WT Tactical™ line of technical apparel for the U.S. Military is Berry Amendment compliant. We offer a range a high quality product including a multi-layer technical clothing system designed for the SOF user as well as the USMC Happy Suit and the GEN III Level 7 (Parka and Trousers) for the U.S. Army’s ECWCS. Wild Things is also licensed to manufacture clothing under the M&P® by Smith & Wesson® brand, leveraging its WT Tactical® designs for the greater LE market.
Where
Our HQ is Newport, RI and we have a product design and development studio in North Conway, NH. We also maintain a short-run and prototype manufacturing facility in Gorham, NH. We sell our products directly through our website (wttactical.com), our retail store in North Conway, NH, and through a select group of Prime Vendors and other key distributors. We have recently expanded our reach to include the international military community.
When
Wild Things was founded in 1981 with a set of designs that were considered by many to be the first look at specialized gear and clothing for Light is Right alpine climbing in the United States. From 1981 through 1990 nearly every big climb was done with at least some items from Wild Things gear. In the late 1990’s, Wild Things attracted the attention of the U.S. Military, designing customized 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, and later wrapped all of these efforts into a new brand, WT Tactical™. Today, WT Tactical™ has fulfilled over 29 U.S. Military contracts and is poised for growth with new products and through our expansion into international military markets. Wild Things will also launch a new line of alpine outerwear in time for the 2011 winter season.
Why
We perceive a need in the alpine climbing and backcountry community, as well as the Military, for durable, high-quality, lightweight gear and clothing. Our mantra, Light is Right, has been part of Wild Things since its inception. We focus on creating clean, simple designs and make them with world-class fabrics. Our purpose-built products do not have unnecessary features that add cost and weaken a garment. We believe, simply, that our approach to design and manufacturing helps our users complete their missions – granting them the freedom to move over terrain in a fast and light way, with a high degree of protection from the elements, in worry-free gear that is built to last for many years of abuse.
