Page 21 - Home & Garden

I wanted to test these socks in a real atmosphere to see if they could live up anywhere close to their name "40 below." Not sure how many of you guys have been in 40 below ZERO weather but that's pretty cold. In fact, that's so cold that I did not get to test these socks down to that level, but I did get to test them in relatively cold working conditions at about ZERO degrees. In this test we were insulating an old shed, outside of town, at night, on the coldest night of the year from about 6PM to a little after 10PM. So- my point here is that it was cold. It's important to keep your feet warm in the winter. Warm feet keep your feet dexterous, and actually improves the ability for your immune system to function properly and fight of flus. The 40 Below socks are warm, and have 49% wool content, the best natural fiber for warmth, odor, and...

I've been carrying a gun around the mountains long enough now to remember and follow the "expert advice" to wear two pairs of socks inside my elk hunting boots for comfort and to prevent blisters. So, when I was introduced to Smart Wool (merino wool) several years ago, I had two immediate reactions. Darn Tough Socks: $20 for Socks?! First, I couldn't believe how comfortable they were and second, I couldn't believe the price tag! Who in their right mind would pay $20 for a pair of socks? After just one trip wearing them, I couldn't believe I'd survived this long without them and gladly budgeted "sock money" into my annual hunting/backpacking account. Want to know why these socks are so expensive? Besides the price (which I grudgingly came to accept), the only complaint I had was a lack of durability, manifesting with heels that would routi...

Who doesn't love a good recycled craft project? Being that we are in the "age of wasting things," I know I love to find things around my house to reuse and create something new with. Like any rancher or avid horse lover, you probably have a stack of battered ropes laying around in the barn. Don't have any laying around? No worries! You can buy them here. And now the fun starts what else could a used rope be good for? Well Gretchen and I came up with a few funky ideas today, so here are a couple fun wreaths to feature around your home using upcycled old ropes. Recipe for Upcycled rope SUCCESS: Used Rope (if you don't have one laying around, purchase one for $10 here!) Hot glue sticks Hot glue gun Heavy gauge wire Thin gauge wire Decorative elements (We just pulled ours from the fly shop supplies- you could do that, or just round up your ...

Being that snow has started to fall in most of our areas we thought it would be a good idea to highlight a warm winter sock: enter the Fox River Outlander. For December's Sock of the Month we had a number of our employees test these socks out. Some chose to test the socks out while working a full day on their feet in the store. Feedback from these employees was pretty universal: these are socks made for cold weather. Many of them reported their feet being "a little warm" while working throughout the day while inside. Despite the warm feet many also mentioned not noticing their feet being sweaty until late in the day, leaving all users impressed with how these socks wicked away sweat. One thing that was also mentioned was the thickness of the socks. The added thickness felt good  for the employees who worked all day on their feet, bu...

The holidays are right around the corner, and the season is always busy. If you're anything like me, and put off your Christmas shopping until December 21st, Christmas shopping can be quite the rush. We've created a little "His and Her Gift Guide" to assist you in the busy season. Just click through to the website, and have it shipped straight to your house! Spoil your lady with some great gifts from North 40 Outfitters. Add a pair of those boots she's been eyeing or pick up a cute belt! Whether she's relaxing with a glass of wine or trekking through the woods, she's ready for any adventure. Find all of "Her" Gifts by clicking the links below: Ariat Boots Gloves Wine Glass Belt Gift Cards Jacket Shirt Socks Silverware Trekking Poles Check out "His" Gifts by clicking the links below Muck Boots Socks Gift Cards Headlamp Knife Gloves Hat J...

If you live in Montana, or the Northwest for that matter, you have inevitably had at least 3 discussions already today regarding "the weather." From the changing temperatures to the howling wind. From the rain (or lack of it) to the snow (and how it is still falling in June). No matter the conversation, weather has always dictated what footwear I choose. And my footwear has always determined the type of sock that I wear underneath. Fall, although longer this year, is beginning to give way to cold nights and frosty windshields. Hunting season has also started and I am finding myself with many more excuses to wear boots rather than shoes (and on the rare occasion a pair of sandals). The FoxRiver Boot Sock is a great sock for this time of year and highlights November's Sock of the Month. It is a taller sock that fits great with my hunting b...

You did it. Spent hard earn money on a nice pair of Justin's or Tony Lama's. Then it happened: rain, mud, gumbo, pasture land flat tires... or kids, or maybe all that at once. When you want to get your boots back in action and ready for a night out, you need to do it the right way. Want to learn how to stretch your leather boots so they fit perfectly? Below you'll find a North 40 guide to getting your boots shined up like new. Step by Step Instruction on Cleaning Leather Boots 1. Use a damp cloth to remove any mud or residue (you can also use a dry eraser or brush to remove any scuff marks) 2. If your boots become wet or saturated, the first thing you need to do is remove the insole 3. Use an absorbent tissue paper such as a paper towel and dry the boot thoroughly 4. Remember to never put your boots in direct heat as it causes cracking 5...

You did it. Spent hard earn money on a nice pair of Justin's or Tony Lama's. Then it happened: rain, mud, gumbo, pasture land flat tires... or kids, or maybe all that at once. When you want to get your boots back in action and ready for a night out, you need to do it the right way. Below you'll find a North 40 guide to getting your boots shined up like new. Step by Step Instructions 1. Use a damp cloth to remove any mud or residue (you can also use a dry eraser or brush to remove any scuff marks) 2. If your boots become wet or saturated, the first thing you need to do is remove the insole 3. Use an absorbent tissue paper such as a paper towel and dry the boot thoroughly 4. Remember to never put your boots in direct heat as it causes cracking 5. Once your boots are thoroughly dry, use a leather conditioner on the boots with a dry cloth or ...

Gina Beck, Clothing Lead  "I've been here since Big R bought D & B Supply-I was a key holder there, a lead, as you call it. It's always a nervous time when companies change hands I mean for employees, you never know what's going to happen, who's going to stay, who's going to go- It wasn't like that when North 40 took the reins. As former D & B Supply employees, we were already 'family.' It was that treatment that really made an impression on me I know Renee from our CDA store, we talked and shared the same experience that feeling that right away, the store and the management, they were all invested in us it really felt like the company was 'our company.'  Now I've been here for 4 years, and I wouldn't want to work anywhere else. With this expansion, I've gone from having 6 employees to 16... and our clothing floor space? Almost...

An interview with Dr. Thomas Whiting Dr. Thomas Whiting: Not Your Average Chicken Farmer When we think chickens, we think eggs, meat and compost (if not compost, please do read on!). But there is another aspect that we may not have considered, and that is the value of chicken feathers. Has become a world leader in the production of chicken feathers used in fly tying. These feathers are renowned for their uniform feather lines and deep, rich colors. You can see a selection of Whiting feathers online here. We reached out to Dr. Whiting of Whiting Farms for some insight into one of the most elite chicken rearing facilities in the world. While the information that follows is specialized, Dr. Whiting picks up on a thread common at all levels of raising chickens: General, good poultry husbandry is the best insurance against health problems goo...

If you have chickens, or if you are thinking about starting your own chicken coop this year, there's one aspect you might have overlooked, and that's the value of chickens and organic refuse. Chickens are one of the best natural composters you can own, and it's not only easy, but better for your chickens if you can harness this composting power. All you need to do is switch up your chicken run game, aka lay down a bale of straw (which is a high carbon base) over which you pile your old broccoli, your salad scraps, trimmings from your garden and etc. The chickens will mix this with the sand from your coop. Do you know the hidden uses of chickens? Nitrogen and Chicken Poop: Garden Food The best part of this equation? Chicken poop is high-nitrogen. So not only are the chickens turning over the organic matter and mixing it with the high-carbo...

After our recent publication of our Horse's Year on Zoetis, I got to chat with a local Montana vet about real world things you can do to help prevent your horses from coming down with the deadly virus. Dr. Jack Newman was able to give me some pretty straight forward advice as to "best practices" when acting against West Nile. Check out the article we wrote with Dr. Newman on how to deworm your horse. Like the recent controversy over human vaccinations, the horse world has its own share of West Nile experts and social media "epidemics." Here are a few I've come across: 1. "Don't inoculate against West Nile because it causes arthritis in the left hock." 2.  Vaccines "dry up the joints." 3. "Vaccines cause kidney failure." These types of concerns exist, and if you have serious concerns regarding such issues, it's always best to consult...