UpNorthica Reviews: Duluth Pack Moose Hide Choppers

Duluth Pack has been making their Moose Hide Choppers since infinity ago. For so long, in fact, I’d heard a rumor that they actually hold a patent on the moose itself.

As with their canoe packs, Duluth Pack’s choppers have maintained a certain loyalty among outdoorsy types. While most outerwear brands have chased after ever-newer materials and technology, the choppers have changed little since Ely tanner Henry began making them in 1974. Are they still tough enough?

Devoid of clever or fancy features, the choppers are made of quality material that’s constructed well.

The success of the choppers lies in how they insulate. Instead of pillowing and suffocating your hands with lofty fill, they use both rag wool liners and a comfortable envelope of trapped air. The result? In sub-zero temps, these were all I needed; the warmth never ran out. When active, my hands never felt sweat soaked or overheated. The liners wicked away the moisture while the moose hide kept in the heat.

I wish all gloves and mittens had removable liners. These worked well; cleaning and drying them out was a breeze.

In a variety of conditions and activities, they were impressively resilient. Whether pawing through crusty snow or slush, the moose hide held up well.

The cotton trim did fray easily on my pair, however, with the stitching soon following it.

Aside from that, I found myself favoring Duluth Pack’s Moose Hide Choppers often, leaving my high-tech gloves to pad the inside of the family hat-and-glove bin.