Filson has been making tough garments since 1897. Founded in Alaska to outfit the Goldrush, Filson still makes hard-working, all-natural clothing that has stood the test of time.

I’m a big fan of any ‘Classic’ clothing. The jean. The white tee-shirt. The two-piece black suit. Work wear. And classic work wear is something that Filson does very well.

The Filson item I tested for this article is the ‘Single Tin’ pant.  This is the best pant I have ever worn camping or in the woods. It’s fabricated from a very tough canvas fabric that has been treated with oil to repel water. I have worn these pants in a diversity of environments including the Amazon jungle, North American pine forests, high Andean Mountains and even rainy Toronto streets. The one constant: I’m yet to be disappointed. They look good, and once they are worn in they fit like an armoured glove. A word of caution, however. They do take some wearing in. To begin with they can chaff and feel uncomfortable. Also they are soaked in oil to provide a water repellencey, which soaks onto the inside of the pant too. I found the best way to deal with this was to wear them with a pair of cotton long-johns that soak up excess oil until it is displaced into the fabric properly.

These are also by no means summer pants. They’re great in spring, fall and winter, but prove to be too clammy for a summer trip.  They can also be a little stiff to hike in, but I found that their tough construction more than makes up for this.

The entire luggage and clothing line can be viewed at www.filson.com.