Blog

Alpha Direct Shrinkage

By Dan Timmerman | November 27, 2024 | 0 Comments

I have likely sewn through a few thousand yards of Alpha Direct fabric and have been wearing it on a seasonal, almost daily frequency for over 5 years. I usually have around five or six garments in the rotation from Oct to May. I’ve used them in most of the conditions one could think of. […]

Growth

By Dan Timmerman | October 22, 2024 | 5 Comments

Recently, due to our order limiting, there have been a few questions popping up about Timmermade scaling to meet more demand. What people don’t understand is that this is incredibly skilled work, with literally no pool from which to hire from. Sure, there are a few places around the US that have a small pool […]

What is the point of rainwear?

By Dan Timmerman | June 25, 2024 | 6 Comments

Of course, without giving it much thought, the obvious answer is to keep us dry. When we give it some thought and consider all the different scenarios in which we would use rain gear, we see that it isn’t necessarily being dry that is important, and often, that being dry is not only impossible, but […]

Business Strategies

By Dan Timmerman | June 22, 2024 | 2 Comments

That is a funny title because it isn’t like there is much of a business model steering this whole thing. There is certainly some steering away from what I think is wrong in modern business practices. Quite often there is a real emphasis on marketing, at the expense of quality. It’s everywhere in the mass […]

Alpha Optimization

By Dan Timmerman | March 6, 2024 | 0 Comments

Polartec Alpha was designed to be a batting insulation, encapsulated between two shells. Alpha Direct was designed as an inner lining, to be sewn to an outer shell. The cottage industry was smart to build these as stand alone garments because that allowed it to be used as a modular system. Instead of being stuck […]

Metrics for Wind and Rain Shells

By Dan Timmerman | May 3, 2023 | 9 Comments

The industry uses a few different metrics for assessing wind and rain shell performance. CFM (cubic feet per minute), which is a measurement of air permeability, or what volume of air can be pushed through a fabric. MVTR (moisture vapor transmission rate), which is a measurement of how much moisture vapor gas can be pushed […]

Temperature Rating for Clothing

By Dan Timmerman | May 2, 2023 | 0 Comments

As it is, assessing the temperature rating for sleep systems is tricky. Everyone’s body is different and the level of insulation each of us needs to feel comfortable at a set temp is variable. However, with sleep systems, one constant we can rely on is that everyone is going to be at, or close to, […]

The Sizing Process

By Dan Timmerman | May 1, 2023 | 0 Comments

There is no doubt, the sizing system that we use here at Timmermade is unique. Often times, when a process is different, it can be misunderstood as complicated because our brains are “worn in” to a different process. Usually the path of least resistance is to stick to the status quo and not question it. […]

Why No Pockets?

By Dan Timmerman | March 26, 2023 | 0 Comments

Generally speaking, pockets are really important for carrying items for quick access and for keeping certain items warm in winter temperatures. However, like most good things, there are appropriate applications for them and inappropriate applications for them. For many mass-market items, weight and performance are minor goals and fashion and convenience take priority. For the […]

My Packs/Bags

By Dan Timmerman | March 18, 2021 | 4 Comments

I’ve made dozens of packs for myself over the years and keep graduating to further refinement. A few of my primary goals have been bounce-free running performance, back ventilation, and better weight distribution. They are all interrelated but the running aspect is the one that really throws a wrench in the works. With a traditional […]