Maggie's Farm

As I put my hunting gear away for the summer, I am reminded of a deep truth: When buying hunting trousers, always buy 'em at least an inch bigger in the waist.

I always forget to do this, and then, when I put on layers, I cannot button my pants, which makes me feel like I don't have it all together, which hurts my shooting.

And if it's a Bluebird day, then I can just use suspenders - braces - to keep my trousers up. They remain, I believe, a much under-appreciated item of clothing. Like hats, suspenders need to be brought back into style because it isn't fair that only bankers get to wear them. Bankers wear them for decoration, but their real purpose, of course, is so your trouser waist can be loose enough for comfortable sitting, without falling down.

Image: Nice Filson suspenders, rugged enough to last a lifetime in the woods