You know the lumberjack blouse, but what is a lumberjack especially? Lumberjacks are mostly workers in the logging industry who harvest and transport trees for making forest products. The term lumberjack originally comes from loggers before 1945 in the USA. In that time trees were felled using hand tools. Oxes dragged the wood to the river. In this article we will tell you more about the history of the lumberjack, the importance of logging, how to wear your own lumberjack outfit and much more.

History of the lumberjack

The term lumberjack was founded in 1831. It was used to describe people in the 19th and 20th century who were loggers in the lumber industry. Around 1800 the timber industry exploded in Canada. There was a lot of work, so a lot of loggers were spending their falls and winters in the forests of the USA and Canada. Working as a logger was very hard and brought some dangers. The timber could fall. Also the weather could be unpredictable, which sometimes caused danger. There also were accidents when the timber was to be transported out of the area by the river by train. The trees were very heavy and hard to get out of the area. The trees had to be cut by axes and hand saws, which was very intensive work. In order to keep up with the heaviness of the work, the lumberjack had to eat many calories every day. The loggers often had work weeks of six days a week. The logging was always done in fall and winter. At that time it was colder and it was easier to drag and transport the wood over frozen rivers. In spring the rails mostly were too muddy to transport timber. It changed when modern techniques for cutting and transporting wood were introduced. Still weather conditions made logging very hard and dangerous work. Before steam power was advent and after the implementation of it, the logger transported the wood downriver. The oxes and horses transported the wood to the rivers which were carried downstream to sawmills. At the sawmill the wood was cut and processed into wood products. At some time flumes were used to transport the logs to the local river where they would be carried to a big sawmill. The loggers walked along the floating wood to clear jams that occurred in the streams while the wood floated down. The loggers lived in bunkhouses and tents. The sanitary conditions were very poor and there wasn't that much hygiene.

During the 1940s the work of loggers changed a lot. The work became more mechanised. Instead of hand saws and axes now chainsaws were used to cut the wood. This trend continued to today, as many lumberjacks use mechanised tractors to cut down the wood. It makes the work easier and more efficient. The loggers could work all year long and even all night with their machines.

Nowadays there are still many aspects of the old logging culture that are still alive. There are a lot of lumberjack sports, which include sewing wood by axe or hand saws. Also the old methods are still used by outdoor adventurists.

The importance of logging

Logging is very important. Many developers of eco-movements against logging are now seeing more benefits of it. In earlier years loggers sewed trees without thinking of what they were leaving behind them. Nowadays the loggers cut trees with precision. This means that new species get a chance to move in. By making use of sustainable practices for forest management, the several areas allow new species to flourish in the area, like mammals or the twinflower. Improved logging tools, careful planning and understanding of the habitats are keeping the forests healthy. That is a huge difference from the early years.

Climate change is more and more of a concern. Normally mild regions are forcing drought, which increases the risk of forest fires. If areas are densely populated with trees, it means that fires are harder to fight. If trees have fallen and remain in its place, they will rot and dry out. Then one flame soon could start a big fire. If that happens, it can take days of weeks to contain the flames. If as much dead material as possible is removed, the fire doesn’t get a chance to spread. When there is specific logging in specific areas, the fire lines can be cut to prevent spreading of wildfires. If there is drought and high wind, this can bring many dangers as we’ve already seen from huge forest fires in the USA. The wood can be very dense. There is also one thing we’ve got to have in mind. If trees are growing together and they are really big, they are left fighting for any nutrients. This leaves the tree to diseases and insect invasions that can damage the tree. If trees have more room to grow, they are better able to fight insects and other problems. And that is where a logger can help.

Lumberjack outfit

Do you want to go outdoors and live your own lumberjack experience or do you need a logger outfit for your job? Then there are a lot of clothes to choose from. If you want to dress like a lumberjack you can choose out a lot of pants. In the earlier years most lumberjacks worked through autumn and winter in the coldest parts of the USA and Canada. So they mostly wore long pants. Pants most loggers wear are utility pants with a lot of pockets. You can also choose cargo pants or straight leg jeans. Every pair of jeans or trousers where you could work hard in are suitable. As a shirt you can wear a long-sleeve shirt or a long underwear shirt with a plaid button down shirt. The color red is mostly associated with the lumberjack, but you can also choose dark blue or other colors. As accessories you can add a wool cap and a pair of suspenders. Finish it off with hiking boots or strong work boots and you are good to go.

This is what you need to be a lumberjack

If you want to be a lumberjack, there are some things you always need, such as:

• An axe: with a special axe for logging you can cut the wood with precision. The steel slices deep into the timber and doesn’t stick. Also absorbs it vibrations, so you can cut the wood perfectly.
• Pair of gloves: with a pair of gloves your hands are given extra protection while sewing the wood. If you don’t wear gloves, the chances are high that you are damaging your hands.
• A crosscut saw: a crosscut saw is perfect for cutting wood. The lance-shaped point cut the wood perfectly. Also the double pointed rakers clear dust from the groove, so you don’t have to do this yourself.
• A chainsaw: a chain saw is an absolute must have while cutting wood.A good chainsaw has shock absorbers, so your hands and arms stay protected.

Gear for lumberjacks in winter

In winter you’ll need some specific lumberjack gear, like:

• Boots: if you are cutting wood in winter, you need to be prepared for snow on the ground, but also for wed grounds. Sneakers won’t help you if you want to sew wood, so you better wear boots to not get wet feet. Ensure that your boots have a strong grip. This will help manage the slippery snow and nasty mud during winter.
• Layers: if you wear layers, you will definitely keep yourself warm. When you feel it's too hot, you can easily remove the coat and sweater and only wear your shirt. If it is winter and you are going to log, it is a good idea to have at least three layers on. It's also a good idea to wear thermal underwear on your legs and torso. You can also choose to wear two pairs of socks. It helps keep your feet warm and prevents blisters.
• Gloves: it is highly recommended to wear gloves while logging. But when it is winter, it is more important. When you work outside, your hands will freeze sooner. The hands are the first part of the body which becomes cold. Make sure your hands are properly protected and insulated, so you won’t damage your hands while logging.
• Thermos: a thermos is really a necessity on the colder days. There is nothing that makes you feel better than a hot drink on a cold day outdoors. So pack yourself a thermos and a hot drink to warm yourself up and improve your blood circulation. Buy a thermos of good quality that will keep your beverages hot for hours and doesn’t leak.

Order your lumberjack gear at Fostex Garments

Are you looking for lumberjack clothes or lumberjack gear for your job or going outdoors? Then we would highly recommend our own gear. In our online shop you will find various logger gear and products. All our products are of the highest quality, modern and also affordable. You will always get more than what you paid for. Don’t wait any longer and place an order directly in our webshop. Do you have questions about our lumberjack gear? Don’t hesitate to ask for help. We can help you find the best lumberjack gear for your purposes. We are happy to help you find the best lumberjack gear!