Apparel | Outdoors Starts In Here

Our Partners Lead with Integrity. Meet the Family: Toad & Co

We are so grateful to partner with the most inspiring people and companies. We’re going to highlight them each Wednesday this season so you can see why we chose them to compliment our mission to support you in your outdoor adventures while paying attention to the greater good. We think you’ll be inspired too, by their commitment to social and corporate responsibility, sustainability and so much more. We’re all in this together. Meet the Family:

@Toad&Co
Their Mission: To lead with integrity and weave optimism
into everything they do; To create meaningful change
through socially and environmentally smart business; To
inspire people to live their fullest lives.

Formerly known as “Horny Toad” brand, they are known for organic cotton styles, a cool travel collection and their new Trail to Tavern collection. You buy they give. Click to learn more then visit us in downtown Wausau to shop their awesome clothing for men and women.

Toad’s tagline is “Keep Good Company.” It’s fitting on so many levels. Visit their site to learn and be inspired. Find out why they are Good Citizens, how they Design for Good, create Access for All, their commitment to Corporate Responsibility, Design Philosophy, eCo Fabrics and Fibers and much more.

How to Care for Performance Outerwear

If you bought your outerwear at Shep’s and you’ve worn it around making great memories and looking awesome along the way, chances are it will be time for a wash at some point.

First rule: follow manufacturer’s printed instructions, usually located on a tag inside the garment. Or, visit their website for fabric and care information. Any manufacturer’s warranty may be nullified if their instructions are not followed.

Second rule of thumb: unless it’s faux fur, don’t take it to a dry cleaner! Their process and chemicals will ruin your waterproof/breathable garment. Happily, you can wash and maintain your performance outerwear easily at home whenever you feel it’s time to be refreshed. If it’s looking dirty or water is soaking through the shell fabric, then it’s a good time to launder it again.

Your performance outerwear has two lines of defense between you and the elements: the DWR finish on the face (outer) side of the fabric, and waterproof/breathable coatings or laminates on the inside of the fabric. Waterproof/breathable coatings and laminates will last for the lifetime of your garment with proper care. All such coatings have microscopic pores that are too small to allow liquid water to pass through, but large enough to let water vapor escape. Dirt and grime can disrupt the waterproofing and breathability by clogging the pores, which lets water soak through and also prevents water vapor from escaping. Careful cleaning and drying will reopen these pores and restore the effectiveness of the coatings.

image: offpistemag.com/nikwax-dwr-treatment/

The DWR (durable water-resistant) finish is applied to the face side of the outerwear fabric, enabling it to resist exposure to ultraviolet light. If you splash some water on the outside of your garment, the water should bead up and roll right off. If it doesn’t, then try careful washing and drying to restore the DWR finish. If careful cleaning does not restore the effectiveness of the DWR finish, you can reapply a DWR finish yourself. We recommend Nikwax TX Direct, which can be sprayed on or washed in.

Here’s how to properly wash your performance outerwear to restore it’s appearance and function:

DO NOT DRY CLEAN. Check the care tag that is attached.
Unzip all the zippers and turn your garment inside-out.
Wash in COLD water, separately.
DO NOT USE FABRIC SOFTENERS OR BLEACH. Fabric softeners will clog the pores of the garment. Bleach will ruin it.
Use a non-detergent cleanser or very mild powder detergent. We recommend Nikwax products.
Minimize soap usage. Better few bubbles than many.
If you’re using a wash-in DWR restorer, add it to the wash cycle.
Use your machine’s GENTLE cycle, or hand wash.
Rinse throughly. Even better, rinse twice.
Gently squeeze out most of the water. DO NOT WRING. Wringing the water from your garment can cause the waterproof/breathable coating to separate from the inside of the shell fabric.
Use a powdered non-detergent cleanser. Liquid detergent can clog the pores in the waterproof-breathable coating. If one is not available, use a very mild powdered detergent, and use it sparingly. Powdered detergents rinse more throughly than liquid detergents. Gently rinse your garment, preferably twice. If you must use a grocery-store brand, we recommend Dreft detergent, used sparingly.
LINE-DRY your garment until it is completely dry. Do not hang it over a heat source, which can damage the fabric and the coatings.
If you want to restore DWR and did not a wash-in type, you may apply a spray-pn DWR restorer after washing.

We Offer Nikwax products alongside our great selection of premium outerwear.

Nikwax Tech Wash, a non-detergent cleanser for most outerwear

Nikwax Down Wash, a non-detergent cleanser for outerwear and mid layers insulated with down.

Nikwax TX Direct, Wash-in or Spray-on.

The Groundhog Saw His Shadow, But There’s Good News in Wausau: Winter Clearance On Now at Shep’s

Wisconsinites know winter lasts well into March most years. While box stores are busy putting out 4th of July goodies right after the Superbowl, Shepherd & Schaller is busy helping you live through and love the snow and cold any month of the year.

Winter Clearance begins February 18, 2017 with up to 50% off remaining ski and snowboard equipment and accessories, winter outerwear, sportswear and footwear. You know you’ll need it next season at least, so take advantage of low, low prices on the good stuff – brands you crave, fashions and tech you love. Diligent shoppers will even find markdowns of 60% in our Sale Room.

When kids are happy, everyone’s happy. Keep them warm, dry and having fun. Shepherd & Schaller is here to help.

Don’t forget the kids. They grow like weeds don’t they? Stock up on snow pants, mittens, hats, jackets, snow boots and of course ski and snowboard gear. Why pay more?

Should we drop of few names to convince you it’s worth a visit? Ok, here goes…

Head Ski, Rossignol, Nordica, Salomon, Armada, Line Ski, K2, Fisher, Swix, Giro, Oakley, Burton, Smith…

Patagonia, The North Face, Sorel, Arc’teryx, Spyder, Obermeyer, Roxy, Quiksilver, O’Neill, Toad & Co, Prana, Smartwool, Fits Socks, Swany, Gordini

and so very many more of your favorite outdoor brands.

Come see us when it isn’t snowy or cold too. Love the outdoors after shopping our Paddling, Water Sports, Camping, Clothing and Bike departments. Shepherd & Schaller’s been Wausau’s favorite Outdoor Store since 1949.

Treasure Hunter’s Sale is Nov 17-20, 2016 at Shepherd & Schaller

It’s hunting season and Shepherd & Schaller is making it fun for everyone. Shop during our Treasure Hunter’s Sale Nov 17-20 for discounts and prizes that will be easy to find.

Peruse our clothing and footwear departments for items tagged with a special Orange Deep Discount sticker! “Shoot” a photo in-store with your “trophy” and post it to get $5 in ShepsBucks to use during your next visit.

We’ve even hidden some exciting prizes in the ski department for you to stalk and savvy hunters will go home with great treasures from our downtown neighbors in Wausau’s River District too!

Buck up and put on a Kromer

Cold weather is no excuse to stay inside. While folks here may be a little “cheesy,” as in Wisconsin’s famous export, we’re serious about spending time outdoors all twelve months. And for about nine of them you’ll find Stormy Kromer hats are a uniform in Wisconsin.

It’s the windproof boiled bool, magic pull-down earflap, awesome bow and handsome brim, though we don’t get much sun in these parts. But most of all is because we all look so great wearing them, and have since 1903 when the famous cap was born in Wisconsin.

Our friends at Northern Michigan’s Stormy Kromer factory put together a little history video. We like it and think you will too. Come see us in Downtown Wausau, WI when you’re ready to pick out your first Kromer, or your tenth. And if you didn’t catch on already, our favorite hat is Made in the USA. Another good thing.