Clothing of the Tsataan
The Tsataan still wear the traditional clothing of their ancestors, with the deel being the most functional component of their wardrobe.
The Deel: This all-purpose article functions as a raincoat and doubles as a seat cushion for long rides on reindeer. They can even use it as a sleeping bag on overnight hunting trips. A deel is made from heavily insulated wool and a waxed, silk-like outer layer. It keeps the wearer insulated and protected from heavy rain and wind.
The modern comparison: I didn’t have a deel, so I chose to layer my clothing. I used Mountain Hardwear’s Torsun Jacket as my outer layer, combined with a Marmot down jacket and an Icebreaker merino T-shirt. The Torsun jacket, a waterproof/breathable hardshell made for the serious climber, has great mobility and was perfect for riding semi-wild horses through dense pine forests.
During morning rainstorms the Torsun’s Dry Q technology paid off, keeping me dry on the outside and plenty warm on the inside with the layers. A bonus was definitely the underarm ventilation — easy access to air when I got hot.
The Gear Compared: At one point, I decided to compare the Mountain Hardwear jacket against the deel, so I traded with a local herder. The deel was much heavier than my Torsun jacket, and it felt like a suit of armor. It restricted my mobility, and I had difficulty breathing from the tightly fastened silk sash belt. But, it did keep me just as dry as the Torsun (and just as warm as my layering system did). In the end, the herder liked my Torsun and it took some convincing to switch back!
