So, I need some new outdoor kit for work.

I *know* that my old Lowe Alpine rucsac is great and bombproof. I *know* that the only waterproofs at work that have lasted more than a season are Patagonia's finest. I *know* that work still has a pile of Patagonia fleece that is upto 12 years old and still going (albeit looking dated and somewhat worn. I *know* that the Nookie buoyancy aid I have has outlasted all my other watersports kit. I *know* my Endura kit outlast the Altura stuff. etc etc I *know* that the cheapo Berghaus baselayers I have are rubbish, that the cheap Craghoppers trousers I bought have fallen to bits, that the cheap softshell is neither soft, warm or water resistant.

BUT

New Patagonia Guide trousers, £110 (I need 2x pairs)
New Patagonia R2 £85
New Patagonia Capelene base layers, £100+
New Patagonia Shelter Stone jacket and Trousers £240 and £220
New Astral BA £120
New Palm Dry top £100
New sailing salopettes £110
New Endura bib longs £80
New dry bag, gorge boots, canoe helmet…..

🙁

It does make me wonder if its worth it – but I know if I buy cheap I will buy twice, and stay cold n wet for the winter….

With a spend like that you should be able to haggle a few quid off.

(Thats RRP, which I don't pay…but its still damn expensive)

You probably have, but have you looked/tried Paramo gear? It may not be any cheaper to buy now, but seems to last a good long time and is repairable to boot…

An alternative to that is Cioch Direct who do made to measure in the same materials…

ebay?

tut tut – no Arcteryx ?

You probably have, but have you looked/tried Paramo gear? It may not be any cheaper to buy now, but seems to last a good long time and is repairable to boot…

They all look grubby as really quickly and nick/tear easily. Ours are less than a year old and wet out really quickly (I am regularly soaked in mine) BUT, when they are proofed again they work really well, shame they need reproofing so often.

You have a good job.
It gets you outdoors.
Cheer up.

my local shop has a killer deal on some mammut gear. i got a cho oyo jacket for £200 reduced from £370…

A bit of Rab or Crux would be worth a look as well!

Crux stuff seems really tough.

Fair point boxelder, just shocked how much good kit costs these days.

You'll pay trade so stop moaning about the price.

Maybe take a look at Lomo for the kayak kit – theirs is bombproof and cheap.

I recommend Haglofs for quality. Also try Rock & Run online..
& don't discount Rab

If your paying trade already , then surley theres not that much to moan about, patagonia do a ammbassador/ sports deal not sure if you get better than trade though.

Patagonia 'trade' deal = worse than buying in sales… 🙁

I live in Norway and therefore suffer from really cr4ppy weather a tad more than most. I heartedly recommend Bergans clothing. Its a Norwegian brand and is the only stuff that I've found to stand up to the Norwegian climate.

Can any of that kit be tax deductible?

http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/manuals/eimanual/EIM32712.htm

Can you find when Aldi are doing a waterproofs week?

For starters a quick google comes up with £89.99 as the cheapest for a pair of Patagonia Guide pants so that's £40 you could save straight off.

I wonder how much of your *knowledge* of what kit is good, and lasts is affected by snobbery and needing a label like Patagonia?

I have bits of patagonia kit and its no more special than Marmot, Mammut, Paramo, Mountain equipment, Rab or Montane (I have bits of kit from all the above) but it does carry a premium price.

I'll accept that brands like Craghoppers and now sadly Karrimor don't produce kit that is long lasting and well designed, but there are cheaper "mainstream" brands than Patagonia that will do the same, if not better job, but perhaps with a slightly less trendy label.

cactus gear is bombproof… they boast that their trousers will last longer than your legs. I have a couple of their bags, and they live up to the claims.

Cactus Climbing NZ

they post worldwide for free.

Dave

I have bits of patagonia kit and its no more special than Marmot, Mammut, Paramo, Mountain equipment, Rab or Montane (I have bits of kit from all the above) but it does carry a premium price.

I and my 12 staff all have experience of all those brands – experience does say that most brands are good – but some is definitely more durable. When I am forking out that much for kit, durability comes to the fore.

I second the post on Cactus, their trs are Awesome!!

I would have thought you would be in merino base layers, less stink for longer wearing. I'm a bumbly winter climber and have managed to crampon my Paramo trousers only once. What are you doing to knick them all the time? I also use paramo for climbing gritstone in dank weather with no problems. (I specialise in chimneys, regarded as a pervert by the rest of the club). 🙂

I have an old North face tent and other North face bits, I got them from my Dad and they lasted a trip accross Africa and then Europe into Russia. Is there stuff still as good as it was? I'm after a new back pack and want something good that isn't too expensive. I don't care about brands.

M_OAB – Berghaus do a cracking trade deal. Remove VAT then 50% off apparently…

alwyn

personally I think North face have gone the way of a few once good outdoor brands.
If you want a good get the job done bergen then a berghaus arete @ £50

Lowe alpine is where my money's @ though!

slightly different demands here, but waterproof wise, cheap is good as nothing will withstand barbed wire, brambles and brashing so it will be in tatters before it is no longer waterproof, much the same for fleeces unless you like the burn holes and ripped look. multiple cheap items means you just swap wet for dry. got a buffalo for standing around surveying and given a paramo pullover that is pretty warm.

as for trousers, here the money has been well spent on howies canvas (my longest lasting work trousers at 6 years) and TNF's A5 kit, mostly for having decent enough material that they can be repaired when stitching finally breaks. have had sprayway that barely lasted the week with no chance of repair.

Alwyn – I have a macpac and can't see it failing in my lifetime apart from the odd plastic buckle that I shut in the car door.

patagonia – ive plenty and i love it, r2 is my best friend. used it lots traveling and in the himalayas. however the zips always go before anything else. softshell – arcteryx gamma has done very well. btw ive had some great deals from mountainfactor.