[Closed] PSA alpkit sale

love alpkit.

i put in a pre order for a soloist the other day. Summer adventures here we come....

At lunch time all 3 cyclists in the office were tempted by a soloist

Pipe dream 200. Is that enough down to be worth it. Is it a bag for a very short summer season? I use to sleep warm now I'm more in the middle of the range

Ordered a Pipedream 400. Many thanks for the PSA.

Cool, just ordered an O'Hiro, been meaning to get one for a while...

Do I want a Pipedream 400? Am I actually going to use it?

Do I want a Pipedream 400? Am I actually going to use it?

Same here, I keep looking at it! 🙂

I was looking at their bib shorts, about to hit buy, and then the reviews of semi-transparency* put me off...
Shame, as I bloody love alpkit stuff.

*Intentional

Thanks OP, bar bag ordered!

Do I want a Pipedream 400? Am I actually going to use it?

Same here, I keep looking at it! 🙂

Well I seem to have bought it, along with a stove, a cooking pot, some bowls, a water filter an air pump dry bag and some merino boxers. The soloist is tempting but I think I've settled on a TrekkerTent Stealth 1.

I was looking at their bib shorts, about to hit buy, and then the reviews of semi-transparency* put me off…

Shame, as I bloody love alpkit stuff

@submarined. I do wear mine with mtb shorts so please don't shoot me if you do buy a pair and then get arrested!

Re Pipedream 400, Same here but ordered it anyways along with a stove, ti pot!

I ordered a tent, bag, mat and pillow yesterday. I did not know the sale was on until I went on the site as I was going to place an order anyway. Well pleased with the saving. I went with the pipedream 200 bag. Hopefully this will be warm enough as I will only use it during the summer months.

Picked up some nice 3/4 bib shorts, thanks for this PSA.

What are the small 3L Gnaro bar bags like?

Those 3/4 bibs are more like 5/8, they barely cover the knee and I'm not particularly tall or long in the leg.

What are the small 3L Gnaro bar bags like?

I have one of the older green bags, its pretty good and I have used it many times. The only thing I would say bad about it, was that the straps would always work loose after a while.

So much so that I cut off the straps and replaced them with my own Velcro straps, but like I said mine is one of the older green bags, so they might be different now.

thanks @Mounty_73

I was looking at their bib shorts, about to hit buy, and then the reviews of semi-transparency* put me off…

I've a pair, good and comfortable. No more transparent than any other black lycra bibs I wear.

Just bought the little 10l running pack they have. Can't complain at the price.

The Morphosis Jacket is 20 quid off at £80 or so and is a cracking moderately cool, partly light grid-lined windproof-ish top. Works very like Rab VR but at about half the price.

I thought the shorts were a bit see through, but I think it's actually that they've got a slight coppery sheen to them when stretched in certain light. I tested it by putting some bright blue fabric underneath them, and they still had the odd tinge.

I've just been and checked again. Didn't even put them on, just stretched the fabric in the sunlight and they look like there's tanned skin underneath.

I use the Gnaro as my handlebar bag for ITTs. I had the issue with the straps working loose, solved it by simply threading the strap back through the buckle.

Nice one OP. Gilet and Morphosis ordered for the missus, and some see through bid shorts for me 🙂

(only worn under baggies, sorry ladies).

Relented and bought a Griffon midweight fleece @ £35

I love what Alpkit do, but when I can see the exact same product in the "sale" costing 26% more than when I bought it 2 years ago (to the day) I start to think that they're following the Planet-X sales model

Relented and bought a Griffon midweight fleece @ £35

Really cracking value, I live in my Griffon  "Sport Cardigan"

I love what Alpkit do, but when I can see the exact same product in the “sale” costing 26% more than when I bought it 2 years ago (to the day) I start to think that they’re following the Planet-X sales model

A lot of their catalogue will be made in China and paid for in Dollars (no different to many other "manufacturers"), so subject to the vagaries of exchange rates. I suspect the online sales are subsidising the shops to some extent as well. That said there seemed to be a jump in the price of down across the board a couple of years ago, didn't matter where you looked - UK, EU or USA - the prices jumped 20% or so.

Yup, i agree. Kinda used to see them as some kind of company that had this value/design add ethos (i used to work in procurement) but now see them as the same chinese made (no offence) brand added value price scalper as planet dead/off one...

Yup, i agree. Kinda used to see them as some kind of company that had this value/design add ethos (i used to work in procurement) but now see them as the same chinese made (no offence) brand added value price scalper as planet dead/off one…

eh?

any particular reasons for that feeling? I assume there are many given the strength of your attitude.

How does the sizing compare to DHB for the bib shorts?

I think Alpkit have to be careful. They're trying to toe the line between being a 'value' brand (where some weird fit or bad stitching is occasionally OK if the price is right) and being a full on aspirational brand with in-house designs at higher prices. I love nearly all the (many) Alpkit/Sonder things I've bought but a few years ago, they were super cheap. Now I feel like they're only slightly cheaper than Rab / ME / TNF / [other big brand]. It's just a dangerous middle-ground - neither here nor there. If they can consistently produce great stuff at 75% the price of those others then that's fine but if either the quality dips or the pricepoint creeps up they could be in trouble.

Whatever, I just bought the Woodsmoke I've been after for years, and a Morphosis which was recommended recently on here.

How does the sizing compare to DHB for the bib shorts?

No idea, but I have two pairs of 'L' DHB bib shorts which are vastly different size-wise.

They’re trying to toe the line between being a ‘value’ brand (where some weird fit or bad stitching is occasionally OK if the price is right) and being a full on aspirational brand with in-house designs at higher prices.

I agree. I just received a pair of Jeanius trousers. same size as a pair I bought in autumn and really like, but the fit of the new ones is totally different on the waistband- these fall down! It seems the QC isn't quite where it should be, with stitching and pockets in different places.

Overall though, I still like their stuff.

eh?

any particular reasons for that feeling? I assume there are many given the strength of your attitude.

Almost all of their cookware (for example) is catalogue stuff, which they get branded for a few pence more per item. You can buy the same thing elsewhere for less.

The custom bags built in the UK are awesome, and worth the money.

Ach, just realised the Jeanius jeans aren't the same as the old epic ones, I'd have had a couple of pairs if they were- some of the best clothes I've ever owned 🙁

Their Dozer is a cracking comfy 'sleep in/next to the car' comfy, grabbed another one for rhe missus, good PSA thanks.

Suspect that good value camping/outdoorsy kit is going to get rinsed this year when the weather improves so better to be organised.

Almost all of their cookware (for example) is catalogue stuff, which they get branded for a few pence more per item. You can buy the same thing elsewhere for less.

But it does come with alpkits customer service and 365 day returns and usually 3 year warranty. I feel that's worth paying more for.

There is also the alpkit foundation and their sustainability principles statement they follow.

There are far worse companies out there to buy from.

Personally I feel some things have gone up in price, I'm not convinced physical shops is the way forward, it's probably why the prices have gone up but I'll keep buying from them as they haven't let me down yet!

My bib shorts and gloves arrived today. Really nice kit. Can't wait to try them out.

Bought another woodsmoke as my first is great for riding & I might as well get the other colour & a morphosis.

Advice please: my TNF Thermoball has been great but lost its loft I think and not as warm as it once was ~6 years ago.

I have read that this is a characteristic of synthetic insulation...is this still the case? If so, the Filoment looks a good option (and if not, the choice seems bewildering!

@cynic-al - certainly for the established synthetics, of course it's too early to tell for the latest offerings. It's basically down (sic) to the fibres becoming more brittle over time along with general manhandling - stuffed into bags, sat on, etc. - which causes the fibres to break into ever smaller pieces. It's the tangle of fibres that traps the air that does the actual insulating so as this breaks down you lose more and more insulation.

As ever, it's about compromises: for active wear I'd go synthetic and accept that it has limited life so would buy the features that I want at as low a price to maintain quality. Simply no point in buying top of the range as it won't last any longer. For static stuff (i.e. camping) I go for down and get the best I can afford because I know that fifteen/twenty years from now it will still be good. Against that, down needs a little more care in use - avoid soaking; protect from body oils/sweat, that sort of thing.

My Balance jacket has just arrived. Looks just the thing - not quite a "dog walking" jacket, but for off-bike activities. It feels robust, solid shell. Time will tell I guess.

Cheers @whitestone

My Balance jacket has just arrived. Looks just the thing – not quite a “dog walking” jacket, but for off-bike activities. It feels robust, solid shell. Time will tell I guess.

And why not for on bike duties ?
I have been looking at buying one, but some of the comments I got back on here suggested that it may not be worth the 150 quid ...
Thoughts?

jimdubleyou
Full Member

Almost all of their cookware (for example) is catalogue stuff, which they get branded for a few pence more per item. You can buy the same thing elsewhere for less.

I'd say that's fair but also they are pretty selective about what they sell so I'd trust it more than your average cheap rebrander where they'll stick the logo on anything. Also they back it better than most with customer service and warranty so just be sure you're really comparing like with like.

And why not for on bike duties

Because I have a bike-specific jacket for that which is covered in mud and fits better