The market & time will tell us, but in the mean time I wonder about these new companies. Nice ideas and everything, but...
What do Crux's packs bring that hasn't already been done? ME's packs and the mentioned Extrem range spring to mind.
Though that tent looks the height of loveliness, as long as they make a green version for normal people.
Lightwave - the splurge on the website is great, but the only products are three rather dull tents. We already have Terra Nova, Ajungilak, Marmot, Macpac, some other Norwegian brand whose name I can't remember, MHW and TNF making tents of that class. Hmmm.
Agree with Alex here - sorry Dan! The A70 basically fills a niche that hasn't really been properly addressed since Karrimor discontinued it's original Macsac (designed by Alex McIntyre) some years ago - think of a 70l Kimmsac and you get the idea. The Berghaus extrem is the only mainstream rival and their website studiously avoids quoting a weight for it. There is a rapidly increasing market where even bumblies like me can get into really big hills on climbing trips, and this is exactly the kind of pack that's needed on the hill. (POD sacks are great for walk ins but less useful IMHO when climbing as they have quite a high inherent weight and the only way to lose it is to leave lids behind etc). And also if you compare the back system on the A70 to say a Kimmsac it's clear which you would want to carry loads in (unfair comparison I know but hey...). The creative driving force often comes from smaller competing companies (like ME used to be in its younger days) such as Rab, POD, Aigulle, PHD (who were using 800+ fill power down years before Marmot and other american brands "introduced" it to the markt) and Crux should make some waves with their tiny but perfectly formed product range. Karrimor and Berghaus tend to compete more with each other for the rambler/traveller market share and indeed it's only relatively recently that Berghaus have regained credibilty in their expedition line. The vast majority of their ranges was given over to leisure fleeces and walking jackets, with just a few high class products lurking amidst a mass of identical jackets in various colours. Remember, Black Diamond was once just a bloke and his shed, like Pete Hutchinson (ME and then PHD) and Pete O'Donovan (POD). I think what Crux's packs bring us that hasn't already been done elsewhere is much less done much better, if you see what I mean...
Oh, and I've just remembered - soft shells - well, given that almost all of the big mountain clothing companies are now spending huge amounts of R&D money and blowing big advertising budgets on the "new wave" soft shells maybe now would be a good place to point out that it was Buffalo - initially knocked up by a bloke called Hamish (IIRC) in a shed with a sewing machine - that started it all off. And only Patagonia have had the decency to admit it in their catalogue!
Dan, there's a massive demand for lightweight technical gear which few manufacturers are addressing in any way at all, let alone adequately.
Golite's packs are light, but flimsy and underfeatured, and only POD make a serious attempt at this end of the rucksack market with the strippable Black Ice. I like this myself, but being fixed-back, it doesn't fit everyone, so some choice is welcome.
Same with tents: most 2 man geodesics are at least a kg heavier than the Crux offering. And the odd kilo or two makes a huge difference to comfort and speed on longer days.
I don't know quite how large the market for this sort of thing is, but it's definitely there, and I for one will certainly be looking at Crux products if I need to replace any gear in the near future.
A couple of observations, most of which have already been made:
On the Crux front, the packs are much lighter than the ME stuff, which is sturdy, bombproof kit but a bit heavy. There are some similarities with the Berghaus Extrems, but then the guys were involved with both and, to my mind, the Crux stuff seems another step forward. From memory btw, the Expedition Extrem, which I\ve used extensively, weighs around 1.9 kg, which is lightish for a big sac, but still quite a bit more than the A70 which is quoted at 1.35kg or 1.18 without hip-belt. The Extrem's not a bad sac, but just for one thing, the compression system's basic and not particularly efficient, the one on the A70 looks like it'd be more effective.
I guess the main values, if you want to get into that sort of thing, are a combination of minimalism, lightness, toughness and build quality.
Whether Crux intend it to happen or not, I suspect they'll also get some cult kudos simply through being focussed and slightly esoteric. We need small companies to think outside the box and produce stuff that's not driven by mass middle-market demands and marketing spend. Good luck to them, and watch out for Crux clothing etc in the future.
Lightwave: I guess that the thing they'd point to would be the modular options so you can 'build' a tent to suit your own needs and pocket by combining various options. In the longer term, I guess the potential is there to become a British GoLite, with more of a focus on UK conditions, but that's just my take on it. The lightweight tent market's a competitive one and there's a plenty of stuff around.
I must say that I like the idea of a "mix and match" tent, built up around all my needs and requirement. So often buying gear (especially tents) is a matter of compromise from one area to another.
Good luck to 'em is what I say. Like Joan I'll be looking at their gear when mine needs replacing.
British GoLite is exactly what sprang to my mind...I think the AR community will pay close attention to the gear these guys release, especially with the increasing number of races involving winter conditions in the hills...
Now people have pointed out how they differ from their competitors Crux's stuff makes much more sense. It's the old features/benefits/comparisons thing. It's just with so many makers to compare these days I at least am getting confused!
I'm (obviously) for diversity and especially innovation - as long there as there is a clearly defined goal in mind. Now I see it!
Maybe the joy of the web is that you can sit at home, in your own time, and look through as many makers ranges as you want to, then phone them to find out where you can get it. That gives these new small companies a much better chance.
I have to say, I like the look of the CRUX tent. I was looking at one in Tiso a few weeks back and it looks fabulous (Tiso Edinburgh/Rose Street). I quite fancy getting myself one for Scottish Winter, and with the lower weight compared to the usual supects of geodesic tents it looks like a winner.
The lightwave stuff looks interesting as well. I am looking for a tent to take with me for extended mountain biking trips. These look the business - the Arctic version particularly (get a bike in the porch no worries). Loads of room for the bike in the porch! I am half thinking of just getting one of these as it will probably cope with Scottish Winter anyway, and weight wise it is plenty light enough.
Up until now it was Hilliberg that were looking like the best bet - but the Nallo GT is serious money so saving £100 or so is very welcome.
Came across the Crux 50l pack in Selfridges in London today, and I have to say I was very impressed. The basic design is ultra simple and streamlined, so not-unlike the Pod Black Ice one wonders whether the designers picked up a few tips there. Fabric is thinner than the Pod, and more nylony-feeling, but still seems very tough. It's light, build quality looked superb, and the fit was entirely ergonomic. And at £90-ish, it's a good deal cheaper than most of its competitors. I'm not in the market for a 50l pack at the moment, but if I was, I'd quite possibly pick this one.
Just for info, they do two 50-litre packs, the 90-quid version which is a non-Kevlar fabric and a 120-squid thing, which has Kevlar-reinforced material but is otherwise the same. It felt very stable and comfortable in use, though that was with a moderate load and in a walking context. Good build quality too.
Ah. Now I understand. Tiso has a store-in-store in Selfridges.
Still that was a bit of name dropping wasn't it? Personally all my outdoor equipment is bespoke and collected by personal shopper through the services of Harrods
Name dropping? Just thought it mmight interest other people to know where they could see these packs, seeing as they're not that widely distributed (first time I've seen them in London). Anyway, admitting to shopping in Selfridges is hardly going to enhance anyone's image, is it?
