Some kit just works, looks good and experience tell you it's a sound starting point for new kit.
I don't get excited over Paramo kit
Rab, THF, Meindle, MSR, Terra Nova, Craghoppers, ME, HH, Berghaus, Montane, Sprayway, Lowe Alpine - you just know it's good stuff and works well.
Recently I've been looking at another w'proof - I have 2x Sprayways - the Mountain Equipment stuff looks top-notch, if £££!
On my 7th pair of Meindle Burmas, and have to say the Adidas range looks good for the lighter boot. Montane for the heavy activity biking. TNF for trews. Lowe for packs, TN for tents and so on.
There is a price point I won't venture beyond and that tends to be 2/3rds that of the very expensive kit. I'm a D700 and not a D3 man!
Open to suggestions TBH and it's web sites such as this one that help shape what I may try next if buying off the internet.
> if they're trademarked and patented then obviously budget brands cant rely on the r and d
Trademark protection means no-one else can use the trademark, in this case WaterTight (TM), without a licence, without violating the trademark. This means that the trademark owner can claim damages against anyone violating the trademark; they may choose not to.
Patents can be circumvented by clever means; changing the design subtly so it no longer violates the original patent. Other people can licence the patent form the patent holder. Since patent violations are expensive to pursue, many people choose not to do it, but take out the patent as notional protection.
So trademarked, patented ideas can be used by third parties, both lawfully and 'unlawfully'. There are plenty of manufacturers using 'waterproof' zips, so, in this case, it's obviously possible.
I have kit from a variety of different manufacturers, including Rab, Montane, Haglofs, TNF, Scarpa, Merrell.... a fair old list. My criteria are generally fit, function, quality and cost, although appearance does also play a part; if I feel I'm going to look rediculous in something then I'll find an alternative. I also rarely pay full price to buy things, rather wait until I find a bargain in a sale. That was how I ended up with my £140 Montane Super-Fly XT: I was after an event jacket and when I saw one that met fit and practial requirements within budget, then I bought it. I wouldn't however have paid the £300 list for one; I'd have found something else instead.
I do sometimes pay consideration to brand, however in many ways that is because of the inverse of being faithful; I don't want to end up looking like a walking advert for one manufacturer, hence I try to mix things up a bit.
I also will wear brands or items that some people on here seem to think are too much of a joke, for example a TNF Nuptse gillet. Whilst some will mock, it does what I bought it for; keeps me warm on cool dry days whilst round town or going to the pub. So what if it is a "fashion" item; it was bought cheaply from an outlet store and does what it is meant to do, thus meeting all my requirements. Not every item of outdoor clothing has to be worn for serious outdoor activities; I mean I'm sat here writing this from the comfort of an armchair in my front room whilst wearing an ME Thermal Pro fleece!
Like Parky said, function, function, function. Although, it seems I deal with about five companies anymore; Rab, Paramo, Patagonia, Buffalo and Smartwool. They've given me what I need for the weather I'm in pretty much year 'round.
arbitrary: 1. Determined by chance, whim, or impulse, and not by necessity, reason, or principle:"
The D700 is everything the D3 is with a 1/2 of the price with some more useful features not availiable to the D3, in a cheaper body. So no, your observation is incorrect (if that's how the comment was intended) as once you do some research on any kit you oft' discover you can get what you require not from the upper levels of the price bracket but on the next tier down. Especially if Blacks are selling it off in their sale.
The Paramo kit still fails to set my hair alight though, and I've not even tried it. Don't know if their adverts or the people I've come across who wear it. It's taken me 10yrs + to warm to the idea of walking sticks for mtn work, so maybe one day.....
I am in double digits, probably 15 pr, with Saucony running shoes, they used to have a club where you got a free gift every 3 pr. No club now but they did send me a free pair when it closed. Did once do a lot miles.
I have had three pair of Vasque Velocity trail shoes just ordered a pair from Germany.
SD, I've no particular allegience to running shoe manufacturers either although I am on my second pair of Saucony Jazz on the trot, prior to this I'd been using Nike Air Pegasus for about 6-7 years and before that most of the manufacturers in various orders, the only repeat sale being Reeboks in the 80's. I've found them all to be perfectly acceptable with the exception of New Balance. But then I guess trainers have a lot more give and all manufacturers have lots of models for all kinds of feet so there shouldn't really be an excuse to not find one provided you get good advice. In fact they are the only thing that I always buy from a shop even though I could probably save a few quid online. I love you Frank
I'm a relative newcomer to high spec gear, but I already have my favourite - Montane. This is based mainly on the sizing. But they also look good, perform well and cost less than other 'big brands'.
