Nike ACG........

Mark Brodie

06/08/2003 at 07:22

I may upset and possibly offend people-but that was not my intention and i appologise accordingly!

When i think Nike i think hardened tarts from the roughest parts of NE England-i live in the NE! You know the type, the mpore earings you have, the bigger the slapper you are, the type who have sex with most of the lads intheir school and aren't even 15. I'm sorry but they don't really make me think "high quality, techinical outdoor gear"

When i think nike i think of them "Nike air max" trainers with the bubble of air at the bottom!-how tacky! They are a fashion statement for a teenager, not technical gear that can be trusted!

Just my thoughts!

Mark

Andrew Whaley 2

06/08/2003 at 08:30

Doesn't that apply to all sportswear manufacturers. I don't think that Nike are unique in pandering to the fashion market which is presumably where the bulk of their revenue comes from.

Speaking as a runner, Nike do make some good stuff and are generally quite well respected for it. They also make a lot of cheap crap presumably intended for the fashion market.

There's no reason why they couldn't make decent outdoor gear, I think the ACG brand is gaining popularity in the US. My main problem with it is that the US market is fundamentally different from the northern European market and the Nike stuff that I've seen doesn't seem particularly well suited.

steve holmes

06/08/2003 at 08:44

Just because kids like something - it doesn't mean it's crap. There's Coca-cola, Mobile phones, hairspray, make up, Girls Aloud..

Okay, I'll stop now

neil l

11/08/2003 at 00:33

I generally seem to find that the "real" athletes wear asics runningshoes!!!

Jon Doran

11/08/2003 at 08:17

Shurely Saucony...

OutdoorsMagic Editor | jon@outdoorsmagic.com

Andrew Whaley 2

11/08/2003 at 08:31

Paul Radcliffe wears Nike shoes, is she a real athlete ?

Jon Doran

11/08/2003 at 08:49

Paul who? Never heard of him...

OutdoorsMagic Editor | jon@outdoorsmagic.com

Jon Doran

11/08/2003 at 08:54

Oh, as a more serious aside. I asked ACG specifically about the differences between US outdoor conditions and culture and European conditions. They say that the European ACG kit is developed specifically for European use by testers and staff on this side of the Atlantic.

It's definitely the case that what we understand by off road or 'trail' running is different from the US version, which is why a lot of US-model 'trail-running shoes' are too big a clumpy for UK hills.

I haven't used the latest ACG footwear, but it looks better than earlier incarnations, the sole tread patterns suggest that they will give decent grip in soft conditions and if they perform as well as the similar TNF Ultras I've been using, they could be a good halfway house between fell and road shoes. But please, let's not go there again...

OutdoorsMagic Editor | jon@outdoorsmagic.com

Jon Doran

11/08/2003 at 08:57

Oh, and as for 'the image'. I recently heard a well known magazine gear tester complaining that Salomon boots were glorified trainers and not proper outdoor footwear at all. I think his problem was that Salomon weren't a 'proper' outdoors brand - originally skiing based - and consequently couldn't be taken seriously. Strange then that the X-Adventure 7 is one of the best all round walking boots ever made. In my opinion anyway.

OutdoorsMagic Editor | jon@outdoorsmagic.com

Mark Brodie

13/08/2003 at 12:03

Jon-a very fair point-with regard salomon-we will just have to let time pass and see if they do become a majot hit.

jrm jrm

13/08/2003 at 13:46

We are all slaves to Brand Marketing... Nike tends to be too obvious sometimes, which have caused negative reactions. But in a few years, ACG will be well established in Europe as a top outdoors brand, first choice for those with multi-sport ambitions. In reality, product development is more driven by precise targeting of customer segments than a novel desire to make better gear.

Sadly, I still like my ACG sandals & other products they offer.. Brainwashed. :-(

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