Where are the rest of the company reps ???

In recent debates we have had representatives from TNF and MHW. It would be nice if we could get some people from other companies to take part in future debates.
How about some one from lowe, berghaus or karrimor???????????
And by the way does any one have any opinions on ArcTeryx??????????? Is it worth its price tag???

Hi Neil, nice idea, but what would you like them to debate? Maybe I'm cynical, but it seems to me that most of them - for some strange reason - reckon that their own kit is the, erm, cat's whiskers.

Quite a few industry people do use the site and certainly folk from Berghaus, MHW, TNF, Lowe and Crags have posted to the forum - I've been known to contact the big brands by e-mail where it's relevant btw, though not that often.

ArcTeryx, I really don't know about - it's got a good reputation but it's very expensive and as I've never used or tested it, I can't really add much to that, except that it's made in Canada. Interesting how brands pop up - there are always people who want an alternative, high cred cuttung-edge brand that's not common. It used to be North Face, then Mountain Hardwear with Patagonia always somewhere in the background and ArcTeryx are the latest on the list. Is anything worth that sort of price premium? I don't know.

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OutdoorsMagic Editor | jon@outdoorsmagic.com 

Dunno what i'd like them to debate but a few suggestions for debates are the ones on three season boots how about we get scarpa or brasher to state what they see the actual reason for having three season boots(or how about someone from karrimor trying to explain the name changes or their products) - at least they could show that they are interested.

Obviously they will think their own gear is the cats whiskers but is still interesting to hear what they say and compare their claims with the experience and trial and error of other members.

One of the things I should say is that it's great when we do get industry people on the forum, partly because it gives us a chance to hear what they have to say, but also because it's an opportunity for the industry to talk to users in detail about what they think of their products and what they want. I'd love to get more industry figures involved in the forum, though you have to remember that some companies still aren't particularly web aware and also that they are busy people.

What tends to happen at the moment is that people contribute where they feel it's appropriate and I'm not sure how far it's possible to formalise that process. Sorry, just thinking aloud really. Sal?

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OutdoorsMagic Editor | jon@outdoorsmagic.com 

There was a woman from Lowe who posted a fair few times, but hasn't since. Maybe managers tell them not to?

ArcTeryx - they use water resistant zippers all over, but MHW and North Face don't has they reckon they leak under pressure or flexing. Is it just like buying a Merc? Big and expensive, but not actually that good.

Jill Brownell from Lowe has posted here in the past - I suspect that she's just very busy running Lowe Alpine's marketing and only has a limited amount of time to spend on the OM forum.

On the Arcteryx front, MHW are also using water-resistant zips all over the place in their new autumn/winter 2001 top of the line mountaineering jacket, which we had a preview of a few months back. The zips leak if you flex them the wrong way but in normal use are pretty good. It's all a question of using them in an appropriate application,but like I said, not having used Arcteryx and not being able to get test samples, I can't really comment.

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OutdoorsMagic Editor | jon@outdoorsmagic.com 

... except that cutting edge stuff tends to be priced high, partly because of economies of scale, partly because of the r and d costs and partly because you're paying some sort of brand premium. A garment's cost isn't simply the materials it's made from, there's a lot more on top of that. I'll put up the pics from Gore's testing labs next week and you'll get some idea of the research and testing they put into their materials for example. I'm not being an apologist for expensive kit here btw, I still reckon some stuff is well over priced, but it's not as simple as it might appear if you just look at basic raw material and machining costs. It's a competitive market though, which is one reason why Berghaus moved their production to the far east in order to be able to more competitive on price with other major brands.

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OutdoorsMagic Editor | jon@outdoorsmagic.com 

For what it's worth I bought an Arcteryx harness in 95 and have found it to be the best fitting and lightest fully adjustible harness I've owned or tried. All the arcteryx gear I've seen has just been obviously well designed, if I can ever save up enough to investigate their packs further will let you know! The Kirkpatrick article in High this month gave tham a pretty good review.

i just thought that i'd say i have no intentions what so ever in getting anything from acteryx -its just that you see it in a catologue and the price leaps out at you.
Still i think its good that the guys from TNF, LOWE and MHW have contributed - could i ask if any of these mentioned people are reading this - are you doing it as an enthusiast or as a company employee??????????????
Still guys - thanks for making the effort.

Is it me, or did Arcteryx just, like, appear, in a few years (if that)?

I like the companies reps posting. If Jill is managing Marketing, then surely she should be here, advertising her stuff? She could have a word with Rob Wylie, on Dry Yarn Technology etc. It would be nice for there to be PR (or the such like) people, who would put their messages out to us mere mortals, who know some stuff, but want to know more.

Thanks for the comments neil. I think in this industry most people are quite impartial.
Of course we are all sales driven - that is our main aim after all , its what keeps food in our mouths and a roof over our heads!

The only reason we all got into this industry is because we love it. Some people look at a tent and see somewhere to sleep.We look at a tent and see fabrics ,geometry, construction details etc.
So in answer to you question i think i would say it a bit of both.

Keith L. TNF uk