Buying Gear Online

[bushbasherbrad]

Hi, I was wondering if any one knows of any good online sites for buying gear with reasonable postage prices?

Cheers, Brad

[Strider]

Try a search. There is a good thread on this topic already.

[wayno]

viewtopic.php?f=15&t=6975&p=88658&hilit=online+shop+buy#p88658

[Aushiker]

I have used http://www.ultralightoutdoorgear.co.uk/ and found them good. Also on Exped gear http://mainpeak.com.au can often be very well priced and with free postage.

Andrew

[PeteE]

I'll second mainpeak (free post over $75) and add Wild Earth.
If I can't get it in Australia I'll look at Sierra Trading Post or Bivouac Outdoor NZ (They do free post to Aust if over $99).

[Aushiker]

Another vote from me for Mainpeak. I am currently bicycle touring in WA and my Exped Synmat UL 7 had failed (internal seam + loosing air). I emailed Mainpeak for advice and without hestitation they had a replacement mat posted to me for collection down the road. All that they asked was for me to post my back when I could. They didn't even require from me any paperwork.

Regards
Andrew

[roysta]

A couple of NZ sites are ok, www.bivouac.co.nz or www.trekntravel.co.nz
There are bucketloads in the states, REI, backcountry.com, Sierra Trading, Altrec, Amazon etc etc.

[amica]

Hi,
I have really good experiences with http://campsaver.com in the USA, http://bivouac.co.nz in NZ and http://laufbursche-gear.de in Germany. Laufbursche makes it stuff by hand in germany, and I am very happy with my backpack and my wive too with her bag. From Campsaver I ordered everything from tents (3 in total) cookers and everything else you need to enjoy the outdoors. Plus its free shipping from both supplier, never had problems with exchanges either, just great service.
Hammockgear.com made my last sleeping bag, which is just great, you can't compare with any stuff you buy in the shops, again is hand made at a reasonable price. It just took a while to get it shipped out. Apparently the mixed up my order!

Hope it helps

christian

[Mark F]

Lots of the US sites have restrictions on exporting many brands and this only seems to be getting worse (Thermarest, MSR etc. Recently Mont Bell has been restricted). US sites also have quite high freight costs. Try the UK online shops as they have prices very similar to the US in many cases, don't seem to have export restrictions (EU regulations?) and the postage is quite reasonable and fast. You can usually expect to save the 20% VAT as well off the shown price - check to make sure.

For example I recently bought a NeoAIr XLIte small for 85 UKP (AU$130) including postage from Facewest.co.uk and have dealt with various other UK retailers at times. REI price is AU$124 before freight!

[wayno]

use a mail forwarding company, some use the postal service, i've had stuff shipped from the states for US$8

[roysta]

Got a fleece jacket coming from Amazon at $8 postage (they're quoting 15 business days for that).
But mail forwarding ops like Shipito are good for getting hold of Cascade Designs, MontBell gear.

[Mark F]

I am aware of the mail forwarding companies but they add time and complexity and postage time from the US is often twice as slow what I have experienced from the UK. The Neoair was cheaper than the US prices - just pointing out that it is worth shopping around especially if you want brands like Rab or Montane etc.

[wayno]

yes good points mark, good options... keep the options open. the yanks arent the greatest on stocking european gear, they usuallly stock a reduced range , sometimes very reduced, so well worth looking at other countries than the states for gear

[slparker]

Sierra trading post is good for asolo boots at, the moment, saved 300 bucks on a pair of sasslong boots over oz price - postage is expensive tho.. Anyone know where I can get a montane prism jacket at a reasonable price?

[wayno]

back country have a big sale on

http://www.backcountry.com/store/dc/177 ... -Sale.html

[roysta]

back country have a big sale on

http://www.backcountry.com/store/dc/177 ... -Sale.html

I wish I needed something.