Anything worth buying at Kathmandu?

[JoshT]

Hi everyone, hope this is in the right section.

I just found out I've got access to Kathmandu 'Corporate Pricing' on their entire stock. They can't tell me what the prices are until their scanned at the checkout, but it seems to be 1/3 of retail price rounded to the nearest $5, so 65 - 70% off.

I went down to my local and had a look around, but struggled to find much that looked worthwhile, even at that price. Thermals, socks, maybe 2 of the sleeping bags, not much else apart from that.

I'm a scout leader, so always looking to find good deals and make recommendations to our scout parents. Is there anything that you think is good value and worth recommending?

- Josh

[Strider]

Sounds like normal "sales" pricing to me.

The only thing I can think of that is worth having is this, but only if the price you have access to is $40 or less (they are sometimes on sale for $39.99).
http://www.kathmandu.com.au/backpacker- ... ilver.html

It is actually a Fire Maple FMS-116T rebranded by Kathmandu. They are around $40 delivered online.
http://fire-maple.com/products_del.html ... &cate_id=8

[Moondog55]

Not much I would spend my cash on really

Although this tent should be OK
http://www.kathmandu.com.au/camping/ten ... range.html
Worth a couple of thundered dollars

[matagi]

1. Merino stuff
2. Microfible towels (they're pretty good)
3. (maybe) Sleeping bags - I have a Kathmandu Columbus sleeping bag that I'm quite happy with (-3 deg C limit rating)

[frenchy_84]

http://www.kathmandu.com.au/mens/jacket ... unset.html
at 70% off ($230) there probably isn't a cheaper 3 layer gore tex jacket on the market (Wayno?).
Depends on your circumstances, if you already have expensive quality gear then there probably isn't much on offer, but if your a mid range buyer, 60-70% off prices all year round would be pretty handy if you ask me. Kathmandu isnt great but still manageable and at those prices, pretty reasonable. Just have realistic expectations

[wayno]

compare the gore tex to whats on offer at mountain designs... they have good prices on theirs
the peaks on the kathmandu rainhoods are all floppy.

[Strider]

Not much I would spend my cash on really

Although this tent should be OK
http://www.kathmandu.com.au/camping/ten ... range.html
Worth a couple of thundered dollars

I paid $279 for this tent 5 years ago (when I didn't know better!). And its not even worth that much.

[Hallu]

Yeah one third of the retail price is still a "regular" price. Their retail price is never applied, they're in a state of permanent sale... Something that's been illegal in most of Europe for a long time now, in France there are only two sales of 5 weeks each, the date is fixed by the local authorities, usually January and July. Besides, in order to put something on sale, the retail price crossed on the sign should have been effective in the store for a certain amount of time. In Germany and Austria, they can launch sales whenever they want, but even then, it's never a "permanent sale" as Kathmandu's doing. Something should be done, legally, because it's pathetic...

Regarding their products, I remember somebody saying they do some good stoves, and I also heard some good things about their sleeping bags.

[wayno]

salomon cosmics are good boots as well. oboz are supposed to be reasonable as well

[wayno]

the mountain designs version of the alopex jacket is $300
http://www.mountaindesigns.com/store/sa ... o-12-jkt-u

[Tortoise]

1

1. Merino stuff
2. Microfibre towels (they're pretty good)

Yep.

And they used to make quick dry, non-crush shirts that are my favourites for walking & travelling, but they don't any more.

[jdman]

If you really want to wind yourself up about Kathmandu visit there UK website (see link). It looks like us Aussies are being taken for a ride and paying quite a bit more here than in the UK for the same items.I also noticed the difference between "regular" price and the "Summit" price is inflated to a much greater extent in Australia. Maybe the consumer laws in the UK are stronger than here in Australia and don't allow for this?

http://www.kathmandu.co.uk/


Example

Australia
Isograd 3 in 1 Jacket Men - Black
Regular Price: $499.98
Summit Club : $299.99
http://www.kathmandu.com.au/mens/jacket ... black.html

UK
Isograd 3 in 1 Jacket Men - Black
Regular Price: £174.99
Summit Club : £139.99
http://www.kathmandu.co.uk/mens/jackets ... black.html

[Mark F]

You can also factor in the 20% VAT in the UK vs 10% GST in Aus. It makes the comparison even worse for us.

[South_Aussie_Hiker]

I use their polar fleece jumpers when walking, one of the few things I'd buy from them.

[JoshT]

Thanks for the advice all, very helpful. I think the stove, merino thermals and the Columbus sleeping bag look like solid options for the scouts. I'll let you know if I find any other treasures in there.

[Ent]

Must admit I see their full price and walk out in disgust. MD has more realistic RRP. But Kathmandu it is the sale price that you compare as it is nearly always on sale with at least 50% off. Probably sleeping bags though MD can do better for the loft to price rating when on 20% off and even on their RRP versus Kathmandu's 50% off. Nice little titanium sit on top stove but probably cheaper brought on Fleabay. Some of the lighter weight technical fabrics can be good but the one fit suits all does not suit me. They do make some nice light weight polar fleece type gear which feels a bit better than the MD stuff on the skin. They do the best packable day pack on the market regardless of other brands so some good stuff buried away. MD with Goretex probably does a hardwearing range and comparing price is near impossible as for a while MD pricing on Goretex was as good, even better, than USA pricing.

I regularly wander into Kathmandu but hardly buy compared to MD and Paddy Pallin as the sizing model they use just does not suit me. Personaly I think the days of inflated RRP and huge discounts are coming to an end as the market is jaded. PP never really engaged in this and MD appears to be pulling back from this approach.

Cheers

[Strider]

Nice little titanium sit on top stove but probably cheaper brought on Fleabay.

About $40 delivered from Ebay, perhaps a couple of bucks more. Sometimes cheaper at $39.99 from Kathmandu when on sale.

[slparker]

I have a goretex jacket from the mid - 2000s that's ok, although the sleeve velcro has unglued.

i noticed last time I was in there looking disconsolately at their stuff that they have gore-tex active shell jackets and pro-shell jackets. As long as they fit, have the features that you want, I can't see that 70% off is anything less than a bargain for gen-u-wine goretex.

[wayno]

if you're a "kathmandu member" you're pretty much always getting a discount on their own branded products, there are longer sales for the "members" and sometimes bigger "discounts" but the sale do seem to be more frequent, look at their websites and the online discounts are always there in a fair range of products.
the govt should clamp down on the permanent sales, i have to keep telling people when they think they have just got a great deal that they havent actually got any deal at all, all they've done is spared themselves from the daylight extertionate RRP

one guy was raving to me how he got completely kitted out at macpac for a massive discount, i think he said 70% , saved $1500,,, again more like he spared himself getting ripped off by $1500 of overpricing.... they are just deceiving people . how can any company justify hiking the rrp prices by so much? that is criminal every time someone buys at the rrp.... price gouging....

[Hallu]

Consumers need to create a collective and start suing. In Europe, there are consumers' organizations, and they're incredibly influential. They look at companies conspiring to agree on prices and margins, at fake sales, dangerous unreliability, etc... They brought several big phone companies to justice, who were forced to practice fair prices, same with internet (it's partly thanks to them that you get unlimited high speed internet with free DSL TV and unlimited phone for 30 € a month...). Basically it keeps big corporations on their toes. Something like this is seriously lacking in Australia/NZ. Apparently Aussies have something called "CHOICE" but I've never seen anything on them.

[wayno]

occasonally the commerce commission in nz wake up and prosecute companies for artificially inflated prices. but it seems to be a rare event for chain stores.... they prosecuted a local bike store down the road but that was pretty blatant they had a "closing down sale" that went on for a year and they never closed down.....

[Strider]

Consumers need to create a collective and start suing.

No need for a collective. Just one precedent will do...

[Ent]

As a consumer you cannot work on the principle of "I got x% off" instead check the USA online stores for what looks like a fair price and compare.

There is an enormous amount of gear out there so best treat each purchase individually. Longevity of gear is major factor that gets lost in weight, price, etc considerations.

Cheers

[doogs]

um.. I think I saw a frisbee in a Kathmandu shop once, can't really recommend it as I don't own one.It looked nice. Everything else was overpriced and looked poop, the frisbee was just overpriced. Maybe next sale I'll buy a frisbee and let you know. I like frisbee.

[stepbystep]

Longevity of gear is major factor that gets lost in weight, price, etc considerations.

Indeed I am still wearing some Kathmandu shorts I bought 7 years ago, they have taken some very rough treatment and as you would expect, they no longer sell them.

I saw a set of waterproof playing cards for $4 once that tempted me.

[Strider]

Longevity of gear is major factor that gets lost in weight, price, etc considerations.

Indeed I am still wearing some Kathmandu shorts I bought 7 years ago, they have taken some very rough treatment and as you would expect, they no longer sell them.

I saw a set of waterproof playing cards for $4 once that tempted me.

I bought a Kathmandu Cotinga 25L daypack in 2007 that is still going hard!

[Spartan]

Aside from some general 'snot' items (e.g. re-branded Fizan poles, re-branded Firemaple titanium stove), I have (and still use) two Kathmandu polartec fleeces purchased about 15 years ago; a goretex 'paclite' rain jacket that's been just about everywhere in the past six years; a softshell that I rate highly; and a pair of the most comfortable and robust walking shoes I've ever worn (i.e. their 'Drysdale' model). Additionally, all of my non-merino, first layer shirts are versions of the Kathmandu 'ThermaPLUS' range; I like them, they're comfortable and effective.

While Kathmandu has a reputation for entry-level, horribly coloured and poorly stitched gear; among the hokey and grim items are some real gems. Given their sales are more regular than are Metro's trains, wait for the inevitable 'mark-downs' and be discerning.

All the best.

[Overlandman]

I was in Melbourne in March, had a look at the DFO Kathmandu at Southern Cross Station, signs everywhere saying clearance, reduced etc; I purchased an item that was $24, back in Devonport the same item was $24.
I always thought that DFO's were cheaper?

[Spartan]

The shopping complex at Southern Cross Station hasn't been a DFO for a few years; it's simply another run-of-the-mill series of retail outlets.

All the best.

[Jason68]

Hmmm... I tend to shy away from them and anaconda, I just see branded gucci/yuppy gear my opinion only.