macpac tents

[Scottyk]

I have noticed over the last few weeks that macpac have stopped stocking a lot of their tent range
http://www.macpac.com.au/catalog/catego ... ts/id/773/
No Olympus, Microlight or Minaret. Been that way for a few weeks.
I wonder if they are just out of stock or they are discontinuing these classic tents?
Anyone know anything about this?

[Strider]

Just another move away from bushwalking gear from Macpac...

[Scottyk]

Just another move away from bushwalking gear from Macpac...

I was hoping it wasn't, shame really.

[DarrenM]

Just another move away from bushwalking gear from Macpac...

So do you know if they have discontinued, or are you guessing?

Would be a shame, as I'd also like to know. I noticed the Ascent pack (recently revised) isn't listed either.

[Strider]

No I'm guessing. But, given the changes we've seen happen within the company in the last 12 months, I wouldn't be surprised if I'm right.

[Mark F]

The Ascent pack is in the final clearance section of the web site. I don't expect that they will stop making tents but rather introduce some new free standing ones like the MSR hubba series. Seeing the Olympus disappear is a very end of an era experience.

[casey79]

Just another move away from bushwalking gear from Macpac...

Source?

What I have heard from staff is that they have sold out and new shipments are still a while away. There might me some new styles or tweeks on current ones in the mid future.

[casey79]

The Ascent pack is in the final clearance section of the web site.

The NZ Alpine Team has been testing new Alpine kit in Patagonia last summer and currently in Alaska. I assume that gear is close to release. Out with the old in with the new.

[DarrenM]

Good info Casey79. Macpac have made some perfect gear for my specific needs over the years and loved the Ascent.

There are still plenty of people out there using the pointy end of the range and not just the bushwalking/tramping gear.
Not many other packs would have lasted as long as my old xpd and just can't seem to retire it.

[Macpac Ltd]

Just another move away from bushwalking gear from Macpac...

I was hoping it wasn't, shame really.

The Ascent pack is in the final clearance section of the web site. (...) Seeing the Olympus disappear is a very end of an era experience.

Assumptions, assumptions, assumptions. Now look Strider what you've done... people are all upset.

Scottyk and Mark F, there's no need to be sad, there's no era ending, none of that. The good ol' Olympus and all our other tents are still in the range. Tent sales have been a bit better than expected lately and yes, we ran out for a wee bit. The good news is that we've just received a new shipment; tents are now back in store and on the website again.

Are we going to release new tents? Keep your eyes peeled this summer for some new options in the lightweight/single person department.
And casey79 is spot on: new alpine packs as well, designed in conjunction with the boys and girls from the New Zealand Alpine Team. That's the only reason why the current Ascent is on clearance.
(For a a sneaky look at some serious testing: http://on.fb.me/1kyjGml )

Hope this helps,
Daan

[icefest]

Thank for posting Daan, it’s good to see you posting here again.
It’s good to see the classics are still here available, although a post on the website with as much details would have avoided this kerfuffle – maybe next time.
By lightweight, do you mean that you will have tents weighing less than a kilo per person?

[wayno]

NZ website shows the olympus
http://www.macpac.co.nz/tents/tents-mountain

[wayno]

I'm guessing logistically its cheaper to get gear made, and shipped en masse in big occasional consignments, then sold on sale.... and minimise the need for storage... wait for the next consignment then have the next sale. minimise the amount of storage needed long term...

[Joomy]

Just another move away from bushwalking gear from Macpac...

I was hoping it wasn't, shame really.

The Ascent pack is in the final clearance section of the web site. (...) Seeing the Olympus disappear is a very end of an era experience.

Assumptions, assumptions, assumptions. Now look Strider what you've done... people are all upset.

Scottyk and Mark F, there's no need to be sad, there's no era ending, none of that. The good ol' Olympus and all our other tents are still in the range. Tent sales have been a bit better than expected lately and yes, we ran out for a wee bit. The good news is that we've just received a new shipment; tents are now back in store and on the website again.

Are we going to release new tents? Keep your eyes peeled this summer for some new options in the lightweight/single person department.
And casey79 is spot on: new alpine packs as well, designed in conjunction with the boys and girls from the New Zealand Alpine Team. That's the only reason why the current Ascent is on clearance.
(For a a sneaky look at some serious testing: http://on.fb.me/1kyjGml )

Hope this helps,
Daan

Nice to see a company paying attention to the consumers. That is a sick video I must say. That said, nothing Macpac currently makes really interests me at the moment, though I acknowledge the Olympus is a good tent. I would love to see them making some truly world-class gear but I fear that at the moment most of what they make is fairly unremarkable compared to the rest of the market. NZ Alpine Team uses it? I would probably use it too if someone gave it to me for free (actually probably not).

[walkon]

Bugger macpac posting this on their Web site. We've got the scoop, you heard it first on bushwalk.com so cop that other forums. You want to hear breaking news just check this site out, read and learn here for the best most up to date information.
It's good to see that the big guys are catching on. What with us now over 7000 registered members and many other guests, we are the vehicle to their success. Ask us what we want/need in a product, we have people who make their own gear and modify manufacturers products to suit. One of our most redeeming features is we give it to you straight, we are not trying curry favor with your company and be yes men/women.

[DarrenM]

And casey79 is spot on: new alpine packs as well, designed in conjunction with the boys and girls from the New Zealand Alpine Team. That's the only reason why the current Ascent is on clearance.
(For a a sneaky look at some serious testing: http://on.fb.me/1kyjGml )

Hope this helps,
Daan

Looks like the 80 l Ascent is gone and we have a range of small capacity gear now. Shame really as the 80 litre was the perfect touring pack. There are still plenty of people that need larger capacity alpine packs. When you carry a week or more worth of gear and throw ski's, boards, snowshoes, climbing gear into the equation it's hard to beat some of the older models.

I get fast and light etc, but most of the serious backcountry people would trash the lightweight gear inside of one season.

Have I missed some of the new gear?

[icefest]

Bugger macpac posting this on their Web site. We've got the scoop, you heard it first on bushwalk.com so cop that other forums. You want to hear breaking news just check this site out, read and learn here for the best most up to date information.
It's good to see that the big guys are catching on. What with us now over 7000 registered members and many other guests, we are the vehicle to their success. Ask us what we want/need in a product, we have people who make their own gear and modify manufacturers products to suit. One of our most redeeming features is we give it to you straight, we are not trying curry favor with your company and be yes men/women.

I think that's quite a bit overvalued. 7000 members, of which maybe 500 log in once a week is hardly a huge and important audience.
Macpac is much too large for that to be a significant portion of their customers.

Tier Gear is a bit different, being more cottage oriented, but I suspect he gets a bit of sales from the hammock forums too.

[Mark F]

I just went onto the Macpac web site to have look at the two 40 litre packs (updated AMP 40 and the Pursuit 40 NZ team one) and noticed a new tent knock off of a Terra Nova Competition. Why oh why don't they give some decent pictures/specifications/information. Pursuit pack has no image of the harness and the new tent called the Sololight - no dimensions just a weight which isn't even competitive with the almost 10 year old Laser Competition or the new Hilleberg Enan.

[Moondog55]

I wonder how much the deletion of the Minaret [and the Alpine/Expedition Minaret] will hurt sales
The Minaret would be the only Macpac tent I'd be interested in as the Macpac version of the Plateau isn't as good as the original Fairydown iteration

[wayno]

they may well be releasing a new model or two. they have let their clothing range run down for some new releases in rainshells at least that are due out some time in NZ according to a shop staff member I spoke to.. they just released a new pack model...

[DarrenM]

Which pack was it Wayno?

I found the much anticipated alpine pack to be a small daypack and a deletion of the 80 litre ascent....!

What am I missing here?

[wayno]

macpac put something on their facebook page about a "pursuit pack"

[DarrenM]

Yep, that's the one.

At 37 litre capacity its not exactly a mountaineering pack by default.

http://www.macpac.com.au/packs/new/nz-a ... -pack.html

[icefest]

It looks surprisingly decent.

0.6kg, dyneema (probably dyneema x)

Integrated frame and removable sleeping/back pad.

[DarrenM]

Yep, its probably fine for its intended use and don't have a problem with the pursuit.

The problem is that I had the impression that the Ascent pack was being replaced with something similar from the responses from people in the know. Disappointing that they have discontinued a great pack of usable size.

Obviously a small target market for them.

[nzbazza]

On the Macpac NZ website and in store there are new ascent 65 and new serac 50 alpine packs available. There is also a lightweight canvas version of the Pursuit coming as well. Perhaps the only thing that regular trampers wouldn't like about the new Pursuit is that the shoulder straps are very thin and narrow, and the waist strap is made from narrow 20mm webbing.

I looking very hard at that dyneema (200D nylon with dyneema ripstop, the standard UL pack fabric of the past decade) Pursuit as a UL 2-3 day tramping pack. The new Amp 40 has gone on a diet too shedding 500g over the old model and has much more substantial harness and hipbelt with pockets.

If you are after a 40-45 litre pack Macpac have at least 5 in their range:
The dyneema ripstop and canvas version of the Pursuit, primarily aimed at alpine
The Amp 40 aimed at multisport
The Tasman 45 for your lighweight Great Walkers
and the Weka 40 (not on website yet but in the central Wellington stop) is a bombproof canvas pack with a back stash pocket very similar to the Cactus Hector.

[wayno]

given your knowledge of the macpac lineup. if you have any affinity to any bushwalking brands, you must state so in your profile info, as per the forum rules...

[nzbazza]

given your knowledge of the macpac lineup. if you have any affinity to any bushwalking brands, you must state so in your profile info, as per the forum rules...

Just visited the shop in Wellington last week, read their website, and saw this a few weeks ago.

http://issuu.com/ideavelop/docs/macpac_s15_product_booklet_hr

Not to mention that the review of the Pursuit pack was on the New Zealand Alpine Team site since September.

As for brand affinity: MYOG = don't be afraid to cut, hack and sew...

[DarrenM]

Nice work bazza.

I also like the idea of MYOG but haven't progressed to sewing heavy materials yet. I have a local guy that has repaired my old Ascent and also Extended my Torre to add another 20 litres or more. He did mention that he could make anything I wanted and seeing how talented he is, I may just take him up on the offer.
I guess I'm in a minority when it comes to some gear. The world has decided to go lighter, smaller and on occasion less durable which I have a problem with. It means I have to buy more often and it's not exactly cost effective in the long run. I'm starting to sound old!

[jackattack]

Has anyone used the sololight and has any feedback? I am looking at the sololight ant the Hilleberg Enan but the Hilleberg is out of my budget at the moment.