Kathmandu....Doubtful quality?

[leithel]

I'm interested to hear peoples opinions on their experiences with Kathmandu. I have bought things from their infamous sales over many years. In the last year I have been getting back into outdoor pursuits and hiking so have bought a number of things from their sales. I have always known that their quality has never matched that of other superior outdoor brands. Recently I have had a number of different things fall apart. A polar fleece jacket where all the stitching came undone. Some pricey coolmax travel socks had holes in them after a few weeks use.......

Both my patner and I were ready to upgrade to some full leather hiking boots. Kathmandu had these ones on special for $150 reduced from $300:
http://www.kathmandu.com.au/Footwear/Hi ... omens.html
I was tossing up getting some as they looked good quality at a great price. Given that I had doubts about Kathmandu's quality, I decided I would buy something better (I ended up getting some Asolo's which are friggin awesome) Last weekend we took our new boots on our first walk (2days in the Victorian Alps) My partner found them very comfortable and barely got blisters and they hadnt even been worn in. Unfortunately the boots are already falling apart. The sole is coming away from leather on the side of the boot. The same thing is also happenning where the sole is glued to the toe. She has decided she wont get them replaced and will just ask for a refund and put the $$$ towards a better brand.

I have had good experiences from some things at Kathmandu. My merino blend hiking socks are great. There are some great bargains to be had at their sales. But would you ever pay full price? I just really dont think their products are worth what they charge at full price. Their sale prices really reflect their actual quality........ I guess I'm happy to buy things such as socks, thermals and polarfleeces from them at sale prices, but thats where I would draw the line. When i bought a new pack a few months ago I went Macpac. Theres no way I would get a pack, boots or tent from Kathmandu.

I'm interested to hear other peoples thoughts and experiences

[Franco]

Well I spend a lot of time looking at gear, and Kathmandu is not exempt from my gaze.
I have many items from them, none bought at that fictitious retail price in fact most are from their outlet store, well below the sale price,
some from the lucky dip bin ( the box with really odd bits)
As far as quality goes, they do have a good mix, from absolute rubbish to nice. My best Merino top is from their first batch of this line,feels finer than the stuff they sell now.
Honestly having been in retail for a long time, i always advise to look at products not brands. Of course you need to know what to look for .
BTW, recently I had the opportunity to visit several company owned flagship stores in Seattle. Companies like Columbia, Patagonia, Outdoor Research and TNF. All had some top gear and some first class rubbish too.
Franco

[Steve]

I'm not a fan of Kathmandu; their products don't have the quality of their competitors and everything they sell seems to be ridiculously overly priced. Visited the Hobart store twice and don't think I'll be stopping by again.

[sthughes]

Yep I agree that some stuff is good, other stuff is rubbish and everything in between. None the less it is all overpriced at RRP and I only buy at sales. I think their "top of the line" gear is pretty good value and quality at 50 or 60% off. Actually I think a lot of major companies gear is overpriced at RRP, just not by as much in most cases.

[johnw]

I generally agree with most other comments. I've bought a bit of their gear over the years, mainly clothing, thermals, socks etc. No complaints about the quality of those. I think the quality compares with similar items in other brands. But the standard retail prices are completely outrageous. I doubt that any knowledgeable person would buy at those prices, unless it was an emergency. I've never bought anything from them for more than 40% off and never will.
I believe that 50% off probably represents fair value for most of their gear, when compared to other local sources.

Also own a Fizan hiking pole (75% off) and an old daypack (50% off). Both have served well and I have no real complaints.
I tried on several of their rucksacks when I was looking for one a couple of years back but couldn't find anything comfortable. I agree with Franco, I think you need to look past the brand and examine the quality of individual products before deciding. Some of it is definitely rubbish, and they do seem to have introduced a lot of cheap looking gimmicky travel products in the past year or two.

[Franco]

The other day I was visiting the new clearance center inside the DFO complex next to Jeff's Shed (the new Exhibition building in Melbourne) . I noticed a fleece top marked at $149 RRP, I nearly fell over laughing . At the NOW $49 was still too expensive..
BTW, I bought a few sets of aluminium poles from them for $5 each. Useless to most other people but I fiddle with tents so a bargain to me.
Franco

[ollster]

Kathmandu make half-decent knock-offs of good gear. At half RRP, it's about right.

I bought a Kathmandu pack many years ago. It's still in one piece, not that I'll be wearing it again, but it's worth mentioning that it had THE worst harness ever made. A couple of mates had the same pack (or same harness) and collectively we nicknamed it the rack. It was obviously a knock off of another brand, but was so poorly executed that it was impossible to get the hip belt to take weight, and so one had to endure 25kgs being dragged down onto one's shoulders ALL FREAKING DAY.

To compound the issue, the damn thing had really unstable harness, and the pack would swing around like some mad pole dancer when you so much as even leaned to the side.

Horrible, horrible, horrible. The one semi-positive thing I can say about it was that it would never die. It was the pack equivalent of a vampire, draining your strength to extend it's ancient, evil existence.

I like to think of Kathmandu as being the step up from K-Mart. I haven't bought anything from there (or Anaconda) as the company makes me feel cheap and dirty. Kinda like buying a Hyundai, or an Acer, or McDonalds.

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[Singe]

I just really dont think their products are worth what they charge at full price. Their sale prices really reflect their actual quality........

That about sums it up for me - by and large it's not top-quality stuff and certainly not worth the ridiculous RRPs they put on it. That said, between us the Mrs and I have a fair bit of their gear between us, basically because when we were gearing up we didn't have much money and didn't know any better. That said - though heavy and not always well thought-out feature wise, our gear hasn't let us down so IME I don't know that the reputation for poor quality is deserved.

For a budget-conscious, fairweather walker I think most of their gear is an ok cheap option on sale, if buying locally - but personally wouldn't buy 99% of their gear any more, and would instead go for better quality stuff sourced from O/S. They really cater to the car-camping masses and cruise ship tourists wanting to 'do' bushwalking IMO - and they do that very well (the move to Salamanca was truly inspired).

[Franco]

Hi Brett
Now that you mentioned , I have seen the Pertex Down Jackets between $160 and $199. No "user" experience but they do look and feel pretty good for the price , IE puffy enough, compressible (yeah , I fiddled with that too) and Pertex is not a cheap fabric.
The other lines of down jackets have too many feathers ...
Franco
BTW by "too many feathers" I did not mean too much down (as in excessive loft) but stuff that has a spine and pokes through the fabric as opposed to the stuff that looks like a cotton ball...

[Son of a Beach]

I don't have any Kathmandu gear myself, but when walking the Arthurs for 12 days of rain, we used my mate's Kathmandu tent, which was solid and waterproof. No complaints there. (He carried the tent, and I carried the stove, which is the only reason we didn't take my tent on that trip).

I assume that their high RRP/frequent-sales strategy is two-fold: Firstly, so that people think that they're getting great bargains just because things are %50 off (which isn't necessarily so), and secondly, so that people shopping in the short period between the sales are encouraged to come back again "next week" when the product they were looking at will be at a vastly reduced price (ie, discourage them going elsewhere in the meantime, in the expectation of getting a great bargain very soon). I get the impression that they don't care if they never sell anything between sales.

Seems to work for them.

Just speculation, of course.

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[Franco]

Son of a beach
Is there such a thing as accurate speculation ?
Anyway I am saving up so I can buy some shares in that wonderful world of ridiculous discounts...
Franco
One of the amusing aspects of the Boxing Day Sales ( a month long event now...) is that a good part of the public buy according to what they "save" and not what they spend. IE if you put two one dollar coins down , ticket one "was $1.20 "and the other "was $1.50" the latter will sell first...

[Son of a Beach]

Yes I keep having to remind my wife that no matter what the sales pitch says you save, if it costs $10 then you've lost $10 and not actually saved a cent in the process of spending.

[corvus]

Yes what they said and perhaps more ( do have a good Navigator Down Sleeping Bag from them) but wary of their prices now.

[volcboy]

As long as you don't buy at full price, I don't think Kathmandu gear is all bad. If you look at where gear is made, it is almost all made at the same sweatshops in Asia, regardless of the brand.

I have a Kathmandu tent and sleeping bag - they are both fine and both were 50%+ off the retail price, making them cost about what they should. I have some of their merino thermals and blend socks, which I also waited to buy during their infamous sales.

The only thing I spend more carefully on are the items that provide comfort, meaning my pack and my shoes. I have a NorthFace pack and Raichle shoes which, while a bit pricey, make life a whole lot more comfortable when I'm out walking

Be selective, and don't think that you have to buy fancy brands to be comfortable is my motto. Remember that most of the routes people walk in Tassie used to be done using an external aluminium framed pack and woolen jumpers. Scott went to the South Pole with canvas tents and sleeping bags made out of animal skins

[Lindsay]

Like most I have found Kathmandu to be well over priced compared to other retailers and with less variety. I did buy a Kathmandu branded waterproof jacket for $280 about two years ago and it has done the job it is supposed to do, so no complaints there. I visit occasionally as it is the closest outdoor shop to my place, but it's not where I would shop on a regular basis.

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[jwalker]

Despite the general consensus that Kathmandu's range of gear is of mixed quality and realistically only worth 50% of R.R.P, they certainly seem to have a market. "It lifted sales from $133 million in 2006-07 to $160 million in 2007-08 and $176 million in 2008-09, and expects this financial year's sales to reach $197 million." - The Age.

Friday just gone they listed on the ASX at a 4.4% premium to the offer price. Quite a contrast to Myer's listing a couple of weeks ago which dropped 10%. http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/business/kathmandu-already-scaling-the-heights-20091113-ieu1.html

Interestingly, Kathmandu's founder Jan Cameron (who I believe lives on Tasmania's East Coast) is planning another chain of outdoor stores to commence roll out in a year or so. She says of the project; "I imagine that if we are offering a similar product at competitive prices, at everyday low prices, around 50 to 60 per cent lower than Kathmandu, I imagine that might be quite attractive," she said. "I really love the product and the industry and I see an opportunity with a different model.'' Quite amusing that these comments came the week of her former company's stock market listing.http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/world/3001496/Jan-Cameron-to-start-new-clothes-venture

Like most here it seems, I don't mind using Kathmandu for a minor purchase here or there. But on the whole it's not my cup of tea and there are other brands that do better at inspiring the cash from grasp. I think those flocking through the doors are perhaps not so much your serious "get outdoors in the wilderness types" as families and campers and perhaps "soft" travellers that are not relying on the continual integrity and comfort of their gear so much.

[volcboy]

True Brett - but he did make it most of the way, and it wasn't the quality of his gear that stopped him. It was the lack of food and underestimating the difficulty of the task (topics that have been discussed in other threads), two far more dangerous issues than having a zip or two break........

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[volcboy]

Anyway back on thread. A wise walker would be advise to check out all shops before committing to a purchase from Kathmandu. As for one of the join founders looking to re-enter the market as a competitor I wonder if there will be too much competition in the low to mid range gear and as a Tasmanian worry if the more robust gear will be forced out. As mentioned Kathmandu aims for the mass market but also this market provides significant revenue to shops and manufacturers that provide the gear I like. Time will tell if we only have the choice of Kmart quality tents, etc. One thing for certain I will never be able to experience Kathmandu boots for better or worst.

I would agree, but would go back to my original premise - most gear is made in the same factories in Asia with a different brand name stamped on. You have to look carefully and pay more for gear that is made with more care and strength, which is important to do with some things such as boots, packs and tents, but not so with some others (thermals, socks, polypro layering etc.).

[Julafreak]

Sometime at the start of the year, I bought a softshell from K. and a month later, a hole was formed in the right pocket and I nearly lose my passport. Honestly I dont know what caused it. It could be me or it could be the quality of it.

[Singe]

Sometime at the start of the year, I bought a softshell from K. and a month later, a hole was formed in the right pocket and I nearly lose my passport. Honestly I dont know what caused it. It could be me or it could be the quality of it.

Could've been nasty! Did you return it for repair/warranty? I would be interested to know how good they are these days - a mate used to work for them and told me that they had an 'ask-no-questions' policy within 12 months of purchase and would consider older stuff if it failed due to a manufacturing problem (as is their legal responsibility - but some shops are better than others) - but that was ten years ago.

Jan does indeed operate an accommodation business at Bicheno, including a cafe which serves what I regard to be the best coffee on the east coast. Sounds like what she has in mind now is a chain of stores similar to the Kathmandu factory outlets... I reckon the market is there - but whether it will be a good thing for Tasmanian bushwalkers is another thing entirely.

[Julafreak]

hmm.. I had my pack changed from a travel pack to a proper hiking pack. That was because of a mistake made by their staff on the recommendation given to me. And then there's the shoes, which were low cut boots said to be suitable for hiking (I specifically pointed out that I want to do the overland track with it) by a salesperson (different 1 this time). On a stroller's walk 2 months ago, the boots were completely wet and my feet were rotting in them. When I took back for a change to a higher cut boot, they turned me down by saying the salesperson who served me is a very experienced bushwalker and couldnt go wrong with the advice given (I am very sure she didnt mention anything about higher cut boots and their better ability to prevent water from getting in). I went home trying to accept that it was my fault for not doing better research before the purchase. I think I should get my softshell jacket changed since I really do think it wasnt fault that the hole in the pocket develop so easily. As far as I can recall, I didnt put a knife in there! .. hmm.. but all this will have to wait till next year Feb when I go back. Hopefully the 12 month thing still applies as I bought them in April this year.. Thanks for the heads-up Singe!

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[volcboy]

IMHO, if you're going to take advice from someone in a retail store about gear that may be important in keeping you comfortable or even keeping you safe, just remember that they are probably a casual employee who either; 1) Is paid to sell you as much as possible from the store, or 2) Doesn't give a flying rats cl......... and just wants to finish their shift. That goes for Kathmandu or any other outdoor store.

Do some research and shop around before you buy anything from anywhere.

[ollster]

That goes for Kathmandu or any other outdoor store.

Do some research and shop around before you buy anything from anywhere.

Well, I'd agree with the second bit, but argue with the sentiment of the first. I know some staff from Hbt outdoors shops, and the ones I know know their stuff, care about providing great advice and are what I would consider expert in at least 1 major field of outdoor pursuit, be it climbing or walking or whatever. They aren't all checkout chics/dudes in fleece.

It's worth noting that a lot of new walkers only have half a clue, and it's pretty difficult to reason with some people!

PS: I had no idea that "clacker" was a swear word worth of "........."-ing.

[blacksheep]

some recent material selections are surprising..do your homework...

[ollster]

some recent material selections are surprising..do your homework...

Macpac generally make awesome gear.

[Can I have some, pleeeeeease? ]