Macpac goods/stores

[etrangere]

Anyone been to one of the newish Macpac stores lately and what was their impressions?

Reason for asking is that one has just opened up here in Perth a few hundred meters from Mountain Design, Kathmandu, Main Peak and Paddy Pallin stores. It 'smells' very much like a Kathamandu store if you ask me which is a bit disconcerting. Please Lord dont let Macpac head down the same avenue of massive sales selling mediocre goods!!

But in saying that the staff were really keen and one of them must have spotted the drool hanging off my mouth as I checked out the Macpac Ascent XPD backpack in limited edition yellow and was really helpful. Anyone here tried that pack and have any feedback??

[nakedape]

What, no one has bought into this yet? OK, here goes then!

For my mind the Macpac range of gear and its stores are a carbon copy of Kathmandu - aka not really worth effort unless on sale.

post edited by admin to keep on-topic. Original content still appears quoted in this topic

[sthughes]

Yep in my opinion Macpac is going a bit "Kathmandu". Still a leap ahead as far as their more serious gear is concerned (packs, tents etc.) from what I have seen. But not so sure about clothing, bought a soft shell very recently and it began coming unstitched after 2 or 3 outings to town.
I guess the whole idea of mark the price up 30% then have regular 40% off sales must work profit wise, but to me it's just inconvienient having to buy at certain times and not just buy when it suits and maybe pay a few bucks more. Somehow it also sort of 'cheapens' the brand in my eyes, not sure why.
Have only been to a store once shortly after it opened, staff were okay. Otherwise it's just to far out of the way to go in person (at least Kathmandu have plenty of shops in my end of Tassie). The online 'shop' could be a lot better but it is functional and postage is quick so it's okay.

[adventurescape]

In response to original post.

I have an Ascent XPD (Red and black in the hope of going faster) and have found it great. Solid and comfortable. I have never had a sore spot from the harness which I have found surprising. I say this because I have very prominent collar bones and the padding on the harness in that area is very thin. The funny "S" shape of that particular part of the harness works well. I reckon I carried 25+ kilos in it up into WOJ and had no worries with comfort.

I have filled the thing with water and it holds the water, so It is as close to waterproof as I need. Vital items go in a STS event compression bag inside anyway.

Detachable lid is great for side trips.

Only negative I have found, is that the buckles slip when walking in the wet. The webbing slips through the buckles slowly, mainly on the waist, but that may be the case with most packs, dunno.

Being made for mountaineering, it is slim and designed to fit behind your profile fairly well (hope that makes sense) and not get caught on stuff as you move thru. It also allows for excellent freedom of movement and high steps. I bushwalk and I am also a climber and have used it to scramble in and out of less accessible climbing crags and it allows excellent freedom of movement when moving through "awkward" terrain.

My Ascent has not seen anywhere near as much action as I'd like it to have in my 18 months of ownership, but it seems very sturdy and I hope it outlasts my knees.

Hope this helps and perhaps saves this thread going the way of so many others

[eddie the eagle]

Anyone been to one of the newish Macpac stores lately and what was their impressions?

Hi etrangere,

I've been into the Macpac Sydney store, and it's not like a Kathmandu store in my opinion. (I use a Kathmandu in SW Sydney as well - the kids I work with are very financially disadvantaged, average weekly *family income* = $650 gross.)

Yes, Macpac have a large range of clothes on display in Sydney, probably has a lot to do with the fact that the Sydney CBD crowd ski and look for warm/waterproof gear, so it'd make sense to bias the stock on display this way. When I've been in there in the last month (twice,) they've had skiiers stocking up each time. However, they've got all the Macpac product range on display and stored out the back of the shop, just not put out in the open/tents displayed pitched, etc...

Their staff knew their product range very well, (much better than other retailers' staff,) and got a large sale from me. They even knew the Scarpa range better than the other independent retailers and could tell me exactly the model of boot that I was looking for.

Cheers,

eddie

[Liamy77]

I just wish they would custom make gear more!!

[ollster]

I think accusing Macpac of going the way of Kathmandu because they open up some stores to be pretty unreasonable.

I'm not sold on some of their gear, but at least now I can actually get access to all of it, unlike in the before-times when the local stores stocked bugger-all Macpac. Most of their stuff is better than the competition as far as brands that produce a wide range of gear (ie: MDs, Kathmandu) rather than those who sell just niche/core product ranges.

And what's all this *&%$#! about China? Read the "made in" labels before running your mouths off.

[Jellybean]

Back on topic too: I used to have a Macpac Ascent pack. Excellent pack (very comfortable, durable and did everything I needed it to do), I only sold it because I've diverged down the lightweight route and it was heavier than I wanted.

Cheers,

JB

[ILUVSWTAS]

For what it's worth, I have had alot of MACPAC goods over the years. If it wasnt for One Planet, I would probably still be using alot of MACPAC gear.

[Liamy77]

Well.... being kinda isolated where i am ...
You are lucky to be able to see and really get the feel of goods without having to buy it or drive for hours....
feeling the weight of a packcloth is so much more than reading a description!!
Of course all companies are there to make a buck too... but this way you have a much better chance of gettin the right product for your useage and $... And if they have sense they will employ and SUPPORT walkers and get em using the products!
Even if it is made overseas they cant easily outsource the retail staff who need to know the product and relate to the market.... Well thats my soapbox worth for now...

[Son of a Beach]

There were a lot of posts in this topic that are not really relevant to the original question, and some that are not as polite and friendly as the forum rules suggest they should be. I think enough has been said about the side issues in this topic for now. I have split off the other discussion to a new topic, Goods Made in China & Elswhere.

Please keep further posts on topic. Ie, related to actual experiences of th Macpac stores and products.

[Lindsay]

I have visited Macpac in Chatswood on several occasions since it opened about 18 months ago. There is a good range of gear and the staff are helpful and know their products, and the gear I have bought I am very pleased with. There did seem to be a certain amount of clothing aimed at the designer end of the market (given the shops location on the North Shore this is probably to be expected) but the bulk of the stuff was for the proper bushwalker. A few months ago I also visited the Christchurch shop, where the stock appeared to be more tailored for the NZ conditions and less 'street wear'.

I suppose its all a matter of what will sell to a particular customer. If they can keep costs down for bushwalkers by flogging eye-hurting fluro jackets to Asian tourists on a day tip to the Blue Mountains, then I say do it

[Liamy77]

I have visited Macpac in Chatswood on several occasions since it opened about 18 months ago. There is a good range of gear and the staff are helpful and know their products, and the gear I have bought I am very pleased with. There did seem to be a certain amount of clothing aimed at the designer end of the market (given the shops location on the North Shore this is probably to be expected) but the bulk of the stuff was for the proper bushwalker. A few months ago I also visited the Christchurch shop, where the stock appeared to be more tailored for the NZ conditions and less 'street wear'.

I suppose its all a matter of what will sell to a particular customer. If they can keep costs down for bushwalkers by flogging eye-hurting fluro jackets to Asian tourists on a day tip to the Blue Mountains, then I say do it

[nakedape]

There were a lot of posts in this topic that are not really relevant to the original question, and some that are not as polite and friendly as the forum rules suggest they should be. I think enough has been said about the side issues in this topic for now. I have split off the other discussion to a new topic, Goods Made in China & Elswhere.

Please keep further posts on topic. Ie, related to actual experiences of th Macpac stores and products.

I may have missed some of the posts - but I thought most were on topic i.e. poster's personal opinions regarding macpac products and stores. Sure some were complimentary and others less so - but are we supposed to give honest appraisals, based on our experience, impressions and social/ environmental imperatives, or simply parrot the thoughts of others? The idea was to begin a discussion regarding our social responsibilities as consumers and manufacturers. If that offends, well to be frank good - I hope it starts people thinking about what they buy and where it comes from!

I will add however, that I appreciate the discussion not being shutdown altogether.

n

[Son of a Beach]

No problem with your (or others) opinions being posted. I felt that some of the posts were not what the original post was after, that they were distinct enough to be deserving of their own topic, and that a number of people clearly found some of them to be distracting to the original topic.

None of the posts have been removed. Merely moved to another forum. If you wish to discuss it further, can we please do so either by private messages, or in the Forum and Site forum, as by continuing here we would be further disrupting this topic yet again.

PS I'll unlock that other topic, in the hope that it won't degenerate further.

[ILUVSWTAS]

Almost need to bring controversy corner back.......
I think you did the right thing. Some of the posts were misinformed as well as a bit attacking.

[WarrenH]

I wouldn't know what the new Macpac gear is like, because all of my old Macpac gear is still very good. Most of my serious gear is Macpac. I have brand loyalty because I have no reason not to.

My next door neighbour Kevin, when I was a kid, I played with his kids, Kevin often said, "Buy cheap buy often." Too true. Kevin was absolutely right ... although I do like how the prices have seriously dropped for power tools.

Macpac gear is not cheap, I just went and had a look at the Macpac site, even with the exchange rate in our favour and serious clearance discounts, who can afford Macpac stuff nowadays?

I must admit, as a cyclist I buy Italian ... and Taiwanese. Cyclists just cant avoid the cheap Taiwanese stuff because it is very good quality.

Warren.

[vagrom]

Macpac used to be only available through Paddy's and Paddy's was the bushwalker's DJs.
It's a shakeup. The world has changed. Wild magazine isn't what it used to be and this site has come along to add nicely to the mix.
The disappointment about Macpac is palpable but the flipside is that they wind up going the way of so many brands and outlets advertised in Wild over the years: "..Bereft of life, 'e rests in peace". So they are faced with making a businesslike decision, and this last bit only just occurs to me, good offices of this forum:
They haven't chosen to "ape" the low calory/Walmart style of Kathmandu. ( But I miss those excellent, lightweight "Pocket Packs" they used to flog, "On Sale" of course, for $12. 10% of their stuff is very competitive). They have, as the Yanks say, "taken it up to them" and are playing them at their own game. But not just them; to North Face and others. It's a cut throat world. But Paddy's seems unchanged by and large. They still have the broadest range of Scarpa, I think. And the Scout shop remains as a reliable point of reference too.
But yes, it's the stuff you see, so much of it and think, should they be sending people out into the wilds in some of this stuff? But I guess many of them find the gear good just to wear anywhere. In the end, it's what we choose to do with our readies.
I'm sure a lot of walkers remain interested in locally produced over imported. Interestingly, it's often the stuff with unecessary
bells and whistles that sells to the entrants. But i digress?

[Franco]

I regularly visit the Melbourne and Collingwood stores. Not to buy anything because I can already outfit several hikers , but to have a look since I am the outdoor gear equivalent of a train spotter.
Both stores employ knowledgeable staff that DO THE WALK as well as talk the talk. In fact some of them I have seen around (outdoor stores) for about two decades.
The main items, packs/tents/sleeping bags are (IMHO) better than ever. As durable , if not more, and lighter than before.
Clothing I do not know, however as I pointed out in the "other" thread, clothing did not last forever and that is why there were so many tailors around.
Again, I think that folk have forgotten that we used to re-sole our shoes and boots.
Franco

[nickL]

its interesting to see that what is happening to macpac is the likely fate of all good cottage companies that start with inovative cutting edge gear. (golite is also another classic)

their gear is so good that it sells but only to the initiated. then as the word spreads they get bigger and as they get bigger the manufacturing options change and thats when they outsource in their local area. then the exapansion continues and they outsource to asia. also as they expand their market share their marketing budget expands and before you know it they open their own store becuase you get more margin without a specialty outdoor store marking your gear up a few percent.

then people like me stop buying their less innovative and more expensive highly marketed gear and start buying from online (another discussion i know) innovative cottage manufacturers who design gear that they use themselves. so then the "once little now big" companies have customers who wear their gear when they go to the movies or camp in a five star chalet on the OT i.e their demographic changes. before you know it they have a full range of travel luggage and bomber gore tex jackets that weigh 2kg and have an ipod hole.

then they get purchased by a bunch of merchant bankers and have a sale every second weekend.

is this the cycle of life in a consumerist society or have i just become a little too cynical in my youth.

[blacksheep]

funny, i never consider me, pierre or bernie as merchant bankers

[nickL]

BP sorry about that

could it have been any of the following: accounting, ecomonomics, MBA, retailer, advertising, marketing, fund management, stockbroker.....

seriously i wasnt having a dig at the purchasers.. i too am in a growing business (but in the health field)....and as a result am all to conscious of the effects of expansion and the pressures of a bottom line driven economic model. it is just part of our modern day reality.

my take is that after buying from mainstream retailers and giving my purchases much thought.... i have decided to do the research and choose the best equipment for my purposes, usually but not always coming from cottage providers...i am keen to invest in their innovation and ability to make bespoke pieces that respond to specific needs...i am supporting their drive to produces the most efficient, hardiest and lightest gear.....i would support them more so if they were local...instead i support them to stay grass roots (at the moment) in their own area.....if they all disappear i will probably resort to "make your own gear" projects

it couldnt be easy to be a cottage industry producer in any field and i am sure it is difficult making a healthy bottom line in many mainstream retail ventures as well

so BP, no dig intended

oh and to all those mainstream retialers out there that are listening...keep up the good work on the 2kg goretex jackets

[adventurerichard]

ok, i THINK i'm staying on topic:

my impressions are that again, as others have said, these single brand stores (Macpac only sells Macpac tents, s/bags, clothes so i'm ignoring the Sea to Summit drysacks etc) like K'du take an opportunity to use this to leverage their RRP's higher and then discount them I would suggest, this si why Paddy's would and COULD never offer the sizeable "discounts" on Macpac that Macpac now do. I walk down Kent St Sydney a fair bit and it seems Macpac have barely been anything other than 30-40-50% off.

So my impression...is that i find this practice of continual high discounting uncomfortable and consequently I'll stick to the multi-brand stores like Paddy's (range), Trek and Travel (like Paddys but not quiet as competitive), Mountain Equipment (nice guys, very techy, great for climbing gear) and Snowgum (friendly, honest, reasonable prices).

[Macca81]

I walk down Kent St Sydney a fair bit and it seems Macpac have barely been anything other than 30-40-50% off.

i have been into macpac hobart half a dozen times, bought something once. i have only seen discounts on a few items, and never have they been the same item each time.

(this is from a casual observation, i certainly wasnt trying to take notes on these facts)

[freemandale]

Visited the Adelaide store last week (Didn't even know it was there!). Was impressed by the salesperson's knowledge of the equipment I asked about and that she didn't think my enquiry was out there! (I'm not 21!). While much of their stuff (backpacks) doesn't seem to suit me size wise (I'm too short) I did appreciate the curtesy I was shown, the salespersons knowledge of their products and efforts to assist me! Much appreciated after experiencing the service in some other stores in the past when commissions seemed to be the overriding consideration! Well done!

[tasadam]

Just got the newsletter - they are preparing to open a Launceston store. Good news!

[DaveGwy]

I have been and I still am a macpac fan - I have a LARGE amount of brand loyalty. However, I have noticed a few things since getting back into the outdoors scene (i.e. visiting the Hobart shop every week); There is more of the macpac low/mid-level clothing models which are sold for 1 season then discontinued. This to me smells of not really guaranteeing long clothing life. However, there is still the top end models ( Cascade & Ascent packs, Sundowner Jacket, Olympus tent, Sanctuary/Latitude sleeping bags) which are still being made (Even after 30 years in some cases).. and this to me means macpac is confident with the design. As I said, if macpac is confident with the design, I am confident with it.

I think you just need to do your research, and should macpac make a top-end version of that item, I won't hesitate to trust them!

[blacksheep]

Just got the newsletter - they are preparing to open a Launceston store. Good news!

And because I consider Ian Ferrier a mate, he's certainly a kind gentleman, he did recieve a courtesy phone call letting him know we were looking for a site.

[gaz0303]

I spent some time in Melbourne last August and loved browsing the Lt Collins St area - my kind of shops with the countries best coffee next to each other. I like Macpac products (my Kestrel daypack has lasted 10 years of daily use) and will buy them again. However, I thought their store on Elizabeth St was a clearance centre - stock untidy, crammed space, everything at a ridiculous discount, under staffed. It didn't aspire confidence in the brand when comparing them to Mountain Designs, snowgum, paddys and the rest in the area. I actually walked out looking for their non-existent normal store before returning to buy a merino top. I guess when I'm buying quality gear I expect the brand to be promoted in a similar way. I don't think I would pay full price for Macpac in the future - the constant sales are Kathmandu like and possibly reflect the products true value and quality.

Maybe I'm a sucker for marketing but the Icebreaker section in Snowgum makes me want to pay those super high prices.