R&R Sport

As far as Wilderness magazine goes it seems to represent the editor of the time more than anything. At the moment it is edited by an Auckland Latte boy that seems to think wandering about in the waitakares and tongariro is hardcore tramping. The need to give advertisers good reviews seems more important than impartial reviews. All outdoor brands. shops. website etc in New Zealand seems to be on the decline. Prices are astronomical, products shoddy quality. Its a real worry. Overseas brands are the way to go for me these days. The next big thing will be people admitting that no mattr how awesome their expensive merino gear is. They find that it rips to pieces and falls apart in the washing machine on gentle cycle. Back to the old days. Rugby shorts. Cheap hunters fleece. Cheap polyprops etc are the way to go.

I recently spent a couple of months in Canada, and the selection over there is no better, same with Europe... In many cases same products, just with a different brand. Sometimes cheaper, sometimes more expensive. It seems quality products designed for the outdoors are few and far between and really need to seek out niche manufacturers to find gear targeted for proper outdoors use. In Canada they have a enormous store call MEC, I went into their flagship shop in Vancouver and none of the clothing I saw in there was any better then what Macpac/Kathmandu would stock. Nearby I did find a smaller independent store which had some stuff worth buying. New Zealand retail stores are no better or worst then what I have seen internationally. The fact is, the internet can bring thousands of products, no matter how niche right to your doorstep... Retail stores have no hope in competing with the selection which the internet can now offer.

I was just tramping with a couple a canadians and they couldnt name a canadian outdoor brand. they just seem to use the US stuff. The point is New Zealand SHOULD have a point of difference over the overseas stuff. Thats why I am more open to overseas brands now because our stuff is the same crap. But as they are bigger companies can offer lighter more technical and sometimes cheaper stuff. But Ridgeline, polyprop and rugby shorts have always been my go tos and probably always will.

MEC and Canada Goose are the only Canadian brands I know , MEC branded stuff is no different to Macpac/Kathmandu but Canada Goose makes hardcore down jackets which are expensive. Also saw a line of made in Canada Bivy bags but can not remember the brand... I really do not see how there can be that much of a point of difference.... The climate is not that different to many other temperate countries. I been on overgrown tracks in several countries so not even that is a point of difference. The only unique aspect we have going for us is our excellent network of huts.... For the most part, the same designs which work well overseas are going to work well here because the overall experience is similar enough. So I can understand why NZ brands do not have much to differentiate themselves from the overseas competition.

Arc'teryx is a Canadian brand - excellent gear (at a price)...!

In regards to our place in the world New Zealand is seen almost soley as an outdoor playground. Outdoor trekkers around the world hold New Zealand right up there in the top three as a trekkers paradise. Thats all a lot of people ourseas think of us. A third of our country is protected. We have National parks or Forest parks an hour or so from ever Kiwis doorstep. We have huts tracks mountains rivers and forest everywhere. When you advertise nNew York to the world you show skyscrapers here you show back country. We probably have more outdoor brand companies per capita than any other country. Every one overseas has a Athmandu or Icebreaker garment. We see ourselves as practical people with number eight wire mentalities. This is our point of difference. We should lead the way i. regards to our views and perspectives on whats cutting edge in the world. Cheap strong long lasting practical gear. The way its been forever here until very recently. New Zealand is the absolute best outdoor country in the world

Traditionally NZ gear has been what I would term 'overengineered' and heavy. I recall a Japanese guy working at Bivouac saying that NZer's were hard on their gear and that's why it was constructed that way. A classic example of the other extreme is the Japanese brand, Montbell. When I started buying the overseas lighter packs (GoLite and Osprey), I was a bit protective then thought 'stuff it' and went for it. The gear stood up to scrub bashing etc. The GoLite turned out to have been made from a Spectra-like fabric, Dyneema which is very tough indeed. I agree with Gaiter's comments above and figure: when in London, see shows and shops. When in NZ, head into the outdoors and enjoy our great track and hut inheritance.

MEC are doing Black Diamond and Outdoor research, both good brands using top quality materials and construction, often lightweight, but strong for its weight, so depends what you consider quality gear, its not designed to be bombproof and dragged through thick bush, its designed to compromise between hard wearing and lightweight and go through the open country of north america mainly. they can spend years perfecting garments and have the best mountain athletes around testing the gear and giving feedback... NZ manufacturers are playing catch up to the likes of companies like that.

Off the top of my head look at the floor ratings of most of the tents from the top overseas brand as well as tub hights. 1500. man you have got to be kidding it should be 10000 minimum. The only brand making lightweight tents with that rating I can think of is Exped. There are very few countries around the world with our kind of heavily bushed tracks. With very large and regular down pours. With deer trail tracks. Constant river crossings. Long exposed top travel. Reasonably cold weather and brutal winds. We have all aspects of all trekking destinations and our gear should reflect that. Were part Patagonia. Rocky Mountain.Himalaya. Alaska. Iceland. It goes on.

@Honora: "When I started buying the overseas lighter packs (GoLite and Osprey), I was a bit protective" If anyone has an insight into the retailers, I'd be keen to know how frequently people bring back Osprey stuff to claim on its lifetime-repair-or-replace-warranty-for-any-reason. (Even if you intentionally destroy it, apparently, as long as it wasn't intentionally destroyed by an unauthorised third party repairer.) http://www.ospreypacks.com/en/web/all_mighty_guarantee A year ago I asked a Bivouac guy why people wouldn't just buy Osprey's ultra-light options, use them completely inappropriately to wear them out, then get them repeatedly replaced forever under that warranty. He didn't really know, and we decided the biggest incentive would probably just be that of having something that's less likely to need replacing all the time.