Macpac quality now that manufacturing is in China

Only explanation I can come up with is that Macpacs storeman ordered too many zips

Ha! I've only just joined NZ Tramper, having bought a new pack on an impulse to actually get outdoors and see my country. It is a Torlesse 65, and I don't mind telling you it's got me totally befuddled. I'm going to have to take it back to the shop to find out what half that sh*t is for.

Just because its there doesnt mean you have to use it. Your pack like 90% of packs sold has a bottom compartment which can be opened either by the outside zip or an internal zipped flap. Everyone just opens the inside flap pokes a pack liner inside and leaves it like that. It was meant for sleeping bags but not practical in NZ. You have 2 side pockets a front pocket and a top pocket that are useful and can tie a pole or ice axe to the ties provided but beyonnd that its just show. The 2 ties on the bottom were for closed cell foam mats but those mats are not often used now.

Both Macpac and Kathmandu have massive markups, it is not uncommon to see 40-50% off at Macpac, or 50-60% off at Kathmandu. For clothing at least, the only genuine sales are when the clearance racks get discounted.

Over the years we've accumulated a fair pile of stuff from various stores. Kathmandu's zips are very poor and we seem to have really bad luck with these. In some cases I can replace them (ex-seamstress) but on some garments they stick this tape round the zip which is impossible to remove and replace. So the garment cannot be repaired. Makes me mad when the rest of it is still wearable. The other thing is inserting the zips in back to front which they were never designed to do so within 12 months they fray and fall apart. That's just poor understanding of how a zip should be used. But their cuts are realistic and we like the brand for the fit. Just don't expect long life out of some of their more bold designs. If you choose wisely however, you can get a pretty good run with some gear. Their footwear is mostly the in-house brand now. Other brands are getting nudged out. So you feel slightly manipulated into buying one particular brand and I don't like that at all. Also, every time I go in there, there's a new line up of faces. You never get any rapport going with the staff. Macpac and Bivouac however do have staff you get to know. Biv especially. I've been shopping with them for 3 years (pretty sure we have shares by now)... and it's the same friendly faces. They know their gear and that's very reassuring! They don't keep moving their racks around which is another plus! That is one of my pet dislikes about Kathmandu... and I know why they keep moving their racks. Layout strategies are big business. Move a product and make you pass more products to find it again. Arcteryx is great but my favourite brand is Outdoor Research. Perhaps a little rougher around the edges than the polished finish of Arcteryx but the technology is sound and well thought through. Macpac do make good clothing as well, you just got to be more selective. We will happily support them if they make the sort of gear that fit NZ conditions.

Swazi. The last true NZ manufactured only place left but how long for I dont know. As long as the owner continues to make a living he will keep going I guess. His fixed overheads will be low in Levin. Hunting and fishing still have some great deals but they also carry the overpriced/overhyped stuff as well. 2 out of my last 3 sets of boots came from there and all my socks come from there

Swazi has good quality and small production runs. They can never be cheap

levin is where their factory is

There is or at least was a general outdoors shop just up the road but it sold anything outdoors and not very big. Last time I was there they had a canoe hanging above a family tent next to tramping boots

Last I heard Earthseasky still makes their clothing in New Zealand, and they are more tramping friendly then Swazi which is a bit on the heavy side. Cactus also makes some good, but heavy clothing and robust packs. Wear on Earth makes excellent down jackets in NZ. Would love them to add a ultralight down jacket to their range. K2 makes very heavy tramping packs in Nelson I think.