Macpac quality now that manufacturing is in China
not really, they had some issues with earlier raincoat material, but that got sorted out and they switched to more reliable material. they are using top quality materials that can originate from the west, like Italian fleece.
theres some good QC on a lot of stuff coming out of China. a lot of the best brands have their stuff made there in factories that specialise in high quality gear.
chances are the factories making Macpac gear will be making gear for other quality outdoor brands.
they are putting a lot of thought into their designs and have progressed in the range of gear being offered. certainly better than Kathmandu
37 comments
ESS (Earth Sea Sky) do still manufacture in NZ and have some great clothing. The designs are not fussy on detail but overall I like their range very much. New fabrics are coming through and are only used if they will last the distance and perform well in NZ conditions. It's good to be able to support NZ made.
ESS cut simply does not suit me, otherwise I would likely own more of their range.
My Wear on earth down jacket is I think 13 years old and pretty certain it has not lost any down. Not as warm as it use to be, maybe has something to do with being 13 years without a wash and probably been worn close to a thousand times.
Got the first generation of Macpac 800loft lightweight down jacket, and it is still warm and only loses the occasional feather. Does have one small tear in the fabric.
Also own the second to cheapest Macpac full weight down jacket, and it is standing up well.
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Ground Effect also manufacture in Christchurch. Some of their gear is nice and lightweight apparently.
My husband has a pair of cycling shorts made by Ground Effect 15 years ago. They are still unmarked and going strong despite the MTB workout they've had!
All the gear we've bought from them over the years have lasted remarkably well for us. Much of their clothing range could easily be worn tramping.
Coming from Europe I have to say the quality of products made in asia (or turkey or bengladesh or else) is good when the brand is doing good products with a good QC, so the products get as good as the brand wants them to be, no matter where they are actually made.
It's an illusion to believe that a product is better because it's made in one or the other country, all that matters is how the product is made and what quality level the brand is seeking to achieve.
Slightly off topic, but I bought a few 'genuine' (ahem) fleeces from Mammut and TNF in Nepal last year for the princely sum of $10 each. I expected them to last six months, but a year later they're showing no visible wear and have held up remarkably well - better in fact than an actual genuine TNF top I bought from FCO before they buggered off.
Makes you think about how much value we attach to a label here in the western world....
Im not so convinced that the entity that was FCO and is now defunct so we can talk about them behind there backs (I hope) were as good at selling genuine product as we believe.
The wife bought a North face jacket which wasnt gortex but there propriety equivalent and we were assured it was as good. First time it got wet the dye ran all the way through the membrane along with all the water it failed to keep out permanently staining her clothes a nice pinky purple. Never bought anything else from FCO
I can assure you that any TNF branded items bought from FCO were genuine items supplied by True Alliance NZ. If you had/have
a genuine manufacturing concern with these items you should have been contacting FCO (when they were still trading) or failing that True Alliance.
true but as these were sold so much cheaper than other shops were selling that brand and the reputation that brand has for being counterfeited we just decided that we had been had and left it at that. It was a clearance item and may of been a look good who cares if it works katmandu style for the masses. The people at FCO didnt have a clue about what they were selling. They made the schoolkids manning the Katmandu counters during the school holiday sale seem well trained.
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| Started by | waynowski |
| On | 13 May 2016 |
| Replies | 36 |
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