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Gimp
Trad climber
Missoula, MT & "Pourland", OR
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Topic Author's Original Post - Jan 11, 2017 - 10:17am PT
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Last time I checked the Federal minimum wage was $7.25.
When you consider that and look at the recent gear reviews where the Arc'teryx Macai was $925 and the Patagonia Primo Down was $699 you have to wonder who buys them and who they are targeting. Also how does that fit with the "progressive" persona Patagonia tries project?
I don't consider myself an expert skier by any means but when I turned 55 now 10 short years ago I decided to try to spend my age in days on ski's each year. I still work, but have made that goal or come close most years since by skiing 8-10 months each year. Usually breaks down to about 1/2 lift served and 1/2 hiking up. For the lift served I have been using a knock-off primaloft like jacket for at least the last 10 years; first with and old Lowe Alpine shell and the last three years with a Northface Jacket I got for $20 or $30 at a ski swap that I think may last me the rest of my days (if I don't run into a tree like I did with the Lowe).
This budget setup seems fine and I was recently skiing in -10 at Bridger.
My first subject initiation so probably a little long winded.
Steve
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WyoRockMan
climber
Grizzlyville, WY
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Jan 11, 2017 - 10:33am PT
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Also how does that fit with the "progressive" persona Patagonia tries project?
Seems to me to fit perfectly. If the masses want responsibly sourced, eco green, recycled, fair trade, free range, gluten free, organic products that is going to come at a cost premium.
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Reilly
Mountain climber
The Other Monrovia- CA
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Jan 11, 2017 - 10:46am PT
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$900 is less than a week's wirth of lift tickets at Vail.
What's the big deal? Move this to the First World Probs thread.
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SilverSnurfer
Mountain climber
SLC, UT.
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Jan 11, 2017 - 11:04am PT
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I agree that those are stunningly high prices, keeping in mind that they don't seem unreasonable to some people and that they have no problem paying full pop for the shiney stuff.
On the other hand, much of that gear ends up being sold at vastly reduced prices on sale, at outlet sites like STP or through industry deals.
I like Outdoor Research for quality gear without the bells and whistles at more reasonable prices. Then again, I use my favorite stuff until it about falls apart, so there's not much money per year spent anyways.
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anita514
Gym climber
Great White North
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Jan 11, 2017 - 11:06am PT
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I sent my Arcteryx jacket in for some repair and I was shocked when they emailed me back saying that it falls under warranty replacement and told me to go to their site and choose a new one - $900 CAD!
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Cragar
climber
MSLA - MT
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Jan 11, 2017 - 11:58am PT
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wait, a $900 jacket? Is it SCUBA? Dang, you can get an entire outfit for that plus some colorful accessories, like a boutique wine bottle opener? Y'all are probably fine using a #1 nut on the wall but...
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Spider Savage
Mountain climber
The shaggy fringe of Los Angeles
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Jan 11, 2017 - 12:38pm PT
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Just dropped near $500 on a Spyder ski parka. Negotiated about 10% off but still. I got lucky with money last year or I'd still be using the thrift store layers.
Seems to be plenty of rich folks in the world to keep all these $500-$1000 outer layers going by a dozen different brands. They are pretty nice too.
Poor man works the thrift shops and Craigslist, places like that. If you have time and not money it's the thing to do.
I skiied for 6 years on perfectly good Ski's and boots for $20 from the local thrift shop. I feel like I actually made money doing that.
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WBraun
climber
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Jan 11, 2017 - 12:49pm PT
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6 years on perfectly good Ski's
How did you do that?
When skied I'd destroy 2 pairs of skis every season .....
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TWP
Trad climber
Mancos, CO & Bend, OR
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Jan 11, 2017 - 02:12pm PT
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"When skied I'd destroy 2 pairs of skis every season ....."
WBraun - along with free soloing with a ghetto blaster and balancing tire irons on his nose - has given me yet another measure of my own relative unworthiness.
In my career, I've only "destroyed" one set of skis in the actual act of skiing.
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Reilly
Mountain climber
The Other Monrovia- CA
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Jan 11, 2017 - 02:24pm PT
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When skied I'd destroy 2 pairs of skis every season .....
Were the curvy ends pointed downhill? That always werked for me.
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ddriver
Trad climber
SLC, UT
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Jan 11, 2017 - 03:19pm PT
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I don't think skiing is so specialized that you need special "skiing" outfits. Any Gore-Tex/fleece combo or similar should work fine, these generally being available at discount prices. Ski brands are generally for Texans who want to impress when they arrive at the slopes.
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Jon Beck
Trad climber
Oceanside
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Jan 11, 2017 - 03:33pm PT
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yeah that ^^^^
I ski cheap generic at the resort, save the Arcteryx for the backcountry. If you wear TNF and nobody sees you are you still hip?
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Ezra Ellis
Trad climber
North wet, and Da souf
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Jan 11, 2017 - 03:48pm PT
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I bought a moonstone gortex ski jacket in 1999 for $150, that's still in great shape.
The retail price was $450 at the time, so it seems to be about the same as now, counting inflation.
Who the hell pays retail though??
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divad
Trad climber
wmass
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Jan 11, 2017 - 04:26pm PT
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Last time I checked the Federal minimum wage was $7.25.
I don't think many who earn minimum wage are skiers.
When skied I'd destroy 2 pairs of skis every season.....
Try skiing on snow, not rock...
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WyoRockMan
climber
Grizzlyville, WY
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Jan 11, 2017 - 05:22pm PT
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When skied I'd destroy 2 pairs of skis every season.....
Try skiing on snow, not rock...
Going through 2-3 pairs of skis/season was normal ops for skiing at Bridger. It used to be pretty easy to "pound out" the camber in 15-20 days of hard charging. Core shots were usually repaired, sometimes you could repair a blown sidewall for a few extra days if you were short on skis.
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Spider Savage
Mountain climber
The shaggy fringe of Los Angeles
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Jan 11, 2017 - 05:40pm PT
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^^^^ Parka envy!
I would love to find something like that Latok.
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Splater
climber
Grey Matter
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Jan 11, 2017 - 05:44pm PT
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Werner,
there is no way you could have been skiing back then since there was no Gore extreme pro super3D digital betternallthat.
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NutAgain!
Trad climber
South Pasadena, CA
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Jan 11, 2017 - 06:05pm PT
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WHen I go with my kids, my outer layer is a jacket I picked up at a thrift store for about $8. We've spent all day skiing when it is raining, and it got the job done. But I did have more good layers underneath. And I had goretex pants (maybe REI?) I bought a decade ago. My first ski day ever was wearing jeans and a cotton flannel shirt in the middle of a blizzard. Pretty much sucked. But I still loved it!
And my goretex ski-type jacket from 1991 (purchased with my college financial aid money) is still going strong too.
These days you can buy a soft shell strongly water repellent jacket at Costco for $20, and it would have cost $200 a decade ago. What technology advances justify so much money on the new jackets? Is it just a jewelry type of mindset?
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Peater
Trad climber
Salt Lake City Ut.
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Jan 11, 2017 - 06:10pm PT
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Most of the hi end tec brands use Goretex or proprietary fabrics that I've found don't really work that well if at all. Try looking for Event fabric garments. Much less expensive and work great.
When I did some at home tests, applying steam to the inner face of the Event fabric I couldn't get moisture to build up. It passed through faster than I could supply it. But it's just as waterproof going the other way.
On the other hand I did buy a Patagonia light weight shell that retailed for 400 during the ski season for 150 off season.
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rbord
Boulder climber
atlanta
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Jan 11, 2017 - 06:51pm PT
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Like most things, what we think we pay for is not what we pay for. Drink the Patagonia koolaid. They're good at selling it. We're good at buying it.
"John Muir walked away into the mountains in his old overcoat a crust of bread in his pocket we have no knowledge and so we have stuff and stuff with no knowlege is never enough to get you there it just won't get you there" Greg Brown
My old coat works fine. My back, not so much. $1000 to ski again sounds like a steal.
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