Patagonia attitude toward gear recycling

Patagonia has nothing to fear and it just adds to the cache and legend of the brand. Note that the move has us discussing Patagonia on a popular outdoor product forum— pure gold in advertising and marketing. They get to say, "look how valued our used products are." In a similar vein, car manufacturers brag about the resale value of their cars. I do think that Chouinard is sincere about sustainability and environmental issues and wants the company to reflect that.

no need for new yuppie gear … just buy it used, or buy it on deep discount, or buy stuff that is hella cheap like those $30 down costco puffies …

and use it till it no longer works …

i know this is BPL and we're all gear hoars who need the latest and lightest …

but at the end of the day gear is to a means to an end … not the end itself ;)

We're gear whores. ;)

Eric gets all his stuff at Canadian Tire, right, eh?

I summarize.

"… buy cheap…. use it up… gnar off width… dead bird… patagucci… all YOU yuppies… super gnar…"

lol dale …

mec has been called the walmart of canadian outoor gear … i do have to say im more happy with their branded gear than stuff going for 2-3x the price under yuppie labels … not to mention their gear swap is great for both buying and dumping unused gear

personally i get more use out of cheaper (which doesnt mean any lower quality) gear … its the first thing i grab …

MEC R1 copy … still going strong while my patagucci and dead bird similar fleeces have small holes from minor use
BD cheap 50$ harness … still going strong while i blew out 3 dead bird "top of the line" harnesses (god i love MECs return policy)
MEC 16$ climbing bullet pack … going strong after 3 seasons with everything from those "gnar" chimneys to getting hauled while my dead bird pack blew a hole in the side through light multipitch use in a month
MH 50$ weave softshell … gets the most use cause it works and is cheap, and when it dies ill find something similar at at similar low price (you can buy MH weave softshells here for ~50$ at discount stores)
OR chaos belay jacket i picked up for $130 … warm, durable, no need to worry too much about rampaging bears gnawing at it
wallymart and mec base layers and underwear … my 8$ polartec mec t shirts have been through a lot including those "deadly offwidths" not a single hole yet

im sure alot of other people have other such stories and judging by the activity on the 30$ down puffy thread, they have similar interest in "budget" gear

not to say i dont buy some of the lastest greatest new stuff if the weights savings are substantial (or helium, MB exl)

but a lot of the times there is no need for all that fancy $$$$ gear … much more important to go out and spend the money on gas for trips and having fun … rather than swapping out gear all the time IMO

i noticed a while ago that those who do the most and have the most enjoyment ,,, are not necessarily those with the latest, fanciest doo daaahs … they use what they have, and use it well … and make things happen

same for anything else in life i guess =P

Gotta love Patagucci. They send us spam email and we love them for it. The Common Threads Initiative is one of the best marketing initiatives I have seen. Patagonia has a great brand, great products, and are a responsible company (although I would like to see fewer factories in China and other countries and more in the US AND fewer paper catalogs in the mail).

Patagonia has to fight the Catch-22: The very act of purchasing their products contradicts the values and lifestyle embodied by the Patagonia brand. They are a large capitalist entity that sells outdoor products at he very highest end of the market. Their target demographic is over 35 and has lots of disposable income and a certain set of values and beliefs (This isn't an outdoor company that sells camouflage gear). If you didn't believe they are an incredibly socially and environmentally responsible company whose brand embodies the very values and lifestyle we strive to live we would never purchase their pricey products.

Yuppies love buying this brand because it makes them believe they embody the same values as the company.

The people I know who actually LIVE the values and lifestyle espoused by The Common Threads Initiative can't afford Patagonia products.

Excuse me – I need to go buy a $130 down suit for my six month old baby who will grow out of it in a month.

I dunno. Is their stuff really that expensive if you buy it used or on sale? I mean, when was the last time anyone (at least on BPL) bought a Patagonia or North Face item and paid full price? From their web specials, to 6pm.com, to whatever, it's awful easy to get good quality items for 60% their (arguably high) retail price.

I mean, if they have a retail $30 belt and I buy it for $12 on sale and wear it every day for the last three years, does that mean I am a non-gnar, totally not-off-width yuppie?

The deadbird/patagucci/yuppie-accusation! stuff is played out.

Dave nailed it. I buy and own Patagonia products, among others. Most, if not all, bought on discount from places like REI and 6PM. The products last, fit me well, are backed by a sweet (oft-imitated) guarantee (even if bought on sale), and their catalogues fuel my wanderlust. I admire Chouinard as well. Hate me for it, if you must. :-)

I don't think anyone in this thread said anything about hating or labeling people who buy Patagonia products. I own
a Patagonia jacket myself and I bought it new at a 50% discount.

"The deadbird/patagucci/yuppie-accusation! stuff is played out."

Oh gosh, like +infinity. More than played out, exceptionally tiring, boorish and downright silly. Enough already.

When the other companies start making items in a US size XL or XXL instead of European one, let me know, because until then I have to buy Patagonia stuff because it is long enough to fit me.

I purchase Patagonia products for one reason, they seldom disappoint (and if they do they go back). Their sizing changes are a little frustrating, but again they are good about replacing items.

About half the Patagonia items I own (quite a few btw) were purchased used (here and fleabay) or purchased at deep discounts (40%+). I still have bits that were purchased in the 80's that are "still on the job"

My only regret as someone mentioned above, I wish more products were made in the US.

<–yuppie ????? :)

yr a yuppie mike … a repressed one at that ;)

i still would purchase one thing from dead bird even now … pants … very few companies make pants at short sizes, dead bird is one of em

someone must purchase all this gear from patagucci at full prices … and all that kid and baby clothes … hmmmm

For heaven's sake Eric, shutup already. ;-)

I have a few challenges for you this week:

1) Post a trip report of one of your daily "epics".

2) Say something positive about someone else here, unrelated to gear.

3) Post that old photo of your excessive Arcteryx shell collection again you hoarder.

I like my Patagonia gear. I had a pair of the original Baggies that endured 10 years of extensive backpacking. My Houdini and R1 cannot be beat my anyone, IMO. My go to down jacket for a long time was a Patagonia Down Sweater that has been replaced by some Montbel stuff. The down sweater is so stinky after miles and miles my wife makes me keep it in the garage until I wash it :)

Patagonia's environmental "awareness" started with Chouinard's clean climbing concept. Yeah, they go after the urban clothing market, but it provides the cash to build the gear we like. And yeah they market their environmental awareness, but at least they are doing something good.

To other name brand clothing patagonia is not even that expensive. Unless that is you prefer to purchase crap that is made like crap thinking you are saving a few bucks for it only to fall apart a couple months later.

I will be honest. In most cases i end up with a different brand for my climbing gear than Patagonia as someone else has a piece that is just a tad bit more geared toward actual climbers. However for my day to day street clothes and a couple climbing staples you just cant beat the quality or the price of Patagonia even at full retail.

My last purchase quest was for the perfect 60 and 100gram Synthetic jacket. I was gonna go with a Nano Puff Hoddy and a Micro Puff Hoody but when i actually looked at it the Arcteryx LT And SV Weight fit a features where just a tad bit better imop enough so to persuade me to spend even a few more bucks than crazy Patagonia prices.

Next to actual designer labels Patagonia imop is a bargain, it's all well made and in some cases actual teachy gear. Its def well on it's way to taking the yuppy played out gear soccer mom helm from TNF but that is just the nature of things.

Patagonia may not always actually make good gear with actual outdoor use as its priority and quality to boot. But for now imop that is exactly what they do and in many cases are less expensive or competative with other brands price wise. Come on $65 for a pair of carpenters pants is expensive. Nothing next to a pair of $200 yuppy jeans lol or crappy pair Wranglers that make me happy walk around with plumbers ass..

I'm grateful for companies like Patagonia that have a high enough profit margin and large enough product volume, turnover and inventories to offer products at great clearance prices: Patagonia, TNF, Prana, GoLite, Westcomb, Icebreaker, Rab, Prana, among others.

Yes, the gear is hit or miss as far as its applicability to the needs of ultralighters, but if you're patient, you can typically wait 4 – 12 months and find almost any piece of gear at 50-70% off, making some of those "yuppie" brands an absolute steal.

With limited funds (like most people here), I'm looking for the best value, and I'm willing to be patient to get it. And often, that means that the best ultralight brands aren't in budget because they seldom go on sale and virtually never go on clearance — the only discounts come from used gear in the FST forums, and even then gear from most cottage manufacturers still commands a premium.

Yes, there are pieces of gear that are exceptions… some things are inherently cheaper or so much higher quality in the cottage community that they maintain a value advantage, but for most clothes, packs, sleeping bags, etc. it's hard to do better than mainstream brands on clearance.

In my mind, one of the best gear values on a regular basis are the Stoic/Backcountry.com lines of gear offered by Back Country. They are that funny middle ground — neither mainstream or cottage — and most of their gear is mainstream quality, but frequently goes on deeper sales through SAC or DOG. It also escapes the stigma of wearing "yuppie" brands. I've gotten several pieces of their gear and have purchased even more as gifts, and have been incredibly happy with the quality, and from the looks of things, they've been slowly moving to producing lighter and lighter gear.

"It also escapes the stigma of wearing "yuppie" brands."

It's only a stigma if you let it be. Such labels are generally perpetuated by the immature or those with low self esteem/self image. Those of us who learned long ago not to worry much about what others think don't view our clothing choices as stigmas, nor do we really care if others do.

"It also escapes the stigma of wearing "yuppie" brands."

Seriously, who out there actually thinks about this?

Dave said "Seriously, who out there actually thinks about this?"

sounds like perhaps Eric does :)

"It also escapes the stigma of wearing "yuppie" brands."

"Seriously, who out there actually thinks about this?"

I do. And I know I'm not alone.

It totally depends on where you are or what you do. For instance, if you ever do volunteer work with less privileged folks, it's wiser not to let your clothes stand out. Same if you live in certain neighborhoods. Same with travel in some other countries.

There are a lot of situations where it may not be to your advantage to wear clothes that have the PERCEPTION of being "yuppie" clothes. TNF/Patagonia/Arc'teryx being the most notable tech examples. Same reason I wouldn't advise sporting boldly branded A/X, Gucci, Prada, etc… in those places either.

As often as possible, I want my trail clothes to overlap my everyday clothes. I'm sure most people here have a desire for their clothes to be as functional and comfortable as possible. For me, part of that functionality and comfort comes from not standing out when it wouldn't be appropriate.

I love 3 series BMW's always have. Specifically the M3!! I have also come to like 4×4 off road trucks.

For more than one reason i am not going to drive either but both i am not going to drive for one common thread. I have owned many a BMW in my time and it is a fact people make assumptions like spoiled rich kid or materialistic shallow douche bag. I often think these things myself when some A Hole driving a sports car cuts me off in my Nissan Frontier. I for one as i have aged do not feel the need to portray such an image to the world that materialism and stuff are all that important. as i said i have many many more substantial reasons bu that is just my point to having the time to worry about this stuff.

More than anything i just want to be able to play more than owning a $60,00 car allows. However even if i kinda wanted to own a $60,000 car these days i would not on simply on account of i hate being treated like a D Bag on account of the car i drive lol….

I did just think about this topic when i purchases a new Mammut Neo Shell Jacket with Dumb neon zippers!! I still bought it though as it is bomber and sweet piece of gear that will serve a great purpose many a days on the mountain this winter.

"It totally depends on where you are or what you do. For instance, if you ever do volunteer work with less privileged folks, it's wiser not to let your clothes stand out. Same if you live in certain neighborhoods. Same with travel in some other countries."

Well, of course, if you carry it out towards the logical margins. But I think the examples above are more along the lines of "don't wear or carry brand new, expensive-looking stuff" around less-privileged folks (for politness/appropriateness/personal safety/etc.) than a commentary on specifically-viewed "yuppie" brands. The same would go for a shiny new car, designer jeans, camera, watch, or whatever.

However, my usual North Face puffy jacket from 15 years ago probably wouldn't be viewed by anyone as ostentatious yuppie-luxury-wear; it's more likely to have people say "are you still wearing that ratty jacket?"

In terms of Patagonia, I find their branding/logos are typically pretty inconspicuous; not so much with North Face.

I guess I just find the continued "patagucci/deadbird" hating comical. There are many worse companties than Patagonia (e.g. BP, ClearChannel) to direct your hating at!