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I'm a big fan of the brand but their prices have jumped up a fair bit in the last year or two. Looking at down jackets they do seem to be much cheaper than the top brands- mostly because they've jumped up a lot in price too!! But, on a lot of other things like softshell jackets and tents they seem to be about the same- especially when you can buy the top brands at a discount if you shop around, which isn't as possible with Alpkit (yes I know they do their own occasional discounts).
So what's occurring? Is it beating the pound has taken post referendum, or the fact that they've changed their business model from online only to opening a handful of bricks and mortar shops and are now having to cover all the extra staff and rental costs?
Business charging what customers will pay?
Looking at down jackets they do seem to be much cheaper than the top brands- mostly because they’ve jumped up a lot in price too!!
Could be a reflection of the cost of materials.
Devaluation of Sterling
Currency hedging
Not being a couple in a shed
More profit?
Yeah, to be fair their overheads are a bit higher than when they used to drop stuff off for me on their way home from work!
Some of their items are no longer the lesser featured inferior products they used to sell.
Some of them have become as good in their own right as the *top brands*
This comes at a cost.
They’ve made a conscious effort to move their brand on from the pile them high sell them cheap out of a warehouse model.
Good on them, it has to be the model for continued success I’d of thought.
Still they’ll struggle to shake the cheap-brand image they have with those of us who remember them of a few years back.
Their products definitely have stepped up a bit as well with proper uk design and manufacturing
I have one of their high end waterproofs and it really is top notch kit in every respect. Mates have other kit from bike packing, shirts, fleedes and sleeping bags and it seems to last well and get used a lot.
I was just thinking the same thing the other day. Not sure I'd buy an alpkit coat now when you can buy another brand for less in the sales.
Most of my bike packing kit is alpkit from a few years ago. Still going strong.
I still read the emails and pop into the shop in the lakes when I'm there but I buy a lot less from them now.
Although my alpkit bib shorts are excellent (purchased in the sale from Keswick)
Their prices have gone up but still some good value items to be had.
Hope the years of economic uncertainty to come are kind to them.
I’d always assumed Alpkit was a high end brand, at least in relation to their climbing and hiking kit. I’ve visited their shop a couple of times recently and the prices do seem to reflect that image. Titanium cooking pots are three times the price of an identical one from eBay (complete with the same branding!), I found other bits and bobs that were double the price Go Outdoors were charging (without the discount card).
I’d certainly do some research before I spend my money with them.
Having said that the “Christmas leftovers” sale has some nice items in it.
It's all a bit of a shame really, having things like Alpkit around (pre price hike) made the expensive outdoors stuff accessible to shlubs like me on NHS (or other key worker) wages lol. I suppose there's still Decathlon!
It’s all a bit of a shame really, having things like Alpkit around (pre price hike) made the expensive outdoors stuff accessible to shlubs like me on NHS (or other key worker) wages lol. I suppose there’s still Decathlon!
I'd argue that the more recent Alpkit stuff maybe be more expensive, but is actually better value for money given how much it's improved - design, fabrics, build quality, durability, ex-Rab clothing designer etc . If you want s**** brands at a good price, Sport Pursuit has the likes of Arc'teryx, Marmot, Haglofs, Rab, Salomon etc at about 60% of normal retail.
I’d argue that the more recent Alpkit stuff maybe be more expensive, but is actually better value for money given how much it’s improved – design, fabrics, build quality, durability, ex-Rab clothing designer etc
That's good to know! I actually want to like them, so that's cheered me up! 🙂