[Closed] Mountain Warehouse stuff, any good?

Mostly cheap crap. You are much better off looking for half price mid level brands (TNF, Rab, Craghopper even) in the sales than resorting to Mountain Warehouse.

Ive bought bits over the years and they've all been fine. Don't know if I'd rely on anything for an assault on everest but for general light outdoor stuff its been fine. I like their base layers and merino socks

What angledust said ^^^^^

Mostly cheap rubbish that isn't that cheap.

I have been surprised a few times how much they are asking for stuff.

You would be much better off with Decathlon.

Needed a rain jacket, whilst camping last year, due to a packing error, silly cheap in the sale (they always have sales on), worked OK, nice cut, materials seem OK. Wouldn't want to rely on it but for a stopgap it was OK.

Mostly cheap rubbish that isn't that cheap.

Very true. They also sell some average stuff that is ridiculously overpriced. I've always thought that this was so they could later sell it at 50% of the previously advertised price to make it look like a bargain (but is actually still terrible value).

I guess the sales model for Mountain Warehouse must be to appeal to those who would not dream of (or unable to) spending ~£100-300 on waterproof jacket from Cotswolds or Blacks etc. But what they are actually buying is generally not good value.

Bought some of their clothing - when it's heavily reduced and cheap - and it's been fine. Not tried their rucksacks though, and I wouldn't expect their waterproofs to be breathable, so be selective in what you buy.

Funny this because my current big cycling rucksack is from Mountain Warehouse, as are my current walking boots, commuting waterproofs and cold weather cycling jersey and they're all absolutely fine and very comfortable to wear.

I think that there is some brand snobbery going on here by people who have never really experienced the equipment they're slagging off.

Utter crap ,the waterproof jackets are poor and showerproof at best bin liners would be better !!

BTW, their merino baselayers are good, bought three this year - but at half price!! Interesting to hear the waterproofs are ok, Pinkster.

Got one of these for about £35. Bloody bargain.

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I had a look at those jackets sniff posted yesterday, they were £49.95! I wasn't that impressed, they don't look as heavily quilted as that, rather flat, in fact. I tried one on, and decided I prefered my Uniqlo ultralight down jacket.
Still, if you can find one of those for £35, I'd say that's worth having at that price.

I think that there is some brand snobbery going on here by people who have never really experienced the equipment they're slagging off.

My comments are from personal experience. Obviously your opinion will depend on your expectations, but the few bits of kit I have tried from Mountain Warehouse have been bad enough that I won't be bothering to try any more. I can say with confidence that their stuff is generally cheap crap. Sorry.

Sniff, those were going for ~£150 (IIRC) in Keswick Mountain Warehouse back in November. I just couldn't work out who would buy one at that price when they could have a far superior version of that type of garment for similar money from one of the other 30 outdoor clothing stores in a 300m radius. £35 makes much more sense, if it fits you (the fit of their stuff is one of the things that put me off, whatever the price).

I think that there is some brand snobbery going on here by people who have never really experienced the equipment they're slagging off.

This reeks of 'the Skoda defence'. Someone desperate to defend their penny pinching by making outlandish claims about the cheap kit they've bought. I'm glad it meets your expectations, but accept that other people have tried it, and think its crap.

If you want cheap outdoor gear, go to Decathlon. I've had a fair bit of their stuff (clothing + sleeping bags mainly) and it's all been fantastic.

Bought loads of their stuff over the years for us and the kids, decent for the money, never had any issues.

Lollllololol usual spectrum of reports!

The rucdacs did look a bit crap, most stuff is half price tho.

My wife and I found a brand new mountain warehouse backpack lent up against our car in the supermarket carpark. Why this happened I had not idea.

Despite the fact we started using a free bag, we were very still very disappointed and thought about making a complaint. That probably says it all.

When did Rab become a "mid level brand "? Serious question by the way. TNF yes

When did Rab become a "mid level brand "?

I had some mountain warehouse stuff bought for me one Christmas. I wouldn't have bought it myself but it's only a couple of tops and they do the job. Reason I wouldn't have bought it myself is because the nearest one has a Berghaus outlet store bang opposite so you can buy better gear for less money.

When did Rab become a "mid level brand "? Serious question by the way. TNF yes

It's all relative, and it's not something I'd spend too much time thinking about....but, compared to say, Arcteryx, Rab are mid-level, cost wise. Look at RRP's and Rab stuff is very similarly priced to equivalent TNF gear. It's just as easy to find discounted too.

[quote=cynic-al ]most stuff is [s]half price tho[/s] now priced according to its quality. I've bought some basic MW clothing in the past. Lightweight trousers, T-shirts etc. It's been OK. I wouldn't buy something like a rucksac though.

cynic-al » most stuff is half price tho now priced according to its quality.
I've bought some basic MW clothing in the past. Lightweight trousers, T-shirts etc. It's been OK. I wouldn't buy something like a rucksac though.

+1

I've a jacket that's fine for walking the Dogs etc but would spend more on Rucksacks

BTW, their merino baselayers are good, bought three this year - but at half price!! Interesting to hear the waterproofs are ok, Pinkster.

See I thought their merino base layers were shit. Shapeless, sweaty and uncomfy. I bought a MW skiing jacket last year, allegedly half price, far cheaper than anything Snow+Rock, Cotswold Outdoor, Millets or anyone could offer in their sales, it's very warm, waterproof, plenty of features and it's the colour I wanted. Would recommend.

Arcteryx,

Vastly overpriced stuff. Latok vs Theta Jacket, £180 vs £550?

Yes I've had a play with some. No it isn't worth the money.

Treated myself to a new MW heavyweight zipped fleece last year - discounted but still not hugely cheap. It's unusable due to the fact the forearms become soaked with sweat within minutes of mild exertion. This very quickly gets very cold and uncomfortable. Hopeless.

The difference I fnd with cheap vs expensive outdoor kit is how long it lasts and how well it's cut.

Cut clearly is subjective, but especially for mrs_oab who is size 8 and 5', only a few brands make gear that is not a floppy bag on here. She wears almost exclusively Patagonia, Arcteryx, Rab and Mountain Equipment for his reason.

On longevity, it generally seems that the better brands are just much more robust. If all you are doing is wandering around the woods, or use a pack a half dozen times a year, not a problem. If like me you use kit a lot (like weekly/daily, more so in the past) and expect it to last, then good brands are worth the money.

If you look at my gear stash, patagonia clothes and lowe alpine packs are the oldest stuff by some way, and mountain equipment close behind.

If it was called Gardening and Dog Walking and Jackets for Kids that Wreck Stuff Warehouse it would be spot on.

@matt_outandabout. Patagonia? Arcteryx? What are you doing man? Trying to get the rest of us into trouble? 🙂

I'm a huge outdoors gear brand snob, always have been, to my disgust I was given a £40 gift token for MW last Xmas, bought 2 fleeces (£15) and a small rucksack(£25). The fleeces have been fine for using at work all last year, not come apart or anything. Rucksack I've used a few times for rambles and so far, fine. The rucksack does look like it wouldn't last very long with proper mountain use and the backpad/harness system looks a bit crappy, but it's not killed my back.

I've got various bit of their stuff - It's perfectly fine for everyday 'dog-walking' type use.

If you want to survive for weeks up an actual mountain then it's probably crap.

But never buy at full price!

I've had a few bits from MW, but nothing I'd use for serious mountain use. Good for jackets and walking boots for kids that will grow out of them or trash them. We did have a 25L day sac from MW that was used as baby change bag for our youngest, so it got dragged everywhere everyday for a few years and was still going ok, that really lasted well.

Edit: If the fit (whcih can be a bit odd sometimes on MW stuff) on that insulated jacket was ok I'd take a punt for £35.

Sage advice.... 11 months later 🙂

We had a couple of kids things and they just about lasted before grown out of, but TBH at the cheap end of kit Regatta is better IME.

Doh! didn't check the date before posting 🙂

[Arc'teryx] Vastly overpriced stuff. Latok vs Theta Jacket, £180 vs £550?

Except the [url= https://rab.equipment/uk/shop/men/event ]Latok[/url] is actually £325 at SRP, so not quite as cheap as you're implying.

baby change bag for our youngest, so it got dragged everywhere everyday for a few years and was still going ok, that really lasted well.

Both 😀

I'm still rockin the puffer 11 months later so it was indeed a bloody bargain