Backcountry Forum
Backpacking & Hiking Gear

Backcountry Forum
Our long-time Sponsor - the leading source for ultralite/lightweight outdoor gear
 
 
 

Amazon.com
Backpacking Forums
---- Our Gear Store ----
The Lightweight Gear Store
 
 WINTER CAMPING 

Shelters
Bivy Bags
Sleeping Bags
Sleeping Pads
Snow Sports
Winter Kitchen

 SNOWSPORTS 

Snowshoes
Avalanche Gear
Skins
Hats, Gloves, & Gaiters
Accessories

 ULTRA-LIGHT 

Ultralight Backpacks
Ultralight Bivy Sacks
Ultralight Shelters
Ultralight Tarps
Ultralight Tents
Ultralight Raingear
Ultralight Stoves & Cookware
Ultralight Down Sleeping Bags
Ultralight Synthetic Sleep Bags
Ultralight Apparel


the Titanium Page
WM Extremelite Sleeping Bags

 CAMPING & HIKING 

Backpacks
Tents
Sleeping Bags
Hydration
Kitchen
Accessories

 CLIMBING 

Ropes & Cordage
Protection & Hardware
Carabiners & Quickdraws
Climbing Packs & Bags
Big Wall
Rescue & Industrial

 MEN'S APPAREL 

Jackets
Shirts
Baselayer
Headwear
Gloves
Accessories

 WOMEN'S APPAREL 

Jackets
Shirts
Baselayer
Headwear
Gloves
Accessories

 FOOTWEAR 

Men's Footwear
Women's Footwear

 CLEARANCE 

Backpacks
Mens Apparel
Womens Apparel
Climbing
Footwear
Accessories

 BRANDS 

Black Diamond
Granite Gear
La Sportiva
Osprey
Smartwool

 WAYS TO SHOP 

Sale
Clearance
Top Brands
All Brands

 Backpacking Equipment 

Shelters
BackPacks
Sleeping Bags
Water Treatment
Kitchen
Hydration
Climbing


 Backcountry Gear Clearance

Topic Options
Rate This Topic
#137895 - 08/21/10 05:27 PM Alps gear: even with 45% off anything 4 a UL newb?
humblefan Offline
newbie

Registered: 08/06/10
Posts: 9
Starting to look at gear for ultralight to minimalist extended trek hiking. I have access to the discount Alps gives to Boy Scouts (45% off). Anything they have worth the weight even so heavily discounted?

Top
#138108 - 08/28/10 05:49 PM Re: Alps gear: even with 45% off anything 4 a UL newb? [Re: humblefan]
Rdljr Offline
newbie

Registered: 11/06/09
Posts: 14
Loc: NH
They are not known for lightweight, but they do sell some close to bombproof tents. I have a two person extreme that has got a lot of nights on it and has never failed me, even in some nasty snow/rain conditions. But it is heavy. Thier prices are low for what you get.
RDL

Top
#138121 - 08/28/10 11:22 PM Re: Alps gear: even with 45% off anything 4 a UL newb? [Re: humblefan]
DJ2 Offline
member

Registered: 01/06/02
Posts: 1348
Loc: Seattle, WA
The ALPS tents are often heavily discounted at the REI outlet too.

I'm really amazed by the reasonable deals that some of these companies offer on products that are very similar to much higher priced products.

Many of these tents sell for prices that wouldn't even cover the materials cost if you tried to make it yourself....as I do from time to time.

I've bought a couple of Wenzel tents just out of curiousity. Amazing prices for the labor and materials that are included. Some of the Wenzel tents are in the $25 to $75 range.

Seems to me that some of these companies, with the right leadership and design, could put out a $100 tent that would blow the competition away.


Top
#138153 - 08/30/10 12:46 AM Re: Alps gear: even with 45% off anything 4 a UL newb? [Re: DJ2]
skinewmexico Offline
member

Registered: 09/23/08
Posts: 81
Alps makes some good gear, at a great price, that has served our troop very well. But I sure don't remember any of it being UL. I don't even remember any of it being very lightweight.

Top
#138163 - 08/30/10 10:48 AM Re: Alps gear: even with 45% off anything 4 a UL newb? [Re: skinewmexico]
DJ2 Offline
member

Registered: 01/06/02
Posts: 1348
Loc: Seattle, WA
I agree. None of them are really lightweight.

But the companies seem to have the potential to manufacture any tent at a reasonable and sometimes ridiculously low price. If they decided to make a lightweigt tent I think they could do it at a very low price.

Perhaps they don't see the market as being large enough to make it worth their time.

Top

Shout Box

Highest Quality Lightweight Down Sleeping Bags
 
Western Mountaineering Sleeping Bags
 
Lite Gear Talk - Featured Topics
Backcountry Discussion - Featured Topics
Make Your Own Gear - Featured Topics
Featured Photos
Spiderco Chaparral Pocketknife
David & Goliath
Also Testing
Trip Report with Photos
Seven Devils, Idaho
Oat Hill Mine Trail 2012
Dark Canyon - Utah
Who's Online
0 registered (), 160 Guests and 0 Spiders online.
Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Newest Members
Noodles, McCrary, DanyBacky, Rashy Willia, WanderBison
13240 Registered Users
Forum Links
Disclaimer
Policies
Site Links
Backpacking.net
Lightweight Gear Store
Backpacking Book Store
Lightweight Zone
Hiking Essentials

Our long-time Sponsor, BackcountryGear.com - The leading source for ultralite/lightweight outdoor gear:

Backcountry Forum
 

Affiliate Disclaimer: This forum is an affiliate of BackcountryGear.com, Amazon.com, R.E.I. and others. The product links herein are linked to their sites. If you follow these links to make a purchase, we may get a small commission. This is our only source of support for these forums. Thanks.!
 
 

Since 1996 - the Original Backcountry Forum
Copyright © The Lightweight Backpacker & BackcountryForum