Call me foolish but the prices on backpacking/hiking gear seems outrageous in most stores and catalogs. Seems more people would get into hiking if the gear wasn't so high.
Local gun store owner say's he would rather make 2o bucks on each gun sold and sell a bunch then try and make a 100 bucks on each and have them laying in the cabinets gathering dust. His place is packed everyday and nothing collects dust on it.
Local hiking store has racks of Northface jackets for 300 bucks, packs from 150 to 200 bucks and on and on. Doesn't appear to be selling much and I wonder how long til there is a going out of business sign and a big sale.
Not even going to get into where these high priced stuff is made! LOL!