I wonder how long it takes for the pieces to be cut out and sewn together? Do you reckon a machinist can make multiple ones in an hour? I don't know but I doubt it.
Then add in all the material costs, and sunk costs like wharehousing, shipping, marketing etc.
Alpkit seem to be doing fine, but I doubt they make vast amounts of profit off these, plus they are employing people in manufacturing in the UK, funding their foundation which seems to do great stuff - isn't all that the type of stuff we should approve of?
In reply to UKC/UKH Gear: I really rate Alpkit and use several of their products. A more simplistic Gourdon, say between 30 - 50L, with alpine attachments, would have been a logical 'niche' product.
This pack is what Berghaus, Lowe Alpine, Karrimor, made in the 90's, a workhorse you could load up, stuff plastics into, a monster! Less is more, alpinism has moved on........
In reply to Wayne S: All it needs is the hidden waist straps on the underside of the lid to make the lid a bum bag once removed, and it pretty much has all the features of my old POD Black Ice. It looks good - simple, straightforward. Not sure about the colour though...... A bigger version of the 20l Gourdon would be welcome too....
A segment in tonight's episode of Channel 4's investigative series Dispatches exposes the sale of uncertified budget climbing gear online - carabiners in particular - via the shopping platform Temu, a Chinese app with...