Macpac

[Usarka]

I've always liked macpac's products, but they've now moved to the brand store concept and there is only one shop in Auckland that sell their stuff.

I used to like buying their stuff from smaller shops that were more generally outdoors focused (and dare I say friendlier and more helpful) . Now if i want their gear I don't have any choice.

Is this a good business model? Or are they more concentrated on overseas sales that they don't care about NZ anymore?

[Rockbuddy]

i dont think macpac is even made in NZ anymore they went offshore a few years ago, but yes they did make good products

[Usarka]

Yeah I think the last thing I bought was "made in china", but I thought their design team was still NZ based.

Now I'm forced to either buy from the one shop, or buy from a completely overseas manufacturer (apart from merino clothing; icebreaker rock ) at any of the other outdoors shops around the city that have been really good to deal with in the past.....

[doc]

They originally were a small group of Kiwi Alpine climbing types. They started building gear for Kiwis cos they couldn't get gear easily from overseas (talkin early 70's here). Rob Hall and Steve Lasche use to test their gear for them. Hall ended up a shareholder. Now he has gone. The brand is all that is left. Its good gear but you have to sell the numbers to survive in todays environment, so compromise is made. Fairydown went the same way.

[Usarka]

I went shopping today for a whole pile of stuff for my trip.

Went to one shop and bought the lot at one go.

Couldn't do that at the "concept store". They didn't have half the stuff I needed for travelling or tramping.

Pity. I was a huge fan of their stuff.

[rachprice]

Just curious dude, where you going?

[Usarka]

Just curious dude, where you going?

Sth America for a bit. Then Nicuragua. Guatamala (dr ropata). And then some serious swing time in a hammock in Mexico.

[rachprice]

wow that sounds amazing, im incredibly jealous of anyone travelling at the moment. But it sounds like your actually doing something different! You heading to peru at all? machu picchu? I have always wanted to go to peru.....thinking of doing my elective there. Mexico will be cruisy and fun!

[geoffm]

The MacPac stuff is not made in Vietnam and China - more badge engineering. Anyone have any comment on what the modern stuff is like? I have heard it is not as good. The old Macpac stuff was top line, priced accordingly and worth the money. I certainly don't feel liek paying a premium to keep some asian worker in a job.

[ynot slow]

They have been in Aussie for a few years,a guy I helped train as an apprentice clothing cutter worked for them on the clothing side.Most of their clothes were designed offshore.The packs and other items are/were excellent quality,mates we tramped/hunted with have macpacs which are 20 yrs old and still going strong,cost a fair amount then,but quality lasts.

Fairydown was with Arthur Ellis Mfg last I knew and now made offshore,along with all the duvet inners they used to make in NZ,also under various names like cloud9,a big company leaving jobs here for the cheaper labour market.

[Swoop]

Does anyone know if they still have anywhere that will do repairs to their stuff?
I dragged out the old Gemini recently, and the plastic on the frame has perished (become brittle and breaks apart very easily)?

[Usarka]

The MacPac stuff is not made in Vietnam and China - more badge engineering.

¿¿¿ Why would they say "Made in China" if it's not???? Is it really made in Invercargil?

Does anyone know if they still have anywhere that will do repairs to their stuff?
I dragged out the old Gemini recently, and the plastic on the frame has perished (become brittle and breaks apart very easily)?

Your local macpac store can help.

http://www.macpac.co.nz/go/contact

There are 8 of them around the country.