Patagonia > Arcteryx

For what it’s worth on a very recent interaction I had with Arc’teryx, their warranty department has completely gone to shit. Unlike Patagonia, which will fix your gear, replace with something new or give you a partial credit. They basically told me to fuck off. I am done with Arc’teryx. I have preached on their technical superiority for years, but I will never recommend them anymore. Arc’teryx is now meant for the fashion catwalk and not the mountains. Screw them. 

I agree, I had some really excellent softshell ski pants that Arc' refused to repair. I couldn't easily to do it on my own sewing machine at the time, but it was a simple fix. Patagonia would have patched/repaired without a blink. 

now persuaded arcteryx blows.

New topic since this one is played.
need new best harness. loved everything about the 395 except the stupid name. specifically the gear loops (which outdoor gear lab strangely dissed in their biggest miss to date). You could put triples on those things and have it all at your fingertips.

Is the new big gun gonna be less clunky and annoying?  I don’t need a dozen crappy gear loops just 4 awesome ones 

DeLa Crucewrote:

Klättermusen is a joke. Their old stuff was indestructible, but ever since they had their asses saved by some venture capitalists their gear has sucked. Horrid design choices, over-priced, too many non-functional features sold as innovations. 

I hate to say it but I am starting to agree with this statement. I have an Einride Jacket (Etaproof cotton) and a Baldur Zip fleece (wool/poly blend) which I both absolutely love for winter stuff but their new designs have all felt a little bit... hipstery. 

For what it's worth I don't really get brand loyalty. Wear the item that works for you and does what you want it to do, no matter the brand or intended purpose of the designers. 

Clint Helanderwrote:

For what it’s worth on a very recent interaction I had with Arc’teryx, their warranty department has completely gone to shit. Unlike Patagonia, which will fix your gear, replace with something new or give you a partial credit. They basically told me to fuck off. I am done with Arc’teryx. I have preached on their technical superiority for years, but I will never recommend them anymore. Arc’teryx is now meant for the fashion catwalk and not the mountains. Screw them. 

I tried to get them to take a pair of pants with a tiny pinhole crampon cut on one leg (less than the size of a dime) for their resale program at the Arcteryx Academy. They said that the clothing needed to be in perfect condition (which they are, barely even used) but that I could pay to have them fixed. Meanwhile, they’re all walking around in jackets with new, off coloured pockets and the like to show how they care about reusing gear. Hence, my greenwashing comment.

Now I’m just giving them away to someone who needs them. There’s been an amazing movement within the climbing community up here where people are just handing over used, but decent, gear to young climbers getting into the sport but find the cost prohibitive.

I’m also pretty much done with them, aside from their harnesses.

edited to add - I had Patagonia repair two 10 year old jackets with broken zippers and a backpack with a torn shoulder strap (from an avalanche no less, so not standard use) at zero cost to me. They sent them to a local(!!) seamstress and I had them back in less than a month. 

Ted Ravenwrote:

I tried to get them to take a pair of pants with a tiny pinhole crampon cut on one leg (less than the size of a dime) for their resale program at the Arcteryx Academy. They said that the clothing needed to be in perfect condition (which they are, barely even used) but that I could pay to have them fixed. Meanwhile, they’re all walking around in jackets with new, off coloured pockets and the like to show how they care about reusing gear. Hence, my greenwashing comment.

Now I’m just giving them away to someone who needs them. There’s been an amazing movement within the climbing community up here where people are just handing over used, but decent, gear to young climbers getting into the sport but find the cost prohibitive.

I’m also pretty much done with them, aside from their harnesses.

edited to add - I had Patagonia repair two 10 year old jackets with broken zippers and a backpack with a torn shoulder strap (from an avalanche no less, so not standard use) at zero cost to me. They sent them to a local(!!) seamstress and I had them back in less than a month. 

Isn't that the whole point of the regear program - to patch up used but still functional clothing??

Also moving soon and hoping to donate a few old pieces, that sounds amazing, is there somewhere I can drop them off at Squam?

Arc’teryx pivoting to “China First” strategy, October 1, 2020:

https://jingdaily.com/outdoor-brand-arcteryx-china-marketing/

Terry Ewrote:

Arc’teryx pivoting to “China First” strategy, October 1, 2020:

https://jingdaily.com/outdoor-brand-arcteryx-china-marketing/

Yeah. Switching to Rab.  

Rab and ME

Can't replace the R1 tho

Patagonia literally replaced my broken 3in1 ski jacket with a really nice mid layer and shell for no extra cost to me because of the policy, I will forever stand by this company

Bryan Lwrote:

I just wish that Patagonia would make some longer inseam pants....

How about short inseam/cut for more athletic legs? Their pants are all made for giraffes. Many other manufacturers do this :( Patagonia’s are already on the longer size of the median.

I went to SOHO Arcteryx and Patagonia to repair something. Arcteryx did a terrible job, but they were nice about it. I went to Patagonia, they took my beat up rock guide pant (must be 10 years old by now), and sew on a new pocket. Different color but perfectly functional.

Mountain Equipment

It's tough to find stuff that fits.  Someone mentioned Patagonia being narrow in the shoulders and large in the waist, exactly what I found.  Other people are saying the inseams are too long, some the inseams are too short.  All depends on the designer:  Yvon Chouinard is on the short side ,and if I had to guess, proportionally long torso / short legs.  George Lowe was the same proportions, but I think he was 6'1". Lowe Alpine stuff fit me really well, although the sleeves were about an inch short.... I read a comparison review of hardshells a few years ago, that mentioned that even the 6'0" tester found the Rab jacket was too long in the sleeves - bingo!!  I ordered a Rab hardshell based on that complaint, and it fits like a dream.  If you have odd size measurements, you can always try Log House designs, I think they are in Fryeburg, Maine.  They used to do custom Goretex jackets, and they were no more expensive than the big name shops like Patagonia & Arctyerx.  

Clint Helanderwrote:

For what it’s worth on a very recent interaction I had with Arc’teryx, their warranty department has completely gone to shit.  

Warrant Experience in 2012:  My 5 year old hard shell's seams delaminated, they said they couldn't repair it so they sent me a brand new >$500 shell.  The whole thing felt like concierge customer service.  A+++.  Customer for life.

Warranty Experience in 2022:  AR-395a harness wore through the tie-in points in ~3 years and after a month of back and forth with email customer service they gave me a $31 gift certificate.  So....that was nice I guess.

dunno your monthly mileage but if I get 3 years out of a harness, great. the fact you got 3 years and a fat discount after some complaining has convinced me. I’m gonna buy another 395a, best harness out there still. 

Don't most manufacturers recommend harness replacement after three years of use anyway? And even quicker if the use is very frequent? 

Yeah I'm pretty happy if I get 3 years out of any soft goods. I've warrantied a BD Solution Guide that was wearing through the tie in points in under a year, but for most things I just assume that's the lifespan of a consumable undergoing a lot of wear.

I ride a snowmobile on sketchy pow days, don't have a goatee, climb Baker on back-to-back weekends, ski sun cupped glaciers in July, and my closet is mostly 686 shells, OR insulators and softshells, and Smartwool underwear these days.  I climb in an Arcteryx harness though.  

Kirkland signature or bust