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Eddie Bauer Gear - Any Good?

Original Post
Austin Baird · · SLC, Utah · Joined Apr 2009 · Points: 95

After years of thinking EB stuff was for tubby rich guys who wanted to look outdoorsy, I picked up a couple pairs of their pants and I've been really impressed at their quality and comfort. The clerk explained that they've been trying to step up their game and that their First Ascent stuff is tested pretty extensively. I'm considering picking up a puffy and a shell, but wanted to see if anyone has experience with the gear. Worth the money?

BrianVarick · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Nov 2014 · Points: 45

I think the advantage of their stuff is you can sometimes get it on a deep discount. If it was priced similarly to something with more pedigree, I would go that direction, if no other reason than for resale value.

Scot Hastings · · Salt Lake City, UT · Joined Apr 2013 · Points: 35

My experience has been mostly hit with a couple misses.

I've had amazing experiences with a few pieces, including the guide gloves (best leather gloves I've owned), the Accelerant softshell, and the Peak XV jacket (amazing quality 800 weight expedition down, would be a deal at 2x what I paid)

On the flip side, I've had a couple pieces, mainly pants, fall apart pretty quickly.

Overall, if you find something you like for a good price, I'd say go for it. Their return policy is awesome if it doesn't work out.

Jeremy B. · · Unknown Hometown · Joined May 2013 · Points: 0

Ironically enough it has the pedigree; it just got lost for a number of years before coming back around to it. I have one of their FA down sweaters and quite like it. (The newer ones might have less loft, like the Patagonia ones.)

Emmett Lyman · · Stoneham, MA (Boston burbs) · Joined Feb 2011 · Points: 480

Dane's always had really good things to say about Eddie Bauer FA gear.

coldthistle.blogspot.com/se…

Tim Stich · · Colorado Springs, Colorado · Joined Jan 2001 · Points: 1,520

I thought that Manhood Camping Craig's list guy recommended it, but it turned out to be Ed Hardy camping equipment.

Morgan Patterson · · NH · Joined Oct 2009 · Points: 8,945
Austin Baird wrote:After years of thinking EB stuff was for tubby rich guys who wanted to look outdoorsy, I picked up a couple pairs of their pants and I've been really impressed at their quality and comfort. The clerk explained that they've been trying to step up their game and that their First Ascent stuff is tested pretty extensively. I'm considering picking up a puffy and a shell, but wanted to see if anyone has experience with the gear. Worth the money?
Their new outdoor gear is supposed to be pretty good...

They make THE BEST flannel lined khakis, chamois shirts, and flannel shirts imo.
Barrett Pauer · · Brevard, NC · Joined Apr 2013 · Points: 775

I have an Eddie Bauer First Ascent down sweater in trying to sell. I would keep it for myself but I need the money. Great Gear!

Jake wander · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Aug 2014 · Points: 195

I have their 4 season tent called the katabatic and it's awesome. I spend a solid month in a MHW trango which is a great tent and I'd take the katabatic over it every day.

I also got their down hooded sweater on big discount with the intention of using it as my beater jacket and the thing has held up great. I'd for sure buy another one.

Erik · · Goose Creek, SC · Joined May 2016 · Points: 115

My girlfriend works there and gets 50% off gear, so I'm a little biased towards them, but I like their stuff a lot. I have two pairs of travex shorts, FA shorts and pants, a midlayer soft shell, fleece lined snow pants, a pair of jeans, and a few shirts from them. Only complaint about any of that stuff is the hemming on the bottom of the shorts comes loose with the travex shorts, I solved it by double stitching them along the bottom.

My girlfriend also has a bunch of stuff from them (obviously), and she's pretty happy with all of the things she has.

Some of the stuff can be bought from outlet stores for a cheaper price. They won't have the same name as the gear in the main stores, nor the same colors, but it's the same stuff.

And I will attest to their awesome return policy. I hear stories all the time about people who bring in their old EB crap and still get money or store credit back for it, even if it's torn to shit.

Nick Sweeney · · Spokane, WA · Joined Jun 2013 · Points: 969
Jake wander wrote:I have their 4 season tent called the katabatic and it's awesome. I spend a solid month in a MHW trango which is a great tent and I'd take the katabatic over it every day.
Care to expand on this? I'm going to need a similar tent eventually for Denali plans.

I have used a First Ascent (Eddie Bauer) pack before and it was actually pretty sweet. Definitely purpose-designed for people climbing big mountains in expedition style - lots of organization pockets. A very different pack than my Deuter Guide Lite 32+ or Patagonia Ascentionist.
Ryan Hamilton · · Orem · Joined Aug 2011 · Points: 5

I felt the same way about EB for a long time. Then I ended up with a shell and found out it was awesome. Since then I've picked up several insulated jackets and shell and soft-shell pants. Everything has been REALLY good.

Bottom line, not crap gear for stuffy old dudes. Really quality stuff. Buy without fear.

Rick Blair · · Denver · Joined Oct 2007 · Points: 266

This thread is the best Eddie Bauer ad ever.

Jake wander · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Aug 2014 · Points: 195
Nick Sweeney wrote: Care to expand on this? I'm going to need a similar tent eventually for Denali plans. I have used a First Ascent (Eddie Bauer) pack before and it was actually pretty sweet. Definitely purpose-designed for people climbing big mountains in expedition style - lots of organization pockets. A very different pack than my Deuter Guide Lite 32+ or Patagonia Ascentionist.
I used a trango on Denali. I'd happily tAke the katabatic now that I have it. It was designed almost identical to the trango, similar footprint, same pole attachment clips, similar vestibules etc. the improvements over the trango is that it's lighter due to lower denier body, the poles and body are color coded so setting it up is easier, the storage pockets and bigger and there is more of them which is super important in an expedition tent and it's super robust in the wind. The one thing eb added that I don't like is little plastic clips on all the guylines. They're meant to make tightening the lines easier but they're mostly just a pain. But you can easily remove them.

I'd pay more for the katabatic than a trango but you should find a killer deal on one of ebs many sales. I got it 45% off
BigB · · Red Rock, NV · Joined Feb 2015 · Points: 340

Mason & Katie seem to like it....

youtu.be/83FCVWtI8Ds

Ray Pinpillage · · West Egg · Joined Jul 2010 · Points: 180

I had a pro account from EB FA when it first came out. I bought everything in their catalog for 80% off. I returned all of it except a synthetic jacket. I'd rather pay full retail for other brands.

Morgan Patterson · · NH · Joined Oct 2009 · Points: 8,945
Ray Pinpillage wrote:I had a pro account from EB FA when it first came out. I bought everything in their catalog for 80% off. I returned all of it except a synthetic jacket. I'd rather pay full retail for other brands.
wow that bad eh?
Linnaeus · · ID · Joined Aug 2011 · Points: 0

One of the few companies to make both tops and bottoms in tall sizes. Medium tall can be tough or impossible to find otherwise. Arc'teryx makes some pants in tall, and LLBean also makes tall sizes.

Some EB gear is great, some only so-so -- similar to almost every other brand except Arc'Teryx (who I find make great gear >90% of the time).

Peak XV parka is definitely a big win, nothing else comes close at that price point, and some would contend it's as good or better than it's competitors at any price point. I got mine when they still made it in a tall size for <$200.

Some of the gloves are also quite good.

I had a Bat-Hang hoody that was similar to the R1, only closer to R.75 weight and didn't breath quite as well, but I used for years and had great success with.

That said, I have much more casual clothing from them than technical, mostly for tall sizes and good quality.

Clint White aka Faulted Geologist · · Lawrence, KS · Joined Jan 2015 · Points: 151

This also blew my mind. I thought it was rich preppie clothing only back in the 90s. Then I saw their FA gear and thought more crap companies innundating the market$.

I was given an LL Bean backpack that a local Midwest gear tester had years ago. I thought the same again, then found out they had roots in the canvas and leather days of mountaineering and exploring.

I still treat them both like North Face... Gotta like something a whole buncha bunch before buying it. Usually just North Face for the kids rain gear etc. REI is one of the only others that make kids gear at reasonable prices.

DesertRat · · Flagstaff, AZ · Joined Jul 2010 · Points: 196

I jumped on the First Ascent bandwagon early on (~2008). I bought a bunch of their clothing and some of their gear. I was really impressed. I thought the quality rivaled the upper echelons of outdoor gear, such as Patagucci and Marmot.

That being said, it seems like their gear has really been taking a turn for the worse the last couple years, while the prices have still been climbing. Their guide pants and shorts are still cream, but their jackets and other technical pieces are becoming more like Wal-Mart brand. Their Downlight Sweaters, in particular, have significantly less down than they used to. In fact I found nearly the exact same jacket at Wal-mart, for a fifth of the price. Not that it matters too much, but the styling has gone way down hill as well. Not sure what happened, but besides a few key pieces, I don't think I'll be spending much money there anymore.

Ray Pinpillage · · West Egg · Joined Jul 2010 · Points: 180
Morgan Patterson wrote: wow that bad eh?
Yeah. The spec sheets were great but the design was terrible. I think I paid $45 for their top of the line shell and felt like I paid too much. The only exception was the synthetic belay jacket, which was ok. None of it had consistent sizing either; some was big, some was small.
Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

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