coldfeet said:
The night i was there I didn't buy a gor tex jacket because even with the 50% off I couldn't justify spending $150 on a shell....instead i bought a light fleece (not denali) and their hyvent jacket for $150....i ended up using that combo when i started hiking and used it last winter at the NH gathering...
I have to agree. When I started winter hiking I went to the Salvation Army and Goodwill and bought anything synthetic because it was cheap. I still have some of those items, but my repertoire has evolved into much better items. Still, it's better than going out and spending $1,000 on new garments. You'd also be surprised at what you can find cheap when you look around at lawn sales, bargains, and even the trash bin. When my older brother and I went to Festiglace last year (ice climbers festival in Canada), we got to discussing the prices of items because so many people were walking around in Arc'Teryx gear. He was amazed that I told him he was wearing more money than I had brought in items, to include the tent, stove, sleeping bags, and everything I had for clothing.
Some people are all about spending big $$$ for the image. I am all about spending little $$$ to get the job done, and I know a lot of people are in the middle. I can't think of one thing I have paid full price for, from my WaterWorks EX filter to the Gore-Tex XCR Paclite shell, and it helps a lot. It has allowed me to expand my hiking greatly while still recovering from the divorce, which left me with significantly depleted funds.
However, when summiting Madison last weekend, Ranger C commented on how nice the XCR shell and overpants he borrowed insulated him from the wind. Over the years I have come to realize the difference between getting by and thriving comfortably, and this was reaffirmed with the Marmot Mercury softshell I just bought. Still, I find it hard to justify the price sometimes as well.
"Never pay full price? I won't buy it unless it's at least 50% off!"
