Branded Fishing Clothing....Value or Rip Off.

[maverick 7]

Being an ex-Tackle Shop owner...I have owned many different types of clothing from all the top manufacturers....I have had Sundridge Suits, Halkon Hunt Goretex suits, Drennan Salopettes, Daiwa bib and braces and many more....some wasn't bad but they were too expensive and the rest was daylight robbery.

10 years ago..the Igloo Suit from Sundridge cost £200.. and they are simply not worth that kind of money....you could have got all kinds of quality gear from the Mountain Shop or any other High St outdoor shop for that kind of money. Mine wasn't even warm for Christs sake...it was ill fitting and was nowhere near 100% waterproof. So what are we paying £200 for then?

The same applies to all the other "top brand" suits....for the forfeit of having a fishing name on the clothing....you would be miles better off getting your clothing gear from a Company that specialises in outdoor clothing...not fishing tackle.

The only branded clothing I bought and thought was brilliant was the Halkon Hunt made for Sensas two piece Goretex suit with matching windstopper fleece......but it should be for £450.

I also have a pair of Drennan Salopettes that I have had a while and to be fair, they are still doing the business....but again they cost £80 and I have seen similar quality skiing salopettes for much less.

Of course...the only reason I had them was that I didn't have to pay the retail prices for them. There would be no way I would have paid that kind of money for that kind of quality if I had been a member of the public.

All in all I think we get a pretty rough deal from the Tackle Giants when it comes to decent weatherproof clothing.....it is generally not good enough and far too expensive....but the name on it attracts attention....and the makers KNOW that.

....but what are your thoughts on this?....

Maverick

 

[terry m]

A good question Maverick.

I remember growing up and fishing in thick wooly jumpers and anorakes because nothing else was available. We would have given our eye teeth for the clobber available today.

But you are right, the premium on 'named' fishing clothing does not always warrant the seemingly inflated costs when compared to a normal outdoor shop. Although there is also the 'need for camo' factor to continue - and yes I admit I have camo gear too! :wh

One of the best bits of fishing clothing I have is a Diem fleece/hoody. It really is warm, very hard wearing to boot,

The other brand I am happy to buy is Jack Pyke, very high quality but the price is not to everyone's liking.

 

[sam vimes]

Branded fishing clothing is rarely good value at full price. Plenty of it isn't even particularly fit for purpose. I do have branded fishing clothing, from t-shirts through to waterproofs and caps. However, I've never paid anything close to full price to a single stitch of it. At the prices I'm prepared to pay, I couldn't do any better if I trawled through TKMax.

What I find is that the better examples of the type, particularly jackets and salopettes) do have the odd feature (reinforcement patches in the right places etc) that gives it some value to an angler. You aren't likely to find such features on gear intended for walking, skiing etc.

I'm afraid that I'm the kind of saddo that likes to use appropriate gear for its intended use. I have outdoor gear for shooting and separate stuff for fishing. Never the twain shall meet. A waxed jacket and trousers are bob on for wading through brambles in when beating but they are awful for fishing in. Likewise, my ancient walking/hiking gear would have been wrecked in short order had I used it for fishing, let alone shooting. I couldn't countenance paying good money for a quality Gore-Tex mountain jacket then getting it covered in slime and groundbait.

The one item of fishing branded gear that I wouldn't touch with a bargepole, regardless of how much it was discounted, is footwear. I'm a great believer in buying the best you can afford for a given situation/sport/location, and to hell with the cost. If the military taught me anything it was to look after my feet and that any fool can be uncomfortable.

 

[S-Kippy]

There is certainly no excuse for getting cold & wet any more but yes... I'm sure we do pay over the odds for stuff that can sometimes be no better than "OK". I also have a pair of Drennan Salopettes that I've had for many,many years and are probably the single best item of fishing clothing I've ever bought.

I dont do really extreme weather...not wet anyway but I do like to be warm. Most of my gear I've picked up at "sale" time and for what I paid I think I've got good value...but I would never have paid full price for any of it. My "outfit" is a mix of fishing & outdoor clothing with "outdoor" fleece in particular winning hands down in my view...though I would not part with my Simms thermal fleece baselayer. Brilliant.

And I totally agree with Sam's point about footwear.

 

[sam vimes]

TRAKKER

These are the kind of prices where I will consider buying branded fishing gear. You certainly can't go too far wrong with three polo/t-shirts for £19.99/24.99. I wouldn't dream of paying the £60 RRP or even the more likely selling price of £45.

 

[maverick 7]

Branded fishing clothing is rarely good value at full price. Plenty of it isn't even particularly fit for purpose. I do have branded fishing clothing, from t-shirts through to waterproofs and caps. However, I've never paid anything close to full price to a single stitch of it. At the prices I'm prepared to pay, I couldn't do any better if I trawled through TKMax.

What I find is that the better examples of the type, particularly jackets and salopettes) do have the odd feature (reinforcement patches in the right places etc) that gives it some value to an angler. You aren't likely to find such features on gear intended for walking, skiing etc.

I'm afraid that I'm the kind of saddo that likes to use appropriate gear for its intended use. I have outdoor gear for shooting and separate stuff for fishing. Never the twain shall meet. A waxed jacket and trousers are bob on for wading through brambles in when beating but they are awful for fishing in. Likewise, my ancient walking/hiking gear would have been wrecked in short order had I used it for fishing, let alone shooting. I couldn't countenance paying good money for a quality Gore-Tex mountain jacket then getting it covered in slime and groundbait.

The one item of fishing branded gear that I wouldn't touch with a bargepole, regardless of how much it was discounted, is footwear. I'm a great believer in buying the best you can afford for a given situation/sport/location, and to hell with the cost. If the military taught me anything it was to look after my feet and that any fool can be uncomfortable.

I agree with the most part of your post Sam.....but I am not too sure about mixing walking/hiking gear with fishing gear. I have several mixtures of clothing from all kinds of purposes they were made for and I am quite comfortable fishing in them as well.

I used to wear that Sundridge suit when fishing in the cold weather and it was useless.....it was very uncomfortable and not in the slightest bit warm. I felt like the Michelin man wearing that piece of rubbish.... and that was made for fishing AND it was bloody expensive too.

I also buy stuff for fishing from the fashion houses as well....I purchased an olive green khaki jacket with hood from H & M for fishing in the summer...it's fantastic and it cost £35.....if it had got Shimano on the breast pocket...it would have been £89.99.

I think all types of clothing can be mixed...so long as it suits the purpose you need it for.

Maverick

 

[terry m]

TRAKKER

These are the kind of prices where I will consider buying branded fishing gear. You certainly can't go too far wrong with three polo/t-shirts for £19.99/24.99. I wouldn't dream of paying the £60 RRP or even the more likely selling price of £45.

But isn't it the case that these RRPs are total twaddle and nobody ever pays/charges those prices?

If you check out the premium brands or products this sort of feel good discounting does not seem to happen. Delks, Korda Stows etc are good examples of steadfast pricing policies.

 

[sam vimes]

I am not too sure about mixing walking/hiking gear with fishing gear. I have several mixtures of clothing from all kinds of purposes they were made for and I am quite comfortable fishing in them as well.

I'm not suggesting for one moment that you can't, I just choose not to.
A £300+ Gore-tex mountain jacket is an extravagence for fishing. Chances are the Halkon Hunt would be better suited. Come down the price scales and chances are much of the hiking kit wouldn't take the abuse that my fishing clobber gets (I certainly won't be subjecting my stuff to fishing). It would keep me dry but definitely wouldn't keep me warm in the depths of winter. It's all designed for ever so slighty more vigorous activities. If I'm going to mix (cheap) branded fishing clobber with anything, it'll be carefully selected military surplus clobber. The Pertex "Softie" jackets and trousers are highly recommended, provided they are worn under a more hardwearing shell. The Gore-tex is ok too.

---------- Post added at 22:40 ---------- Previous post was at 22:37 ----------

But isn't it the case that these RRPs are total twaddle and nobody ever pays/charges those prices?

That's why I quoted the real former selling prices along with the RRPs.
RRPs on the Trakker t-shirts were £20, in reality they sold for £15. Now they are turning them out for less than £10, more like their real worth. The only reason they are doing so is that Trakker have rebranded.

---------- Post added at 22:46 ---------- Previous post was at 22:40 ----------

If you check out the premium brands or products this sort of feel good discounting does not seem to happen. Delks, Korda Stows etc are good examples of steadfast pricing policies.

That depends on what you consider to be premium brands. Fox and Nash have certainly cleared stuff through the same outlet (and others) in exactly the same way. I know because I've bought it. Korda aren't averse to flogging stuff off either, I just don't tend to buy it. The two biggest names (outside of the more specialist/custom brands) that don't seem to do such things are Delkim and Drennan. The problem there is that people moan about price fixing and lack of discounts.

 

[maverick 7]

I'm not suggesting for one moment that you can't, I just choose not to.
A £300+ Gore-tex mountain jacket is an extravagence for fishing. Chances are the Halkon Hunt would be better suited. Come down the price scales and chances are much of the hiking kit wouldn't take the abuse that my fishing clobber gets (I certainly won't be subjecting my stuff to fishing). It would keep me dry but definitely wouldn't keep me warm in the depths of winter. It's all designed for ever so slighty more vigorous activities. If I'm going to mix (cheap) branded fishing clobber with anything, it'll be carefully selected military surplus clobber. The Pertex "Softie" jackets and trousers are highly recommended, provided they are worn under a more hardwearing shell. The Gore-tex is ok too.

Understood Sam.....but my Halkon Hunt WAS goretex and it was made for fishing...as said earlier, that too cost an arm and a leg. When it did get dirty, it easily cleaned off...no problem at all.

If your hiking kit would keep you dry but not warm in winter....couldn't you use it for fishing in the warmer months then...say May and September perhaps when you would maybe need it just to keep dry?

...but everybody to their own I suppose.

Maverick

 

[paul80]

I get most of my gear from the Army Surplus store, good quality and quite cheap in comparison to the tackle makers own.

Like NASH asking £40 for very lightweight waterproof trousers, I could get a full thermal waterproof suite for that at the Army & Navy stores.

Paul

 

[maverick 7]

I get most of my gear from the Army Surplus store, good quality and quite cheap in comparison to the tackle makers own.

Like NASH asking £40 for very lightweight waterproof trousers, I could get a full thermal waterproof suite for that at the Army & Navy stores.

Paul

More or less the point I am trying to make Paul.....most of the gear the manufacturers sell is cheap and nasty and yet they ask a fortune for it.

Buy your gear elsewhere and have better quality for less than half the price........you know it makes sense.


Maverick

 

[sam vimes]

If your hiking kit would keep you dry but not warm in winter....couldn't you use it for fishing in the warmer months then...say May and September perhaps when you would maybe need it just to keep dry?

I could but I don't want to trash it doing things it wasn't made for. My stuff isn't tough enough, they don't expect you to spend much time on your knees or sat on your backside when hiking. They certainly don't expect it to be subjected to bream snot and hooks. Besides, I've got military gear and fishing gear that I've no objection to subjecting to such trials.

 

[geoffmaynard]

Even 30 years ago people would look at you sideways if you ever thought to discuss buying 'brands'. But people today are brainwashed by the Brand culture. Try selling non-branded items on eBay and see how far you get. People have been trained to believe that they only want 'designer' products which have a classy name and cost 3 to 5 times more than equally good stuff without the brand name. That applies right though society including angling.

I sell high-end gold and diamond rings. If two pieces weighing the same with the same size and quality diamonds are offered to a customer, she will invariably prefer the one with a designer name at double or 3 times the price, despite the fact that a professional valuation would class them as equal items. That's the power of modern branding and why Saatchi & co are such wealthy companies..
And I'm no different - they got me as a young teenager to believe Levi jeans were the only ones to wear and I've been buying them all my life!

 

[barbelboi]

No complaints with my Preston DriFish stuff and Drennan bib and braces after many years use. Also a good word for ESP lined hooded fleeces.
Jerry
PS When I first started fishing people were still wearing their suits

 

[MRWELL]

Never have seen the point in buying these kind of things because it is all over priced and you can find better for cheaper if you look,you pay for the name not the cloths and like as been said many times it is very poor quality for the prices you are asked to pay,i have a very simple water proof suit that cost next to nothing,it aint warm but it is water proof and thats what i got it for,under that i use thermal lined trousers in the winter or just jogging bottoms in Summer,my tops are of the same and thats it,total cost around £30 tops and not one branded name in sight and i have no problems at all in any weather

 

[Ray Roberts]

I had a Sundridge one piece Polar suit that I bought mainly for sea fishing, it had a built in fleece like teddy bear fur, It was the warmest garment I ever owned, great for boat fishing but if you had to walk any distance you would sweat like a blind lesbian walking past a wet fish stall.

 

[xenon]

I only use mountaineering/climbing gear for fishing-better value for money, lighter, cut for mobility and keeps you warm and dry-have thought for a long time the fishing branded gear is back in the dark ages by comparison.

 

[maverick 7]

I could but I don't want to trash it doing things it wasn't made for. My stuff isn't tough enough, they don't expect you to spend much time on your knees or sat on your backside when hiking. They certainly don't expect it to be subjected to bream snot and hooks. Besides, I've got military gear and fishing gear that I've no objection to subjecting to such trials.

I think you would be surprised how tough those things are Sam.....I have been using clothing from out door shops for fishing for years and they are 10 times better than than the stuff that is supposed to made for fishing....obviously with the exception of a few certain very expensive items mentioned earlier in this thread.

Having said that though....I reckon the military gear would be even better.

Maverick

---------- Post added at 00:36 ---------- Previous post was at 00:32 ----------

Even 30 years ago people would look at you sideways if you ever thought to discuss buying 'brands'. But people today are brainwashed by the Brand culture. Try selling non-branded items on eBay and see how far you get. People have been trained to believe that they only want 'designer' products which have a classy name and cost 3 to 5 times more than equally good stuff without the brand name. That applies right though society including angling.

I sell high-end gold and diamond rings. If two pieces weighing the same with the same size and quality diamonds are offered to a customer, she will invariably prefer the one with a designer name at double or 3 times the price, despite the fact that a professional valuation would class them as equal items. That's the power of modern branding and why Saatchi & co are such wealthy companies..
And I'm no different - they got me as a young teenager to believe Levi jeans were the only ones to wear and I've been buying them all my life!

Hi Geoff....you must be around my age then......they got me too to believe that Levi jeans was the only ones to wear.....in fact come to think of it......they WERE the only jeans available in those days...weren't they?

Maverick

---------- Post added at 00:43 ---------- Previous post was at 00:36 ----------

No complaints with my Preston DriFish stuff and Drennan bib and braces after many years use. Also a good word for ESP lined hooded fleeces.
Jerry
PS When I first started fishing people were still wearing their suits

Jerry.....there is some decent branded stuff around and the Drennan bibs are very good...I have a pair myself...BUT they were £80 mate, there is salopettes on the market just as good but cheaper...and without the name.

I also had in the past the Drennan ESP hooded fleece...to be honest Jerry, I gave it to one of my pals....the inner lining was a real pain in the ass.

No comment on the Preston garment 'cos I know nothing about that.....except that too is quite expensive if I remember....

Maverick

---------- Post added at 00:47 ---------- Previous post was at 00:43 ----------

Never have seen the point in buying these kind of things because it is all over priced and you can find better for cheaper if you look,you pay for the name not the cloths and like as been said many times it is very poor quality for the prices you are asked to pay,i have a very simple water proof suit that cost next to nothing,it aint warm but it is water proof and thats what i got it for,under that i use thermal lined trousers in the winter or just jogging bottoms in Summer,my tops are of the same and thats it,total cost around £30 tops and not one branded name in sight and i have no problems at all in any weather

Laughing all the way to the bank eh MrWell?

Ray.....like I said earlier...the Michelin man...only mine wasn't warm.

xenon......I like it mate.....

 

[sagalout]

sweat like a blind lesbian walking past a wet fish stall

Mixed me coffee and keyboard there!

 

[sam vimes]

I think you would be surprised how tough those things are Sam.....I have been using clothing from out door shops for fishing for years and they are 10 times better than than the stuff that is supposed to made for fishing....obviously with the exception of a few certain very expensive items mentioned earlier in this thread.

No, I wouldn't. Look, I'm really pleased you've found something that works for you, but you aren't going to change my mind. I quite agree that most fishing branded stuff is often useless, especially at SSPs. However, it's not so bad if you cherry pick and get it at clearance prices. Supplement that with miltary surplus stuff and you're away. That's what works for me and will continue to do so.